The black water hurt through bone.
Ty noticed the wrongness before the pain found its shape. Pain usually needed a body to argue with. A nerve. A wound. Flesh trying to explain damage in the loudest language it owned. This water climbed his shins and chewed at places where muscle should have been, cold enough to make red fire pull tight against his ribs.
Behind him, JJ hit the water with a curse and a splash.
"Ty, slow down before your noble self-destruction drowns the rest of us."
He turned without leaving the flooded route.
"The Name Office route is the contest route."
"Good. We can contest with a plan and fewer dramatic exits."
"The face vessel keeps spending my name while we plan."
"And you keep spending yourself before anyone votes."
Omina landed behind JJ with Yun-Jin held against her side. Yun-Jin's boots struck the water and nearly went out from under her. Omina kept her up with one arm and paid for it with a sharp breath.
