I ask around about the Lady in the Water - shopkeepers, day laborers, and various other pedestrians, but gain no progress for my efforts. I notice the large population of non-humans populating the city. I don’t really interact with other species that often, for no other reason than the non-human population on Frontier is quite small. From what I’ve heard they mostly live outside of the bigger cities. The Frontier government insists Frontier is a ‘human’ planet, after all, and puts out a lot of ‘information’ regarding non-humans. Sentiments against most non-human species are strong in the big cities like Jealousy and Nowhere, at least from what I’ve heard.

  I feel as though I’ve asked around the whole city by late afternoon; I started at the outer limits and have come all the way to the docks. Nobody seems to know anything about the ‘Lady in the Water’. I take a break on a bench near the docks. Various non-human workers labor and talk amongst each other nearby. Two of them in particular, monster folk called ‘hafon’, a frogman and a fishman in particular, are loafing off within earshot. I happen to overhear some of their conversation.

  The frogman dockworker nudges the other worker, "Ey, didja 'ear?"

  The fishman answers, "Hm? ‘bout what?"

  "They say the Founder left the planet. Went back home to the Nexus he did."

  "The Founder? Who’s that?" the fishman asks.

  "Eh? You don’ know?” The frogman says, surprised. “He was one of the arenka who 'elped establish the planet. He worked at the university, but nobody 'as seen him in months."

  The fishman says, "Oh, yeah, now that you mention it I do remember him. I heard him speak a few times when he showed up on the news. All I remember about him was that he was always pretty critical of the humans and their government." The fishman seems not particularly interested in the conversation, but keeps it alive nonetheless. “So, why'd he leave?"

  "The rumor goes he got sick of dealing with the humans in charge.” The frogman says. “Nobody knows for sure though. He didn't 'pear much in public at all in the first place. People jus' started to notice he 'asn't 'peared in quite some time. Not to mention the Ministry of Truth 'asn't even mentioned him in over a year. Suspect, if you ask me!"

  "You think him being gone will shake things up?"

  "Already 'as!” The frogman exclaims. “I 'eard the Council of Ministers is in a tizzy tripping over themselves in a power grab. Seems like all the loonies have come out of hiding to become the Chairman of the Council. The founder kept things in check, y’know, the humans from gettin’ too big for their britches. Without him, it’s a free-for-all!"

  "Hm... sounds like trouble is brewing.” The fishman says. “Maybe we ought to get off this planet before things get too bad."

  "Maybe the Founder 'ad the right idea! I 'eard the Nexus 'as been pretty peaceful lately. 'Eck, even fightin' on the Nexus with our kinsmen beats workin' for humans on some rock in deep space!"

  “I don't know about that," the fishman says. "I'm not looking to get killed in some dumb war. You know how the confederacy is. Seems like they’re locked in an endless war. I wish there were more places to make an honest living in peace these days."

  "We'll just 'ave to wait and see how things turn out." The frogman says.

  When I notice a break in their conversation, I turn around in my seat and interject myself. "Excuse me." They both turn around and meet my gaze. "Would either of you two happen to know anything about someone called 'The Lady in the Water'? Or know somebody who does?"

  The frogman puts his hand to his chin and answers, "Lady in the Water, eh? That sounds like magic talk it does! Not many ‘round here know ‘bout magic but the old fortune telling hag who begs over by the end of the ol' west dock."

  "She’s a strange one.” The fishman adds. “I’d be careful about her. Some say she’s a witch as old as the earth itself. She sits in front of a big monster skin tent overlooking the beach. You can’t miss it."

  "Thank you." I say. Sunny and I make our way over to the end of the dock as night fast approaches. We cross the beach to the remnants of an old dock, wasting away, and a low hillside and cliff that overlooks it. A tent made of monster skins sits atop the hill. When I climb up to the top I discover a cloaked figure sitting by a fire.

  As I draw closer I see the lady at the tent appears to be a non-human, one of the rakkarian females. Rakkarian females are supposedly extremely rare. At least, I’ve never seen one before, not even in any books.

