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To have a well patrolled and used stretch of the river silent like that, Nellara had expected an organized military force from another kingdom, which somehow, got to know about the humans. Due to that, her eyes were not on the water, but on the river's margins, watching every single movement, expecting something to appear behind every bush and tree. Despite all her alertness, nothing could have prepared Nellara for what was about to happen. The first alert that there was something strange going on was feeling the barge quickly getting slower and slower, until for some reason, it seemed to struggle hard just to move a single inch. The culprit showed itself to be a strange, viscous, black substance that appeared in the water, completely surrounding the barge.

[color=d3c28b]"The water! There is something in the wat-"[/color] Nellara began, before she was interrupted by the very same black substance, which had already corroded a hole through the floor of the barge, quickly enveloping one of the soldier's foot, making them immediately fall down. Nellara was expecting the soldier to be heavily wounded, giving how easily the substance corroded through the barge, but fortunately, his leg was only paralyzed.

Just as she saw what happened to the soldier, she heard Zeynep shouting to abandon ship, which only made Nellara even more alarmed.

[color=d3c28b]"Whatever you do, DO NOT TOUCH THE BLACK SUBSTANCE!"[/color] Nellara shouted, not only to the humans but to everyone present.

[color=d3c28b]"I know not if it's capable of corroding us just like it is corroding the ship, but it is more than capable of paralyzing whatever member it touches. Going to the water right now will only get you either drowned or captured... Maybe worse."[/color] Nellara said with a grim tone, warning Zeynep and the humans.

[color=d3c28b]"Someone, help him stand up! The rest of you, get away from the edges of the barge and mind your step!"[/color] Nellara shouted as she pointed to the soldier that had it's leg paralyzed before turning to Kareet.

At first, she was intending to ask Kareet if she knew what the black substance was and if there was a way to stop it, but upon noticing that she was trying to lift the barge from the water, Nellara rushed to help her, putting her hands on Kareet's shoulders. Due to the urgency of the situation, Nellara had no time to use her magic herself and talk to Kareet to coordinate their efforts. Instead, she would do the next best thing... To focus her own magic through Kareet and leave controlling it to her. Controlling it might take a toll on Kareet's mind, but it would be the best course of action at that moment.

[color=d3c28b]"Sorry about this, but I'll focus my magic through you, Kareet. Control it as you wish."[/color] Nellara said, as she began merging her magic with Kareet, letting her take control of it. Kareet would feel the surge of power going through her almost like an electric shock the very moment Nellara finished saying that sentence.

[color=d3c28b]"Any capable mages, assist Seeker Kareet immediately! The rest of the soldiers, do not let the black substance touch you or any of the humans!"[/color] She ordered before she turned to Kareet once more.

[color=d3c28b]"Kareet, please tell me you know what this... thing is? Do we have to worry ourselves about someone controlling it?"[/color] Nellara asked, with a clear worried tone in her voice.

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