It had been a few days since Chokmah's sudden appearance — since she froze Oziah in place without lifting a finger. Since she uttered that name:
Zora.
Zaire hadn't been the same since. He trained, yes, but he trained like a song stuck between keys — offbeat, uncertain. Every time he tried to submerge himself into Flow, her voice echoed in his mind. Her presence. Her mist. That name.
The river had whispered to him since.
"ZAIRE. FOCUS."
The command cracked the silence like a whip. Zaire flinched.
Oz stood on a cliff, his back facing the river, arms crossed, coat catching the breeze. Beside him, Oziah exhaled deeply, already calm. His markings shimmered faintly — the image of discipline.
"This isn't your first lesson," Oz said. "I will only show you two this one more time. Pay attention, especially you, Zaire."
He raised his hand. Water spiraled up his arm in a twisting vortex, his Flow markings glowing like river glyphs, humming as if the water was alive in him.
"This," Oz said, "is Submergence — where body aligns with spirit. Flow isn't strength. It's surrender. Now you two, show me the results of your training."
Oziah stepped forward, eyes shut.
He inhaled.
Lightning crackled faintly under his skin. His markings pulsed like thunder veins. His aura surged — silent, focused, sharp.
"Good. I can feel your power aligning perfectly. The mutation seems to be adapting to you. Zaire, your turn."
Zaire stepped forward.
"Try not to disappoint this time," said Oziah.
His heart raced. Water danced at his fingertips, hesitant. Then—
Chokmah's eyes. Her mist. That name again.
Zora.
The river's whispers rose in his ears like a scream.
"Tideborn..." a whisper bubbled up from the depths of his mind. "That's what the beast called me... Rahab."
His Flow flickered. Died.
Oz didn't need to say it. The silence was enough.
Zaire clenched his jaw. "Father, I can do it. I just need more time."
"Maybe if you spent less time daydreaming and more time focusing, you wouldn't be so stagnant in your progress," Oziah snapped.
"Hmph. Whatever."
"You're being a nuisance," Oziah growled. "You heard that old hag. We're targets now — not just because of our power, but because of our blood. So whatever it takes for you to focus, figure it out."
He shoved Zaire.
"ENOUGH!" Oz's voice thundered. "You two need to learn to work together and stop fighting. Oziah, as the eldest, I expect you to assist your brother, not tear him down. And you, Zaire — Oziah isn't completely wrong. You must focus. Only when your mind and body become one can you truly enter the state of Flow Submergence."
The boys paused in silence, then exchanged looks.
"You two. Eyes forward."
They turned to face their father.
"Attack me. Together."
"Huh?!" they both exclaimed.
"I will not repeat myself."
Zaire blinked. "Both of us?"
Oziah grinned. "He's serious."
"The only way you'll learn unity," Oz said, "is through experience. If I have to force it — so be it."
Oziah moved first.
Lightning surged beneath his skin. He spun forward, thrusting an electrified palm.
"Bolt Step!"
Zaire followed, water coiling around his arms.
"Current Lash!"
They struck in unison.
Oz barely moved — redirected Oziah with a twist, dissolved Zaire's strike with a ripple of mist.
He moved like a ghost. Silent. Precise.
Zaire panted. "He didn't even bother defending. It's like he's reading everything—"
"Because you fight alone," Oz said. "Your attacks are predictable. They lack unification. I'll say it again — your only chance is to fight together."
"Psst. Zaire," Oziah whispered.
"What?"
"I'm gonna try something. It'll take time. Can you distract him?"
"I can try. What are you plotting?"
"A technique I've been working on. Just wait for my signal and move."
"Fine. Just don't miss."
Oz narrowed his eyes. "What are you two conspiring? This is a fight — not a game. Come at me with everything you've got."
Zaire approached. "Then it's just me and you, Father."
"Insolent brat," Oz said. "Very well. If you choose not to work together, I will punish you accordingly."
Suddenly, the air shifted.
