The shrine rose from the seafloor like a forgotten relic of some ancient pact, its stone walls worn smooth by time and tide. Constructed from rounded, sea-weathered stones, the structure bore a quiet strength—each block fitted snugly as if held together more by intention than mortar. Even with the way Noah knew water aged and ate and whittled away at things, the shrine was still awe-inspiring and breathtaking. He moved in and braced himself to stay in place so that he could pray using the arch of one doorway.
After his prayer, Noah lingered by the shrine, letting the hush of the deep settle into his bones. He couldn't hear anything but the way the moving water wrapped around him. When he finally pulled away, he moved carefully, respectful of the space. He didn’t rush, letting the current guide his return. His eyes found Hadama moving along the perimeter with deliberate grace.
He fell in beside him, swimming in easy rhythm. The cold no longer bit so sharply; the dark felt less vast. They didn’t need words. The bond between them carried a shared sense of peace, a quiet understanding that this moment—this calm—was worth holding onto. There was no urgency here. Above them, the sun continued its arc, but down here, there was only quiet motion. The Forsaken nodded to the Tidebreaker.
After his prayer, Noah lingered by the shrine, letting the hush of the deep settle into his bones. He couldn't hear anything but the way the moving water wrapped around him. When he finally pulled away, he moved carefully, respectful of the space. He didn’t rush, letting the current guide his return. His eyes found Hadama moving along the perimeter with deliberate grace.
He fell in beside him, swimming in easy rhythm. The cold no longer bit so sharply; the dark felt less vast. They didn’t need words. The bond between them carried a shared sense of peace, a quiet understanding that this moment—this calm—was worth holding onto. There was no urgency here. Above them, the sun continued its arc, but down here, there was only quiet motion. The Forsaken nodded to the Tidebreaker.
the forsaken
