The Undine Realm

I again awoke to find Luna curled up and sleeping on my chest. This must be what it’s like to have a cat as a pet. It’s not the worst feeling in the world. That moment after waking brought back memories of my first moments in this world, where the plants, trees, grass, and air all sparkled brilliantly, but as the day wore on this effect became lost. My stirring woke Luna up and she got off my chest.

Anticipating what I would ask, Luna said, “Her Ladyship shall return shortly. In all likelihood she has gone off to talk with river spirits.”

“She looks human to me, but you introduced her as an undine. That’s some kind of water spirit?”

“Water elemental spirit, to be precise. Like you can move through air, she can move through water,” Luna said.

I nodded along, pretending to understand, but I hardly had the faintest clue what any of that meant.

“So what does that make you? You’re the same cat I saw in the house for rent, no?”

“Who can say?” she said with a shrug. “Cats have many roles: we are travellers and protectors. Though, even I don’t fully understand all the powers the King has granted me. Come, it’s about time we find her Ladyship.”

I put away my camping gear and joined Luna at the bank of the river. Marisa was nowhere to be seen. Luna took out her sword, sticking the tip of the blade into the river, where a light started to emanate outwardly in ripples. After a few seconds, Marisa emerged from the river bone dry.

“Well, your Ladyship, shall we continue our journey to the realm of the undines?” Luna asked.

“Yes, let us be on our way! Duty bound!” she exclaimed.

Luna gave me a look, though I had no idea at what she was hinting. We grabbed our packs and continued our traveling. Several hours passed in silence. Nobody spoke during that time. I had asked a question to Marisa early on about the realm of the undines and what it was we were going to do there—she responded with a dismissive "We need to save our energy for later, so no questions."

The route we followed led us along the path of the river, crossing a bridge where a tributary stream fed into the river. I half-expected to come across a troll at the bridge, but Luna informed me that trolls didn’t exist in this world.

We diverted and made our way upstream, leaving the river behind. The stream became thinner, branching into many brooks. Trees were replaced with reeds, flowers with rushes. All around us we were flanked by a great many ponds. The honeyed scent of the forest was replaced with the mix of peat and stagnant water. There was an unsettling air about the place, like a great many mischievous eyes had found a new victim. The sun was setting on the day.

The path we walked narrowed as stable, dry ground gave way to water-logged grass and we were forced to walk single file. I was placed as the rearguard; Luna: the vanguard. In the distance, I could see a grotto emerge, albeit still some distance away.

“Is that where we’re going to, the grotto ahead?” I asked.

“Yes, that is our destination. Grotto de Sevio, King Olaf’s lair,” said Marisa. “Do not dally, and keep close, for we do not wish to draw unwanted eyes.”

“I think it’s too late for that. I’ve felt like we’ve been watched this whole time,” I said.

Marisa spun around. “You have!? Why did you not say anything sooner?”

“I thought you could sense them too and it was no big deal.”

Marisa closed her eyes before responding, “Those are water nymphs. They delight in tricking foolish creatures. Make haste, all will be awake soon, and the marshlands must be out of sight.”

Young voices fluttered through the air on the notes of cheerful songs. Coquettish, golden bobs of hair danced beyond the reeds. Lanterns were lit in the distance, advancing on us.

“Do you hear that?” I asked.

“Don’t fall for their songs, Ferdinand! Stay on the path,” Luna shouted over her shoulder.

Soft, little footsteps danced around us, jumping from one lily pad to the next. The water nymphs were hidden among the reeds by the time I turned my head around. Then, some hundred yards ahead of us, a little girl jump out of the reeds and ran across our path. She wore no clothes, instead she covered herself with her long, golden hair. Strangely, her feet had no heels.

Luna and Marisa doubled their pace, while I struggled to keep up because of the heavy backpack. Marisa made it look effortless. The voices of the water nymphs grew louder, cajoling me to join them and play in the water. My footing felt sloppy in the cold waters of the marsh, sloshing with each step as mud and water sprang up around my heavy steps. I took a knee to catch my breath. When I looked up, a tanned face framed with golden hair was peering at me through the reeds ten feet away. Her eyes were looking at me, yet were focused on a distant object that only beings of this world could sense.

“Hey, this one ain’t a sylph!” cried the little nymph.

A small blast of water smacked the girlish creature in the face. Marisa had stopped, holding out her arm like a puppeteer.

“Begone! Do you not know who we are?” Marisa said.

“We don’t care. We want to play,” answered many water nymphs in unison.

Maybe the medallion the King gave me would get them to listen. If only I hadn’t buried it deep in my backpack for safe keeping. I got to my feet and trudged on. The lanterns that had once been far away had gotten closer—close enough that I could see a strangle little creature with bat-like wings carrying them.

“What are those lanterns?” I asked Marisa.

“Herwisch,” she said. “The noise has drawn them to us. In normal times, they prank lost spirits only at night by falsely guiding them with their lights.”

I watched the Herwisch as they moved around us, wary of getting too close. The grotto was near. I could see a raging fire near the entrance. Transfixed by the light, I lost my step and fell into the marsh. My hands desperately grasped for ground to pull myself back up, while my body flailed in the water. Laughter echoed around me as the nymphs laughed at my misfortune. The more daring ones held me down with their little hands.

“Release him,” Luna commanded, “in the name of the High Priestess.”

“Boo! You’re no fun. We want to play with the strange sylph,” the nymphs said.

They protested but their hands stopped holding me down. I climbed back onto the path. My clothes were drenched. The nymphs continued to jeer and pout at us for the remainder of the walk.

We climbed the stairs and walked into the opening of the grotto. The fire I saw from earlier was next to a large, wooden door. It was decorated with water lilies, fountains, and mermaids. I remarked that the knocker on the door looked like Luna the way it resembled a cat. My observation was met with silence. The two of them stood still, focusing on the door. Marisa took a deep breath and then pushed the door open.

We entered and stood still for a moment, letting our eyes adjust to the dim light. Torches lined the wall at infrequent intervals.

“Okay, so what are we doing here?” I asked. “I still don’t understand what the King tasked us to do.”

“I told you, we will receive divine objects that will be used for repairing the barrier,” Marisa said.

I met her gaze, but she averted her eyes.

“You have no idea what we’re supposed to do, do you?”

“Oh, look how wet your clothes are! Quick, let us march further inward where my father awaits us.”

She dashed off, heading further into the grotto. Luna shook her head and followed her.