Unlock new chapters and exclusive illustrations at https://www.patreon.com/Rayish.
Slowly but surely, Aiz stepped into the pool. The water touched her feet, then rose to her waist, and finally her shoulders. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and fwooosh, a gentle breeze wrapped around her body, lifting her slightly above the water's surface. Little Ariel was active again, helping her float calmly.
With her body upright and legs dangling, Aiz began to paddle with her hands. Her movements weren't fast, but they were steady. She moved straight across the pool, heading in the opposite direction from where she started. Soft ripples formed around her. Her golden eyes remained closed, her focus unwavering.
Yet, as she passed the midpoint of the pool, the faint pressure began to waver. The flow of Little Ariel weakened, and Aiz's body swayed slightly. Instantly, an old memory surfaced—the shadow of her younger self, trembling in a damp dungeon corridor, alone… her body pale, her breath choked, the distant echoes of monsters growling.
I'm going to drown again…
She was no longer Aiz Wallenstein, the strongest fighter of Loki Familia. She was just a little girl… frightened, shivering, hiding behind a large rock, praying not to be found by monsters. Her chest tightened. The wind vanished. Her body began to sink into the water—
But suddenly, a voice echoed. "Come on, Aiz! Just a little more!"
Lefiya.
That voice didn't come from a monster or the darkness. It came from a friend. From a safe place. A place to return to.
The shout cut through the darkness in her mind like light. Warmth seeped in, replacing the fear. Aiz began to remember—she wasn't alone. Shirou and Lefiya were with her. She was no longer a helpless little girl. She was a fighter. She could reach for their hands.
In her mind, the little Aiz felt two hands supporting her—one warm and strong like Shirou's, the other gentle and soothing like Lefiya's. They didn't say anything, but their presence was enough.
Whoosh… Little Ariel's wind wrapped around Aiz again, this time far more stable than before. Her breathing calmed, and her body felt lighter. The water no longer frightened her. With one final stroke of her arms, she touched the far edge of the pool.
Aiz opened her eyes. There, Lefiya was waiting with an outstretched hand and a hopeful expression.
"I did it," Aiz whispered.
"Yes, you did!" Lefiya exclaimed, nearly jumping with joy.
From across the pool, Shirou raised a hand high. "Well done, Aiz! That was way smoother!"
Aiz felt relieved. Finally, she no longer felt like she was drowning—neither in the water nor within herself.
Standing on the opposite side, Shirou watched Aiz, who was still with Lefiya. The water around him was calm, but in his heart, he knew—this wasn't the end. He furrowed his brows, trying to read Aiz's expression. Even though she had just overcome a great trial, it wasn't enough to prove her consistency.
So, in a gentle yet serious tone, Shirou called out, "Try swimming back here, Aiz."
Then, with a slight squint, he added, "Who knows, maybe that was just a fluke."
"Huh?" Lefiya immediately turned her head, her eyebrows rising and her cheeks puffing slightly, as if she couldn't believe what she'd just heard. "Shirou! You're being way too dismissive!"
Her voice rose half an octave. She turned to Aiz and added, "Aiz can definitely do it! But let her rest firs—"
"I can," Aiz suddenly interjected.
Her voice was soft but firm. She didn't look directly at Lefiya, only giving her a small nod, as if saying I'm fine.
Aiz took a deep breath. She closed her eyes briefly, feeling the water's ripples against her stomach… then summoned the wind.
Whoosh…
Little Ariel swirled around her again. This time, it was calmer, more stable—no longer feeling like an urge to flee, but more like newfound confidence growing from within. Aiz began to move.
Her hands paddled lightly, her body gliding with a grace she had never felt before. Little Ariel supported her like invisible hands guiding her through the water. Not fast, but steady. Each movement brought her closer to Shirou.
There was no more doubt. No more fear.
Even if she failed… they were there.
Shirou. Lefiya.
The water that once terrified her now felt like an embrace. Warm. Gentle. Like… home.
Aiz felt as if she could let go of her burdens. Her obsession with becoming stronger, her grudge against the One-Eyed Black Dragon… all of it blurred. Not gone, but for now… unimportant.
What mattered was this feeling that she was accepted. That she could be weak. That she could fail… and still be loved.
If only this warmth could last forever…
Clap! Clap!
The sound of Shirou's applause greeted her as Aiz reached the edge of the pool. A faint smile appeared on the young man's face as Aiz looked up at him, slightly out of breath.
"I made it," Aiz whispered softly.
