Submission (#892) Approved

+4 shards (prompt)
+4 shards (408 words)
+1 eth shard (prompt)
+2 eth shards (Mastery character)

: +8 shards, +3 eth shards

Alorus wasn't entirely too sure how to feel about the recent developments. Usually, he'd have been entirely all too content to remain ashore, and watch his friends have fun in the ocean. Something about the depths had never exactly been appealing to him, and he'd steered clear of doing much that required him to hold his breath underwater, but Aiko had managed to persuade him.

She'd taken one look at the special potions that allowed oneself to take on an aquatic form and had grinned at him in a way that had immediately had him exclaiming 'no' quite loudly.

Alas, his friend was not to be deterred, for she had grabbed his arm, and despite his bouts of denial, had dragged him off to pay for both their potions, insisting that it would be a lovely spot of fun, and that he was due for an adventure anyways.

He thought otherwise, but Aiko had insisted.

Eventually, she had won him over, if only because she mentioned how much easier it would be for them to perhaps grab some fish while they were swimming, looking for those treasures. After all... it couldn't be that hard to find some could it? Anyone could do it!

It turned out that treasure hunting, specially underwater, where he couldn't reliably use his nose, which he realized right quick he was too used to relying on... was not as easy as it was made out to be. Not only that, but once again, the sheer vastness of the ocean was highly intimidating, and whenever they dived deep... Alorus felt a strange sort of unease. It did not matter that he was in an aquatic form, and he could not really, possibly drown in that form. The fear still remain in the back of his mind, like a worm, dancing and burrowing into his thoughts, searching for more, demanding to be acknowledged.

Aiko, however, had taken to the transformation splendidly, and scoured the floor with keen eyes. She didn't really find anything worth mentioning, but that didn't seem to matter. She was content enough with the experience, and bowed to return the following day, claiming there were too many nooks and crannies that had been left entirely unexplored because she'd been too preoccupied keeping her friend from panicking too much.

Either way, it had been a lovely, if terrifying experience, and Alorus made her promise the next outing, he would be allowed to stay ashore.