As the lively feast continued, Marissa began to share her story. The flickering light from the fire in the center of the pavilion where they were grilling fish illuminated her face.
"I grew up here, in this village," Marissa began, her voice soft. "We lead a simple life, relying on the sea for our food and resources like Tharo said. I awakened my water element at 8 years old through the Spirit Awakening ceremony like everyone else.
Most of the folks in our village have water elemental companions too, so I was able to use our village’s dance techniques as inspiration for my battle arts, like so many others before me."
She paused, glancing around at the familiar faces of the villagers. "After graduating from the Sea Sect’s Coastal Academy, I went on various missions, trying to earn enough to support my village to pay them back for everything they did for me.
I’m still part of the Sea Sect right now, and still technically in the apprentice stage, but you luckily arrived during the time I take my annual month leave to visit home, help out, and bring back whatever money I can."
Marissa’s expression turned more serious. "Back then, when I had just first graduated from the coastal Academy, I learned about Durelia’s Martial Tournaments. At that time, our village was struggling. I didn’t have enough funds for better defensive armor for myself and we desperately needed to replace the parts of our village’s protection and defensive arrays.
The entire village pooled their money and used Tharo’s former elder position in the Sea Sect to get me into the Coastal Academy’s elite courses and supported me the entire time I was in the academy. I felt it was my duty to pay them back."
Lassim listened intently, feeling a deep sense of empathy. He admired her resilience and determination. He himself had never struggled or wanted for anything as someone lucky enough to be born in a noble house in a prominent kingdom in the middle of such a prosperous continent. It was a bit hard to imagine, but he felt for his situation. "You’ve been through a lot.
It’s admirable that you’re so dedicated to giving back to your community."
Marissa smiled, her eyes shining. "Thank you, Lassim. It’s been a hard journey, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Now that I’ve been in the Spirit Growth stage for a while, I’m close to reaching Spirit Transformation. Once I do, I can advance out of the apprentice rank and become a trainee.
I’ll be qualified to take on higher-paying missions and get more resources that I can pass along to the village’s children. I want to support them like they supported me."
Tharo, who had been listening quietly, decided to speak up. "Alright, alright, I think our guest has listened to enough of the sappy stories. I think I’m about to puke myself if this goes on any longer. Lassim, why don’t we take a look at that map of yours. We can help point you in the right direction for crossing the Southern Sea."
Marissa gave Tharo a strong glare and summoned a tiny blade of water to threaten him before dispersing it as Lassim nodded and pulled the map from his magic pouch. He unfurled it onto the blanket they were sitting on.
Marissa and Tharo helped adjust some of the plates of food and drinks out of the way to make space.
Tharo leaned in, studying the map carefully. He pointed to a small, sandy-colored strip of land. "This is where we are now. There’s no village marked here, which is nice to know for our safety, but this is our home. If you head east along the coast for about 30 kilometers, you’ll reach a port town called Sailor’s Rest."
"Sailor’s Rest?" Lassim repeated, committing the name to memory.
"Yeah, it’s got another name, but everyone just calls it that because it’s where all the Southern Sailing merchants end up to resupply and unload," Tharo explained.
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
Marissa chimed in, "I have a friend there who can help you cross the ocean. She’s a bit different and a bit unique, but she should have a way to cross the Southern Sea that’s much safer and will keep you protected from the Sea Beasts. The only requirement is that you know an underwater breathing technique and have a water elemental companion to make their acquaintance.
You’ll probably also have to pay, but since you’re a noble I doubt that’ll be an issue."
Lassim looked intrigued and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, money shouldn’t be an issue but… Underwater breathing technique? I don’t have one of those."
Tharo and Marissa exchanged puzzled glances. "You don’t?" Marissa asked, surprised. "But you have a water elemental companion, right?"
Lassim nodded and summoned Mari. The beautiful water elemental appeared, her presence immediately drawing admiration from the villagers still awake that hadn’t passed out from drinking alcohol.
Marissa approached Mari, her curiosity evident. "Mari, can you help Lassim breathe underwater?"
Mari emitted her thoughts into the surroundings, a first for her. "Lassim has never needed it, so I thought it wasn’t necessary." She gave her side fins a slight shrug.
Tharo and Marissa laughed. "You need to talk more with your partners, Lassim," Tharo advised. "They might be able to teach you things they can do instinctively."
Marissa smiled. "I’ll help you practice in the morning. It should only take a few minutes to get the hang of it."
Lassim scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed but grateful. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
As the conversation continued, the party began to wind down.
Several villagers and families fell asleep on the blankets, while Tharo invited Lassim back to his hut to sleep in the guest room.
Lassim said good night and found himself alone in a small but cozy palm frond room with a mattress and thin sheet blankets in the corner.
The next morning, Lassim woke up early, just as the sun was rising. He stretched and exited the room, only to be greeted by an already awake and busy Tharo, who handed him a plate of grilled fish and a mashed vegetable mixture.
"Good morning, Lassim. Breakfast is ready," Tharo said with a warm smile.
Lassim thanked him and savored the delicious meal.
After finishing, he set off to find Marissa, who was walking towards the village leader’s hut.
"Good morning, Marissa," Lassim greeted. "How did you sleep?"
"Morning! I slept well, thank you. How about you?" Marissa replied.
"I slept great, and the fish Tharo served for breakfast was amazing," Lassim said, feeling content.
Marissa chuckled. "I’m a bit jealous. I always loved the village leader’s grilled fish more than even my mother’s."
She then directed him towards the beachfront. "Come on, let’s get started with your lesson. It should only take a few minutes to get the hang of underwater breathing before we can set off for Sailor’s Rest."
Marissa led Lassim towards the beachfront, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the tranquil sea.