Shirou responded with a warm nod. "You were amazing. Well done."
Before the moment could grow too quiet, the sound of splashing water came from the side of the pool.
"HAH!" Lefiya approached after running around the pool, her chin slightly raised. "See?! What did I tell you! Don't underestimate Aiz!"
She pointed a finger at Shirou, half-scolding, half-proud, like a mother whose child had just won a swimming competition.
Shirou raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. My bad. I admit it."
Lefiya let out a small huff, but her smile was unmistakable. She then turned to Aiz and patted her shoulder.
"Well done, Aiz. You were really cool just now."
Aiz gave a small nod… and for a moment, that small, warm smile returned to her face. Not a smile of victory. But a smile because… she knew she wasn't alone.
Aiz's spirit still burned brightly, even after the mentally exhausting training session. She gazed at the bottom of the pool, which appeared calm from the surface, but deep below, a faint glimmer could be seen—the reflection of light from the dungeon corals that were part of their quest. She clenched her fist lightly, then turned to Shirou and Lefiya.
"I'm going down. I need to finish this myself… as I promised." Her voice was low but resolute, carrying unshakable determination.
Shirou, still standing at the edge, narrowed his eyes slightly. There was clear hesitation in his gaze. "Aiz… wait a minute. Diving is different from swimming. Are you sure you don't want to practice a little first?"
His tone wasn't condescending; it was sincerely concerned. He knew Aiz was stubborn, but he also knew that trauma didn't always disappear so quickly.
Yet Aiz's golden eyes met his without a trace of doubt. "The water is no longer my enemy," she stated flatly, yet with conviction. "And Little Ariel… is stable now. I can control it completely."
Shirou still looked uncertain, but before he could say anything else, Aiz took a deep breath and bent forward, ready to dive. However…
Just before her body touched the water, Aiz's expression changed. She froze. Her face remained as calm as ever, but there was a slight furrow in her brows—a sign that something was bothering her. Her chest felt tight, not from fear, but from a sudden loneliness rising from within.
Slowly, she turned back to the two people who had been with her throughout this training.
"…Can you dive with me?" she asked softly, almost like a shy whisper. "I'll still collect the corals myself. But… I want you there with me."
Lefiya looked at her for a moment, then smiled gently. But before she could respond, Shirou was already answering, "Of course. If you feel like you can't handle it, just let us know."
He then dropped into the pool with a soft splash! And swam to Aiz's side. Raising his head above the water, he grinned slightly. "Besides, who could bear to let you dive alone now?"
Lefiya followed, gracefully jumping into the pool with a small splash. She pinched her nose briefly, then frowned. "But… how do we talk underwater? We can't chat like we do on the surface, right?"
Aiz answered simply. She raised her hand and tapped her shoulder twice lightly. "If I tug your shoulders… that means I need help."
Simple, clear, effective.
Shirou understood the assignment. "Got it. Code accepted."
Lefiya nodded quickly. "Got it! But don't tug my shoulder suddenly from behind, okay? I might panic!"
Aiz exhaled softly, then looked up at the crystalline sky above the dungeon. And then she dove.
Byurrr…
The water embraced her completely. This time, without hesitation. With two figures behind her—people she trusted with all her heart—she descended into the depths with a light heart.
With a light heart, Aiz truly immersed herself in the depths without fear. The faint light from above reflected off the rippling water, creating shimmering patterns on the calm walls of the pool. Though there were no fish swimming, no sea creatures to adorn the view, to Aiz, the sight was still captivating. The water was clear, calm, and silent.
She glanced around—empty. I thought there'd be monsters or fish swimming here, but… Aiz narrowed her eyes and remembered.
Oh… they must have fled or died because of Shirou, she thought. She recalled vividly how the young man had fired lightning magic arrows into the pool repeatedly.
Aiz shook her head slightly, then directed her body deeper, letting the gentle wind of Little Ariel guide her like a subtle whirlpool. The magic didn't push or pull—it simply embraced her and guided her slowly, like small waves leading a child to shore.
At the bottom of the pool, moss-covered rocks lay flat, as if arranged by a god's hand. But in the center of that surface gaped a dark hole—like the maw of a giant—connected to the main river system. From there, a small current whispered of hidden life lurking in the darkness.
Right around the mouth of the hole, bright colors began to appear—corals.
Aiz stopped moving, pointing toward the cluster of corals that looked like small stone flowers, colored pale blue, soft purple, and bright orange. She glanced at Lefiya and Shirou, who were diving not far from her, then pointed at the corals with shining eyes.
