Rosamae and I reached a vast glowing pool at a plaza's center, surrounded by white stucco homes. Turquoise light radiated from its still surface, reflecting off walls and the armor of a disinterested guard across the way, who sat munching what looked like a sandwich.

  "This is it." Rosamae stepped into shallow water, hands on hips as she surveyed the pool. "The entrance to the Underbelly." She pulled out a slip of paper, studying it intently.

  "What's that?" I asked, frowning.

  "Instructions. Well, directions really—on how to find your trainer."

  My eyebrows rose. I folded my arms, curious and a little worried. Though, with my limited options… "Who gave that to you?"

  “Your trainer.” Rosamae tucked it away. "She's visited before."

  "Visited?"

  "The Guild.”

  Right.

  Rosamae stretched out her arms as if preparing to swim, flashing me a grin. "She's the first person I thought of when you told me you were looking for a trainer."

  I nodded slowly, looking out across the glowing pool. Tiny creatures—this world's version of plankton?—swam around my feet, explaining the water's luminescence.

  Rosamae rolled up her slacks to her knees. Was she really planning to join me? She couldn't breathe underwater, though I wouldn't be surprised if she had some technique for that. Part of me wanted to pry deeper, to make sure this was safe…but this girl obviously liked me. She wouldn't purposefully lead me into danger. And, well, who else would train me? If there was someone willing to take an apprentice, even in this sketchy part of town, I needed to seize the opportunity.

  As she waded deeper, I grabbed her arm. "You can't breathe underwater."

  She shook her head, meeting my eyes. "No, I can't. But there are air pockets throughout the Underbelly, just in case air-breathers like me want to visit."

  "That sounds sketchy," I said, nearly telling her to give me directions and leave. But determination blazed in her eyes, in her stance. She wanted to come.

  An idea struck. "Here," I said, reaching back to hide my hand as I summoned a mask from my inventory. "At least put this on."

  The Breather's Visage was shaped like a fish, with a gaping mouth, bulging eyes, and long fins. She turned it over, nodding appreciatively before slipping it on. Lines of light flashed along its surface, slowly dimming. She gave me two thumbs up. "Ready?"

  I nodded sharply as she turned and contined to wade through. As I followed her into deeper water, I realized having her along was probably for the best. Checking the bond quest again, I nearly slapped my forehead—definitely for the best. While I needed to focus on getting stronger, I had to progress at least one bond. Having her guide me into the Underbelly would do exactly that.

  With water at my shoulders, I nearly ducked under—until a glint of light caught my eye. Down another sandy street, a guard leaned on his spear, watching with narrowed eyes. I frowned, wondering what that look meant. Probably unusual for someone like Rosamae to enter this place.

  Worried he might stop us, I submerged, flaring my gills to take in water. My eyes adjusted slowly, revealing Rosamae ahead, her feet skimming the submerged sand before she kicked off. The ground sloped down, tiny plankton giving the underwater world an ethereal glow. She glanced back through her fish-mask, gesturing me onward.

  I breast-stroked after her, picking up pace as we entered a wide tunnel. We passed poorly-dressed Tidewalkers heading out, some wearing strange masks with tentacles and bulging eyes. They reminded me of my defense mask—I had the ingredients and base carved, just needed time to finish between whatever training awaited.

  Vents released large bubbles—the "air pockets" Rosamae mentioned. Far too sketchy for my taste. I'd expected actual air chambers, not this.

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  The tunnel opened into a vast submerged chasm. Stalactites jutted from the craggy ceiling, hanging above clay-sculpted structures. Some domes matched the stone walls, others bore iridescent scales. We passed waist-high kelp and red-scaled fish with horned foreheads.

  Rosamae looked everywhere at once, clearly awestruck behind her mask. I couldn't blame her—being down here, floating weightless in warm, glowing water, filled me with a calm sensation that flooded my veins and relaxed my muscles.

  I wondered why they called this the Underbelly. No sketchy characters skulked about—there was no one swimming at all. And it was far cleaner than expected. Neither Cronia nor Gripjaw—asleep on my shoulder—commented.

  The peace shattered as something silver streaked overhead—a fish as long as I was tall. Instinct sent warning shivers up my spine as it turned, revealing an oversized pupil and razor teeth. Before I shout to Rosamae, the barracuda-thing shot toward me.

