Unfortunately, her legs were still functioning like overcooked noodles. She didn't even come close to reaching the Snake King. Instead, Ren plummeted through the humid air and belly-flopped directly into the steaming pool, making a massive, echoing splash a good distance short of Syris.
"Ren!" Syris gasped.
He hurriedly waded forward to help her up, grabbing her by the waist as she floundered. Ren breached the surface violently coughing and sputtering, her fiery red hair plastered to her face. A generous amount of fragrant bathwater had gone straight up her nose and into her mouth.
She wiped her stinging eyes, wheezing as she grabbed his muscular forearms. "Do... cough... do you have the vial?!"
Syris looked at her, entirely bewildered by her desperation over a piece of trash. Slowly, he opened his hand. He showed her the tiny glass bottle, the single drop of clear liquid still gently swishing around safely inside.