  I approach the woman, but before I can say anything the woman turns and reaches out her scaly, red skinned, hand. Her long claws directed right toward me. "Some change for your fortune?" Bandages with tribal markings completely cover her eyes.

  I reach into my pocket and give her a small wad of cash. "I don't need my fortune told, but I do have a question for you. I was told you might know something about someone called the Lady in the Water."

  "I do." The non-human woman pumps her hand, to test the weight of the money, before she tucks it into her cloak.

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  "Can you tell me about them?" I ask.

  "What will knowledge of the Lady in the Water do for you?" The woman’s attention diverts from me and back to her fire and the cauldron upon it.

  "I want to use it to help my friend. He was attacked and he's very sick and… well... I’m trying to help him."

  "I’m not sure I understand. How will this knowledge help you?” The woman stirs her cauldron, slowly.

  "I-I’m not sure. It is the only lead I have right now. I think he was searching for her for some reason, it might have something to do with why he was attacked. Maybe knowing who she is will bring me closer to finding out who attacked him and why. Maybe then I can find a way to help his condition."

  "I see..." The fortune teller thinks for a bit before she answers. "Take a seat and let us talk. In ages past when mortals spoke of the Lady in the Water, they referred to the Goddess of Water, Runin. Though it has been long since the days people spoke her name openly and properly. Few people know or speak of such gods and goddesses anymore, especially not on a human planet."

  I take a seat across from her and Sunny settles behind me. "I think I remember reading about the Goddess of Water, Runin, in Iskir's books.” I say. “She was one of the elemental overlords: a powerful being who ruled the universe at the beginning of time, alongside the other elemental overlords."

  "Indeed, that is correct."

  "Why would Iskir want to meet with such a being?" I say.

  The fortune teller reaches into her cloak, takes a pipe, and packs it with a substance. She puts the wooden bauble to her lips and, with the help of a bit of fire, puffs away. "The Goddess of Water is the mother of all those whose souls are tied to the waters,” she says. “It is said she laid out the seas and filled heaven’s storehouses with water that may cast rain upon the land. Her power she could freely bestow upon mortals who garnered her favor. She could grant unimaginable power, power beyond even that of immortal beings.” She continues to calmly puff away at her pipe between musings. “I imagine that power is likely what your friend sought and possibly the reason he was attacked. Those who seek such powers seldom do so unopposed."

  The Lady in the Water, or the Goddess of Water, is her power what Iskir needed to stop the threat he foresaw – the emptiness - he wrote about in his research? If he was attacked because someone didn't want him to get the Goddess's power, that only answers why he was attacked, not who did it… but the professor said Iskir was distraught because he couldn’t meet the Goddess, so why would he be attacked if he never even met the Goddess nor got her power? None of this makes sense!

  "Did this information bring you any closer to finding whoever attacked your friend?" The fortune teller asks.

  "No..."

  "If I may ask,” the fortune teller says. “Why was your friend searching for the Goddess of Water and her power?"

  "I'm not really sure.” I reply. “I think he foresaw a calamity of sorts. He thought that the elemental overlords might have the power to stop it."

  "I see..." the fortune teller sets her pipe down. "Well... I suppose whatever the calamity, the powers of the elemental overlords would certainly be able to quash it."

  Wait a minute... Iskir sought out the Goddess's power to stop the threat he foresaw - the emptiness. The emptiness is the hatchet, right? Doesn't that mean the Goddess's power could reverse the effects? "Do you think the Goddess's powers could help my friend?" I ask the fortune teller.

  "The powers of the gods are said to be that of perfect magic.” she answers. “Powers beyond mortal comprehension. Whatever your friend’s situation, I’m sure their powers would be more than adequate to help them."

  "If that’s true, if the Goddess’s powers might save Iskir, then I want to see her!"