  I barely kicked right to dodge its strike. It zipped past Rosamae, who flinched, her movements painfully sluggish underwater. I activated hydrokinesis, burning MP to push as the water and lunge forward, swinging as the creature targeted her. My fist cracked against its face near the eye. It shrieked, its thrashing tail catching me with surprising force.

  I spun, clenching fists, considering my speed mask—but no. Without stamina or MP potions, I would risk exhausting myself.

  As the barracuda charged again, green light suddenly zipped around me, forming glowing lines like a cage. The creature slammed into the bars, shoving me back before biting down, driving me into the sand. I blinked at the sudden wireframe shield, spotting a similar one around Rosamae, her green spirit swirling.

  My shield cracked under the bite. I punched the creature's face repeatedly, smashing its eye until blood burst out. It screeched, thrashing back. Gripjaw shot forward, clamping onto its neck like a vice. The creature bucked wildly as bubbles of laughter escaped me.

  "Get him!" I screamed. "Bite out his throat!"

  A shrill, warped whistle pierced the water. The creature finally shook Gripjaw off, but instead of attacking again, it disappeared behind the domed structures.

  I stood staring after it as Gripjaw returned to cling to my wireframe armor. Rosamae bounced up beside me, her fish-mask fixed on where our enemy had fled. I almost asked if she was sure she wanted to continue, but wouldn't dare—not just because of the bond quest, but, well…

  I poked the shield surrounding me. "Nice," I said, glancing at her, my voice waterlogged and warped. She didn't look over, probably unable to hear well underwater. I watched where the creature had vanished, half-expecting it to return with reinforcements.

  I rose to my feet and patted her shoulder, nodding the direction we'd been heading. She nodded quickly, pulling out her surprisingly water-resistant paper. As we hurried along, I kept shooting glances over my shoulder, unable to stop thinking about that whistle. Perhaps the attack wasn't random—someone had sicced that creature on us.

  My thoughts exactly, Cronia said, making me jump. She chuckled.

  If you're going to speak to my brain, I thought back, at least warn me, especially after a fight like that.

  Will do, she replied. And don't worry, I've got your back.

  I nodded appreciation, still not sure I fully grasped having a goddess beside me. It had happened so suddenly, yet felt almost normal, like she'd always been there. I'd never admit it, but having someone like her with me in this strange world bolstered my spirit more than I could express.

  Rosamae pointed toward a towering wall of undulating kelp ahead, the strands reaching four or five times my height. As we approached, a webbed hand shot out, shooing us away.

  "Go away!" A face peeked out—a mask shaped like a fan shell with angry cut-out eyes. "Leave!"

  "I'm a friend of Kor!" Rosamae shouted, her waterlogged words barely discernible underwater.

  The shell-faced man cocked his head, then disappeared. After what felt like forever, he peeked back out. "My apologies, she's been expecting you…” His eyes lingered on me before he vanished.

  Rosamae and I exchanged glances before entering the kelp forest. She pressed close, grabbing my arm. I straightened, eyes widening at her touch, my heart giving a quick one-two flutter. Frowning, I shook my head and pushed forward, helping her through the swaying strands.

  Finally breaking through, we faced a vast, nearly imperceptible dome. We froze, trying to peer through its blurred, warped surface at what looked like white sand beyond. After hesitating, I reached out. My hand pushed through through the dome and into air. What the…

  We stepped through together, Rosamae still holding my arm. I blinked away water as grinding metal reached my ears. There, at the center of this vast air pocket, sat a woman—a Beachstrider! Her head was shaved, sharp fins jutting from her back. Scale-like armor covered her toned, athletic frame as she sat cross-legged, using a gray brick to shower sparks as she sharpened a wavy sword.

  "I didn't know your girlfriend was coming, too," she said, voice scraping. Heat rushed up my neck.

  Rosamae laughed.

  "Good to see you again, Rosamae," the woman said, finishing her sharpening with a flourish.

  Rosamae removed her mask, bowing slightly. "Good to see you as well."

  My eyes lingered on Rosamae a moment, warmth flooding through my chest.

  Before I could speak, movement caught my eye—a sword spinning toward me. I cried out and leapt aside as it stabbed into the sand. Looking up from Rosamae's surprised face, I looked to find the bald woman already charging her with the wavy blade.