Chapter Text
Law wouldn't call himself a great swimmer. He at least knew the proper form and motions, had successfully swum across the cove near Ulzebek many times after his mother taught him. It was a refreshing pastime on days when it was unbearably hot. He reckoned he would be okay when he was tossed overboard with everyone else as Almeidrea's ship capsized, despite having no experience swimming in turbulent seas. He'd have to fight against the raging waves of the ocean but he was confident he could manage getting enough air until he reached a shoreline.
But then he remembered Rinwell. Rinwell, who was born and raised in Cyslodia, a land of ice and snow and darkness. Rinwell, who had probably never been in a body of water deeper than a bathtub. Rinwell, who had definitely never treaded water, much less a violent ocean.
Rinwell doesn't know how to swim.
With horrifying realization as the waves crashed over him, Law knew he had to fight not only for his life but hers as well.
It only took a few seconds of being in the rage of the water for him to understand how horribly he overestimated his ability to fight it. He was in over his head, figuratively and literally as the waves thrashed him around. He could barely make sense of where anyone else was, if his teammates were even anywhere near him. He really needed to pull his gauntlets off - they were slowing his arms down and wearing him out as he fought towards the surface again and again - but there was no time for him to unfasten the straps and they were too secure to rip off his arms.
Then he saw a marker - Hootle flying above the waves.
He swam that direction the best he could, hoping he’d find Rinwell. Something slammed into him and he was thrown off course. Whatever it was, it was hard and heavy, likely something from Almeidrea’s ship. Once he breached the surface again he searched for a little white owl amongst the storm. Waves crashed over his head again. And again. And again.
His limbs were already burning and he was no closer to saving Rinwell let alone making it alive to a shoreline. Is this how we all die?? he thought in a panic, still terrified that he hadn’t seen or heard any other teammates. Something slammed into him again, knocking the wind out of his lungs and causing a sharp pain to flare up his side. He gave out for a moment but then fought through the pain to breathe above the surface again.
He found Hootle and continued swimming in his direction. He could hear the bird’s panicked cries now that he was closer, a sound Law only ever heard when Hootle was scared during a fight against zeugles. He pressed harder against the surging waves and his stomach sank when he saw a shape floating just beneath the surface, her black hair flowing like ink in the water. He dived under and hooked his arm around her chest, holding her against his side as he fought to keep them afloat. He barely had time to yell her name to see if she'd respond before another wave crashed over their heads. When they surfaced again she was still unresponsive, eyes closed.
You can’t die on me Rinwell, damnit!! Though Rinwell was tiny, trying to keep both her and himself afloat was proving near impossible, especially when a wave threw them back under. When they violently tumbled he wrapped both arms around her and held her close to his chest.
Swim back to the surface. Breathe. Get pulled back under. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Law had no idea if they were even making their way towards land or if they’d be thrown around relentlessly until his muscles gave out and they both died. If Rinwell wasn’t breathing and had water in her lungs she only had minutes left before she would die. His increasing panic ignited the fight or flight instinct and he fought the ocean with everything he had, pushing through the heavy onset of exhaustion in his limbs. His muscles burned, his legs cramping up in protest, but he continued to stubbornly persist.
He saved Rinwell once before. He could save her again. He had to save her again.
Law couldn’t live with himself if he failed to save yet another person he loved.
What felt like an eternity continued, the ocean ceaseless in its violence. Law had no idea how much time had passed since the ship capsized and he feared he might have been hanging on to Rinwell’s lifeless body for a while now, her heart silent and all chances of reviving her now futile. He had to believe there was still a chance - that’s what kept him fighting. He had to get her to shore, and surely once he found Shionne she could -
Shionne.
He couldn’t rely on their expert healer to save her. No one could match Shionne’s healing prowess, but Law hoped Dohalim could sufficiently heal the severity of Rinwell’s condition. If he couldn’t find Dohalim in time he’d find the nearest Renan, even if he had to beat them into submission. He had no idea how he’d do that in his current state but he’d make it happen.
When his side slammed into something hard and he surfaced to see it was a large jagged rock, he was filled with hope despite the immense pain because it meant they were close to land. He didn’t have a chance to see where the land was before the ocean dragged them back under again, but he wrapped himself around Rinwell to try and protect her the best he could, still kicking when close to the surface to grab more air and reach the shoreline sooner. The waves pummeled him into a few more rocks, his ears ringing and his head spinning. He felt like he was ready to hurl all his innards if the exhaustion didn’t kill him first, but there’d be no time to relax once he got to shore. He had to keep going, he had to get Rinwell breathing.
Once he felt wet sand against his side he almost wanted to cry in relief. He tried standing up but his legs immediately protested and he fell back down, hitting the shallow waters with a splash. He got onto his knees and pulled Rinwell into a better grip in his arms and tried standing again.
