Cold.
That was the first thing that i feel, when the joy of being still alive after this fall vanish.
And it was not the dramatic, poetic kind of cold.
Nahhhh, not like that. It was the real kind of cold that wake up you instantly even in your deepest dream.
The kind that crawled into your bones, made your teeth chatter, and it truly remind me something right now :
I'm still are alive, but not immune to hypothermia.
"—Ghh…"
And so now after i take a moment to think a little I decide to take a quick look under the water while Honedge will quickly scan the area.
" Honegde, can you see if there are something of interest in the area ?"
"Screee!"
And while he float to look around, i dive in the water to look around.
The surface closed above my head with a heavy whump, and for a second everything turned dark and muffled—just bubbles, pressure, and that deep, suffocating silence.
Then instinct kicked in.
I angled my body, kicked cleanly, and broke the surface.
"—HAH—!"
"…Okay… okay…"
I steadied my breathing, forcing rhythm back into my body.
"...Arms forward.....Pull toward myself.....Kick behind...Turn and Breathe if needed."
I knew how to swim.... a little, but that not the principal problem right now.
The real problem was everything else.
My body is still very unfamiliar for me— much lighter, faster in motion—but it really lack the raw strength that i'm really familiar with.
So now my little experience at swimming in not really kicking right.
But after a little moment of experimentation, each of my stroke carried me forward, but not as far as I wanted.
Still—
I moved.
Water slid past my skin in long, controlled lines. My strokes smoothed out quickly, muscle memory taking over.
"Ok.… i think i just need to keep going right now… but in what direction ?"
I take a look at the direction where i send Honedge and after a much conscience through, in think it a not so good idea to send i'm here like that.
So i picked that direction, and fortunately i see —shore, trees, something solid—and begin to swim in much more simple paste.
I just need to save energy right now.
But suddenly, I heard a soft splash, behind me.
"Scree!"
I turned my head slightly, only to see Honedge hovered just above the water, keeping pace effortlessly.
Of course he float.
(…Yeah, must be nice to glide above the difficulty.)
" I'm glad that your there, you think you can pull me across the lake to reach the shore."
"Scree!!"
"Merci partner."
He simply wraps his blue cloth around my arm and simply drag me crossing the lack.
"I think that you and me will have a little speak when we can be said in 'security'."
I let out a breath and kept swimming.
Pull. Kick. Pull. Kick.
The rhythm settled in.
For one good minute, It felt manageable.
Then—
Suddenly, Honedge stop to float a stay still.
"Honedge ?"
At first i think that he was a little tired of pulling me.
But he immediately turn around to dive half his body in the water.
Something changed.
A subtle pressure in the water behind me. The kind that i might not notice at first—but now that i do, i can't ignore it.
My stroke slowed.
"…No…"
My heartbeat picked up instantly.
(…There's something under me.)
"Honedge" I muttered between breaths, "tell me you feel that too."
"Scree." At that exact moment, the blade in the scabbard that was Honedge show himself out.
"…Okay."
Something's hunting us.
It will probably some type of monster like crocodile, piranha, mermaid or something in that categories.
And suddenly a ripple surged in front of me, and it really fast.
Closing distance.
"—Alright, no more guessing—!"
And immediately regretted it.
It shape was long, dark, and it barely visible beneath the surface—
And then—
It accelerated.
"—MOVE—!"
I cry to Honedge who are still in behind me, and begins to run away.
The water broke around me in sharp splashes as I pushed forward, arms cutting deeper, faster.
Behind me—
The surface exploded.
I heard it before I fully saw it—
A violent surge—
Then—
Teeth.
A massive jaw burst from the water right where I'd been a second ago, snapping shut with a sound like a trap slamming.
"—SHIT—!!"
Water crashed over my head, throwing off my rhythm completely.
I swallowed a mouthful before forcing myself back up.
"—GAAH—!"
I snapped my head forward again.
Shore.
(Fuck...still to far.)
"Honedge!"
And he was already moving.
A sudden flash of steel cut past me, skimming the surface before plunging down.
No hesitation.
—CLANG—
The sound rang through the lake, muffled but unmistakable.
Metal against something solid.
The monsters reacted instantly.
The surface broke again, its massive body twisting upward, jaws snapping—And it seems it a crocodile—
At Honedge.
"Keep it busy—!"
At the moment i finaly decide to quickly run this area.
