Warsong | Celeste Academy Series Book #4

Chapter Thirty ⚜ The Undines' Sea (pt. 2)

"Then," Charles began. "How about we plan something out that can maximize the effect of this little experiment? The next wave should start any moment. We should have the scheme laid out by then."

Valeriana felt the thick determination in her heart as she nodded. "Let's do it."

"Oh yeah we will. And we'll do it in a way those demons get smacked on the face so hard they won't have any to show us the next time they try this crap with us!" Tamara popped her knuckles. "Oh hey, little undine boy's waking up," she quipped nodding to the undine they recently took to custody.

So-called little undine boy had average looks, but his physique was superior. The trademark golden tail was sported and he had toned upper body with fins protruding from both sides of the waists and on either arms. Calder had them too, but it seemed females had slightly different anatomy.

"Dastan," said Calder as he tapped on the arm eagerly.

Dastan didn't seem clearheaded, but there was trace of confusion in his eyes. His teeth elongated and his eyes glowed for a moment—a bright sheen of gold shadowing the original green.

His eyes scanned the room before they landed upon Valeriana. Voice, that didn't seem to belong to his body, reverberated.

"Take heed of the verity entombed by shadows.

Suns of gold eclipsed by silver moons high.

Darkness lie thorough; light hallow though hollow,

For the sake of one is a noble lie."

"Wait. What?" Valeriana stared at him incredulously, as she failed to catch on to what he just said.

Before she could ask him to repeat it, he fell asleep for the second time.

"Another riddle?" Tamara guessed. "We haven't even completely decoded the previous one yet!"

"Write it—" Keelan started, but was cut off when a tremendous impact hit the ship they were riding.

In an instant, they heard a yell, "Permission from the lord to abandon ship!"

"Large waves approaching! Seventh wave incoming!" someone followed.

A horn blared, coming from the top. Before it finished, however, another chorused from a distance—followed by a couple more.

"Unadra Larkovos!" Charles muttered, thick with accent and a rolling r. "No time for planning at all. Abandon ship!"

There was loud groaning and the sound of panicking on board.

"Holy sh—"

They glanced at Valeriana.

"—ip," she finished. "I was going to say ship. Holy—" The entire vessel rolled over like a dog begging for a treat, throwing them all off balance. "—SHIP!" Valeriana ended up screaming as she slid and hit the wall.

The floor became the ceiling and vice versa. They hit the water in no time at all and were flooded before anyone could react. Tamara and Charles had no problems dealing with water as it was their element—but Brindon, who had his face covered with his hands as he sank steadily, and Valeriana, a bit calmer than the rest while she held but still in panic, were not faring well. Keelan was had the worst case as he didn't know how to swim. He was flapping around helplessly, eyes wide and face puffed with air.

Fortunately, Diana and Calder were around. Diana came to the aid of Keelan with Tiger in her arms while Calder helped haul his friend Dastan. The cat looked beyond horrified being submerged in water—but knew it better than to struggle. Tamara dragged Valeriana along, kicking the door open as Iolani seamlessly melded into the water. The feathers which she used to fly hardened like scales, her tail elongating into wide flaps as the prickly feathers on top of her head experienced a sharp change—literally. The change was instant and she flew like she normally would.