The Reservoir (4) : The Destiny City Reservoir opened about two years ago and is an easy escape from the big city. It's a five minute drive outside of the Eastern side of town and features clear water and sandy beaches--although, the sand here is notorious for squeaking when you step on it. It's a hot spot for all fun summer activities, but it's been in the news for mysterious reports of some strange, aquatic monster. Some accounts say they've spotted a twenty foot long, snake like creature capable of rearing a long neck high above the water. It's hard to tell if the videos are doctored, but there are too many rumors to dismiss easily. Something strange might be lurking deep in the water. Or it's just a hoax to get people out to the Reservoir!
But–Sometimes, people feel like something is grabbing their ankle, even if they are just wading in the shallow end. In the deeper parts of the water, it gets a little more intense: something has been said to grab onto ankles and pull. People have been warned about dangerous pranks, but so far no one has been caught. In the shallow end, anyone unfortunate enough to be targeted may feel themselves being knocked off their feet and tugged into the water; anyone in deep water may feel a firm grip on their ankle, tugging them lower and lower. Somehow, anyone it targets is freed--either by wriggling and fighting, or because someone intervenes and pulls the would-be victim up. No one has drowned in the lake. Yet. It's impossible to see who, or what, is doing this, but it usually gives up after one failed attempt. Usually.
While you may find yourself harassed by the supposed cryptid, or see something visibly odd in the distance, you cannot take any pictures of the creature. Who knows if you're even being attacked by the cryptid–or just another youma?
Marissa stretched her arms high above her head. Oh how I’ve missed the feeling of the sun against my scales she thought to herself. Although she currently wore her civilian guise, the warmth felt wonderful even if the bright sun hurt her increasingly sensitive eyes.
Nonetheless, she would not squander what time she had left using her glamour on some menial task or sitting inside with AC when she could just go back home to the Dark Kingdom if she got overheated.
After returning from the Rift with another journal full of observational notes of youma that lived there, Laven had reached out to her Lieutenant, Okenite, and was promptly informed of his new rank while she was away.
A large part of her felt ashamed for not playing a more active role in his promotion in the way Lopezite had been there for her. But he was also aware of her situation with being a half-youma and how time often felt like it moved differently for her. If someone were to ask how long she had been gone, Lavendulan might have responded with two and a half weeks, maybe three. But in actuality, it had been a full season.
Even so, he didn’t seem too bothered by her absence when she had invited him to join her at the reservoir. For that, she was grateful.
Sara Draconia
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2026 4:28 pm
Going out to the reservoir during the day wasn't something out of the norm for him, after all, he'd spotted a few interesting birds with the weather warming up and people leaving food behind on benches or near the water's edge. It wasn't always the best for birds, but he couldn't deny he enjoyed the benefit of more species showing up to chow down.
Marissa had been MIA for a while, but he knew that generals were busy, and he kept his head low while he tried to figure out what he could do to bring Aiolos into things on his side instead of out in space. It was stressful, but he enjoyed her company, and things had been going well between them. Even now, he wore the little trinket she'd brought him, wrapped in hemp cord around his wrist.
Seeing Marissa ahead and stretching, he circled slightly so she would catch him in her periphery. "I hope you've been well, Marissa," he said politely as he closed the distance. He'd seen some odd reactions with youma lately, something he wondered about telling her, but that was better when they were on the clock. He didn't wanna interrupt her recreational time since he knew she had a limit on her civilian glamour.
Shanyume
Sara Draconia
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2026 5:24 pm
“Tallulah is upset I wouldn’t bring him, but other than that, things have been going relatively well.” She still felt directionless in her initial research since there hadn’t been any new leads on the stone Amdal had given her. But that didn’t mean there weren’t other things to be learned from the Rift.
“And you? If I remember correctly, finals should be done now, which just leaves graduation ceremonies… unless that’s finished too.” She added hesitantly. Her own experience with graduation was a bit muddled by the unexpectedness of being turned into a half-youma. Although she did finally graduate, the program had to be modified to fit her unique needs. But from what she could recall, both usually happened in early July.