He gasped for breath, coughing and shaking. His whole body wanted to shut down but he couldn’t, he couldn’t stop. He stumbled a bit, the water threatening to pull him back out again as shifting sand melted away beneath his feet. Everything was incredibly heavy. Rinwell was heavy. His gauntlets were heavy. His clothes were heavy. His limbs were heavy. The sand felt like tar beneath him, the water shoving and pulling as he took excruciatingly heavy steps, stumbling towards the safety of dry sand.
Law barely made it past the reach of the water before he dropped Rinwell, probably a little too roughly, as he collapsed to his knees. He fell onto his hands, his body begging to rest as it started to shut down. No, he reprimanded himself, we can’t stop yet. Rinwell isn’t breathing. Rinwell needs to breathe.
He could barely breathe, his lungs burning as he gasped like a fish out of water. His mind ran a mile a minute in panicked chaos as he tried to assess and remember what he should do. He needed to start compressions but what if she had water in her lungs? Didn’t he need to tilt her head to the side so she could cough the water out? Or did she need to have her head tilted up so her airway would be clear? And why was his head throbbing so damn much??
He cursed, knowing the longer he kept thinking about it the less chances Rinwell had of surviving, but if he did this wrong he could possibly make things worse. He knew he had to do compressions so he started there. He ripped off the gauntlets on his hands and tossed them aside, carefully positioning Rinwell’s head tilted back and then opting to turn her head to the side, opening her mouth to find water pouring out. His stomach churned and the impending fear of her dying suddenly became a reality.
Positioning his hands over her chest, he began compressions and every time he pressed his arms flared up, searing from exhaustion. This was worse than any training regimen, than any time he pushed himself to his limit, than any slew of unrelenting battles they faced. His arms were screaming and at some point he thought he screamed too. Everything was becoming more and more hazy.
When one of Rinwell's ribs loudly crunched under the force of his hands he felt like a knife twisted inside him and came to a horrified halt. Of course her ribs would break when he was compressing them but he was supposed to protect Rinwell, not hurt her! He resumed compressions and a strangled sob tore out of his throat when another rib snapped under the pressure.
Rinwell still wasn't breathing.
His vision grew blurry and his face felt hot, then something got into his right eye and it stung. He couldn't address it, not when he had to keep pressing down on Rinwell's chest, not when Rinwell still hadn't coughed up the water in her lungs. He closed one eye and tried focusing but his head was still throbbing so intensely he thought he might throw up. Why was it getting so hard to breathe? How long had he been doing compressions? Was she beyond the point of being saved?
He screamed, pressing down harder in desperation and breaking inside when he felt and heard another two ribs give in to the force of his hands.
Then Rinwell spat up water. So much water sloshed out, followed by her rolling to her side and the disgusting display and sound of vomit. Law's heart skipped a beat as he saw her cough and weakly inhale, eyes wide. She looked dazed as her eyes found him, somehow widening even further.
"Law…?"
His breaths were quick and shallow, his lungs aching. Everything hurt and he couldn't muster the strength to say anything. The ground was spinning way too fast for his liking. He lifted a hand to wipe away whatever had invaded his eye earlier and was startled to feel something warm.
The last thing he saw before blacking out was the palm of his trembling hand covered in blood.
You would dare mock me with your foolish, useless pity?
A Dahnan, nothing more than a mere slave.
I won’t allow you -
Rinwell hurled, her lungs burning and stomach churning as water came up, followed by bitter fiery bile. It hurt something terrible, her chest caging her screams as the pain spread sharp and deep. She felt like her insides were pulled out by water, her bones soaked and her limbs weak. When she finally recovered from the vomit, trying her best to breathe without her chest hurting, she looked up to see Law beside her. Her heart faltered at the sight of him.
Half his face was covered in blood, dripping thickly from his chin.
“Law…?” It was a monumental effort to talk, her mind foggy. Before she could get a response from him he collapsed into the sand.
Sand. Sand? Her eyes trailed around her, realizing she was on a beach, the ocean’s waves lapping just a few feet away from them. She tried recalling how they wound up on a beach and her head ached, those words still echoing in her mind.
Almeidrea. They were on a boat… right? Boat. A boat made sense for why they were now on a beach, but how did they wind up on the beach? She didn’t see a boat anywhere. Shionne! And… Alphen? How had Alphen cast an arte? Did he cast an arte? Alphen was screaming… he was in pain. That didn’t make any sense. And why was Law injured?
Oh. Law!
She turned her attention to the lifeless teen beside her and the apprehension from earlier returned. Everything felt like it was moving slowly, her limbs stiff and sluggish. She sloppily patted his arm, hoping for a response. Nothing.
“Law?” Her voice sounded off, like she was a mere spectator to what her body did and said. It was mildly disconcerting but she couldn’t exactly focus on that either. Right, Law wasn’t responding. What was she supposed to do? Wait, what if he’s dead? He was totally dead. He wasn’t moving even after she poked him and he was covered in blood. It reminded her of the delicious strawberry syrup slathered on the cheesecake they had at the inn. It was soooo yummy! What she wouldn’t do for a slice of cheesecake right now…
Wait, Law was dead!!
