The stream of water that had shot into the sky trembled.
For a brief moment, it lost its shape entirely and began to change. The column widened, twisted, and folded inward as if something inside it was taking form. Isaac narrowed his eyes and focused.
The form was a—
A sharp pain stabbed straight through his mind.
It was sudden and violent, like a needle driven through his thoughts. His vision blurred. His body froze midair, and for an instant he felt as if he had glimpsed something vast and wrong, something that did not belong within the boundaries of this world.
He blinked.
The pain vanished.
The towering stream of water was gone. In its place stood a beautiful woman with sea-blue hair that fell smoothly down her back and calm, matching eyes. She held an elegant umbrella in one hand, and with the other she lifted the edge of her skirt and curtsied.
"Greetings, Isaac. I apologize for revealing my true form earlier. Having just woken up, I was disoriented."
