The Lizardman and the Sea (3)
"Really, if it weren't for the request from the Genesis Dragon, I wouldn't be doing anything like this!"
A water spirit that had been drifting aimlessly in the deep ocean grumbled while half its body dangled into a clear spring.
"The water's clean, sure, but this is way too cramped. Couldn't you have made a bigger spring?"
"If you don't like it, want me to swap you out with someone else?"
At my words, the water spirit paused for a moment before shaking its head in resignation.
"W-well, since the Genesis Dragon herself asked, I can't exactly refuse. Lady Tethys said she hopes I'll help with whatever the Genesis Dragon wants to do!"
That's what it says, but I know its mouth is twitching just a little at the corners!
Drifting endlessly in the deep sea vs. granting my request and living on the surface— if I made it choose, the answer's obvious.
Especially for a water spirit branded a problem child by Tethys, doomed to wander the abyss.
"So, when's that lizardman supposed to show up?"
"He's starting to climb the mountain now, so he'll be here sometime today. No need to worry."
"W-who said I was worried?! I just want to get out of this tiny, stuffy spring!"
The water spirit spouted classic tsundere lines.
Well, if the lizardman doesn't come, it'll be stuck here forever!
Queo-Tlan climbed the mountain and met the water spirit at the spring on the summit.
Or rather, "met" might not be accurate.
The lizardman couldn't see the spirit with his eyes.
But he could sense something immensely powerful dwelling in the clear spring.
The presence of a pristine water spirit living in the transparent waters.
"This is the first time anyone's come here."
The spirit whispered softly to Queo-Tlan as he touched the spring, startling him.
He'd heard plenty of stories about spirits, but never that one would speak so clearly to a stranger it wasn't close to.
Stories of spirits with strong wills and distinct egos possessing great power, sure—but not ones that initiated conversation like this.
The Water Spirit King, master of all currents, maybe... but not this.
"You there, scale-bearer. What brings you to this humble spring?"
Sensing the invisible yet overwhelmingly powerful spirit, Queo-Tlan replied in a low voice.
He'd never befriended a spirit himself, but he'd heard plenty from shaman friends.
Befriend them, and you could borrow their power.
"I wish to cross the Lake of Death."
"The Lake of Death? You mean the sea?"
Queo-Tlan tilted his head at the spirit's words.
Was that lake called the sea?
Lizardmen didn't know such terms.
Perhaps they'd deliberately hidden the word "sea."
After all, just approaching it threatened life itself.
"I didn't even know it had a name like 'sea.' We lizardmen had no such word."
"Like a frog in a well, unaware of the vast ocean."
The water spirit shook its head slightly and continued.
"The sea is far wider and deeper than you imagine. Strange folk, you scale-bearers."
Queo-Tlan nodded faintly.
He'd first heard of the massive lake at the world's end from that very lizardman.
Maybe someone had erased all tales of the sea for some purpose.
"Well, whatever intent you scale-bearers had in burying the truth of the sea... it's none of my concern."
That wasn't the important part.
"So, you want to cross the sea?"
"Yes. I want to cross the sea and return to my home river."
"Your home river... The living cherish 'home' so dearly. I don't quite get it, but..."
The water spirit shook its head again.
"If you want to go home, just go."
"I can't cross the sea. The saltwater dries out my skin and scales."
"Dries out your skin... How inconvenient for scale-bearers."
The spirit pondered briefly.
"Keeping your skin from drying... that, I can help with."
"Really?!"
"Yes. But... not for free."
"What?!"
"What makes me trust you with my power? What about you—a stranger I just met?"
Fair point.
Spirits lent power to friends.
It was well-known among lizardmen who borrowed spirit power.
They wouldn't help strangers—and sometimes even tried to possess them.
Queo-Tlan wasn't close to any spirits, but he remembered that clearly.
What to do?
Borrowing the spirit's power might let him cross the Lake of Death—the sea—and return home.
But he had no time to befriend it.
Food was scarce; this tiny island wouldn't sustain him long.
With enough time, maybe... but no.
Queo-Tlan sighed softly.
No choice but to gamble.
"I'll give you anything I have that you need. In exchange, lend me your power?"
"Anything you have?"
"Yes. I don't know what I can offer, but if you want something, it's yours. Please, lend me your strength."
At Queo-Tlan's words, the water spirit tilted its head, then smiled as if struck by a good idea.
"Then, every time you borrow my power, give me one of your scales."
"A scale?"
"Yes. Your scales. For some reason, I want them badly. No idea why... but I do."
Queo-Tlan was puzzled.
He'd braced for offering part of his body, but just a scale?
"That's no trouble at all. For your power, a single scale means nothing."
"The ones under your chin, if possible."
Queo-Tlan peeled off a scale from under his chin as the spirit asked and handed it over.
The spirit carefully took it and tucked it into its chest.
Then, miraculously, a body began forming around the bodiless spirit.
"This is...?"
"The feel of a body... Ahh..."
The spirit trailed off, overcome with emotion.
A body it had longed for since time immemorial, barely remembered.
Now returned.
But—
Crackle!
The scale in the spirit's chest crumbled rapidly, turning to dust and vanishing.
"Ah...!"
The brief body vanished in an instant.
As if the scale was too weak to form a proper one for the spirit.
As if it couldn't fulfill the spirit's wish completely.
"Gone again...?"
To Queo-Tlan's eyes, the spirit that had flickered into view simply vanished once more.
"Ahh... I knew it was too much..."
The spirit's voice brimmed with disappointment.
A long-cherished dream granted for mere moments—how could it not?
"Still... even briefly, it felt like having a body. Not bad."
The spirit just chuckled softly.
As if that fleeting joy was enough.
"I'll lend you my power. My waters will protect you now."
No sooner had the words left than clear water enveloped Queo-Tlan like armor.
Its refreshing touch let him know instinctively:
With this power, he could go anywhere.
And so, Queo traded scales to the water spirit and gained the protection of pure water for his body.
Hmm... Personally, I'd hoped the lizardman would adapt to the sea's harshness, evolving to swim in both freshwater and saltwater...
But without generations of breeding, that's tough.
Still, acquiring the ability to borrow the water spirit's power in exchange for scales is a huge win for the lizardman.
With the spirit's aid, Queo-Tlan no longer feared the sea.
He even swam in waters he'd never dared approach before.
Hmm... Limited as it is, freeing the lizardman from the chains of freshwater...
Was that a good thing?
Or did I just remove their one restraint?
Either way, all we can do is watch what happens next.