In a panic she pulled her book onto her lap, letting out a small cry at the pain in her chest as she did so, the book feeling a thousand times heavier than usual. She needed an arte to save him. She flipped through the pages and they stuck to her hands like honey, causing her distress and confusion. She couldn’t quickly flip through pages like this! What was wrong with her book?!
A screech brought her attention to Hootle who sat a foot away from Law. Right, Law!! An arte, she needed an arte. Water would be useless unless she wanted to wash away the blood. Though maybe water would help wake him up? No, that didn’t seem right. She tried flipping through more pages, frustrated that her book was refusing to cooperate. Eventually she gave up and tried slamming it shut but her hands slipped and the tome unceremoniously slid off her lap.
Magic? What was she trying to do again? She needed to revive Law. She vaguely remembered hitting him with light astral energy, he seemed to like that element. He responded well to it… at least she thought he did. Hopefully he’d respond well to it again.
She gathered light astral energy in her hand and slammed her palm down onto his chest with a soft, triumphant exhale. When he suddenly jolted awake with a scream she shrieked.
Law spoke but she wasn’t quite sure what he said. He spoke too fast and she couldn’t… quite… concentrate on the sounds his mouth made. His eyes really popped when half his face was covered in strawberry jam. They reminded her of the ocean, not quite blue, not quite green. What color were his eyes? Did that hue have a name?
Suddenly his hand touched her forehead and she let out a startled squeak, attempting to slap his hand away but it was an uncoordinated, sloppy stroke along his arm more than any kind of forceful retaliation. Law said something again and his voice sounded warped.
She let out a choked cry when he picked her up, something deep inside her hot and sharp. She wanted to hurl again even though she felt empty from the last ordeal. She tried asking him something but she wasn’t quite sure what came out of her mouth. Words ran dry in her throat and her tongue felt like it was full of sand and acid, dry and burning. She wanted to ask… she wanted to say… she wanted to thank…
Where were they?
She found Law’s face again and her arm reached out without her say in the matter, her hand wetly smacking against the warm crimson stain of his cheek. She thought she said “colorful” but she wasn’t quite sure. His eyes were pretty, perhaps that’s what she was observing, but her heart ached in a way different from the pain in her lungs, and her eyes stung from tears that fell down her face. Breathing was still a near impossible task, the air stuttering in her throat in the form of gasps and sobs.
Rinwell cried out again when she hit the ground, Law slamming into the sand beside her. Was Law tired? Did he trip? She wanted nothing more than to continue lying in the sand and never moving again. Maybe she needed to revive Law again, maybe he kept dying on her. How rude of him. After everything she had done? Maybe she should have used water astral energy instead of light…
Law made a sound that startled her enough she flinched. Was he screaming? Why was he screaming? Was he still dying? Too many questions muddied her head, slow and thick and heavy. Mmm, just like warm melted caramel. She didn’t want to think anymore so she closed her eyes.
She thought she heard her name repeated again and again, but that’s right, she didn’t want to think anymore. She tried ignoring everything - her name, the pain in her chest, the exhaustion in her limbs, the fog in her head, the utter confusion. She wanted the pain to fade, she wanted to sleep. Sleep sounded wonderful.
But she kept being jostled around.
She protested with what she hoped were words that made sense but everything continued to hurt and everything continued to annoy her. She had no idea how long this irritating journey took, but finally after a lifetime of turbulence she was still. Something warm pressed up against her and it felt lovely. She clung to it and drifted off to sleep, hoping that this nightmare would be long forgotten as soon as she woke.
“Rinwell, Rinwell!”
She knew that voice.
She turned and saw the familiar, comforting long black hair and warm hazel eyes. Her mother beckoned her to come closer with a grin on her face. Rinwell joined her on the rug by the hearth, a place of warmth both figurative and literal.
“Remember how you were wondering about how light astral energy can be both light and lightning?”
Rinwell eagerly nodded. All the other elements made sense, but light astral energy encompassed two completely different things that didn’t seem similar in her mind. “Why is it like that?”
“That is because light astral energy is complex,” her mother said in an excited whisper, as if she were divulging the biggest mage secret. “It is the very soul of magic. It gives us both sight and warmth, invigorates us with life itself.”
“The soul of magic…” she repeated softly, the words feeling heavy on her tongue. “Does this mean that everyone has light astral energy inside them?”
“Yes! It is what makes us alive, my dear. And that is why it is also what creates lightning - it is energy in its purest form, fast and strong and reliable.”
“So we all have electricity inside us?”
Her mother gently tapped Rinwell’s chest with two fingers a couple times to the rhythm of her heartbeat. “It is what powers our hearts and encompasses our souls. That is why light astral energy is both lightning,” she tapped her chest again, “and light,” she said, now placing her whole hand flat against her chest. “It is complex because it is what makes us alive.”
“And humans are verrry complex,” Rinwell agreed.
She laughed. “That they are, my butterfly, that they are.”