Torrent’s eyes were squeezed shut, he wasn’t sure if he was dead or alive. All he remembered was being sucked into a giant whirlpool and hearing Captain Aero laugh as they plunged into doom. “Open your eyes, Torrent,” said Rayne. Torrent opened his eyes and sure enough, he wasn’t dead. Rayne was still grasping his hand and the first thing he saw was his boots. Those new black boots that Rayne gave him. He liked how they looked, the jet-black color and the large fold at the top that came halfway to his knees. They were sewn together with a blue thread that he could barely see but was a nice touch. How could he see the details on his boots? It was night when they were on the ship, but now he could see perfectly and it was light outside. Torrent looked up and sure enough, it was day, but he wasn’t on the ship anymore! “Torrent, I'd like you to meet Pagos!” said Captain Aero, pointing to what used to be the bow of the ship. Torrent looked where the captain pointed and a giant head lifted and turned to look at him. “It’s good to be back, I don’t like being a ship all that much. I’d rather be a turtle!” said the giant face that was looking right at him in a smooth powerful voice. Torrent screamed and fell backward on what he thought was the upper deck. It was actually the shell of the turtle. Torrent looked around frantically as he crawled on his hands and feet, like a crab, away from the massive turtle head that just spoke. “It talked! That giant turtle talked!” Torrent said in a high-pitched voice that seemed to crack back and forth. “Of course he did!” said the captain. “He’s an aquamorph. All aquamorphs can talk.” Torrent stared at the turtle that used to be a ship in utter confusion. “What is an aqua…aquamorph?” said Torrent, stuttering through his fear. “They are giant talking sea creatures that bond to one, and only one, person. Their appearance changes when they travel through the whirlpool from our world to yours and your world to ours. They are extremely rare to find! Pagos is a giant turtle that morphs into a ship when in your world. Pretty cool huh?!” Rayne explained.

  Torrent finally found the strength to stand up and look around. It all was beginning to make sense. The green coloring on the hull, the four oars, the brownish sails, and the smooth deck. It was Pagos all along and he was huge. His brown smooth shell was a perfect oval made up of multiple hexagons. Each shape was separated by large creases deep enough for Torrent to lie in. The four oars were now giant emerald green flippers speckled with dark green spots. The mast of water and sails disappeared and nothing on the Pagos resembled them. Maybe that part is only in his world. After all, he had never heard of an aquamorph before. What other surprises will be in Hydronia? He thought to himself still not taking his eyes off Pagos. “Yeah…he’s great. Kind of scary at first, but great.” Torrent said. “Just because you’ve never seen a giant talking turtle before doesn’t mean I am scary.” snapped Pagos. Torrent gave a nervous smile and glanced over at Rayne and the captain. Rayne burst out into laughter, doubling over in an uncontrollable state of Joy. Captain Aero just stood there and shook his head, while Pagos began to laugh as well. Pagos’ laughter made his whole body shake up and down, creating a very compromised place for Torrent to stand. Large waves started to form and break out from underneath the giant turtle as he bobbed back and forth in the water. “That be enough Pagos,” said Captain Aero. Pagos stopped his fit of laughter and the ocean became calm once more. Torrent was finally able to regain his footing and walked toward the railing of the saddle-like structure that everyone was standing on. As Torrent placed his hands on the wooden rail he said, “I think I’m going to like Hydronia.” Rayne ran up to Torrent as though she would stop next to him, but she kept going and leaped over the railing and landed on Pagos’ shell. She continued to surf down the shell, up his neck, and landed right on the top of his head! Surely they had done that before, thought Torrent in amazement. “I missed you Pagos! It’s not quite the same when you are a ship.” Rayne said as she patted Pagos’ giant head. “I missed me too. That was the longest we have been in the Reflection in a while.” “Reflection…what's that?” asked Torrent. Captain Aero walked toward Torrent in a slow commanding way and said, “The Reflection be what we call the place ye come from. It’s the other side of the whirlpool. We be callin' it that because for the most part, it be a mirror of Hydronia with some differences. Pagos’ shapeshiftin be one of them.” said the captain. “And the magic seafoam is only in the Reflection!” Rayne yelled. Captain Aero cut his eyes right at Rayne. She knew that familiar stare all too well and quickly put her hands over her mouth. “That be details for another time Torrent. Pagos take us to Hammerfin,” said Captain Aero. “Rayne you might want to jump back to my shell.” Said Pagos as he started to submerge his body into the ocean. “Right” replied Rayne, as she jumped off his head onto his shell.

