The impact came without warning. Water splashed high over the rails as the deck tilted dangerously. It sent passengers tumbling down, screaming in terror. A child slipped from her mother's clutch.
"MAYA!!" the mother cried out, watching her daughter slip on the deck. She quickly followed, allowing herself to slide as well.
At the last moment, a hand gripped onto them, first Maya, then the mother. "Don't worry. I've got you," Straf caught the two, grasping them tightly in his arm, lest they fall in the turbulent waves. His muscles strained as he lifted them back to safety. Eris and the others reached out their hands, helping to pull them back into the deck.
From beneath the water's surface, a monstrous form broke free—a hard-shelled behemoth, almost as big as the ferry.
A giant crab!?
Its shell was lined with jagged chitin plates covered in thick, sharp spines that jutted out like spears. It looked less like armor and more like a weapon. Each of its claws was the size of a wagon, snapping with bone-crunching force. Its eyes were two beady orbs that glowed faintly just under its carapace, scanning for its next prey. But perhaps its most unsettling feature was the one on its back—a long arched tail like that of a scorpion, curling high above the shell, its massive stinger ready to attack.
The twin mages, Kia and Kiyel, took the lead, guiding the passengers to the center of the ferry.
"Stay low! Hold onto each other!" Kiyel shouted.
"Mister Morrick! Get us out of here, we'll hold it off!" Kia exclaimed, commanding the ferryman.
Kia raised her weapon, its gem began to glow with a steady rhythmic pulse, mirroring her heartbeat. More and more, she channeled Mana into the water stone. A chilling sensation filled her body, that of an invisible force flowing through her veins and out into her fingers.
The beast let out a deafening shriek—SKYYYYYYREECH!!—the noise echoed across the river, piercing through the panicked screams of the passengers. Kia remained focus, keeping her breathing steady.
With a heavy exhale, Kia shouted, letting go of all of the Mana she had been gathering. The Mana burst forth into the river, carrying her will. The water beneath the ferry moved against the currents and rose into a towering surge.
"TEMPEST WAVE!" she cried.
In an instant, the wave crashed against the giant Scorpion Crab with thunderous force, its carapace shuddering under the impact. The writhing beast screeched once more, but this time, not in menace but in distress. Its scorpion tail flailed wildly as torrents of water slammed it backward, foam and spray exploding into the air like shattering glass.
Kiyel, too, had been channeling Mana into his Lazuli staff, as Kia had done. Wisps of frosty air billowed from his lips as he felt something inside him crystallizing, like creeping tendrils of ice—it was not his flesh nor his blood but Mana. With coldness spilling from his breath, he thrust his staff forward and roared.
"ICE PRISON!"
The towering splash of water solidified, transforming into jagged spires of ice. The beast was caught in the middle, trapped within the frozen structure, drifting away from the vessel.
In that moment, the terrified passengers sighed a collective breath of belief. Their shoulders sagged and fearful eyes softened. Though they kept silent, everyone had been thinking the same thing: Thank the gods! We're alive.
"Mister Morrick, go.. NOW!!" bellowed Kia, exhaustion evident in her tone as her vitality was drained from the last attack.
With the beast stuck inside the icy prison and being swept away by the currents, it was time to escape—and fast. Morrick took control of the ferry again, twisting the steering wheel with utmost urgency. The hull fought against the turbulent waters, but under his command, the ferry moved swiftly across the river's surface. His eyes fixed ahead, desperate to put as much distance as possible between them and the monster.
The two mages remained vigilant. They hadn't killed the giant crab, but only restrained it so they can flee. There was still the chance that the crab managed to break free and pursue them, however unlikely. Giant Scorpion Crabs were not known for their swimming prowess. The ferry had probably passed through its territory and the crab just rose to the surface sensing prey.
"Stay calm. We're out of danger," Kiyel assured the group, counting the number of passengers to see if some might be missing. Fortunately, all were accounted for.
"The monster crab doesn't swim fast so you don't have to worry. However, please stay in the center of the deck, for now," Kia added, further mellowing the situation. Their actions proved they were veterans trained to protect lives from these dangers that lurked in the Great River.
Come late afternoon, the Sun had began to sink into the horizon, the skies were painted with alluring shades of crimson, orange and yellow. The river captured every color, turning its water into a sea of flames and ripples. Its beauty stilled the breath and even made the weary passengers stare in wonder.
"Excuse me, miss. We just wanted to say thank you for saving our lives back there," Eris approached Kia who was stationed at the bow of the ferry.
"Don't mention it. Just doing our jobs," Kia replied, her tone steady and composed. She remained vigilant despite the calming sunset—a testament to her unwavering professionalism.
"Here, take this," Eris said. "A token of our gratitude.. from me and my friends," she stretched out her arm, handing a gold coin to Kia.
Kia froze for a moment, the worth of a gold coin was not something to be taken lightly. "You don't have to do that. We're getting paid either way," Kia tried to refuse Eris' offer, shaking her head and lifting her hand in a firm gesture, bidding Eris to keep the money.
"Well, well.. What do we have here?" Kiyel cut in, interrupting the two girls, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
"Kiyel, you're needed at the back! No one's guarding the rear if you're here," Kia exclaimed with furrowed brows, her tone clearly frustrated.
His eyes flicked to the coin shining between Eris' fingers. "Oooh, I see. If my dearest sister here refuses your offer, I can take that coin off your hands, most kind miss," he teased.
"Kiyel! We're not here to ask money from passengers!"
"I wasn't asking! She offered, didn't she?"
"Um.. I guess that's fine. We wanted you two to share it," Eris said, trying to appease both sides, her expression sincere. "We really wanted to thank you both."
The twin mages exchanged a long silent glance, continuing the argument in their minds with a staring contest.
Kia let out a small sigh, conceding at last. "Alright then.. If you insist," she said, knowing she wouldn't win against her brother's persistence.
"Nice! I can finally ask Zora to go out on a date with me!" the grin on Kiyel's face stretched wider as if he'd just won a small victory. He shook Eris' hand eagerly, like a child delighted with a prize.
"Forgive my brother. What he lacks in manners, he makes up for in.." she turned and looked to her brother, her eyes glaring, "sincerity. He means well, I assure you. Thank you again, miss?"
"It's Eris. And don't worry, I understand. I have one, too," Eris gave a soft smile, memories of the countless fights she'd been in with her own brother, Deeno, filled her mind.
How is he doing now? And Mom? I better write to them soon.
"Oh sorry, I didn't catch your names."
"I'm Kia and this is my brother Kiyel. It's a pleasure to meet you, Eris."
The ferry pressed forward, drifting steadily toward its destination. By dusk, it slowed to a halt at a rickety wooden dock, its planks raised on stilts above the water and mud.
"Oi, first landing! We've arrived at Murkborr!" the ferryman roared, raising his voice to wake some of the sleeping passengers, lest they miss their stop. "Anyone bound for here, stand ready!"
Eris looked at the map she got from Masa and called out to her party, "This is us."
They've reached Murkborr, the swamp village.