Michrinor: The Fates of The Heirs

Chapter 30 - The Battle on Serahughes Lake

The dawn broke over Serahughes Lake, casting a soft glow of pale gold and lavender across the misty waters. The small skiff, carrying Ava, Harvan, Taci, Yaroth, Svonman, Donamer, Jarvonus, Lanonir, and the two Momos, drifted steadily toward the distant silhouette of the Region of Loxca. The group, exhausted from their harrowing ordeal, rowed in silence, each lost in their thoughts, the weight of their journey pressing heavily upon them.

The lake was unnervingly calm, the only sounds being the gentle creaking of the skiff's wooden planks and the soft splash of oars slicing through the water. The mist clung to the surface, swirling in delicate tendrils that danced in the morning light, giving the impression of a living, breathing entity. Yet, beneath the surface, there was an unsettling sense of something lurking, unseen but ever-present.

Taci, ever vigilant, sat near the bow, her keen eyes scanning the water for any sign of danger. Her bow rested across her knees, ready to be drawn at a moment's notice. Despite the apparent calm, she could not shake the feeling that they were being watched.

Harvan, his massive frame taking up much of the skiff, was silent and brooding. His dark eyes were fixed on the island ahead, but his mind was elsewhere, wrestling with the knowledge that their trials were far from over. Lanonir, seated beside him, was deep in thought, replaying the events of the night and the loss of the "Path of Wisdom." The weight of that loss hung heavy on him, a constant reminder of how close they had come to disaster.

Svonman, the youngest among them, tried to keep his spirits high, though the tension in the air weighed on him as well. He glanced at Yaroth, who sat with his sword across his lap, the long braid down the center of his head swaying lightly with the motion of the boat. Yaroth's crystal blue eyes were sharp and focused, as if he were expecting something to emerge from the mist at any moment.

At the stern, the two Momos, Meepat and Lundas, huddled together, their big blue eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of fear. Meepat's fur was fluffed up, making him look even more like a tiny, round ball of fluff, while Lundas, ever the optimist, tried to keep things light.

"Look, Meepat!" Lundas chirped, his voice a soft whistle. "The mist makes everything look like a dream. Isn't it magical?"

Meepat, less enthused, whimpered. "I don't like it. It feels cold... and scary."

Lundas patted his friend on the back, his fluffy ears twitching in reassurance. "Don't worry, we've got everyone here to protect us. And besides, we're on an adventure! Isn't that exciting?"

Meepat let out a little huff but said nothing more, his eyes fixed on the water, watching for any sign of danger.

As they continued to row, the temperature plummeted, sending a chill through the group that made their breath visible in the crisp air. The once calm surface of Serahughes Lake began to ripple unnaturally, as if something immense was stirring beneath the water.

Taci's grip tightened on her bow, her instincts alert to the danger. "Stay sharp," she warned, her voice steady but low. "There's something in the water."

Before anyone could react, the lake erupted in a violent surge. A massive form broke through the surface, sending waves crashing against the skiff. The boat rocked perilously, nearly capsizing as the creature revealed itself—a monstrous, serpentine beast with scales as dark as midnight and eyes that glowed with a malevolent blue light. It was the Gorgolith, a creature of legend, feared by sailors for centuries.

The Gorgolith's body was impossibly long, its serpentine form twisting and coiling around the skiff as it circled them. Its scales glistened with a sheen of black ice, and its breath billowed out in cold, misty gusts, chilling them to the bone. The creature's eyes, glowing with unnatural light, locked onto the group, and a deep, resonant growl rumbled from its throat.