Right, towards the mysterious altar.

Your eyes are drawn to the left with the blue illuminating chamber and an altar of some sorts within. This whole area is definitely carved by some group of people if it's not already obvious by the stairs to the right.

That said, the chamber to the left somehow...draws you in. You can't explain it, but you figure that you'll have to go to the left anyways being the only path, you might as well check the altar. If you look carefully, you can see that the water that is running across the rock somehow originates from there.

"Let's check out the left," you whisper, not wanting to alert any presence. If there was a way, you'd avoid going into something that might be troublesome, but you had **** in this case.

Nathraena, being skilled with blending in the shadows, easily follows behind Djarrus. The minotaur isn't expected to be as quiet in his footsteps unlike you or the dark elf, but for a large beast as himself, he does quite which is somewhat surprising. You remind yourself that you couldn't pass his large body thanks to the powers that bound him to kill any intruders. If that wasn't the case, you and Nathraena would've easily checked it out by yourself instead of putting the whole party at risk.

As you draw closer to the altar, another chamber that was hidden from your view widens.

"Hold on."

You stop your movements to stare at the altar. You haven't dipped yourself into the strange glowing blue water and you don't want to risk it either. First off, now that you can see clearly, this altar is...like nothing you've seen before.

"Nathraena..."

"I don't recognize these carvings either. What about you Djarrus? You've lived in these..."

The drow's words slow to a halt as she senses something strange within the minotaur. He remains silent and his eyes stare at the altar as if he's in a trance.

Surprising you and the drow, he steps into the strange water without any caution. The water within the chamber is much deeper than you thought as he sinks to his waistline which, by comparison, would be around your collarbone.

He pays no heed to you or the drow as he trudges closer to the glowing altar. Upon being a foot away from the white stone which is seemingly clean of water, he touches it and exhales a long, resigned breath.

His strange action causes you and Nathraena to raise an eyebrow. Before you manage to open your mouth, it seems that the minotaur realizes he's causing unnecessary worry. He turns around to face you and the dark elf, still avoiding the water.

"I'm sorry, but I can hear...a voice. I also do not feel bound strangely."

That explanation does nothing but put you on edge and the drow apparently agrees. She furrows her eyebrows at the minotaur.

"You are not making much sense, Djarrus. How can we trust-"

"Djarrus, come back."

You cut in and say an order, more to test if what the minotaur says is true. The drow is taken aback and further when the minotaur doesn't obey. Djarrus is equally surprised as he places his hand on his chest, unable to believe that he feels no obligation to obey in his heart.

Despite how welcoming this may be to the minotaur who had to listen to his master's commands for years, it doesn't make you feel any better. After experiencing near hell in this mountain, how can anything be short of a miracle?

"So this water is definitely not normal, but who is this person that's in your head? You're strangely calm."

Djarrus hums and turns his head towards the second chamber next to him which is also flowing with water.

"It's...not the water."

From the second chamber which you have to lean forward a little to see better, your eyes widen as you see something draw up from the water. The form from the water becomes more shapely as the water starts to drip down.

A girl.

No, it's much more than just a girl. You aren't exactly sure what this girl is, but she's outright beautiful...and also not a creature that you've seen before judging by the fin-like ears and slightly scaly skin around her back. She has blue hair and as the water drips down, looking much thicker than you realize, it almost looks like it's extending her hair.

Her eyes are piercing blue, just like the water. They are unwavering and doesn't seem to be distracted by you or the drow, but it appears she is quite aware of everyone's arrival.

Her eyes stare at the minotaur and she opens her lips, but nothing comes out. Based on the minotaur's surprised expression, it seems like he's the only one who can hear her. He can only relay her words to his companions.

"She's...a siren."

Water siren by sakimichan