The cold, salty air brushed against Alaric's skin as he forced himself to stay composed in the middle of the open sea. After diving through an underwater passage beneath the lake and finally emerging at the surface, he felt the fresh air greet him gently.
But reality hit fast. He gasped when he realized he wasn't anywhere near the shore as he had imagined. Instead, he was drifting far out in the vast, seemingly endless water.
Alaric furrowed his brow, trying to steady his breathing and adapt once more. He wanted to turn around and swim toward the distant coastline visible on the horizon. But his body was already weak, his muscles trembling and shivering more intensely.
Still, there was a small reserve of energy left that he could try to summon, pushing through the crashing waves with more precision and intention. He had to conserve his strength while still making every movement count.
