The Witch's Apprentice: Chapter 16
Dreamwater Depths
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In Chapter 15, Sarah and Lix completed the cure for Bás Báta’s broken tooth and embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to heal the ancient turtle dragon. The battle was intense, and by the chapter's end, Sarah was struck on the head and lost consciousness.
Now, let’s dive back into the story and discover what unfolds next.
Chapter 16: Dreamwater Depths
Sarah’s eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the soft, glowing light around her. The walls were made of smooth stone in shades of teal and gold, carved with flowing patterns. Stained glass windows, framed with coral-like arches, showed images of forests and stars. Light filtered through them, scattering colors across the floor.
A faint hum, like distant music, mixed with the sound of water trickling nearby. Lix snored quietly on the bedpost, his small form curled up in the glow. The bed beneath Sarah was soft, covered in silky sheets that shifted gently under her touch.
Through an arched window, she could see that she was underwater. Tall water plants swayed lazily in the current, their green strands reaching toward the surface far above. Schools of fish darted past, their silvery scales reflecting the dim light that illuminated the depths. Beyond the window, spires and arches rose from the loch floor, their stone surfaces covered in moss and glowing algae. Further away, the outlines of ruined buildings stretched upward, their broken walls and crumbled roofs vanishing into the murky blue.
Where the hell was she?
A soft creak of the door drew Sarah’s gaze, and Queen Lirael stepped into the room, a smile on her lips that never seemed to reach her eyes. “I’m glad to see you awake,” she said, her voice smooth and even.
Sarah pushed herself up slightly. “Where am I?” she asked.
Lirael glanced at the window and gestured toward it. “You are in Dreamwater Depths, realm of the fae. My kingdom.”
“What about Bás Báta? Is he... okay?”
“His tooth is healed,” Lirael said, her gaze drifting out the window. For a moment, she seemed lost in thought, as though observing something far beyond the room. Then, with a smooth turn, her attention snapped back to Sarah. “You must rest now. When you’re feeling better, I’ll keep my promise and tell you what I know about the old witch and her projects.”
With that, Queen Lirael turned and left, the door closing softly behind her. Sarah stared after her, questions swirling in her mind, but then she slumped back on the bed. She glanced at Lix, who was still snoring on the bedpost. She’d thought Bás Báta would kill them both in his rage, but somehow, they were still alive. Hopefully, Lix was just tired and not hurt.
The next morning—or at least she thought it was morning—Sarah stirred at the sound of a soft knock. The room glowed faintly, the strange underwater light casting rippling patterns across the walls. Somehow, time seemed almost meaningless down here, wrapped in this otherworldly glow.
Lix stirred on the bedpost, stretching his tiny wings before flitting over to land on her shoulder. “Morning, sleepyhead!” he chirped, back to his usual energetic self. “Have you seen the fish? They’re so shiny, like they’re enchanted or something—but I guess everything here is enchanted. Oh, and did you notice? The fae healed us. How cool is that?”
Sarah rubbed her temples, his rapid-fire chatter both a comfort and a mild headache. “Good to see you’re feeling better,” she muttered.
“Better?” Lix puffed out his chest. “I’m great! Did you know they brought us here through a portal? There were these massive golden stairs—I mean, huge stairs! Not really made for someone my size, but still, they—”
A cough interrupted him, and Sarah looked up to see a fae servant standing in the doorway. The figure was tall and willowy, their silvery skin glinting faintly in the room’s light. Their eyes, sharp and piercing, betrayed an air of impatience.
“Queen Lirael requests your presence in the throne room,” the servant said, their voice smooth but firm.
“Oh!” Lix darted toward them, hovering at eye level. “Is it far? What does the throne room look like? Do you have, like, underwater thrones? Is everything made of gold or shiny rocks? Do you—”
The servant’s expression didn’t change, though their gaze shifted to Sarah. “If you are ready, we will leave now.”
Sarah gave Lix a pointed look, cutting off his next question. “We’re ready,” she said, swinging her legs off the bed and standing. Her body felt surprisingly light and pain-free—a reminder of the fae magic that had healed her.
"Before we go, I need to cast a spell on you," the servant said, their voice even, as if this was the most ordinary request in the world.
Sarah hesitated, her hand tightening on the strap of her satchel. “What kind of spell?” she asked, her tone cautious. Lix shifted nervously on her shoulder, his wings buzzing faintly.
The fae servant inclined their head, their expression calm but unreadable. “A simple enchantment. The city lies entirely beneath the water. Without it, you would not be able to breathe or move freely. The spell will allow you to walk as you do above the surface and ensure you do not drown.”
“Breathing underwater?” Lix perked up, flitting into the air with excitement. “That sounds amazing! Do it, do it!”
Sarah shot him a skeptical glance. “And this spell… it’s safe?”
The servant’s gaze didn’t waver. “Perfectly safe. Queen Lirael’s guests are afforded every courtesy.”
Sarah nodded, though a knot of unease tightened in her chest. “Alright, go ahead.”
The servant stepped closer, raising their slender hands. Their fingers moved with fluid precision, weaving glowing threads of silver and blue light. The air shimmered faintly around Sarah, cool and weightless, like a mist brushing against her skin. The light sank into her chest with a soft hum, and for a moment, her breath hitched as a strange pressure filled her lungs. Then, just as quickly, the sensation faded, leaving her breathing easily.
Lix hovered beside her, his wings catching some of the silver glow. He twirled midair, testing the spell. “Wow! I feel all tingly. This is fantastic! Can we keep this spell forever?”
