Time soon passed on the raft, and the silence was heavier than the water.
They drifted on a giant, rotting lily pad, a patch of organic green in an endless sea of black.
Above them, the ceiling of the cavern was so high it was lost in darkness. Below them, the water stretched down for miles.
The only light came from the Sunken Stars, millions of bioluminescent abyss jellyfish floating in the air and drifting in the deep.
They pulsed with soft, rhythmic lights: neon blue, toxicity green, and deep violet. It was a breathtaking, terrifying galaxy trapped in a bottle.
"Unstable," Damien muttered, shifting his weight.
The lily pad dipped dangerously. It was spongy and slick with algae. If a wave hit them, they would be tossed into the freezing abyss.
"Isabelle, grab that driftwood," Damien ordered, pointing to a large, twisted root drifting nearby.
"Elian, center your weight."
Damien raised his arms.
RATTLE.
The Scourge of the Rat King shot out from his sleeves.
