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, echoing through the misty air.
In the silence of the atmosphere a voice emanating from the riverbed whispered....
"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.
Inhale.
Exhale.
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. You also seem to be adjusting well to your new-found power. Zaire, your turn."
Zaire stepped forward.
Oziah smirked. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
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...find Rahab" a whisper bubbled up from the depths of his mind."
His Flow flickered resulting in a complete halt, and then
nothing.
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 little brother," 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 barked. "If you are to survive, you must learn together, not bicker like children. Zaire, focus. Oziah, support him. You are brothers — act like it."
The boys paused in silence, then exchanged looks.
"Eyes forward."
They turned to face their father.
"Attack me. Together."
Both boys blinked.
"…Huh?"
"I will not repeat myself."
Zaire blinked. "Both of us?"
"The only way you'll learn teamwork," Oz said, "is through experience. If I have to force it, then so be it."
Oziah grinned. "He's serious."
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 didn't block.
Didn't flinch.
He dissolved Zaire's strike with a ripple. Redirected Oziah with the smallest twist.
He moved like a ghost.
Silent.
Precise.
Zaire panted. "It's like he's reading everything"
"Because you fight alone," Oz said. "Your attacks are predictable. They lack teamwork, unification. I'll say it again — your only chance is to fight together."
Oziah leaned close to Zaire, whispering "*Zaire, I'm gonna try something. It'll take time. Can you distract him?"
"What?"
"Just trust me."
Oz's eyes narrowed.
"What are you two conspiring? Fight until your last breath. Come at me with everything you've got."
Zaire approached.
"Then it's just me and you, Father."
"Insolent boy."
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 stared 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. The sky reflected him, constellations flickering to life in answer.
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. "I told you to fight together and yet you ignore my warning. As punishment you will beg for mercy."
"Prepare yourself. From here on out… I'm not holding back."
"You will now witness firsthand the strength and terror that is… Torrent."
Oz raised his hand.
"River Sigil."
Moisture ripped from the air, spiraling into a colossal circle of water — growing, growing, growing—
A mountain of suspended water hovered above them.
Oziah's eyes widened. "He can't be serious…"
Oz grinned. "Now, boys…"
"COME!"
The sigil collapsed outward like a tidal apocalypse.
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 roared. "Get up and fight! Believe in yourself!"
(believing in yourself was always your biggest strength)— "Show him why you should be feared too!"
Zaire nodded. (I just have to hold him off while Oziah charges his attack.)
Oz appeared in front of him — instantly.
"Inadequate."
A punch to the gut. Zaire was gasping for air
"Inefficient."
A kick to the chin.
"Wasteful." He slammed Zaire into the dirt glaring in disappointment.
"You somehow dodged my River Sigil.... such luck won't grace you again."
Zaire coughed. Vision blurry. Still, he raised his hand.
A staff of hardened water formed, symbols dancing like scripture.
He swung. Oz deflected not aware Zaire was aiming for his blindspot.
Zaire grinned unexpectedly jabbing Oz in the gut with the staff.
Oz paused. "Backbone at last, but still not enough."
Zaire's body glowed.
Submergence stirred. "I don't care if I'm not as strong as you. I'm playing my role. So no more talking, father."
"Let's finish this."
Using all the strength in his legs, Zaire leapt into a kick. Oz deflected it proceeding to grab it holding
Zaire upside down.
"How?
"While I recognize your strength you still lack the experience to ever catch me off guard. Hesitation, doubt, fear, all these emotions will get you killed in a real fight. Alas accept your defeat gracefully my son. This loss will only help you grow."
"Not yet, Zaire said.
"Huh?" Oz couldn't help but be puzzled by this reaction.
Zaire slamming his hands to the ground. (It may not pack as much power but this should work)
"TAKE THIS! RIVER SIGIL!"
The ground beneath them became surged in immense pressure cracking as a result. In an instant the scene became engulfed in a fierce geyser eruption consuming Oz and Zaire both leaving nothing but smoke.
Zaire breathing heavily. "That was risky but that should've slowed him down at least a little bit."
" If you thought a pitiful imitation could slow me down then clearly you underestimate me," stated Oz.
Zaire couldn't remained bewildered for his attack didn't leave even a scratch on his father. "B-but how?"
Oziah: (He tried to mimic Father's River Sigil. But Father countered it directly.)