She quickly moved closer and began carefully plucking the corals one by one. Her hands moved swiftly yet gently, ensuring none were damaged. Slowly, her arms grew full, the colorful corals now crowding her embrace.
Seeing this, Lefiya approached and held out her hands, signaling subtly as if to say hand some over to me. Her eyes smiled even underwater, and her light brown hair fanned out beautifully in the blue light of the pool.
Aiz looked at her for a moment, then, without hesitation, handed over some of the corals to Lefiya.
But then…
Duum…
The water around the hole rumbled.
Large bubbles rose from the darkness, and the ground at the bottom of the pool trembled. Aiz's eyes widened. From the dark hole, a massive shadow emerged, moving swiftly, its mouth wide open, teeth as sharp as thorns glinting in the light.
A shark monster! Big, fast… and hungry.
Aiz reflexively reached for her sword—only to grasp empty air.
No! I left my sword behind!
Her mind raced. Should she fight it… with bare hands? Wrestle underwater?!
She gritted her teeth, bracing to counter… but before she could move—
FWOOSH!
A silver streak shot from above, piercing the water like lightning. A massive, glowing trident struck the monster's head with absolute precision.
SKRRAKKK!
The monster instantly exploded into black ash, scattering in the water. Without even a sound, it vanished in an instant.
Aiz looked up. There, Shirou, still half in a swimming stance, stared at her flatly as he lowered his right hand. A faint blue glow lingered on his wrist—the trace of a projection.
Aiz could only stare… then gave a small nod.
Thank you…
Shirou responded with a slight nod, then swam closer to the monster's remains and retrieved the purple magic stone floating slowly in the water. The stone was still warm, pulsing faintly as if holding the remnants of the creature's rage.
Meanwhile, Aiz refocused. She turned back to the remaining corals and, as before, began plucking them one by one.
The threat was gone.
And her promise still had to be fulfilled.
It didn't take long for Aiz to gather all the corals she needed. Her small hands now held the colorful clusters, while some were still held by Lefiya. She glanced at the bottom one last time, ensuring nothing was left behind… then looked up.
With a nod and a hand signal, Aiz signaled to Shirou and Lefiya that her mission was complete.
The three of them began swimming to the surface.
Shirou twisted his body and kicked the water rhythmically, while Lefiya flapped her arms and legs skillfully. But Aiz… didn't paddle at all. She only realized this as her body rose smoothly, as if lifted by an unseen current.
I'm not swimming like them… she thought, gazing at her motionless legs. Little Ariel… is carrying me up.
The wind enveloping her body felt like an invisible embrace, lifting her gently without her having to struggle against her weight. No pressure, no panic. Just tranquility.
A few seconds later, their faces broke through the water's surface.
Fwoosh—!
The air felt cool against their wet skin. The faint blue light hanging in the dungeon's sky welcomed them with a dim warmth. Shirou was the first to reach the edge, pulling himself up with a single strong motion. Water dripped from his red hair, splashing onto the rocks.
He didn't speak, only walked toward the small camp they had set up near the pool. Moments later, he returned with two medium-sized leather pouches slung over his shoulder.
"Here," he said, tossing them gently to Lefiya and Aiz, who were still half-submerged. "For the corals."
Lefiya caught hers with one hand, while Aiz took hers and began carefully placing the corals inside. Her movements were slow, almost like a florist arranging freshly picked flowers.
Once everything was neatly stored and the pouches secured, Shirou spoke again. His voice was flat, but satisfied.
"With this, two of our quests are done." He raised an eyebrow. "Want to head back to the surface now?"
But before he could take another step, Aiz's voice cut in, short and resolute.
"Not yet."
Shirou turned.
Lefiya, who was tying her pouch, also turned quickly. "Huh?"
Aiz was still standing waist-deep in the water, her wet blonde hair draped over her shoulders, her golden eyes glowing softly in the crystal light. She looked at the pool, then back at the two of them.
"I still want to swim," she said plainly, almost childishly, yet honestly from the heart.
Lefiya froze for a moment… then covered her mouth, stifling a small laugh. "You've taken a liking to swimming now, huh, Aiz?" she teased, her eyes crinkling with warmth.
Aiz didn't answer immediately. She only turned her gaze to the shimmering surface of the pool, then slowly walked back into the water, letting herself sink halfway. The gentle wind of Little Ariel began enveloping her again.
No words, but a warm expression played on her face.
As if saying, this is where I want to be with them, at least for a little longer.