Crown Prince Lail felt his consciousness floating in and out of reality, his body light at one time and heavy the next. It floated into an illusionary realm and landed on top of iridescent swirling clouds. The colorful clouds in various shapes of ancient beasts bobbed up and down, encircling him.
High above, millions of stars revolved and shined around seven blue moons, their silvery-blue resplendence enhancing the ethereal beauty of the haven.
Suddenly, on top of the iridescent clouds, a thousand flowers bloomed, filling the air with the fresh and fruity fragrance of spring.
Dang!
Dang!
Dang!
A loud drone filled the area, reverberating throughout the region. Seven ancient black-blue bells with carvings of the sun and moon appeared above Crown Prince Lail's head, beating in sync with the distant droning.
In the center of the bells, a rift opened, from which a black-blue ancient spear emerged. As the spear slowly descended onto the cloud the Crown Prince's soul floated, the droning in the distance stopped.
Without warning, a powerful and pure stream of magical energy descended from the seven bells and moons above, submerging his soul and flowing into his mind one strand at a time.
As the magical power entered, it began to cleanse and perfectly harmonize with his soul, mind, and body. And as the magic flowed through his whole entity, he could feel the change in his disposition physically, mentally, and spiritually.
After a long while, the droning stopped, spiritual energy dimmed and winked out. The floating cloud and illusionary realm vanished, leaving him suspended in black water.
Crown Prince Lail stood in a daze, blankly staring in the dark void for a long time. His mind replayed the unrealistic realm of seven moons, unable to comprehend the reason why he imagined such a place. Forcefully shaking his head, he focused his attention on his surroundings.
He was back in the black lake.
Crown Prince Lail found that he did not feel any pain in his body. The powerful strike of the ancient tree or being underwater for so long should have crippled him beyond repair. However, he felt no pain and was in good condition. He could even breathe comfortably in the black water that mercilessly dragged him down earlier.
In fact, he felt so much better now than he did when he first set foot in the Eastwind forests, stronger and lighter. Without hesitation, he swam towards the surface of the black lake.
He did not know what happened to him when he was conscious. But since he was still alive, he had to put in all his effort to return alive.
'I still need to get back to the Speaking Ink Tree to find my wife'
Thinking up to this point, the Crown Prince placed his whole attention on swimming to the dark surface, not detecting the huge shadow on which he had been sitting.
The instant he moved, the beast shifted, its black-blue eyes glowing like black shining gems in the dark lake as it watched the desperate prince.
"Master, I can help you reach the surface if you want." A voice abruptly sounded in Crown Prince Lail's head, disrupting his concentration.
Faltering in his upward movements, the Crown Prince looked around, but could not find anything in the dark water.
Certain that he had not imaged the voice appearing in his mind, Crown Prince's Lail's guard rose. Using his internal strength, he controlled his breathing and in a deep voice, shouted.
"Who is there? Show yourself."
What answered his call was the fierce roar of a beast exploding in the tranquil black water.
The long sinuous beast was covered in gleaming blue-black scales, adorned with long black whiskers and wings. It slowly glided through the black water as it approached the frowning Crown Prince.
"Yes, Master. Would you like me to assist you out of the mist-water?" The instant the amiable rang out again, Crown Prince Lail knew that it was from the beast swimming towards him.
His heart sank with dread, as hopelessness swept through him.
'Is this it? Is this how I will finally die?'
He thought with despair as the huge beast fully revealed itself.
The water beast was a small giant as large as four Myifs combined. It had deep blue-black beastly pupils that gave off mesmerizing flashes of light, its long snake body twisting behind it.
He could have attempted battling the beast if he had a weapon. But fighting bare-handed underwater against a giant beast was not just difficult, but impossible.
Smiling bitterly, his mind flashed with his wife's face.
'My wife, I am sorry. It seems like I am still not strong enough to protect you.' He sadly thought.
"Master, I can get you out." The voice rang out again, only this time, Crown Prince Lail clearly heard the beast address him as master. Not believing his ears, he blankly stared back at the beast looking at him.
"Master? Who is your master?" He asked in confusion.
"I know. Master must not remember anything. But master, you cannot be so cold and indifferent to me because of it." The aggrieved cries of the beast sounded wronged, as if a great injustice was done to it, causing the perplexed Crown Prince to instinctively step back.
"You are really mistaken. I am no master of yours."
"Master, did you get a new weapon? Is that why you are denying my existence?" The beast shrieked in Crown Prince Lail's head, its regal tone filled with sadness from the presumed betrayal.
With a fierce light gleaming in its dark pupils, it instantly twirled around the Crown Prince, wrapping its long, scaly tail tightly around his body. The black water raised from the sudden turmoil, raging violently as it transformed into a fierce storm. Instantly, the turbulent wave surged and crashed, creating a melody of destruction as it enclosed the beast and man in a steely cage of a sea storm.
"No way! No one can replace me! Master, you just watch. I will show you how powerful I have become!" Booming in a thunderous roar, the beast imposingly spread its grand wings, disdainfully raising its head towards the dark sky.
And before Crown Prince Lail could even react, the beast vigorously flapped its velvety black wings, effortlessly ripping the sea storm apart, before majestically soaring with him in tow into the beckoning black heavens.
Air, clean and fresh, instantly rushed into his lungs, clearing his mind.