  "I think it would be unwise for you to seek such an audience," the fortune teller says. "Sad as it may be, if you require the assistance of gods to help your friend, maybe their recovery was not meant to be."

  "Are you telling me to abandon Iskir and let him die!?" My voice echoes across the openness. The mere suggestion makes me get up and almost walk away, but I manage to restrain myself.

  The fortune teller, her disposition and tone remains ambivalent. "Think about it, you have some eighty or so years left in your natural human life, barring an unforeseen incident. If even that. It is an extremely short time compared to other species in the universe. A human life is what? One hundred years or so? If your friend was attacked for seeking out the Goddess’s powers, one would reason that you could be attacked as well. You may very well meet the same fate as your friend. Why not move on and choose to live out the rest of your life without such troubles? You said your friend was sick? Sickness and death are parts of life. Ordinary things don’t last forever." The fortune teller tends to her fire and the cauldron atop it once more. "Take this advice from one who has lived in this universe for far too long. Your existence shouldn’t be contingent on anchoring yourself to another person. Especially you, a human, you have no meaningful time to give him or anyone else for that matter. What is wrong with living for yourself? I think if your friend were here, they would agree with me."

  "You don’t know that. You don’t know him." I turn my back to her and walk away. Sunny follows me.

  "Wait.” I pause and turn around. The fortune teller points out toward the ocean."Take a boat out to sea and sail far to the east. There you will find a great maelstrom with a massive door, a gate, at the center. If you sail into the gate, you will find an audience with the Goddess of Water. It is ultimately your choice to make. I pray you do not regret whatever you decide. Go in peace."

  I leave Faraway and make the long drive home.

  When I return home it appears as though Sera hadn’t moved at all. Sera is in almost the same place and same position she was when I had left.

  "Welcome back.” Sera says. Though, as usual, her attention is transfixed upon her video game. “Did you get me a present like I asked?"

  “Here you go." I hold out the figurine of the 'prutor' monster I purchased in Faraway.

  Sera’s eyes go wide at the strange little stone statue. The figurine even steals her attention away from her game. She seizes the figurine and ogles over it. “This is perfect!" Sera hurries over to her dresser, throws a blanket off the top, and places the figurine among several other oddities - a handmirror, a model skull, a rusty lamp, and an antique candelabrum. "What do you think?"

  I had never seen what she had atop the dresser until now. “What do I think? Uh, it’s very... macabre?"

  "Right?!" She seems ecstatic. “I was kinda joking when I said you needed to get me something, but thanks for thinking about me. I really appreciate it!" Sera returns to the couch and sinks back into her spot. "I know you didn’t go for fun though. So, how’d the trip go? Did you find anything that might help Iskir?"

  I sit next to Sera and tell her everything I learned from the fortune teller. Namely, about what I learned regarding the Lady in the Water who turned out to be the Goddess of Water, Runin.

  "That’s a wild story.” Sera says. “So, basically, if you go see the Lady in the Water, er, the Goddess of Water, you might be able to save Iskir, right?"

  "Right..."

  "Well, I think your next course of action is pretty clear. Easy peasy, right?" She says.

  "Maybe she is right though.” I say. I let out a sigh and allow my head to sink down. “Maybe Iskir would want me to move on and I should just give up.”

  Sera crosses her arms. “After all you’ve done and how far you’ve come? If the old hag was right, you are so close to saving Iskir! You can’t just give up every time things get difficult."

  "I’m not... it’s just, I wonder what Iskir would say if he were here."

  Sera doesn’t immediately reply. Sera gets up and walks over to her dresser for a bit. She fiddles with the oddities atop her dresser before replying. "Well, you know I never met him. That’s not important though. You are you. I know what kind of person you are. Perhaps he would tell you to give up on him and move on with your life, but that’s not his choice to make given the circumstances. You get to choose what you do with your life." Sera returns to the couch, squats down in front of me, and looks up at me, into the deep of my eyes. "So? What do you want to do? I think I already know what you’ll choose. You want to go see the Goddess of Water, right?"