The underbelly of the city felt like a different world compared to the glowing spires and bustling markets above. Narrow coral tunnels twisted through ancient reef formations, lit only by faint dark moss and the occasional floating jellyfish lantern. The water here was warmer, thicker with the scent of fermented kelp. We moved carefully, sticking to the shadows as distant sounds of patrols echoed through the passages, the heavy strokes of shark guards and the sharper calls of merman enforcers searching for the 'cheating woman and her dramatic merman accomplice.'
Elowen led the way, her cloak pulled tight around her shoulders, bloom spots dimmed to avoid drawing attention. I stayed close behind her, my disguised merman form blending seamlessly with the dim environment. The fight in the market square had left her breathing harder than she wanted to admit, small cuts and bruises stinging in the salty water, but the adrenaline was fading into a bone-deep exhaustion.