“Do you have any plans for the summer?” Marissa added, curious if there were any vacation plans lined up in the foreseeable future.
Sara Draconia
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2026 4:45 pm
"I see, well maybe if it was later they could have come along?" Though he still didn't know the particulars of youma interactions still outside of the bare minimum. He'd learned some things during his trip to the Rift with that group, but he'd been trying not to think about it for the most part while he dealt with final grades and the inevitable line of students asking about late turn-ins and extra credit.
Shrugging a bit, he gave a tired sigh in response at first before rubbing at his face. "It was rougher this time than usual, given I was a bit banged up and dealing with that on top of students. It worked out, though, even though I know I'll see some of them next semester to repeat the course." He didn't really like them; it always caused more trouble in his mind since they'd already been through things once and might slack off more.
At the mention of vacation, he felt a bit awkward. That wasn't something he normally did, but he was planning on trying to spend more time with Aiolos to help her learn both English and some Earth social skills. That wasn't something to hide, though, at least not since he'd been trying to work on a way to convince her to come with him to the Negaverse. It made more sense to him, given the stability and the well pay, which really allowed him the breathing room he hadn't had in a long time.
"I've got a few plans to watch the birds in the city, spend some time teaching... my girlfriend," he paused for a moment, rubbing at his face as he felt a bit embarrassed over it, before continuing," teaching her English since it's not her first language."
Looking out at the water, he thought it might not be a bad idea to bring her here sometime in the evening to maybe have a picnic or something. He could really only meet her while out as an agent, but that was okay for him; he'd figure the rest out as they went.
Looking back at Marissa after another few moments, he hesitated for a moment before asking her the same question. "Do you have plans? Top side or otherwise? If it's not rude to ask, of course." Given the situation, he always wondered if asking something that seemed so normal for another civilian might hit a nerve or put a dampener on things.
Shanyume
Sara Draconia
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Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2026 5:39 pm
Both of Marissa’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at the mention of a girlfriend. A heartbeat later, one settled while the other remained arched, her astonishment melting into curious amusement and the beginnings of a mischievous smile.
For now, though, she spared him the desire for more details as she instead distracted herself with some moderate stretching.
“My plans are always flexible, and vacation is no more than a thought away.” One might think that, as a creature of cold that could radiate an aura of cold at will, she would prefer the winter months. But the fact of the matter was, although she had a higher tolerance for lower temperatures, Marissia genuinely craved warmth even if it meant that she got overheated if not careful. “All I desire right now is the feeling of the sun.”
“I noticed you were recently promoted.” Her tone shifted to something more solemn. “I apologize for not being more active in your training. But when you’re ready to select a companion, I will gladly assist in any way I can.” Her time and experience in the Rift should prove useful when selecting a youma for him.
“For now, though, let’s just enjoy the next two hours and maybe hunt the creature that’s been occupying the reservoir.” Every year, the rumors were the same. Every year, it had evaded her. This year would likely be no different, but it didn’t stop Marissa from trying.
Sara Draconia
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2026 7:58 pm
He saw the look, knew what it meant, but then was glad that Marissa didn't start asking a million questions like he knew his parents would when he eventually broke the news to them. That was going to be a mess, he knew it, but he had time to figure it all out.
"Maybe one day I can have things figured out enough to be able to vacation, though I still doubt I would travel... I like it here, and I really still don't like planes." Shaking his head, he took another step towards the water next to them.
"The sun does feel nice today. I feel like I've been seeing less of it, considering I'm in a building all day or out at night." It felt better to handle things like draining and patrols when there were fewer people to bump into, even if it had left him tired and reaching for coffee more in the morning.
"It's alright, Marissa, I know you've had things going on. I think I like how everyone seems to have their own schedules with things. I wish my department at DCU could run as smoothly without all the check-ins." Joking lightly, he did tilt his head in thought over the mention of a companion. He'd been curious about that after that odd experiment the man... Chalcanthite, that was their name, had run.
"I'll take you up on that, maybe before the next semester starts and I have to get all the lesson plans set up."
