The Restless Shore

The Restless Shore

 

Arthur sat in the warm sand, finally—finally!—a moment to rest. Saving the world wasn’t exactly a part-time job, and the thought of a peaceful beach day had been the one thing keeping him sane.

 

Above him, seagulls laughed as they dove toward the shimmering lake. The water melted seamlessly into the horizon, sky, and sea indistinguishable in the haze of sun.

 

“Come play with us!” Jordan called from the dunes behind him. She waved a hand, her golden hair catching the breeze. Beside her was Tomascus—short, stout, and wide-eyed at his first glimpse of a beach. The two had joined up with Mox, Brand, and Nikki, a trio of cheerful travelers who’d taken to racing up the tallest sand dunes and launching a beach ball from the top like it was a sacred rite.

 

“In a moment!” Arthur called back, though he didn’t mean it. He had no plans to get up. Ever. His eyes were fixed on a magnificent rock jutting from the water—the kind you’d expect a mermaid to lounge on in old legends.

 

Then, as if some cosmic force heard him say “peace,” the sky darkened. Clouds rolled in like cavalry on a charge.

 

Arthur’s stomach turned.

 

The darkness reminded him too much of her. Gretta. And the shade souls.

 

A scream rang out behind him. Arthur leapt to his feet, instincts flaring—only to find Tomascus dramatically flopping on a dune as he fetched the beach ball from a strange rocky outcropping.

 

The scream turned into laughter. The others howled at Tomascus’s flair for the dramatic. Still, Arthur’s senses buzzed.

 

Then, a piercing screech.

 

He turned toward the lake just in time to see a massive dragon emerge from the clouds, lightning cascading around its wings.

 

“Guys!” Arthur shouted. “Jordan—get your new friends to safety!”

 

Jordan responded, but Arthur was already airborne, summoning his sword Dragonslayer. Wind ripped past him, invigorating and electric.

 

A cloaked figure stood atop the dragon, staff raised and glowing.

 

“Long live Gretta!” the figure shouted. “True master of this world. Creatures, awake! Arise and conquer!”

 

Beneath the waves, the water began to swirl. A kraken-like monster burst through the surface, all fangs and tentacles.

 

Arthur grimaced. “One day off. Just one.”

 

“Yours is the dragon, I assume?” Jordan called, appearing at his side.

 

“Yours is the sea monster, then?”

 

She cracked her knuckles. “Gladly.”

 

As Arthur flew toward the dragon, he felt its crimson eyes lock with his. Something inside him wavered—some strange pull to let go. But the shriek of the dark mage broke the spell.

 

“For the light!” Arthur roared, charging with his blade. The mage parried with the staff, and the collision sent fireworks into the sky.

 

Below, chaos erupted.

 

The sand dune shifted, revealing its true form: a sand beast. Tomascus flailed, trying to escape what turned out to be the creature’s gaping mouth.

 

“Tomascus!” Arthur shouted, preparing to dive—

 

—but the mage fired a blast of electricity.

 

Arthur intercepted it with his blade—just in time to see balls of light rain from the beach. Mox stood tall, hands glowing. Energy surged from him and blasted the sand creature into retreat.

 

“I am alright!” Tomascus called out from the ground, limbs flailing but intact.

 

With a spin, Arthur broke into the sky again, this time coming at the mage from behind.

 

“Wait—” the mage cried.

 

But Arthur’s blade struck clean, and the figure vanished in a burst of energy.

 

Arthur landed on the dragon’s back, breathing hard. Slowly, the beast’s eyes faded from red to a misty white.

 

Thank you for freeing me, the dragon said in his mind.

 

Arthur patted its neck. “You’re welcome.”

 

Below, Jordan battled the sea beast, slicing off tentacle after tentacle. But one snuck through and slammed her into the water.

 

Arthur dove and plunged into the scalding water. Pain lanced through his skin, but he grabbed Jordan and burst through the surface.

 

The kraken lunged for them—but the dragon intercepted, smashing into the monster like a falling star.

 

They clashed midair, locked in fury.

 

The dragon bit the monster’s neck—a fatal blow—but the tentacles clung on, and the pair crashed into the depths together.

 

The rock… the dragon whispered as it sank. They’re after the rock.

 

Arthur turned toward the jutting stone he’d been admiring earlier. Of course.

 

He carried Jordan back to shore, setting her down gently.

 

“Allow me,” Mox said, kneeling beside her. His glowing hands pulsed with healing light.

 

Arthur winced as the heat damage on his skin began to repair itself—some of it, oddly, already healing.

 

“You’re more than you seem,” Arthur said.

 

Mox smiled. “You too.”

 

Arthur nodded. “We’ll talk. But first—”

 

He flew toward the rock.

 

Waves crashed against its base. Etched across the top was the faint symbol of a tree surrounded by 18 deer. Arthur placed his hand over it.

 

Warmth surged through him.

 

The rock cracked open like an egg.

 

Inside lay a single, glowing seed.