I pushed harder than before.
My arms begin to burn now.
Shoulders tightening with every pull.
Behind me—
Another impact.
Another slash.
Water erupted in chaotic waves.
I got caught in it—dragged sideways by the force—
"—WOAH—!"
My stroke broke.
For a split second, I lost momentum completely.
That was enough.
I felt it.
That shift again—
Closer.
Too close.
"—MOVE—!!"
I forced everything into one motion.
A full extension—
Pull—
Kick—
Drive forward—
The shore rushed closer.
Not fast enough.
Never fast enough.
Then—
My fingers hit mud.
Solid.
Rough.
Real.
"—YES—!"
I grabbed hold, digging in hard, dragging my body forward as the water resisted, pulling at my legs like it didn't want to let go.
Pull.
Slip.
Pull again—
Harder—
Everything—
And I broke free.
I collapsed onto the shore, chest heaving, lungs burning like I'd swallowed fire.
"…Hah… hah…"
I didn't move.
Didn't turn.
Didn't even think.
Just breathed.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Then—
Silence.
No splashing.
No movement.
No sound.... except one.
"…Honedge?"
My voice came out rough.
Low.
I pushed myself up slightly, turning toward the lake.
"…Hey…"
A ripple.
Small.
Controlled.
Then—
It rose.
Steel first.
Then the eye.
Watching.
Unbothered.
"Scree~." ✨
I stared at it.
Then let out a shaky laugh.
"…Of course you're fine."
Honedge drifted closer, hovering at shoulder height. Its ribbon brushed lightly against my arm.
Familiar now.
Grounding.
I exhaled slowly.
"…You saved my life."
I looked back at the lake.
The surface had already gone still again.
Like nothing had happened.
"…Yeah."
A small grin crept onto my face despite everything.
"…We're not fighting that thing in water ever again."
Honedge tilted slightly.
"Scree."
"Good. Glad we agree."
I pushed myself up, still breathing hardly, i glanced at the forest.
Then back at the lake.
"…We make them come to us."
....
" Yeah i know...i was a little bit emotive right now."
" I think i just need some time right now."
I Indeed take a little time to try to breath properly after that.
For a moment, i didn't move.
Didn't think.
And also didn't breathe properly.
Then—
"—HAH—!!"
Air slammed back into his lungs like a punch.
He coughed violently, rolling onto his side as water spilled from his mouth.
"…I'm alive…"
A pause.
"…I'M ALIVE—!!"
His voice echoed weakly across the lake.
No response.
No dramatic music.
Just wind… and the quiet ripple of water behind him.
"…Okay. Good. That's good."
He stayed there for a few seconds longer, staring at the sky.
Then reality caught up.
"…I died."
"…I got isekai'd."
"…I fell from the sky."
"…I almost died again."
"…and now I'm half-naked in the mud."
"…Great."
I pushed himself up slowly, wincing.
My body felt… strange.
Lighter than before.
More flexible.
But also—
(Terribly weaker…)
"…Glados wasn't joking. Slug-tier, huh…"
"Scree~!"
A familiar sound cut through my thoughts.
Floating just above the water—
Honedge.
The blade gleamed faintly in the light, its blue eye fixed entirely on me. The ribbon around its hilt drifted gently, as if moved by an invisible current.
"…You finaly there."
"Scree!" ✨
It spun once in place. Proudly.
I let out a small laugh.
"…Of course you are."
I sat up fully now, resting my arms on his knees.
For a moment, we just looked at each other.
"…So. Let's confirm something."
I pointed at the sword.
"You're my partner now, right?"
Honedge drifted closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then its ribbon lightly tapped his shoulder.
A soft, deliberate gesture.
Noah blinked.
"…Okay."
A small smile formed on his face.
"…I'll take that as a yes."
"Alright… let's not forget the most important thing…"
Noah raised his hand slightly.
"…A Name."
"... A really Good name."
End
---To Be Continued---
Well it a new chapter and the true begin of our trap adventure. Also the chapter is not complete to my liking, but i think it already pretty good, if error comment there i'll make some edits tomorrow.
So GIVVVVE MEEEEE YOUUUUR STOOOOONNNNNNNNEEEEEE.
THANKS. ( ° - ° )
And, what do you think of a variant ability for Honedge like Arceus, Ogerpon or more like a specialized Motisma.
Well some pic is better than a whole blabla.
Picture :