Chapter 7: Outside of Walpole in the Earth
The pulse of Knower's energy still hummed faintly in my chest as we slowly moved through the cavern. Jim's grip on my arm was tight, still shaken but steady. The chamber had given us answers — or at least glimpses of them — but there was no time to linger. Bull Rock's retreat was temporary, and his reach extended far beyond Knower. We needed to regroup and find another path, one that might lead us outside Walpole itself.
"Do we… leave the water?" Viola asked quietly, her eyes scanning the crystalline walls. "I mean… is it safe?"
I shook my head. "Not exactly. But the map Aeliana found shows a tunnel — a passage that leads from the ocean chambers up toward the Earth itself. It's… risky. But it might be the only way to see what's happening above."
Josh looked skeptical. "Above? You mean outside Walpole? Into the open Earth?"
"Yes," I said, adjusting my trident. "We need to understand the bigger picture — the seismic shifts, Bull Rock's plans, everything. Staying down here won't be enough. If the ocean beneath Walpole is shaking this much, the surface world is likely affected too."
Maxi exhaled heavily. "Great. More danger. Just what I needed."
Jasmine floated beside Viola, her expression calm but resolute. "We've faced worse. Together, we can handle it."
I nodded, drawing a deep breath. "Let's move."
The passage was narrow and steep, forcing us to swim upward at an angle unlike anything we'd faced before. The walls of the tunnel were jagged, sharp coral jutting into the path. Water swirled violently, remnants of Knower's residual energy lingering in turbulent currents. Every pulse reminded me that the palace was alive, aware, and still watching us.
"Careful," I warned, leading the group. "The currents here are unpredictable."
We climbed slowly, each movement deliberate, using coral outcroppings as handholds. The light from Knower faded gradually, replaced by a faint glow from bioluminescent moss and phosphorescent fungi clinging to the tunnel walls. The environment felt… ancient, primal, as though we had entered the very veins of the Earth itself.
"I've never seen anything like this," Aeliana whispered. "It's like the Earth has a heartbeat."
"Exactly," I said, feeling the rhythm in the tunnel's vibrations. "And I think the tremors beneath Walpole are part of it. The ocean and the Earth are connected. The Core… Bull Rock… all of it. We need to understand the link."
Suddenly, the tunnel opened into a cavern unlike any we'd seen. Sunlight — filtered and fractured — poured in from a crack in the surface above. Dust motes floated in the light, sparkling like tiny stars. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, and pools of water reflected the glow, creating a surreal, dreamlike effect.
We had emerged above the ocean, into a hidden part of the Earth that seemed untouched by time.
"Whoa…" Maxi breathed, staring in awe. "This is… unreal."
I scanned the area carefully, noting the plants, the strange rock formations, and the faint signs of movement. This place was alive, but not in the same way as Knower. Here, the energy was subtler, grounded in the Earth rather than the ocean.
Viola floated closer to me, eyes wide. "Do you think… Bull Rock can reach us here?"
"Possibly," I admitted. "But for now, this gives us an advantage. We can explore, understand, and maybe find a way to stop him."
We moved cautiously through the cavern, each step echoing slightly in the airless chamber. Jim stayed close, still shaken from his encounter with Bull Rock in Knower, but steady. I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We're together," I reminded him. "Nothing can take that away."
The tunnel narrowed again, leading us to a massive open chamber. Roots of ancient trees penetrated the stone, glowing faintly with bioluminescence, and small creatures skittered across the rocky ground. Pools of water reflected strange patterns, almost like they were showing us visions of the ocean below.
"This place…" Viola whispered. "It feels connected to Walpole, but also… separate."
"Exactly," I said. "It's like the Earth itself has hidden chambers, like veins and arteries. Knower is one part, this is another. And the Core… everything is linked."
As we explored, I felt a subtle pull in the air, a vibration through the cavern floor. My instincts screamed danger.
"Everyone, stay alert," I warned. "Something's coming."
From the shadows, shapes began to move — creatures unlike anything we'd seen in the ocean chambers. They were earthy, almost mineral-like, with jagged limbs and glowing eyes. Some had moss growing on them, blending perfectly with the cavern walls. Others seemed liquid, their forms constantly shifting, making it hard to predict their movements.
"Attack positions!" I shouted, raising my trident. The friends spread out, ready to defend themselves.
The creatures surged forward, testing us, but I noticed something curious: they weren't outright hostile. It was as if they were guardians, checking our intent. I signaled to the group to hold back, observing.
"They're… watching us," Aeliana whispered. "Not attacking… just assessing."
I nodded. "We need to move carefully. This place is alive, and the Earth is aware. One wrong move… and these guardians might change their behavior."
Jim stepped forward cautiously, his voice steady. "I think they want to test us… see if we're worthy."
I agreed, sensing the energy around us. "Knower tests our courage. The ocean tests our unity. This… Earth chamber tests our intent, our hearts. If we prove ourselves, maybe we gain its trust."
We moved slowly, showing no aggression, signaling cooperation and curiosity rather than fear. The creatures shifted to the sides, clearing a path. I breathed a sigh of relief.
"This way," I said, leading the group toward a distant archway that glimmered faintly, hinting at the surface world. "We keep going. We need answers — about the tremors, Bull Rock, and the Core."
As we walked, I glanced at the friends, noticing subtle changes. Maxi's usual jokes were replaced with focus, Viola moved confidently, and even Josh seemed more attuned to the energy of the place. Jim, despite the trauma of Knower, held his head high, determination blazing in his eyes.
"We've survived so much already," I thought. "Bull Rock, Knower, the seismic shifts… and we're still standing. Together."
Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly beneath us. Dust fell from the ceiling, and faint cracks appeared in the stone floor. The Core's energy pulsed faintly through the Earth, reminding me that danger was never far away.
"Earthquake?" Maxi asked nervously.
"No," I said, crouching slightly to feel the vibrations through the floor. "Something's moving beneath us. Bull Rock… or something connected to the Core. Either way, we need to be ready."
We advanced cautiously, staying close together. I couldn't shake the feeling that the Earth itself was watching us, that every step we took was being measured, weighed, judged.
At the far end of the chamber, a glowing pool shimmered, reflecting not only our images but faint visions of the ocean below. I could see currents, disturbances, and even shadows moving within.
"This is… incredible," Viola whispered. "It's like a mirror between worlds."
"Yes," I said, studying the pool. "And I think it shows what we need to do next. Walpole… the Core… Bull Rock… everything is connected through this… Earth and ocean together."
As we paused, catching our breath, I felt a presence behind us — faint, subtle, but unmistakable. I turned slowly, trident at the ready.
Bull Rock.
He had followed us, finding a way through the labyrinth of tunnels and hidden chambers. His eyes glimmered with malice, and he smirked. "Thought you could escape me?" he hissed. "The Earth cannot hide you from me, Jatex. Not one step."
I clenched my teeth, feeling the Core's pulse faintly through the stone beneath me. "We're not hiding," I said, voice steady. "We're ready. And this time… we won't be caught off guard."
Bull Rock's eyes narrowed, and the chamber seemed to tremble with his rage. The guardians shifted subtly, the creatures we had passed now watching, waiting.
I glanced at the friends. "Together," I whispered. "No matter what comes, together."
And as Bull Rock surged forward, the Earth itself seemed to stir, ready to witness our next move.