Leaves spun in frenzied spirals, torn from their branches by winds that came from nowhere. The river below surged violently, as if trying to climb the cliffs themselves. The ground cracked beneath their feet, trembling like it feared what was coming. Above them, the clouds churned into a black spiral — a celestial eye opening overhead.
Zaire staggered back, heart pounding. "What… what's happening?"
"Oziah!" he shouted. But his brother was already staring in awe.
Oz was changing.
Light bled from his skin — not like sunlight, but something older, deeper, sacred. His Flow markings ignited, stretching across his body like ancient river runes, glowing with the brilliance of a thousand stars. The sky reflected him — constellations flickering to life in answer.
His coat snapped violently in the wind, hair whipping upward as if caught in a storm he alone commanded. Every element bowed to him — air thick with pressure, water rising in reverence, the earth trembling in surrender.
He didn't just glow. He radiated power.
Zaire gasped. "This power… it's different. The air is so thick I can barely breathe."
Oz's voice deepened. "Prepare yourself. From here on out… I'm not holding back."
Zaire shuddered in fear.
"You will now witness firsthand the strength and terror that is… Torrent."
Oz raised his hand.
"River Sigil."
A circular formation of glowing water glyphs burst into the air beneath his feet.
"Now, boys…"
"COME!"
The sigil exploded outward, rivers of energy spiraling to engulf both sons.
Zaire's eyes widened. "What power..."
He barely dodged with a tumbling roll. "I don't see how… even if we work together, we can fight him, Oziah."
"ZAIRE!" Oziah yelled. "I know you're not giving up this easily. You're my brother — so enough of this childish doubt and show him why you should be feared as well!"
Zaire nodded. "Oziah's right… I just have to hold him off long enough while brother charges his attack."
(Great, now what? I need to hurry up. I never expected Father to be holding back this much power. Is this… the true state of Submergence? Never mind that — I just need to focus on defend—)
Oz appeared in front of him — instantly.
"Inadequate." A punch to the gut.
"Inefficient." A kick to the chin.
"Wasteful." He grabbed Zaire by the face and slammed him into the dirt.
Oz stood over him. "Still hesitating when faced with an obvious superior opponent. Hmph. You disappoint me, boy. And yet… you somehow managed to dodge my River Sigil....well, I can assure you this - that luck won't grace you again."
Zaire coughed. Dirt in his teeth. Vision blurry. But still, he raised his hand.
A weapon formed — a flowing staff of water, hardened like glass, etched with glowing symbols that danced like scripture.
He swung.
Oz deflected effortlessly.
"You expect me to be distracted by such a pathetic effor—"
Zaire grinned.
The glass-staff flared — and he jabbed the butt end into his father's stomach.
Oz paused. "Hmm. About time you showed some backbone. But it's still not enough."
Zaire panted. He staggered to his feet, bones aching, lungs on fire. But in that pain, he heard her voice again.
Esther's voice — gentle, firm, full of belief.
"You don't have to be like Oziah. Or your father. You just have to be you — and when the time comes, trust that will be enough."
Zaire's fingers curled into fists. His Flow responded, faint but pulsing.
"I remember now, Mom… I'm not the strongest. But I'm still your son."
He stood tall. "And that means something."
Suddenly, his body began to glow.
His eyes burned blue. His limbs shimmered like water. His markings pulsed.
Submergence… not yet complete — but stirring.
"All I care about… is playing my role in this fight. So no more talking, Father."
Zaire's eyes burned.
"Just do as you said—"
"COME AT ME!"
Zaire and Oz commence their battle. This time, Zaire is holding his own. None of his strikes connect, but he's not just on the defensive anymore.
(Oz's thoughts): "It seems the boy is responding well... however, he lacks the grit and technique to turn the tide of this fight."
Zaire leaps into a kick. Oz grabs his leg.
Zaire: "Not yet."
Oz: "Huh?"