  Pagos kept his whole body underwater, except for his shell, turned towards the sun, and started to swim. The force of his flippers pushing the water back created small whirlpools behind them. Torrent was very impressed at the speed of Pagos, he was faster than any ship he had ever been on. The wind was so strong Torrent had to squint his eyes to keep them from tearing up. The Hydronian water was sparkling under the afternoon sun, it appeared to be littered with diamonds as Pagos swam through the ocean. Rayne was sitting on the frontmost part of the shell. She was so close to the water that she was dipping her hand in as they glided along. Her eyes were closed and her hair was flowing in the wind. Torrent was beginning to understand when she said, “We are one with the water.” Torrent turned back and saw Captain Aero standing in the very center of Pagos’ shell. His arms were folded and his feet were firm, as his tattered coat flapped in the wind. The captain was so still that Torrent wondered if he was sleeping again. Could the rumor that Rayne told him be true? Does an evil creature wake, while the captain sleeps? Torrent had so many questions running through his head. He hoped they would all be answered soon.

  Time continued to pass as Pagos ferried them to Hammerfin. The sun was now beginning to set and both Captain Aero and Rayne were sleeping. Torrent however could not sleep, he was too mesmerized by his newfound situation. He longed to know more but would have to wait until they got to Hammerfin. Just like the captain and Rayne, he fell asleep. Pagos continued to swim throughout the night, heading toward the city that Captain Aero and Rayne called home. The night hours passed and the morning sun began to rise. Torrent was the first to wake up and was pleasantly surprised at how well he slept. After all, he had never fallen asleep on a giant talking turtle before. Torrent looked all around and could see nothing but the ocean. He pulled the shark tooth out of his pocket and began to flip it in his hands, trying not to cut himself on the serrated edges. Moments after he pulled the tooth out Pagos lifted his head out of the water. The crystal clear sea danced and flowed down the large turtle's neck as it rose higher and higher in the air. Something seemed to call to Pagos, but he didn’t know what. Pagos turned his head and looked right at Torrent. “What do you have there boy?” said Pagos. “Oh, just some shark tooth I found on the beach where I used to live. It washed up in the tide and I found it,” replied Torrent as he rubbed his fingers on the edges, just to test the sharpness. Pagos’ eyes widened as he looked at the tooth. Something was different about it, the tooth was familiar to Pagos. Pagos began to open his mouth to speak, when they heard, “not long now” in a deep raspy voice. It was Captain Aero, he had woken up. “Hold on to that Torrent, It be remindin me of something, but I’m not sure what. Best to put it away for safe keepin'.” Said the captain as he was looking right at Pagos. Pagos gave the captain a nod and then watched as Torrent put the tooth back in his pocket.

  “Rayne, time to be getting up. The great walls of Hammerfin are near. Pagos you be knowin' what to do.” said Captain Aero. Rayne sprung up out of what appeared to be the most peaceful sleep in the world. She ran to the top of the shell once again, because now Pagos was picking up speed. The great turtle’s head dove back into the water and headed to Hammerfin. Torrent braced himself on the wooden rail and watched as the wake behind them became larger and larger. Torrent could not believe it, but the sunrise here was more incredible than on his Island or should he say The Reflection. Not only were their oranges and pinks painted through the sky, but there were greens and purples too! The colors swirled like giant whirlpools in the sky instead of the normal horizontal merging of color. He felt as though he was going to like it here in Hydronia. “There it is!” shouted Rayne as she pointed to a large structure off in the distance while she jumped up and down and spun all around. Torrent ran to be right next to her so he could finally see Hammerfin, a Hydronian city.

