The morning Tymon and Za'Fia left...
Tymon and Za'Fia were flying someone over the Atlantic, using their wings to stay undetected.
They were so close to the water's surface that Tymon could reach out and touch it.
"Here should be good," Za'Fia said from in front of him.
She folded in her wings and dove into the water, then Tymon followed suit.
Feels stifling, he thought as he floated underwater.
He'd already discovered that he didn't need to breathe while underwater, but last time he hadn't taken the time to note the experience.
With his lungs no longer operating, his body felt like it'd been switched into a lower gear. He could feel his inner spirit energy circulating within him; a lot of it was focused on keeping his heart pumping, but he could also feel his muscles being restricted, like he couldn't access their full strength.
Strange. Maybe my body's conserving its energy.
Tymon's mind started racing with how this would affect him in a fight. He concluded that fighting anywhere without oxygen would be unfavorable for any of them.
We have to make sure we don't find ourselves underwater at the wrong time, he told himself. In this condition, we're weaker and slower. Not to mention that our spirit energy is required to keep us alive. Growing exhausted in this state wouldn't end well for any of us.
Before they could get too deep, Za'Fia stopped, pulled out two deep-diving flashlights from her spatial bag, and gave one to Tymon.
He accepted it but also decided to use omni-vision to help be aware of the marine life around them and to keep better track of Za'Fia as they plunged deeper into the dark waters. Considering how well she moved, he suspected she was doing the same.
Tymon had to admit that swimming was pretty incredible. It wasn't as fast as flying, far from it, but with their strength, they could propel themselves through the water like torpedoes. Feeling his body cut through the resistance of the water was a different kind of satisfaction than flying offered. He could see why this was Za'Fia's favorite hobby.
Eventually, Za'Fia led Tymon somewhere deep underwater. It had to have been at least five thousand feet below the surface.
They swam through some tunnel entrance which went on for a while before they rose into a pool area connected to a space with air.
"An underwater cave," Tymon said aloud as they floated above the pool of water and onto the cave's ground.
Tymon noticed that the walls of the cave were dotted with PRP.
"Where are we," he asked as he touched one of the walls.
Za'Fia stood next to him, drying both of them as heat came off her body.
"Amazing, isn't it? I found this place a while ago while swimming," she said proudly.
Tymon realized the PRP were already actively suppressing their power. He looked around and spotted a mini nuclear reactor nearby that kept the PRP fully powered.
How did she get that?
Za'Fia placed her hand on the wall, rubbing her fingers against some of the crystals.
"Okay, being this deep below sea level with this much PRP around, it'll be difficult for anyone to sense us once we get started, and we won't be able to sense others either; that way, we're not distracted," she said without looking at him.
"All right...wait, what do you mean 'get started'?"
Za'Fia turned slowly and gave a slick smile that sent a shiver through Tymon. She walked toward him, each of her movements seemingly wholly embodying the concept of seduction.
When she reached him, she gently pressed him against the wall behind him.
"A girl brings you to her private place that's quiet with no distractions – a place where she finally has you to herself, and you have to ask what I mean? What do you think I mean?"
Tymon looked around as if the fact that they were deep underwater and alone in a cave had just sunk in.
"That's...I mean...We..." was all he could manage at the moment. He was completely caught off guard.
Heat started to radiate from Za'Fia as she gave him a dangerous look. At that moment, Tymon felt like a twenty-year-old again, blushing and unable to articulate the muddled mess that was his thoughts.
He found the sensation strange, considering that no woman, including Za'Fia, had ever caused this reaction in his past life.
As Za'Fia rose to the tip of her toes and her face got closer to his, he felt himself gulp hard as his heart raced.
When her face was less than an inch away from his, and he could feel the warmth of her breath as their lips nearly touched, Za'Fia giggled and kissed him on the cheek.
"It's for training, dummy," she said playfully as she backed away.
Tymon exhaled deeply, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment. He tried to calm his breath and refocus his thoughts seamlessly.
"Training?"
Za'Fia moved to a secluded part of the cave hidden behind an extension of the wall.
"I noticed how you're struggling to keep control of your beast. It slipped with Alissia earlier, and you nearly lost it with Michael," she said as a shirt fell on the floor. Tymon realized she was using the area as a changing booth.
"As you probably already know, initially, controlling our hybrid form will be difficult," she continued. "After all, it is the raw essence of our aspects mixed with the instincts of a beast. While down here, you'll learn how to control yours; that way, you don't try to kill everyone indiscriminately the next time you transform."
"I've been meaning to get to that, but I've been a bit distracted," Tymon admitted. "Now's as good a time as any."
Tymon removed his cloak and quietly practiced some breathing exercises, prepping himself. When he finished, he heard Za'Fia walking toward him. She wore black leggings, sneakers, and a red sports bra.
"Shouldn't you be leaving?" Tymon asked, a little confused.
"No, you'll just get out and cause a catastrophe if I leave you alone," she replied as she tied her hair back.
"So, what's the plan," he asked as Za'Fia started stretching.
"It's simple, like any other first full transformation: you'll let it all out," she answered. "Once you do that, you'll need to use your willpower to reign it back within four days. That's the max any of us can withstand. After that, your mental strength will wane. If you manage to force it to submit, the beast within you will be under your control. Fail, and you'll be stuck as a mindless killing machine for the rest of your life – which is forever now."
Tymon watched her as she continued to stretch, then realized what she intended to do.
"Don't tell me you plan to fight me in my hybrid form," he exclaimed.
"Someone has to keep you from leaving the cave. It'd suck if you came back and learned you went on a murderous rampage for four days, wouldn't it?"
"No, that's a dangerous plan," Tymon said sternly.
Za'Fia's expression changed to one of annoyance.
"One, I'm not Alissia; I can handle myself. Two, you're not the only one here with a hybrid form. And three, I brought you here so your power wouldn't be too much of an issue," she stated fiercely.
"Right..." Tymon said, taken aback by her sudden shift.
"Well, here goes," he said as he looked at Za'Fia for confirmation.
"I'm ready," she said with a nod.
With barely any effort, Tymon released all the energy that bubbled just beneath the surface and transformed into his hybrid form.
Before his mind slipped into darkness, he saw Za'Fia's shocked expression.
"You can still release this much energy!?" She expressed as Tymon felt himself lunge at her before blacking out.
------
Fun fact: Za'Fia's favorite hobby is deep diving (freestyle). Even though her powers are effectively useless underwater, she finds it freeing to rocket through the water and discover things humans can't.
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