Chapter 210: The Cathedral of Tides
Hidden deep beneath the surface of the ocean, a solid glass-like palace contained a vast circular arena. Coop had been swept onto the lower edge by unnatural currents, and he was now standing on what was clearly a landing meant for receiving guests.
Nothing about the setting could be explained without taking into account the extensive application of mana. There were no external supports to be seen holding the construction in place and he couldn’t see anything that would provide buoyancy or stability. The whole mansion remained stationary in the middle of the ocean by finding an impossible equilibrium in the depths, trapping anyone and anything unlucky enough to be overcome by the currents.
There were eight steps leading up to the open area, leaving him in a sunken vestibule that was sealed off from the ocean by solid, transparent walls. An elevated throne stood on the opposite side of the dark and austere hall, above another set of stairs, putting it well upwards from any victims that arrived the way Coop had. A crowd of thousands could fit comfortably into the arena below the throne, but it was completely vacant. The only sounds were those of the ocean. Random clicks and pops added to the rumbling of an incomprehensible volume of water as it shifted with the tides. Without the natural sounds of the ocean, the empty chamber would have fallen into total silence.
In defiance of the sea, the palace held the water at bay, forming an open pocket domain amidst the vast expanse. Coop had a moment where he felt like he had entered Oz.
“I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” He muttered to the dissatisfaction of his panicked company.
They definitely weren’t in Corozal. His sense of direction was upturned by the depth of the ocean and the mysterious construction, but there was simply no way he was still in Corozal Bay. Instead, he believed they had been drawn far beyond the continental shelf where the fathomless depths truly became scary. He couldn’t explain the depth otherwise.
When Coop’s toes first touched the floor of the entrance, a blue glow pulsed within the darkness. The light slid across the smooth surfaces of the watery cathedral, like a giant electronic board powering on, revealing the full extent of the structure. It was a colossal area meticulously constructed entirely from water mana. The sight caught his breath. It was the most magnificent magical achievement he had witnessed since mana arrived on Earth.
The blue light reflected from radiating designs along the perimeter of the floor. They caught the light and sent glittering blue, green, and silver reflections in all directions. Giant columns, like the ancient ruins of an underwater civilization, were embedded in the transparent walls at regular intervals, framing the walls into floor to ceiling windows that would have dwarfed any modern aquarium. The pillars were identical to the High Priest’s manifestations back on sea level. Seeing them again reminded him of his purpose and he adjusted the position of his fingers on his spear.
The illumination further emphasized the outlines of the grooved circular arena before climbing the translucent shimmering walls and bouncing across a mirror-like ceiling that was angled hundreds of feet beyond his head. In the distance, a panoramic view of the immense ocean spread before them. Coop could only see water in all directions beyond the walls, including both above and below. He couldn’t tell if the sun was still in the sky, but a subtle gradient established a contrast between the pitch black darkness below and the dark navy blue above. On the far side, the glistening and vacant throne sat in front of the vast abyss. However, the central feature of the palatial arrangement was conspicuously absent.
The entire arena was circular and clearly designed around a focal point in the exact middle, where all of the grooves on the floor joined in an enormous swirling pattern. Given that this was another High Priest’s lair, Coop suspected whatever had been in the center was the source of her now claimed levels. He could only imagine a giant statue of a god of tides taking the center stage. He doubted he was the first to be swept into the chamber by the mysterious currents, but he intended to be the last.
“We need to escape!” The Cloud Dancer that had joined Coop in the depths of the ocean exclaimed while he assessed the wondrous domain. Unlike Coop, she didn’t have the time to admire their setting, and she had no intention of staying. “I have to warn Juliana that the Cult has laid a trap for them! We will die if we face the High Priest, and the Jaguar Sun will walk into it completely unaware.”
She was desperately testing the shimmering wall that marked their entrance, but when her fingers poked at the surface, her whole arm was repelled. The portal rippled with waves, distorting their view of the deep sea on the other side before returning to its completely solid state.