  It had been a long time since he had seen a city. His family's ship would only port four times a year to restock on supplies and Torrent would stay aboard. He had no memory of ever being in a city, walking around, seeing homes and shops. Ordinary people living on land instead of the sea. From what Rayne had said, Hammerfin already seems drastically different. He cannot wait to experience it. Pagos began to slow down as the structure became nearer and nearer. The walls were exactly as she said. Huge coral reefs reaching forty, no fifty, feet into the air. They were so thick that you could put a home in these walls and that's exactly what the Hammerfinians did. Some of them lived in the wall of coral! The wall was made up of purple and blue coral! Ocean vegetation was all around and in the wall, just as you would see under the water. Pagos arrived at the southern dock and seemed relieved to get some rest. “Captain Aero, we are home,” said Pagos. “Thank ye Pagos, it be a successful journey and I couldn’t have done it alone,” said Captain Aero as he jumped off the shell and thumped on the dock. “No you couldn’t have!” replied Pagos ever so quickly. “We’re next!” said Rayne as she tugged on Torrent’s shirt and jumped off Pagos’ shell and onto the dock where the stoic captain was standing. Torrent quickly followed her, but it was not nearly as graceful. His long arms waved wildly in the air as he jumped and fell towards the dock. When he landed he slipped and fell right on his back. “I take it you’ve never jumped off a turtle before?” said Pagos as he laughed at Torrent and his unfortunate fall. Captain Aero smirked and started walking right toward the coral walls. There was a huge gate in the middle at the other end of the dock. Torrent could not tell what it was made of for he was looking at it while he was upside down. “Get up!” yelled Rayne as she chased after the captain. Torrent lifted himself and walked toward the gate. As he got closer he realized that the gate looked just like the mast of the ship, only smaller and much more of them in all directions. Small beams made of water crisscrossed forming a barrier between them and the city. Its constant state of flow made it very difficult to look through to the other side. Torrent could not wait to see how the captain would open it!

  The captain walked to the left side of the gate and ran his left hand across the coral wall. He stopped when his hand brushed over a small slit in the coral, it couldn’t have been more than an inch wide. “Aha, there it be!” Captain Aero said as he reached for his dagger, the same one that Torrent had seen on the beach. The captain grabbed the blue-hilted blade, but when it was unsheathed something amazing had happened! The blade was now water! Completely formed and controlled in the shape of the same blade he had seen. “It…it’s water. Your dagger is water captain!” Torrent spoke, being pleasantly surprised again. “Well of course it be Torrent! Here in Hydronia our weapons are made by the greatest aquasmith to ever be, Tidoneus Graith Anvilwave, but he prefers Graith. But you’ll be meetin him soon enough. Time to open the gate.” said the captain. Torrent watched as Captain Aero inserted the water dagger right into that slit in the coral and turned the handle to the right three times. After the third turn, the water came crashing down with a large splash. Torrent got soaked, he turned to look at the captain and Rayne, but they had stepped back to avoid the splash! Rayne started laughing hysterically at Torrent, who was now dripping with magic gate water. “Come on you two!” grumbled Captain Aero as he walked through the gate into the city. Rayne and Torrent followed the captain and when they passed through the gate, Torrent couldn’t believe his eyes! Towering structures of coral that resembled homes of some sort, were attached to the inside of the wall. They were stacked on top of each other like blocks. “What are those Rayne?” Torrent asked as he pointed to the home-like structures. “That is where people live silly, but mainly the guard. They find it best to stay near the city borders to protect us in case of an attack.” Rayne replied as she instantly felt the familiar stare from the captain, knowing she had said too much. “An attack! From wh…” Torrent tried to say as he was interrupted by Captain Aero. “Nothin' to be worrying about. Rayne, take Torrent to meet yer folks and show him a bit of Hammerfin too. I must be off to seein Graith.” said the captain sternly. Rayne nodded and watched as Captain Aero walked down the sandy road toward the north gate.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Don’t mind him, he always goes straight to Graith when we get back from an adventure. I’ll show you the south market, then we can go to my house! You will finally get to eat a proper meal. No more Mangos!” Rayne said. Torrent’s face lit up at the thought of food other than mangos. He forgot how hungry he was, with so much going on and so many new things to take in. Rayne led the way to the south market, which was just down the road and to the right. The space between the city walls and the market was beautiful. It seemed to be a massive courtyard of some sort. Giant palm trees were scattered all around providing just the right amount of shade for a good nap. There were small pools of water surrounded by large white stones. Torrent looked into one of the pools as they passed and it was filled with seahorses! Torrent stopped to look and smiled. He had never seen them up close before. There must have been hundreds of them! “Aren’t they great!? Hammerfin makes sure to provide a safe space for all ocean creatures if needed, especially the small ones like these seahorses. “ Rayne said as she dipped her finger into the pool, causing all the seahorses to gather around it. “They sure are!” said Torrent. He dipped his finger in the pool, hoping they would swim up to him as they did to Rayne, but they did just the opposite. “Why did they swim away from me?” Torrent asked. “Well, I wonder if they know you aren’t Hydronian. Remember Hydronians are one with the water. We have a living, lasting bond with the ocean and all that's in it.” she said. Torrent wondered if he would ever have a bond with the ocean. If he stayed in Hydronia would all of this be normal for him too? The more time he spent here the more questions he had. Eventually, he would need to get answers. The two friends got up from the pool and continued into the city.

