A strange and lonely creature

Johanna wasn’t sure what she expected to find within the stone structure. A natural spring, perhaps, that ancient peoples had seen fit to put inside a building for purposes of worship or protection. But this, this was by far the strangest thing she had ever seen.

In the center of the room was a small, square pool, and in the center of that pool was an entity that defied explanation. A blue-skinned humanoid was standing in the pool, gently swaying in place, tall and hairless and naked and shimmering wet. Johanna would describe it as androgynous, and as they were currently turned away, she couldn’t tell what sex organs, if any, they possessed. Strangest of all, though, was the fact that where their legs should have entered the water, they instead became the water. Johanna tried to see where the creature began and the water ended, but the two seemed to flow into each other, as if they were one and the same. Perhaps they were.

“Johanna, is that, uh, real?” Johnny asked, breaking the spell of silence. Johanna didn’t respond, but the creature suddenly stopped moving.

“Are you real?” Came the creature’s voice, high and echoing in the near-empty room, “Or just another dream?”

Johanna wasn’t sure how to respond to that, or if they even expected a response, but eventually she decided on a firm introduction. “Yes. We’re real. My name is Johanna Stern and this is Johnny. We washed up on the shore yesterday.”

The creature suddenly started to swell, growing larger, and it turned to face them. “Greetings, Johannastern and Johnny,” The creature spoke, their lips a dark blue, and their eyes seafoam green, “I am Aqui. Welcome to my temple.” It was clear that Aqui was trying to impress them, and Johanna was certainly stunned into silence. When neither she nor Johnny replied for a long moment, Aqui gave a barely noticeable flinch, and continued. “It has been several years since last I had pilgrims. You are welcome to rest here for a spell. Or have you come with offerings, for my aid?”

Johanna had recovered enough to respond, this time, “It’s nice to meet you, Aqui. You can just call me Johanna. In truth, we didn’t know you or your temple were here, so I’m afraid we don’t have any offerings.”

Aqui seemed to deflate slightly at this, perhaps disappointed at the lack of offerings, or at being unknown. “This is understandable. Many who find their way to me do so without knowing for what reason they have come. Are you or your partner in need of healing, fluidity, nourishment, or any of the gifts of water?”

The word “Healing” stood out to Johanna, but before she could ask for clarification or try to reason things out, Johnny interrupted.

“What are you?” He asked, no longer able to withhold the question. Aqui twitched at this question, and Johanna worried that perhaps her young lover had made a breach of etiquette. Fortunately, Aqui’s expression returned to normal and there was no trace of malice or irritation in their high, musical voice when next they spoke.

“I am Aqui, the Guardian of Water. My river is the largest on this island, and I can enchant and control it to work miracles.” Aqui paused, elevating their eyes to look past the pair and out into the jungle. “Life flows from me, although as I am bound here, in this temple, I do not often see the fruits of my efforts. In truth, I appreciate your visit, even if you do not know why you have come to me.”

Johanna was beginning to put things together. If Aqui was to be believed, then they were probably responsible for Johnny’s swift recovery. The wound had only really accelerated its repair after they had reached the pool, directly downriver from Aqui. But that didn’t necessarily explain the other strange things they had experienced. Still, Aqui seemed benevolent, and if they truly were bound here, then Johanna saw no real risk in honesty.

“I think you have already helped us, perhaps unknowingly,” Johanna began, “Johnny suffered injury in coming to this island, but by mid-morning, he seemed completely healed.”

Aqui gave a serene bow, “I have always felt that healing is the most important of my gifts, and my river always flows with healing power.”

Johanna nodded, “Thank you, Aqui. We noticed some other, ah, oddities here on the island. Physical and mental changes we weren’t necessarily prepared for. Is this possibly one of your ‘gifts’ as well?”

Aqui’s eyes grew wide, and they turned away from the pair with a splash. “Ah, it is possible. In my solitude, my mind wanders and I dream deeply. It’s possible that there may have been unintended consequences.” They inhaled heavily before asking, “What sorts of changes have you experienced?”

“Sexual ones,” Johnny said curtly, “We were briefly consumed by unnatural lust, and my manhood has grown almost half its size again.”

Aqui gurgled apologetically, and turned back to the pair looking quite sheepish, “Um. Yes, that was me. I apologize if these were unwanted. If you wish, I can reverse the effects, and I’ll try to be more cautious in the future.”

Johanna nodded. The pangs of lust had been less intense after this morning, but they had been lingering in the back of her mind. Even Aqui, tall and strange and without any visible sexual characteristics, seemed attractive, and several times during this conversation she’d wondered at the texture of their skin, the taste of their lips, and the feel of their hands. It was honestly distracting, and she would be glad to get rid of it.

“Of course,” Aqui said, regaining some of their composure and size, “I could also help you make the changes to your form that you might actually wish to have.”

“What kind of changes are you capable of?” Johnny asked, somewhat to Johanna’s surprise.

Aqui smiled, “Why don’t I show you?”