Sarah ignored him, flexing her fingers as if testing the air. Everything felt normal—exactly the same as before. She glanced toward the door. “That’s it?”
The fae inclined their head. “You may now move as though the water is air. Shall we proceed?”
The servant nodded and stepped aside, motioning for them to follow. “The spell is complete. You may move as though the water is air. Shall we proceed?”
“Finally!” Lix said, zipping past Sarah’s head, his wings humming with barely contained excitement.
Sarah chuckled softly at his enthusiasm but hesitated in the doorway. She glanced back at the room behind her. Somehow, she had felt safe there, but she knew she couldn’t stay there forever. Then, with a steadying breath, she turned back to the servant and stepped into the corridor.
Sarah trailed after the servant, her footsteps light on the smooth, iridescent floor. Lix flitted around her head, his tiny voice a constant murmur of observations. "Look at that carving! Is that real coral? Oh, those arches! How do they get them to shimmer like that?"
The corridor itself was mesmerizing—vaulted arches carved with flowing designs, their lines smooth and precise, as though the stone had been coaxed into shape rather than cut. Panels of mother-of-pearl inlaid into the walls glimmered softly, catching the faint light that seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Through an open window, Sarah glimpsed the world outside. Spires of gold and coral twisted toward the surface, their shapes catching the filtered light from above like submerged beacons. Long, undulating strands of water plants swayed between the towers, giving the city a dreamlike quality. But as her gaze wandered further, the perfect beauty gave way to something darker.
In the distance, shadowed ruins marred the landscape. Crumbled towers leaned precariously, their edges jagged and raw. One structure stood out—its skeletal arches and shattered stained glass suggested it had once been a grand cathedral. Now it was little more than a husk, hollow and broken.
“What happened to the city?” Sarah asked, her voice quieter than she intended.
The servant didn’t pause. “The queen will answer your questions,” they said, their tone as smooth and unreadable as ever.
Sarah lingered by the window for a moment, her fingers brushing the edge of the frame. "Guess I’ll save my questions for later, then," she muttered, casting the ruins a final glance before hurrying to catch up with the servant.
They descended a flight of smooth, winding stairs, the sound of their footsteps muffled in the watery air. The servant pushed open a grand door, and Sarah stepped out into a garden like nothing she’d ever seen.
Tall, glowing plants swayed slowly in the current, their movements creating soft, musical tones that resonated through the space. The sound was both eerie and beautiful, like an otherworldly choir. Fae figures sat among the plants, some holding delicate instruments that hummed in harmony with the shifting tones. Their music wrapped around Sarah, sending a chill down her spine.
Lix hovered closer to her ear, whispering, “It’s like the plants are alive—and singing! Do you think they understand the music?”
Sarah didn’t answer, too entranced by the haunting melody to speak. As they moved on, the garden’s sounds faded behind them, replaced by a still, expectant quiet. They entered another garden, this one centered around a series of pools.
Each pool was surrounded by carved stones that glowed faintly with magic. The water shimmered with a silvery light, casting strange, flickering shadows on the figures kneeling silently at the edges. The fae dipped their hands into the water as if in prayer, their eyes closed.
Sarah paused, feeling a strange pull toward the pools. The reflections in the water didn’t match the fae above them. Instead, they turned to look directly at her, their gazes unblinking and intense. She swallowed hard, stepping closer to Lix without realizing it.
The servant glanced back, their face expressionless. “This way,” they said curtly, gesturing for her to keep moving.
As they moved deeper into the garden, the quiet hum of the ritual pools faded behind them, replaced by the rhythmic sound of armored footsteps. Ahead, a group of fae guards emerged, their tall forms clad in gleaming armor crafted from polished coral and etched with gold. Their weapons—halberds with intricate, curved blades—caught the faint light, giving them an otherworldly glow. The guards moved in perfect synchronization, their steps fluid and precise, like a single living machine.
As they passed, their piercing eyes lingered on Sarah and Lix, sharp and assessing. Sarah felt a prickle of unease, their gaze heavy and unyielding. Lix flitted slightly closer to her, his wings buzzing faintly with nervous energy.
“Who are they?” Sarah whispered to the servant once the guards were out of earshot.
The servant’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “I would rather not talk about it,” he said, his tone flat. “The queen will tell you what you need to know.”
Sarah frowned, glancing back at the retreating guards. The knot of unease in her stomach tightened, but she said nothing more and followed the servant.
On the far side of the garden, an enormous structure rose into view. Its walls were a mix of shimmering stone and coral, with veins of glowing blue running through them like liquid light. At the center stood a pair of massive double doors, each one carved with swirling patterns that seemed to move and shift, as though alive.
Two mermen flanked the doors, their powerful tails gleaming with iridescent scales. Each held a halberd, the weapons’ sharp edges glinting in the dim light. Their cold, unblinking eyes fixed on Sarah and Lix as they approached. For a moment, Sarah thought they might speak, but instead, they stepped aside silently as the servant stopped in front of the doors.
“The queen has summoned them,” the servant said, their voice calm and measured.
Without a word, the massive doors began to swing open, the carved patterns glowing faintly as if responding to some unseen magic. A faint breeze carried the scent of salt and flowers, cool and strangely soothing.
Sarah hesitated, her grip tightening on her satchel as she glanced at Lix. He gave her a small nudge on the shoulder. “Well,” he said, his voice quieter than usual, “guess this is it.”
Taking a steadying breath, Sarah stepped forward, the faint hum of the magical doors lingering in her ears as she entered the queen’s throne room.
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