  As they walked down the sandy road, Torrent heard the chatter of people. They must be close to the market. He stopped walking and began to become frightened. Rayne realized Torrent was no longer walking with her. She turned around, flipping her long blonde hair, and said, “What’s wrong, why did you stop walking?” “Well, you and the captain are the first people I have seen in five years! I’m not sure about meeting a whole bunch at once.” Torrent said as he looked down and shuffled his feet on the sandy road. “Look at me Torrent,” she said as Torrent slowly raised his head. “You are not alone anymore. You have me and the captain!” Torrent instantly felt better. She was right! He may have only known them for a day, but they are all he has. “Alright let’s go!” Torrent said as he ran towards the voices. Rayne ran after him as she grinned from ear to ear. Torrent turned the corner and stopped, his eyes wide in amazement. There were shops and booths lining the sandy road as far as his eyes could see. People going in and out, smiling, talking, and conducting business. The smell of freshly baked bread filled Torrent’s nostrils and instantly made his stomach grumble. “Rayne, can we get some food here?” he asked, trying to hide how hungry he was. “Of course! And I know just the place. Follow me.” Rayne said as she darted off weaving in and out of the people. Torrent gave chase, hoping that where she was leading could satisfy his almost day-old hunger. The two friends navigated the crowd with ease due to their small, twelve-year-old bodies and finally came to a stop. “Here it is!” shouted Rayne, as she held her hands up in front of a shop, posing like she was presenting it. Torrent looked past her and saw a small shop made from coral, it was pink and orange and had smoke coming out of the cylinder-shaped coral on the roof. A sign above the door read Sandy Dough Bakery. The door was a giant seashell and glistened in the morning sun. This was the place where the amazing smell was coming from. Rayne laughed as she watched Torrent sniff the air outside of the bakery. “You know, we can go in and get some bread unless you just want to stay out here and smell it all day,” Rayne said with a sarcastic tone as she grabbed the large shell door and pulled it open. As soon as the door opened someone came barreling out of it and slammed right into Torrent. Torrent hit the sand so hard it nearly knocked the breath out of him. He looked up to see who hit him and saw another kid. It was a girl who seemed to be the same age as Rayne and him. She had long red hair that looked like fire dancing around her head. Her stature was rather slender and narrow. She wore an emerald dress that was definitely more on the functional side. It didn’t seem to hinder her from jumping to her feet in a rather impressive manner. “Watch it!” she yelled looking right at Torrent who was still lying in the sand. “He wasn’t the one charging out of Sandy’s shop…Peeaaarrlll”, Rayne chimed in without missing a beat as she rolled her eyes at the fire-headed, charging bull of a girl. Rayne reached down and grabbed Torrent’s hand helping him to get on his feet. “Well if it isn’t Rayne, the nobody girl of Hammerfin. How’s life with the worst captain ever? I’m surprised you're still alive after being with him for two years!” said Pearl with a nasty tone. “Leave Captain Aero out of this! He’s the best captain to sail from Hammerfin. You’re just jealous you didn’t get picked by any captain two years ago!” Rayne replied with just as much sass. Pearl gasped in anger and also embarrassment, then pushed past Rayne and Torrent disappearing into the market.

