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been a strange individual.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I reached down and dipped my fingers into the pond. It was very cold, but not unpleasantly so.

No rumbling began, no clicking sounds. I was tempted to retreat and walk out if it were not for the look in the kin’s eyes. Frowning in defiance, I lowered my entire hand into the water. When nothing happened then, I moved it around, creating swirling patterns in the ripples.

Nothing.

Relieved, I stood up and stepped down off the platform. The dragon-kin was frowning even more than usual, but that was fine with me. He stepped down and began pacing around the room. He stopped and looked up at the huge Tahninym statue.

I walked up to the dragon-kin and looked up at his still pouting face. “It seems it’s not going to work the same way.”

“It will. It just wants him,” the kin said, nodding toward the half-blood.

“What wants me?” Rio sneered.

He approached behind me. The kin had seen him coming and meant for him to overhear. Tricky.

“Try dipping your hand in the water,” Levent instructed with a smirk.

The half-blood paused and frowned, raising his eyebrow.

“And why would I want do that?”

The kin simply lowered his eyebrows in a disapproving glare. Not getting a rise out of Levent, Rio sighed disapprovingly.

“Alright, alright.”

Turning, the half-blood vaulted onto the platform. Hitching up his sleeve, he plunged his hand into the blue water without hesitation. The result was instantaneous.

I heard something slam open loudly, and water began spilling over the edge of the pond. The half-blood backed off, his eye widening. There was a somewhat familiar rumbling sound as whatever was beneath the murky water readied itself to be revealed. I shivered as the cool water splashed across the floor and hit my hooves.

Levent stepped up to pool, the water flowing around his heavy boots. As he peered into the water, I saw the light grow in his eyes. He did not smile, nor did he indicate any sort of triumph in reaching his goal.