Descent into the Abyss

Chapter 41

Growing up, Marcus had no shortage of opportunities to swim in the creek and rivers that carved their paths through the Appalachian mountains. Open water however was a different story. With the waves pushing him back, Marcus fought against the pull of the current at the river's entrance.

"Don't fight against the current, Young Marcus," Kou whispered in his mind. "Relax yourself and feel the energy course through you. It will give you the strength to overcome the current without you needlessly exerting your muscles."

True to his words, Marcus relaxed and felt a surge of energy spread throughout his body. With a simple lunge forward, he sped through the water, breaking the drag of the current. Once again, his mind exclaimed for the accolades of this alien power, but his joy vanished as his targets came into view. After all, this wasn't a swimming lesson; it was a mission to protect the colony he endangered.

"Similar to how you manifest the element, you must focus on the source of power and the intent of which you're using it. With the amount of natural energy here, and your current level of proficiency, you should have little difficulty in manipulating the temperature of the water."

Marcus slowed his approach, letting the momentum bring him closer as he looked deep into the water. A swirling endless void existed under the gentle waves of the lake, stretching deep beneath him and beyond his vision into the distance.

"The fine line between having the strength to use this... And being consumed by it," Kou reminded him as Marcus closed his eyes and opened his mind, drawing in the raw energy.

"Focus... Intent... Clear direction..." Marcus whispered into the water splashing against his neck.

Marcus opened his eyes with slow hesitation, reaching out towards the grouping of boats. The six, idle in the waves, floated in a tight cluster to one another. Voices echoes into the night, Marcus snapping towards the sound, his hand outstretched under the waves. He glanced back towards the shoreline of the river, unable to see his help.

"Isn't that the point," He muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he kicked his legs and floated closer to the boats.

Again, he closed his eyes and felt the energy swelling around him and inside him. Opening them, he reiterated his directions and reached out towards the boats. The closest, now a mere few yards away, bobbed without regard, the captain away from the wheel.

"Focus..." He whispered, staring at the boats and the cluster as a whole.

He had to freeze them all in one go, or else they could separate and escape.

"Clear direction..." His breath misted as a chill radiated outward, flecks of ice breaking on the tips of the waves.

An inhale, breathing in the cooled vapor, his eyelashes fluttering as the energy poured inward. From his toes wriggling under the darkened water up through his legs kicking to keep him afloat, the energy traveled, filling him.

As the energy swelled within his lower abdomen and up through his chest, Kou's voice echoed in the background of his thoughts, "Be careful, Young Marcus."

A simple nod to acknowledge, but his focus remained unwavering. His chest trembled, whether from the chill, the adrenaline, or the energy, he knew not, but it was time.

"A simple, yet direct instruction," Marcus reiterated once more, reaching out as he watched the energy trickle through his shoulders and down into his biceps, forearms, and hands.

"Freeze..." He commanded with a whisper, the energy pouring out of him and into the water at his fingertips.

Marcus's eyes went wide as the chill became frost, turning to ice within a blink and stretching out towards the boats. As the ice encrusted itself around the first boat, an alarming shout echoed out.