I’d been here before, but it never ceased to amaze me. Every time, beholding the vast and seemingly infinite ocean made me feel small and insignificant. It knocked the air out of my lungs. My mind tried to wrap itself around nature’s craftsmanship. Akvo was definitely one of my favorite places in the In-Between.
“Oh, wow…” Amelia mumbled.
“It’s all water, isn’t it?” Varga asked, his voice barely audible and his jaw dangerously close to the ground.
The portal had been set on one of the few islands on this planet. Most of Akvo’s inhabitants lived in majestic structures built above the ocean—dozens of cities sprawling for miles, with connecting towers spidering across the water.
“Yes. They’ve got plenty of underwater cities, too,” I said. “Bubbles made of ultra-resistant glass. It’s all metal on the inside, but they’ve built impressive ecosystems in each, with land, trees, and orchards. About nine hundred miles west of here, there’s a massive archipelago. It holds most of the dry land surface of the planet, and about seventy percent of the sweet water.”
“What about the remaining thirty percent? Where do they get it from?” Raphael asked.
Amelia was quick to answer that, her brain clearly a coffer of information. “Condensation systems and sweet water deposits beneath the ocean bed. They drill for it. They’ve got a solid system set up. I’m genuinely impressed,” she replied, flipping through the virtual pages of her tablet.
The island we were on was rather small but covered in thick rainforest. Animals prowled nearby. Birds’ trills trickled down from the rich foliage crown. Had it not been for the urgency of our investigation, I would’ve stayed longer on this stretch of beach. The portal was right on the edge of the woods, and we could see the water world stretching out into the distance. From afar, the observation towers looked like black pins, but I knew someone had already spotted us coming in. The water fae were known for their vigilance.
Therefore, the sound of a twig breaking behind us didn’t startle me. I figured someone would come greet us soon enough.
We all turned around to find a young male smiling as he stepped out of the woods. He wore Akvo’s military garb, a one-piece suit with scales covering him from neck to toe—black with iridescent blue metallic reflexes that glimmered whenever he moved. He was a lower-grade soldier. I remembered specifically that the officers’ uniforms were a bold turquoise.
“Hello there,” I said.
“You’ve come from Calliope,” the water fae soldier replied. “I was told to expect visitors. Welcome,” he added, then bowed before us.
I introduced myself and the rest of my team, specifying that we’d come on behalf of GASP. We had a base here, which I’d visited several times during my early training years. I knew most of the agents stationed here, but I didn’t expect to see them again this time—mainly because we had some Cerixian soil samples to find and zero time to waste.
“I’m Leffe,” the soldier said. “I’ve been assigned to escort you to one of our reception chambers in Shallimar. Someone will see to your request once you’re there.”
“Shallimar is close, right?” Amelia asked, her gaze fixed on her tablet.
Raphael rolled his eyes and snatched the tablet from her hands, prompting her to gasp. “Try to enjoy the scenery a bit more. It’s part of the joys of being outside in the world.”
“Hey, I have crucial information on that thing!” Amelia protested.
“Relax, I’m just going to keep it safe while you acknowledge your surroundings. Forget the technology for a bit.”
Amelia frowned and crossed her arms, though it did nothing to sway Raphael, who tucked her tablet into his backpack.
“Now I’m thirsty,” Herakles interjected as he put the empty casserole dish away.
“You’ll be well looked after in Shallimar,” Leffe said, smiling, then looked at Amelia. “Shallimar is just on the other side of the woods. It’s underwater, and there’s an access tunnel from this island. It’s where we’re going.”
We followed Leffe into the forest, occasionally gazing around at the exceptional biodiversity. The strangest creatures roamed this place—deer-like giants that lazily sauntered between the trees, blue-maned primates with big and round, almost white eyes and ridiculously long fingers, and a plethora of brightly colored birds, each as voluminous as a horse.
“Everything is overgrown here, I see,” Varga muttered.
Leffe chuckled. “The animals thrive in these parts. With the little land they have, size has proven crucial in their survival.”
“I take it there’s plenty of underwater life, too,” Eva replied.
“Oh, yes. I’d say eighty percent of Akvo’s fauna and flora has developed in the ocean, though we’ve made strides with fae-made environments, as well,” Leffe explained.
“In the cities above the water, I presume,” Eva said.
“Yes. Each settlement is self-sufficient, with patches of land on which they grow their food, basically. Orchards, gardens, fields of grain and aromatic herbs,” Leffe said. “But we do the same underwater, too. We have filtration systems that draw oxygen from the ocean water for breathing air. We use a special process to remove the salt in order to get drinking water, which is easier to procure than sweet water from the archipelago. The upper cities have condensation systems.”
“This place is amazing,” Raphael admitted, impressed by the water fae’s enterprising nature. “My people could learn a thing or two from you.”
“You’re a Perfect, right?” Leffe asked, and Raphael nodded in return. “Strava is beautiful. I’ve been there once. Surely, our worlds could exchange ideas and technologies. I don’t see why not. But it’s something you should address with our king and queen.”
“Later. Or another time,” Raphael replied. “We’re more interested in Cerix right now.”
“In what?”
Leffe didn’t know the details of our visit, it seemed.
Ahead, the forest became scarce again. Beyond, the dark blue ocean stretched, its surface rippling from the intensifying winds. With the sun up, the temperature was exceptionally pleasant. I kind of felt sorry for Varga, Eva, and Amelia, who were stuck beneath their hoods and masks until we got underwater.
“The shipment from Persea. It was a long time ago. I’m sure your superiors know more about it,” I replied politely.
As we stepped onto the beach, I had a nagging feeling that we were being watched. I looked behind me, and noticed the dark shadows swirling in Eva’s eyes. Farther back, however, there was nothing. Our left and right were also clear. Yet, my nape burned.
“What is it, Taeral?” Eva whispered.
I gave her a brief over-the-shoulder glance. “Nothing. I think.”
She seemed to accept my response, since she didn’t press me further. Instead, she shifted her focus to Leffe, who escorted us to the tunnel entrance leading into Shallimar. It opened up like a mouth, its edges coated in mother-of-pearl. Stairs led below, and, about thirty yards out, the ocean lapped at the sandy shore.
We went through the large tunnel, which was entirely made of solid, thick glass. It offered us a phenomenal view of the ocean and its millions of wonderful creatures, from the tiniest, clown-like little fish to its whale-sized predators. Shades of red, orange, and yellow rippled over large swaths of the ocean bed—luscious corals that filtered the water and sheltered billions of microscopic life forms.