  “What was that all about?” asked Torrent, still shocked that Rayne could be anything but kind and sweet. “That was Pearl. She is the only child of the richest family in Hammerfin, the Striken family. She was probably stealing bread again from Sandy and that is why she came flying out like that.” replied Rayne. Torrent got a puzzled look on his face and asked, “If she is from the richest family, why would she need to steal bread?” Rayne shook her head and said, “Because she didn’t get chosen by a captain. She is bitter and angry and takes it out on anyone she can. A true troublemaker. The worst part is, that most people are too scared of the Strikens to even say anything, but enough about that. Are you ok?” Torrent’s stomach let out a large growl and he said, “I’ll be ok once we get some food.” They both laughed and walked into Sandy Dough Bakery. “What will it be for ya?” said a rather plump lady from behind the counter. She was kneading some dough and didn’t even see them walk in, how did she know they were there, thought Torrent. “Good morning Sandy!” Rayne said in her normal chipper voice. “Well if it isn’t Rayne! When did you and Aero get back?” she said as she turned to face them both. Sandy was wearing a white and blue dress, but Torrent couldn't tell if the white was the fabric or flour from baking. Her face was round and kind, with the most rosy cheeks, and her hair was braided and coiled right on top of her head. “We got back this morning,” Rayne said as she scrounged the shop looking for her favorite breakfast pastry. “Now who is this you have with you? I don’t remember ever seeing him before.” Sandy said as she stared right at Torrent. “My name is Torrent. Nice to meet you.” Torrent said, hoping his politeness would lead to a free pastry. After all, he didn’t have any money. “Yeah, we picked him up in the Reflection and Captain Aero decided to bring him along.” Rayne chimed in all nonchalant, still looking for that certain pastry. “The Reflection!! Oh goodness me, this is so exciting! I tell you what, you two grab what you like. It’s on the house.” Sandy exclaimed, smiling ear to ear. Torrent and Rayne were ecstatic! They grabbed a sack from the counter and started filling it with goodies! “Thanks, Sandy!” said Rayne and Torrent at the same time. “You are most welcome!” replied Sandy. The two friends wasted no time in picking out what they wanted. Torrent didn’t even know what most of these were, he just knew that they smelled good. Once the sack was full they thanked Sandy again and headed out the door. “Let’s go back and sit by the seahorse pool and have ourselves a feast!” said Rayne. Rayne and Torrent walked back to the pool to enjoy a long-awaited meal.

  Meanwhile Captain Aero was almost to the Northern gate of Hammerfin. The captain’s steps were purposeful and never hurried. As each foot went in front of the other, down the sandy road of Hammerfin, his mind raced and recounted every interaction he had had with Torrent so far. Is Torrent the boy from the prophecy he thought to himself. It wasn’t long until the captain reached a large door in the northeastern corner of the outer wall. The door was a giant sand dollar. Either the person on the other side was very large or just liked the look of a giant door. Captain Aero walked right up to it and knocked three times. He turned around and waited, paced a little bit, then knocked again. No one was coming to the door. The captain was getting visibly annoyed. He started to look around, trying to find another way in. He walked up and down the edge of the wall, but this large sand dollar door seemed to be the only way into the massive space behind it. Captain Aero looked up and noticed that steam was rising from behind the great coral wall. “Aha! He is here.” said the captain with a mischievous look on his face. Captain Aero went back to the giant door and knocked once again, but this time he yelled. “Tidoneus Graith Anvilwave…You better be getting out here or I’ll break your door down and come in after ya!” The captain stepped back and waited with his head down and hands in his tattered coat pockets. It won’t be long now he thought to himself.

  All of a sudden he heard stomping and murmuring, but he couldn’t make out what was said. The stomping became louder and louder until the giant door swung open and revealed a giant of a man. “You’ll have to break me down before you make it to my door!” said Graith as he walked out of the great sand dollar door. He was a tall, burly man with curly blonde hair and a big bushy beard. He wore brown baggy pants with a white shirt that wasn’t so white anymore. He had a large leather glove on each hand and wore a leather apron that was covered in singes and soot. The very appearance of the man was quite frightening to the average fellow, but not to Captain Aero. Graith held out his right hand, which grasped the handle of a large axe. The blade was made of water and the handle was crafted with wood and coral. “What is your business in Hammerfin, stranger?” staring right at the captain who still has his head down with his hands in his tattered coat pockets. The captain slowly raised his head revealing who he was. “Well bless my beard!!! AERO!” Graith said, as he dropped his axe in the sand and ran with arms wide open toward the captain. Graith’s run seemed to shake the very ground they were standing on. Captain Aero knew what was coming and he braced himself accordingly. Before he knew it Graith was towering over him and with one large swoop, wrapped his arms around the captain, lifted him in the air, and hugged him. The nature of the squeeze was friendly and caring, but that didn’t mean it still didn’t hurt and take your breath away. “Good… to see… ya… Graaaith” said the captain, trying to breathe through the grip of his bear-like friend. Graith set the captain down, smiled, and said, “ Come on in for a drink. I want to hear all about your most recent trip to the Reflection.”