Zaire balances on one leg and slams both palms into the ground — surging his Flow beneath the earth.
Zaire: "TAKE THIS! RIVER SIGIL!"
The moment his hands hit the soil, a surge of unstable glyphs exploded outward. They weren't clean or symmetrical like Oz's — they bent, wavered, cracked mid-formation — but they pulsed with raw, unrefined power.
The ground erupted in a violent blast of water and light, spiraling upward with enough force to shake the cliffside.
A shockwave rippled through the air.
Oz (startled): "IMPOSSIBLE—!"Oz: "IMPOSSIBLE!"
As the smoke clears…Oz's stands seemingly unharmed.
Zaire: "But how?! I could've sworn I got him—"
Oziah watches, wide-eyed. (How did he do that? That was like Father's River Sigil… Zaire didn't see it, but I did. Somehow… Father canceled out the attack with his own River Sigil — a direct counter.)
Oz: He only saw it once and was able to mimic my attack, it seems I may have underestimated him a bit
Oz steps forward, impressed but composed. "Impressive. I never thought you'd try to mimic my attack… but it was just that — a poor imitation compared to the real thing."
Zaire, panting and drenched in sweat. (Okay, now what? That took a lot out of me. I didn't expect him to counter at such close range — and so effortlessly. I need to act fast… before he—)
Oz: "You've done well, boy. You should be proud."
Zaire: "Come on… body… move… move…"
Oziah: "Come on, Zaire. Just a little longer!"
Oz: "Accept your defeat gracefully, son. Your brother will soon join your fate… once I dispose of that little attack he's been preparing."
Zaire and Oziah (in unison): "HE KNOWS?!"
Oz: "You really think I wouldn't notice? Don't insult me. You two are lightyears away from truly overwhelming me in a fight. Now… concede. You've lost."
Oziah: "NO! This can still work. I REFUSE TO LOSE LIKE THIS!"
In that instant — Zaire grabs Oz, wrapping him in a crushing embrace — and encases them both in a Hydro Prison.
Oz: "YOU LITTLE- RELEASE ME THIS INSTANT!"
Zaire: "OZIAH QUICK DO IT NOWWW!"
Oziah: "RIGHT! HOLD HIM — WHATEVER YOU DO, JUST DON'T LET GO!"
Oz: "FOOLISH BOY! YOU'RE IN MY WAY!
Zaire: "THEN MOVE ME!"
Oziah's body begins to surge with water and lightning. His hair flows wildly in the air. The clouds spiral above like a storm forming in heaven. Power gathers.
Oziah: "STORM CRASH!"
He leaps into the sky, roaring — surrounded by lightning, mist, and cyclone winds.
Inside the Hydro Prison, Oz is thrashing.
Oz: "GRRRR! ENOUGH!"
"With a deafening roar, Oz's aura surged — his Submergence rupturing the Hydro Prison like a dam collapsing
He grabs Zaire and slams him down.
Oz: "FILTHY CHILD! I WILL NOT BE—"
Oziah appears above, closing in fast. Oz turns and raises one arm to defend.
Zaire watches through blurred eyes. (His guard's only halfway up… I have to move… just one more—)
His body trembles.
Zaire: "RIVER SIGIL!"
A final burst of Flow ignites around him — not complete Submergence, but close.
Oz: "HRAHHHHH!"
Oziah: "HAAAAAAAA!"
Zaire: "NOW!"
They strike together, shouting.
And for a moment — it seems like they've won.
For a moment, the air was still.
Zaire and Oziah stood, chests heaving, shoulders trembling.
Zaire gasped. "Did we… did we actually…?"
Oziah landed beside him, grinning. "I told you. We had to fight together."
They laughed — not out of joy, but relief.
The smoke cleared.
Oz's silhouette emerged… unmoving.
Zaire's voice was soft. "We did it…"
Then Oz lifted his head.
"...Fools."
Until Oz's voice breaks through:
"FLOW… UNIFICATION."
[To be continued...]