Book 2 Chapter 19

The water priests followed after her immediately, along with the guards they had brought along with them. As Nerida moved forward, the Sea Beasts sensed the newcomers and diverted, moving in their strange swaying motion towards the coming prey. They swarmed towards the Holy Priestess, readying themselves as they sprayed more of the yellow liquid at her.

Nerida didn’t stop her feet as she waved her hand and the ring of water over her head flattened around her. It spread as it thinned itself until she was completely enveloped in its protective bubble. The acid hit the water and washed over the sphere, only to drip to the ground harmlessly around her as she continued forward.

Around the bubble, water collected into thin spikes of crystal clear ice. With a flick of her hand, Nerida sent the spikes flying. They whistled through the air before striking their targets, impaling the Beasts that stood in her way.

Behind her, the water priests followed suit. Their movements were nowhere near as clean or complex as Nerida’s, but they fought in groups, some providing simple shields while others attacked. Combining their forces with the guards they struck at the starfish while pushing forward after their Priestess.

Tirr watched and couldn’t help but admit that Nerida could give Maria and Claire a run for their money with how well she controlled the Shard’s power. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought he’d have given her the Blessing himself. Was it because of her connection with the old Apostle of water?

He looked back towards the water where Garm was still struggling with the Starfish. It had a firm grip on the great wolf now and was slowly pulling as it tried to drag them further into the water. Garm thankfully had managed to catch himself and was resisting, pulling away with all his might, but was still slowly sinking further and further down.

Tirr could only frown and curse at the wolf for its foolishness as he dodged another round of acid before smashing the offending Beast with a well-placed punch. He looked over towards Nerida who was still steadily working towards them and yelled out to Maria. “Move towards them! I need to help Garm!” With that, he took off towards the water without waiting for Maria’s reply.

Maria understood what he meant and took off as well, clearing the way with Bren's hammer as she moved through the Starfish tangle around her. She had long ago burned through what Faith she had remaining and was simply using her own strength now. She could feel herself tiring and knew Tirr had stayed nearby to keep her safe.

Without the ability to cast a full barrier like Tirr, every Beast she fought left her burnt by the acid that seemed to run through most of their bodies. The constant healing was wearing her down quickly.

Just as she finished another one of the Sea Beasts, she felt herself falter as another of the creatures behind her readied itself. Before it could attack, a bolt of ice struck it down, impaling it to the sand beneath it. She turned and found that Nerida had arrived without her notice.

“Thank you!” Maria managed to squeeze out, breathing heavily as Nerida enclosed her within the bubble.

“No need for thanks,” Nerida sighed sorrowfully, “If anything I should be apologizing for being this late.” She watched as Tirr approached where the two Beasts battled in the water before letting out another regretful sigh, “We better hold these back for now until the Lord finishes.” Maria nodded her agreement watching as Tirr moved forward as she gathered herself to continue fighting.

Tirr approached the shallows cautiously, looking up towards where Garm still struggled unsuccessfully to break free of the slow stranglehold the Starfish held him in. Looking out at them, Tirr knew he wouldn’t be much help himself from this distance.

He growled in frustration before channeling his Blessings, He focused on fire, on the heat and flame, while looking for the path within himself that had been left unused for so long. He found it quickly, glad that at least he hadn’t lost this connection out of the many before channeling the built-up flame down and out of himself.

Within the water, Garm fought desperately, sensing that the fight would end quickly if he allowed himself to be dragged in any deeper. While the great wolf fought and panicked, a sudden heat started his belly, spreading quickly through his body. Garm’s panic slowly faded as instinct took over. He tensed his body, focusing on the heat within before suddenly releasing it with and furious howl.

From the beach, Maria watched as Garm’s fur seemed to change, taking on a crimson orange hue as flames started to spread over his body. The heat was so intense that the ocean around the wolf started to boil and the Starfish holding him let out a long low screech as it let go in pain, pulling away its burnt arms as it tried to retreat deeper into the ocean.

Garm wouldn’t let it get away again though and quickly sunk his teeth into the escaping Monster. The Sea Beast let out another agonizing screech as it found its situation reversed from just moments ago.

Now Garm fought as he tried to drag the Starfish back up the beach by the arm as it desperately tried to escape the raging flames that burned around the wolf.

As they pulled against each other there was a groaning rip as the hard skin of the Starfish’s arm cracked and splintered. and the flesh underneath started to tear. The Starfish roared, swiping down at the wolf with its other arm, desperate to drive the wolf away despite the burn it would receive.

But Garm stood his ground, teeth sinking in even deeper as he steadied himself and pulled, still channeling the heat that had been lent to him. The tearing continued as more of the Sea Beast’s arm was torn away from its body. Finally, The Sea Beast seemed to have given up hope of saving its arm and simply jerked its body away from the arm. Acidic Blood gushed out as the arm was torn off, sending Garm flying back towards the shore. The Sea Beast let out another head-splitting cry as it took the chance to retreat, sinking back into the ocean behind it.

Tirr heard the water priests on the beach let out a cheer but frowned as he carefully watched Garm.

The great wolf staggered, dropping the torn arm into the water. As the flames around its fur faded, Garm’s head drooped, before suddenly his body shrunk, changing almost instantly to that of the small pup that Tirr always carried with him. As Tirr ran forward Garm’s body fell listlessly into the ocean beneath…