Swim to the mountain.

Leading the way is the mermaid beside Yaera Tedrilui. Lynx's brown cloak flutters ahead of you. Meanwhile, you and Amara take up the rear. Besides the circumstances, it's a fascinating experience what's happening right now. You're swimming along side Amara, deep beneath the sea, surrounded by the many colours of fish and coral, but despite it all, you can see and breath perfectly fine. You gaze down at the seafloor, and at the long strands of seaweed floating up around you.

"This is... quite lovely," Amara says softly. "I wish we were here on better terms."

"I agree. Say, how long does a mermaid's blessing last? Do we need to upkeep this buff, or what?" you ask.

"I see. You wish for an excuse to kiss more mermaids."

"No, that's not what I--"

Amara giggles. "I am only teasing. The blessing lasts for about twenty-four hours."

The swim continues.

You turn to Amara again and say, "I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I know you just wanted to see your mom again."

She smiles. "No. It is fine. We did a lot of catching up before the portal opened, and I am happy that I have a chance to show my mother what I have learned. I wish to make her proud."

The beauty of the sea's sparkling rainbow gradually twists into a dark, melancholy plagueland. The plants are either shrivelled and black, or dead completely. There aren't any fish in sight. No, it's worse. You make out a few, but they're nothing more than skeletons drifting mindlessly through the water. Around it all is a mountain of dark stone. It's a rotten, unsettling land in contrast with what you've seen so far.

"This is it." The mermaid stops and points ahead. "All I know is of an entrance at the base of the mountain. Within there is the Twilight Grove, a once-gorgeous cavern of life. The Witch of Decay resides within. If you really are against her, and you're telling the truth... please defeat her. The other mermaids, they just want to swim freely. Dance and sing. I can't stand the idea of them getting hurt."

Yaera squeezes her staff. "You do not have to fear. The Witch will be defeated. As was said, destroying the undead is our speciality."

"I don't see anyone guarding the entrance. Better keep your guard up," Lynx says. "We don't know much about our enemy. That's dangerous. I'm afraid I haven't heard of any Witch of Decay myself."

"We're definitely not in Tivera then, huh?" You sigh. "Let's go then. Niki isn't here, so I guess I'm the frontliner."

You reluctantly dive deeper, and the group begins swimming towards the mountain. The mermaid remains in the distance, and she watches as you depart. Even the water feels colder here--the touch of ****. As you continue, you near one of the skeletal fish drifting by.

It slowly turns. Then, it starts to vibrate, and its tiny jaw opens. The fish begins swimming towards you.

"Got it!" Lynx dives in quickly and shatters it to bits with one of her daggers.

"Thanks," you say.

Your eyes turn to a second, larger one behind Yaera's back. She doesn't notice in time. It bolts forward to take a bit, but you draw your sword, and jab it forwards through the water. Even with the blessing of a mermaid, it isn't easy to attack underwater. You've never had to do it before. Thankfully, you do land the blow, and the skeleton breaks into pieces right behind the elf's neck.

Yaera turns to you. "... Thank you. I apologize. Though I am an archpriest, martial capabilities are not my strong suit. Perhaps I have rushed in too quickly."

"It's all right. I'm definitely used to that," you respond.

I just sort of took her word for it. She acts so confident, and her heart is filled with a drive to help people in need, but she isn't wearing any armour. She has no weapon. Even a strong magic user can be attacked before they can cast, and it's not easy to do anything underwater. She might run head-first to save somebody, but she's still just one person. I'm the one that should be protecting her. Though I bet her magic is awesome.

The entrance the mermaid spoke of comes into view. There's a cave at the foot of the mountain. You swim down to the dark sands below, and peer into the tunnel. Thankfully, the blessing allows you to see better than normal. It still curves not far inside, however, so you can't see far. Your feet touch the ground, and you grip the handle of your sword.

"Be careful," Lynx warns.

"I hear something--" Yaera begins to speak, but she's taken off guard. It isn't a fish that lashes out at her this time. What emerges from the cave is the skeleton of a mermaid grasping a trident, and it thrusts out towards her. She swims to the side, and parries the blow with her staff just in time, though she definitely has the disadvantage underwater.

"Mother!" Amara raises up her hand. Around it, swirling golden bands envelope her, and form into energy concentrated around the tip of her staff.

Lynx jabs a dagger into the skull of the skeleton, but it smacks her away with the side of its weapon.

"Celestial Blast!" From Amara's staff, a burst of holy magic bathes the skeleton in a wave of radiant light. The bones sizzle away into clouds of ash through golden flames that burn even surrounded by water. After a moment longer, there's nothing left but a scorched trident that slowly floats down to the sand beneath.

You look down to see a slight glow in the blade of your sword. Amara's face is pink, but she hides it will--so far anyway.

"Wonderful," her mother says. "You are catching up so quickly."

Meanwhile, you swim into the entrance and peer around. "Let's keep moving. I'll take the lead."

She leans towards Amara and speaks quietly. "You choose your boys well too."