The air was filled with the sounds of waves gently lapping against the shore and the distant calls of seabirds. It was serene and Lassim admired the morning sun’s rays reflecting off the surface of the ocean.
As they reached the water’s edge, Marissa turned to Lassim with a confident smile. "Alright, let’s get started. The key to underwater breathing is to use the surrounding water mana when you’re underwater to filter the oxygen and breathe properly.
It might feel uncomfortable at first since you’ll need to fill your lungs with the water mana fully, but your connection with Mari and her instincts should help guide you through it."
Lassim nodded, his expression serious. "Got it. How do we begin?"
Marissa gestured to the shallow water lapping at their feet. "First, let’s get you comfortable with the sensation of the water mana filling your lungs. Step into the water and try to connect with it through Mari. Let her instincts flow into your mind as you guide it down your throat and airway."
Lassim stepped into the cool, clear water, feeling the gentle tug of the waves against his legs. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, summoning Mari to his side. The water elemental companion appeared beside him, her presence radiating a calming energy that eased his tension.
"Okay, Mari," Lassim whispered, "let’s do this."
Mari extended her fins towards the water, and Lassim felt the connection of her mana through him and its control of the water coming towards him.
He focused on the connection, allowing Mari’s instincts to merge with his own through their mental connection.
"Good," Marissa encouraged. "Now, try to draw the water mana into your lungs. It’s going to feel strange, but trust Mari and let her guide you."
Lassim nodded and took a deep breath which began to draw the swirling water into his lungs. The sensation was indeed strange, like inhaling a thick liquid that filled his chest. He definitely felt like he was drowning and ended up panicking and coughing up the water mana.
He coughed and coughed, sputtering as the sensation of the water mana filling his lungs had overwhelmed him. "This… this feels weird," he managed to say, his voice strained.
Marissa placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don’t worry, that’s normal. It takes some getting used to. Try again, but this time, fully trust Mari. Feel her own connection with you and use that as a guide."
Lassim closed his eyes once more, focusing on Mari’s presence in his mind. He felt her guiding him, her instincts merging with his own.
He took another deep breath, this time allowing Mari to control the flow of water mana into his lungs at a more comfortable rate than his attempt to do it all at once. The sensation was still odd, but it was more manageable with Mari’s guidance.
Slowly, the discomfort began to fade, replaced by a feeling of calm. Lassim could sense the oxygen being filtered through the water mana, entering his bloodstream and sustaining him.
"You’re doing great," Marissa said, her voice filled with pride. "You did it on the second try! It took me a week to learn how to do it as a kid. Though, I didn’t have my companion’s full body instincts to help since they were still in the Spirit Incubation stage when I learned. The more you practice, the easier it will become, too."
Lassim nodded, continuing to breathe through the water mana, occasionally sending new water mana in to replace the old oxygen depleted water.
With each breath, he grew more accustomed to the sensation, his body adjusting to the new method of respiration. He could feel the bond with Mari strengthening as well, their connection deepening as they worked together. He was able to feel better control over the mana which was surprising. He really should see what Zaphy can do instinctively like this as well.
After several minutes, Lassim opened his eyes and smiled and tried to talk, forgetting his mouth and lungs were filled with water. Water just spilled out of his mouth as he tried to say, "I think I’m getting the hang of it."
Marissa burst out laughing. "Hahaha, while your lungs are filled you won’t be able to easily speak while above the water. You’ll be able to speak a bit more normally, though muffled, underwater. With that, let’s go ahead and test that out. We’re going to go underwater and see how well you can maintain the breathing technique."
Lassim felt a surge of excitement and nodded his head instead of responding again.
They waded deeper into the water until it reached their waists. Marissa took a deep breath, filling her lungs with water mana, and then ducked beneath the surface.
Lassim followed her lead, refilling his lungs with fresh water mana and submerging himself.
The world beneath the water was a vibrant, shimmering realm. Sunlight filtered through the surface, casting dappled patterns on the sandy seabed.
Fish darted around them, their scales glinting in the light. It was a beautiful sight, one that Lassim had never fully known existed until this moment.
He focused on maintaining his breathing, drawing in the water mana and filtering the oxygen. With Mari’s guidance, it felt almost natural. He swam beside Marissa, feeling a sense of exhilaration and freedom.
Marissa gave him an approving nod, her eyes sparkling just like the surface of the water above.
She pointed towards a cluster of coral, gesturing for him to follow. They swam together, exploring the underwater world.
As they swam, Lassim marveled at the vibrant colors and diverse marine life. He felt a deep connection to the water, a bond that was strengthened by his partnership with Mari. It was a new experience, one that filled him with awe and gratitude.
Testing out his ability to speak underwater, Lassim gave his best attempt and noticed the immediate muffled sound that came out, "This was incredible," his eyes shining with excitement. "I can’t believe I’ve never done this before."
Marissa laughed underwater, which gave an odd sound. "You’re a natural, Lassim. You’ll be able to stay underwater for extended periods without any trouble now."
Lassim felt a surge of confidence. "Thank you, Marissa. I really appreciate your help."
Marissa waved off his gratitude, accidentally touching a fish’s fins as it swam by. It turned to glare at her before swimming off into the distance. "No problem at all. I’m glad I could help. Now, let’s get back to land and head to Sailor’s Rest."
Lassim nodded, feeling satisfied with his new ability and ready for the next leg of his journey.
They swam back to shore, where Tharo was waiting with a knowing smile.
"Looks like you did well," Tharo remarked.
Lassim grinned. "Yeah, thanks to Marissa."
Tharo clapped him on the back. "Good to hear. Thanks for stopping by our little village and spending time with us. I know everyone enjoyed your story last night and being able to see a fresh face is always exciting for the kids. Have a safe journey to Sailor’s Rest and feel free to visit us again in the future whenever you’re free. We’d be glad to have you."