Hearing about the creature in the lake had him freezing midstep, his foot hovering above the sand as he looked between her and the water. Then he carefully took a step back just in case. "That's real? Not just a rumor that I hear from the students?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2026 2:38 am
Grateful for his understanding, Marissa felt a swell of pride; not with herself, but in the man beside her.
As a general, she understood the expectation to mentor and train the newer recruits. Unfortunately, being a half-youma, those responsibilities were far more complicated than they were for others. There were limits to the kinds of relationships she could build with them. Lieutenants could not visit the Dark Kingdom without someone of a higher rank to escort them, and outside of official business, she could only maintain her glamour for a few hours each day before it became too taxing.
She had tried, twice, to mentor a new recruit.
Both attempts had ended in failure.
One recruit never spoke to her again after their initial meeting. She’d later learned that they’d risen through the ranks with surprising speed, only to defect not long after their promotion.
The other… she’d failed in an entirely different way.
At times, she couldn’t help but wonder if she might already be repeating those same mistakes with Elias. It was a conversation with having, but not here, and not with so many people around them.
There would be time for heavier subjects later. For now, she simply wanted to enjoy the comfort of a friend’s company and allow herself an afternoon free from duty and regret.
“Oh, it is most definitely real.” She stated as a matter of fact. “I have been pulled underwater and even chased it into the caves.”
A small shrug lifted her shoulders.
“I’ve been hunting it for years now.” A faint smile tugged at her lips. “It always seems just beyond my reach.”
Marissa looked thoughtfully toward the water.
“It’s probably a ridiculous theory, but… sometimes I wonder if its body isn’t actually here. Perhaps it’s reaching into our world through some kind of portal instead.”
She laughed softly at herself, then shrugged.
“Stranger things have happened.”
As far-fetched as it sounded, the theory wasn’t without precedent. The Calamitous Hollow had been intercepted before it could destroy Earth, it’s physical body was currently imprisoned in a place they could not easily travel to. Yet its influence managed to reach their world with strange storms. Compared to that, the idea of another creature existing somewhere between worlds no longer seemed quite so impossible.
Sara Draconiaxxx
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2026 6:41 pm
For a moment, he stared, first at the water, then at Marissa as she confirmed the rumors. It had him taking just another inch of a step away from the water as he looked back at it, uncertain if he was far enough away not to get grabbed or chased.
"It's not all year round, is it? I don't have to miss my usual spring birdwatching?" Though as he noticed the smile, he sighed a bit and knew maybe he was being a bit too cautious. Or maybe he was being the right amount of cautious for someone still relatively new to the things that were only now making sense when magic or space came into play.
"Portal? I mean... I'm not sure, but it could maybe be something like that. Nobody's ever seen it, right?" Following her gaze, he shrugged and took a tentative step back towards the water. It looked calm enough for now, but that didn't always mean anything.
"It could be somewhere else along the water source? Or maybe there's something under the reservoir? But... I think I would prefer to stay on land." Rubbing at his arm, he knew it was a bit cowardly, but even if there wasn't a monster or lake being, he wasn't a fan of water.
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Sara Draconia
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2026 4:19 am
Maintaining her composure, Marissa gave a small shake of her head.
“It wasn’t my intention to worry you.”
“It first appeared when the reservoir was built. Every year since then, it has coincided with the arrival and departure of the meteor shower.” Her gaze drifted across the water where children splashed under the watchful gaze of their parents, fathers tossed their laughing sons and daughters into the air in the shallow area, and farther out, a young man threw a buoy into the water for his dog.
“Most people seem to assume it is just someone playing an elaborate prank.” This explained the lack of warning signs posted in public view.
“Officially, there have been no recorded deaths because of it. I’ve tried hunting it multiple times now and while I have been pulled under, for one reason or another it does eventually let go.” Being unable to see it, however, made it impossible to follow it further into the caves.
“Don’t let it concern you too much.” She placed a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. “I didn’t invite you out here to put your life in danger. You’re certainly not here to serve as bait. It’s perfectly fine if we stay on land.”
