Everything is enveloped in darkness. I struggle to draw a breath as water fills my lungs. Powerless and overwhelmed, I haven't felt this way since my encounter with Thomas. Why is this happening? What have I done to deserve this?

Life feels unbearably difficult, and a part of me contemplates surrendering here. Yes, the idea of succumbing to the depths of this water seems appealing. No more problems, no more pain. Giving in to the despair, I cease my struggle and allow myself to drown. A persistent ringing echoes in my ears, annoying yet ignored. But as it grows louder, I wonder why it persists. Shouldn't I be dead by now?

I remain submerged in the deep water, my body embraced by its cold embrace. Memories escape me, leaving me to question how I ended up in this watery prison. Why did I want to die? Ah, yes, life's overwhelming hardships pushed me to such extremes. Yes, right here is where I wanted it to end.

The incessant ringing in my ears intensifies, refusing to release its grip on my senses. Wait, why is there ringing in my ear? Is this what death sounds like? No, that can't be it. Then why?

"Wake up."

???

A mysterious voice momentarily replaces the ringing.

"Wake up, Rohan."

Rohan? Who is that? Is that me? The voice bears a familiarity I can't place.

"Wake up, Rohan."

Rohan. Yes, that's me. The mysterious voice belongs to my wife. Where am I? Struggling to open my eyes, I find them unresponsive. Suddenly, the drowning sensation returns, but I manage to conjure an air bubble around me, coughing out water while barely holding onto the bubble of air.

With great effort, I try to open my eyes, but they refuse to budge. The ringing in my ears grows louder, unbearable. Gathering the wind energy around me and tapping into the neutral energy within my body, I summon a tremendous amount of power.

"Discharge."

The air rushes out of my body, pushing the water in all directions as my manipulation zone reaches its limits. Though I continue to battle against the water's force, this is all I need. The ringing in my ears reaches its peak.

"Wake up, Rohan."

As I open my eyes, the first sight that greets me is my wife's tear-streaked face. Luna and Farkas are nearby, both bearing signs of injury but seemingly fine.

"What happened?"

I'm still groggy, struggling to focus my vision.

"That bull seemed to cast an illusion on you. Farkas and I went to slay it, but he also fell under its spell after looking into its third eye."

"What happened next?"

"Well, I defeated it. It wasn't as formidable as it seemed, and its third eye proved to be its most powerful attack."

After conversing for a while, we begin our journey back to the village. Luna, whose powers revolve around illusions, was largely unaffected by the bull's third eye. The ringing in my ears was her attempt to break the illusion I was trapped in. Once we reach the village, exhaustion overtakes me, a combination of the battle with the bull and everything that transpired.