Oz: (He only saw it once and mimicked it? Hmph. Impressive. But still a poor imitation.)
Zaire: (Okay, now what? I can barely stand upright and my vision is obscured)
Oz: You've done well son. Be proud.
Zaire: Move... move... Oziah is counting on me
Oziah: Just a little longer. Hold on Zy.
Oz: "Just a little longer?" Surely you can't expect me to fall for this ruse much longer.
Zaire and Oziah: "HE KNOWS?!"
Oz: But of course. Truthfully, I don't know what's more disappointing. The fact that you believed you could best me in combat or your comfort in allowing your brother to take this thrashing.
The boys stood puzzled.
Oz: Now its about time this foolish match comes to an end.
Oziah frustrated: NO! This can still work!" (but what?!? He's already anticipating the attack. Think!)
Then suddenly..."what the? UNHAND ME BOY!"
Oziah: Huh? what's going on-
Zaire: OZIAH! NOW! I'll keep him here just finish your attack!
Oziah chuckled. You amaze me little brother. Alright then. JUST HOLD HIM!"
Oz: UNHAND ME OR YOU'LL BE CAUGHT TOO!
Zaire: I WON'T! You said we needed to work together and that's what we intend to do. I won't allow our efforts to be in vain.
As if by instinct the air around them became misty with an unexpected chill to it. Their bodies began to be frozen in place.
Oz: This power...its like Chokmah's. But how? (Is it connected to TideBorn?)
Oziah jumped to sky charging more power absorbing ambient electricity. "Come on. I need more power." His hair wild, became flickered by the intense aura of his power. In the sky the clouds began spiraling as if they were at his mercy.
Oz: He amassed that much power in an instant? Even I will have to defend from an attack that massive.
a voice: Remember whenever you feel like you've hit your limit dig deeper.
"your power will respond to your desire. Never forget why you fight Ozzy"
Oziah: those words...
Esther: you fight...
Oziah: I fight...
Esther & Oziah: TO PROTECT THOSE I LOVE!
"STORM CRASH!"
He soared, descending like a ball of lightning driven by nothing but his will to best his father in combat.
Oz thrashed.
"ENOUGH!" shattering the freezing ice.
Oz slammed Zaire. "Insignificant child. I will deal with you lat—"
"I WILL NOT BE BESTED! I WILL—"
As if on cue, Oziah closed in. Oz raised one arm.
Oziah: AAAARRGGGHHHH
Oz grunting. "He's?!? Pushing me back?!?!"
Oziah: (not enough I still need more power. Dig deeper)
The clouds began to erupt generating a powerful rainstorm almost as if it was called. The waves from the nearby riverbed rose converting into large mounts of kinetic energy which began pouring into Oziah's body. Almost as if it was amplifying his attack like a battery.
Zaire grunting. "..get up. He needs me. Just one more strike… one more attack"
"I won't yield. Not yet. I can still summon more power within me."
He then placed out his arms and closed his eyes. This time he wasn't looking for the flow of water through his eyes but instead his mind. Trying to feel the water in the air, the moisture on the leaves, from the sweat on his skin. The saturation from the ground began to alter its shape turning from solid earth into inescapable movement-restricting mud.
"I-I can feel it. its everywhere."
His body became engulfed with the raw destruction and purity that is water. The power surged from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. The mere pressure of this power allowed his body to float above the ground beneath.
Zaire: It wasn't strong enough before but this time I won't mess up. This time I'll use everything...PREPARE YOURSELF FATHER! RIVER SIGIL!
Oz couldn't help but hesitate in admiration and fear.
Oz: (I never expected this turnout. Seems as though they bested me after all.) you both have made your father proud.....unfortunately, I hate to discourage you both for this power still isn't enough..
The two brothers shouted as their attacks connected. Sparks of electricity and intense waves intensely reshaped the terrain leaving nothing but an enormous crater containing Oz's unresponsive body.
For a moment, it looked like they won. Or did the brothers take it too far?
Oziah: We-we did it Zy. We beat father.
Zaire: We did? oh man. that's good because I don't think I can move my body right now."
Unbeknownst to the two the atmosphere shifted. A sudden chill surrounded them. The riverbed crashed with the might of a hurricane.
Zaire: What? What's going on?!? Brother???
Oziah: How? Its impossible
Zaire: What is? What's happening?
Oz: FLOW… UNIFICATION."