How not to drown people; a näkki’s guide.
Water artichoke grew surprisingly well in seawater. Kyo was grateful for this; all the water was salty for a large distance around their grove. Tending to the chokes had to be a daily task, as they were along the edge of the coast with only a fine netting holding them in. Clover wouldn't, couldn't do this task; being in the process of becoming Ender meant that water burned. So, it fell to Kyo to do this simple chore. Of course, when the netting broke it was always a hassle to mend, being further out into the ocean, past mid height for the small ghost.
Of course it had to break again. Of course it had to break the second time in as many days. And of course Kyo had to fix it all.
Muttering curses under their breath as they waded out with supplies in a floating box, the ghost shuddered at the thought that seaweed could be wrapping around their legs. Despite being dead, it was very much a pet peeve to the Witch, seeing as the large amounts of aqueous flora tended to cling to this headland. With twine in hand, they felt under the water for the broken post, hoping it was still partially held up by the other cables. To avoid ducking their face underwater meant having their hair getting sodden, and it felt much the same as the seaweed as it drifted against their neck. A shudder ran through Kyo as they saw their hair floating atop the surface, and realization that it probably was seaweed on their neck. A further point struck; they wouldn't be able to feel physically if it wasn't magical in nature. Kyo started to shift upright before being yanked under, something strong with its grip on their ponytail, dragging them down, down, into the abyss of unknown that hid the seabed from sight.
They kicked frantically in an attempt to loosen themselves from the iron grip of whatever was taking them away from the sweet light of the surface, but to no avail. When all was dark around, the grip retracted, and all Kyo could see in the murky void was a pair of neon blue eyes and matching set of antlers floating somewhat above them, the probable rest of body being hidden in the shadow. The face came closer to Kyo's, appearing to be examining it intently. After a brief look over, it seemed content with its handiwork, and it gently took ahold of Kyo's wrist, calmly swimming along the seabed at a sedentary pace dragging the waterlogged Witch behind them.
It was just water. Kyo could deal with that; they were inhabiting a corpse after all. Corpses didn't have to breathe as far as Kyo was aware. The pressure of being so deep was a different issue altogether, as the ghost couldn't muster the strength to move their limbs against the crushing weight. As the creature ferried them along to wherever it's hideaway was, a strange sensation settled over Kyo. It was if they were tired, tired like they remembered their mortal life definition of tired. It took a while to trace the feeling to being in their chest, where the spectral stone sat, and a wave of horror washed over Kyo in realization. Those stones were only made to withstand pressure from within, and the intense pressure from the depth was starting to act upon their stone. They couldn't even writhe about to dissuade the thing that has dragged them down here, with the pressure squashing them down.
This was not how Kyo wanted to be for the rest of eternity.
The creature had eventually come to a stop in lighter waters, with mud lining the bottom as opposed to the gravelly depths. They let Kyo drift in a single spot as they swiftly maneuvered around the bed, lightly digging at some lumps of raised ground with plants tangled round the raised parts. With morbid curiosity Kyo stared upon the faces of many other corpses, all with expressions of happiness. The ghost had no idea why, until they spied the thing pulling a smile onto the limp faces, before smiling back brightly at their work. The creature; draped in so much greenery they looked like a salad, darted back over to Kyo, spinning around them with seaweed in hand. Before long, the ghost had been bound up with the plants thoroughly, their face exposed still, which the thing shoved their face in, eyes flickering as they looked it over. The thing brought its hands (fins? claws?) up to Kyo's face, first poking a finger into an eye socket, before trying to pull up their mouth by the corners. It flinched in shock as Kyo concentrated their energy Into clamping their jaw down on the digit that entered their mouth, flailing frantically to loosen the furious ghost. It very clearly wasn't expecting them to still be functioning, and wanted to get away fast. The strange looking duo erratically made their way further upwards, til they breached the surface in a small natural bay of an island, the creature yanking its arm free and fleeing for the shore, shedding plants so that distinctly human figure emerged from the cocoon of green. Kyo thrashed on the surface, the weeds choking their body reluctant to lose their grip on the soggy Witch. When finally freed, they paddled over the short distance to the shoreline and turned to where the ‘human’ figure was watching with wide eyes, and slowly backing away from the advancing ghost. When Kyo tried to snarl and just brought up gallons of water, the figure fled further inland to where a cosy looking house lay among an extremely diverse selection of flora.
Despite all of their usual assortment of weaponry being stuck back at the grove, they were going tear this thing to shreds. With bare hands if needed be. As the ghost approached the door, it opened to reveal a crimson cloaked man with hair of deep purple, towering far above the sodden ghost. Around his side peeked the vivid blue eyes of the creature, like a child hiding from a stranger behind their parent. Confusion swamped his features as he stared down at the tiny angry Witch, blood soaking their face and hair, stained cracked nails twitching in anger.
Looking to the figure at his side, then back to the ghost, he spoke with a hint of caution.
“So, uh, can we help you in any way?”
The small figure behind him switched sides to stare through the threshold at Kyo, whispering something to the imposing fellow in the frame. His expression darkened, and his right hand casually came to rest on the hilt of the sword buckled to his belt as the grin on the little creature turned smug.
“... A witch, huh..? I know exactly how we can help your kind.”
Kyo started at the blades sudden appearance in front of their face, nervously backing away with an uneasy chuckle. They brought their arms up in a pacifying gesture, fully focused on the point aimed straight at their forehead.
“Haaaa, there's no need to be so hasty! I'm just here for uh, for directions! I--” They were suddenly cutoff by a vicious cough, bringing up even more water then their hair would wring out. The man paused, concerned. He pivoted around to the thing that had followed the pair out of the door, a look of annoyance marking his face.
“Nin, you didn't try and drown them, did you?”
Sheepish laughter rang out nervously they looked away, twiddling their thumbs and whistling somewhat innocently.
“Aaaaahahaha! I um. I did nothing of the sort! Nooo, I would never do that!”
“Okay maybe I kinda tried to, just a little bit! They got better!”
