Yamato stood at the edge of the shore, motionless. His eyes were locked on the waves crashing over one another in a chaotic rhythm. The sea shimmered a beautiful blue beneath the sun's glow.
The ocean stretched endlessly before him, breathing with power. Behind him, Sora and Lumei brushed the sand from their clothes, both waiting for Yamato to speak.
Yamato's mind raced, weighing every possible way to cross the ocean. Easy methods. Simpler ones. Harder ones. He considered them all. But he wanted a solution that would make use of everyone's abilities. Then he found the best one.
"Sora shouldn't have a problem creating a controlled, condensed water dome. Let's see."
Something still bothered him. He could sense distress beneath the water, something unfamiliar, even to him. Something that might interfere with their journey. He rested a hand beneath his chin, squinting at the sea.
Whatever it was, he couldn't sense any Magic, Divine Magic, or Divine Energy from it. It felt impossible. Almost like something born from IMAGINATION.
His fingers tapped against his jaw before he finally looked up.
"Sora."
She turned toward him, calm but alert.
"Yes?"
He walked over with a smile.
"What if... instead of a floating ball of water, you create a giant swirling dome?"
She froze. How did Yamato know she had been thinking about a water sphere?
"One that draws in air, compresses it safely," Yamato continued, "then submerges us beneath the ocean. After that, separate the oxygen from the surrounding water so we can breathe."
He paused.
"The spinning water will naturally form a barrier that reduces the outside pressure, so it won't crush the dome."
Sora's expression shifted constantly. Shock. Fear. Confusion. Pressure. Trust. Yamato had analyzed her ability so thoroughly that he had practically solved the problem for her.
This was simply how Yamato operated. Ever since becoming one of ROKYE's top ten adventurers at only six years old, he had developed a frightening ability to read situations and create near-perfect strategies. If everyone followed his plans exactly, survival was all but guaranteed.
The problem was that nobody ever did. If he possessed Magic or Divine Energy, he would have already been regarded as one of the strongest mages alive.
Lumei's face lit up.
"The spinning water pulls in air and keeps it inside the dome."
Yamato smirked.
"Yes... exactly what I just said."
Sora looked back at the ocean.
"This isn't a river," she murmured. "The underwater pressure is overwhelming. If my concentration slips for even a moment, the current could crush us. I'm not exaggerating."
Yamato sighed.
"This is exactly why I hate taking people on missions. I present a possibility before proving the probability, and everyone immediately doubts it."
He stepped beside her and gently rested his left hand on her shoulder.
"Besides... your powers were multiplied because of what we felt earlier."
He nodded.
"Yeah. I know. Shocking, right?"
Sora and Lumei stared at him in disbelief. Yamato couldn't use Divine Energy... Yet somehow he had already realized they had become stronger. His voice remained calm.
"Just do it."
Sora took a slow breath before nodding.
"Alright."
She stepped into the cold shallows. Water splashed around her feet as she raised both hands. Her hair lifted with the rising wind. Water appeared from every direction, swirling violently around her arms. The spinning current dragged air into itself.
The sand beneath her feet scattered, forming a miniature tornado. The spiral continued growing larger as she slowly brought her hands together. Her voice became calm... Cold.
"SORA'S DOME."
The ocean answered with a roar. Massive waves crashed toward her. Yamato and Lumei watched quietly. Far below the surface, a glowing spiral of water shot upward like a giant sea serpent. It twisted into the sky while pulling air into its vortex.
Even the clouds trembled. Sora guided the enormous current with graceful movements. The serpent folded inward, wrapping around itself until it became a massive dome. Its outer layer spun violently while its center remained filled with compressed air. The spiral descended.
POOM.
The currents merged perfectly with Sora's spell. Exactly as Yamato had envisioned. She released it. The dome surrounded her completely. At its center, Sora stood calmly, her eyes glowing faintly blue as her hair drifted in the circulating air. Then she guided it downward.
The dome slowly descended beneath the ocean. The sea opened around it. Water surrounded the sphere but never entered. It became a living submarine formed entirely from spinning water.
Yamato and Lumei hurried into the sea and stepped through the rotating barrier, joining her inside. The moment they entered... Silence. Outside, the ocean raged. Inside... Peace.
Blue light danced across their faces as the dome descended deeper into the sea. Glowing fish drifted past. Long strands of seaweed swayed with the currents. Sora stood at the front, both hands raised, guiding the dome like a captain steering a ship.
The Ocean Dome wasn't just a spell. It was a vessel. And they had become its passengers.
---
On the other side of the continent, the morning sun shone warmly over the beach. Ichiha lay flat on the sand, laughing as Chella flopped down beside him, breathing heavily.
"We really wasted time," Ichiha said between breaths. "We're supposed to be travelling, not building sandcastles."
Chella looked back at the massive sandcastles behind them and laughed.
"You're the one who wanted a competition."
Ichiha suddenly sat upright.
"Right. We need to cross the ocean. Let's build a boat."
Chella looked around.
"With what? There's no wood. No planks. Just giant leaves and beach debris."
Ichiha smirked.
"You'll make the base with Earth. I'll handle the rest."
She raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
He picked up one of the enormous waxy leaves lying nearby. Each leaf was large enough for a baby to lie inside.
"These leaves naturally float," he explained. "If I reinforce them with Divine Energy, they'll easily support our weight. You build the frame. I'll do the rest."
Chella nodded.
"Alright."
She stood up. Her feet spread apart. She raised both hands like a sculptor. Pebbles lifted from the sand.
"EARTH CRUST."
The ground trembled. Cracks spread beneath her feet as a thick slab of stone rose from the beach. The rock twisted upward, compressed, and curved into the shape of a boat.
She slowly guided its form, hollowing the center while extending its length. Sweat formed across her forehead. With one sharp motion, stone ribs burst outward, reinforcing the structure. The boat was surprisingly light despite its rocky frame.
Ichiha stepped beside her. Working quickly, he layered the glowing leaves across the inside. His hands glowed with soft golden Divine Energy as he quietly chanted.
Barely more than whispers. Golden sealing threads spread between the leaves. He pressed the final one into place and smiled.
"Done."
The finished boat shimmered beneath the morning sun. The glowing leaves formed a smooth, waterproof lining. Together, they pushed it into the water. It floated immediately. Solid. Stable. Chella climbed aboard first. Ichiha followed, grabbing the long pole she had created.
"Let's go."
The boat drifted away from the shore and toward deeper waters. Neither of them knew it yet... But what awaited them across the ocean would change their lives forever.