"Half-land!" the lead guide shouted, and all the guides and pilgrims, including Atha, craned their heads as high as they could to see. Atha strained her eyes to the thin strip of brown in the vast sea of silvery-blue, wanting it to be closer than it was. Excitement and anxiety mingled in her chest at the sight of it.

Finally, about an hour later, they had reached the shore of Half-Land. The shore directly in front of the caravan was rocky, and beyond that Atha had to tilt her head back to see the tops of the steepest cliffs she had ever seen. 

Guides began maneuvering the wagon-boats for the pilgrims to disembark along the shore. Everyone inside of the guide wagon-boats got off, all going to help. Atha, realizing that she would be the last to reach land if she waited, decided to spare herself that exercise in patience.

Tying up her bundle, she slung it over her shoulder and lowered herself down into the water, then waded to the rocky shore. Other pilgrims stared at her again as she walked out of the water and past the groups of people. Atha trudged through the sand to a spot a little ways away from everything, but still close to the water. She quickly set up her tent, if you could call it that, and sat underneath the blanket, watching everyone else settle in.  Pilgrims were setting up their own tents, and in an established fire pit a few guides were preparing the first hot meal any of them had eaten in two weeks. 

Soon the food was ready, and Eltier found her and brought her a bowl of piping hot stew and a cup full of water. 

"Here you are," he said, handing her the meal. "Go ahead and start, I'll be back in a few minutes."

I guess I won't be eating alone, Atha thought, a little amused at Eltier simply inviting himself to share the meal with her. She shrugged. There was no harm in it, after all. As soon as they reached the other side of the crossing, they would go their separate ways. Eltier will most likely continue to be a guide, and I... I will have to figure out something to do. 

Eltier did indeed return with his own helping of stew and a cup of water. They sat in silence as they ate. She gulped it down while it was still pretty hot, burning her tongue in the process. But it was delicious. Soon they had both eaten all of their stew, and Eltier went to return their bowls and spoons to be washed.

Full for the first time in probably years, Atha got up from sitting in front of her meager tent, and walked to the shoreline, where she sat down again, her bare feet in the soothing water for all to see. Atha had already drained her cup of the provided rain water, and was still thirsty, so she dipped her cup into the water before her and brought it to her lips to drink. The sweet liquid soothed her burned tongue and washed down her throat, bringing with it a refreshing feeling.

"I know you don't get much water," Eltier said as he walked up behind her, eyeing her with concern. "But you don't need to resort to that. I can go get you some more rain water."

"This is so much better than rain water," Atha said, taking another swig.

"Really?"

"Yes, it's the sweetest water I've ever tasted." Then she stopped, looking up at him. "I wish you could have some. But I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it." He was silent for a moment, his eyebrows drawn down in thought.

"Not necessarily." Atha gave him a questioning look. "I... I don't want to be afraid of the burning water anymore. I want to be immune to it, like you and that little boy."

"But... we don't know if it will work on you."

"I'm willing to risk it. Will you help me?"

Atha hesitated, then got up from her seated position, setting her cup on a rock beside her. She had always hoped that the mystery would be uncovered, and that others would be able to overcome the burning water. How else can we know if it can be done for everyone if we don't try? "Are you sure?" Atha asked, looking up into Eltier's blue-gray eyes. He nodded. "Alright. We can try." Eltier smiled, but it was a nervous smile this time. 

"Okay, then." Then Eltier walked straight into the water. Atha panicked for a moment, but then realized that he was still wearing his water-proof covering.

"Wait!" She exclaimed, wading after him. "You want to do it now?"

"Why would I wait?" Atha couldn't argue with that. Eltier kept going until the water was just over his hips, which was to Atha's chest. He kept his arms up above the water the whole time, and when he turned back to her he looked frightened and determined at the same time. "So... how do you want to do this?" he asked nervously.

"I'll push you down like I did with Belon. When you need more air you just need to squeeze my wrist."

"Simple enough. Let's do it." Atha came closer to him, and positioned herself beside him so that he could fall backwards into the water. She reached up and grabbed the front of his shirt, making sure that she had a good grip. He got an equally good grip on both her wrists.

"Are you ready?" she asked. Eltier was staring at the burning water in front of him.

"How do I know you won't drown me?" he asked, smiling nervously at her.

"I suppose you'll just have to trust me," she said. He gave her that look again, then nodded once.

"I'm ready."

"Are you sure?" He looked up, and gave her a crooked smile. 

"I'm sure." He took a deep breath, and fell backwards into the water. Atha pushed and strained to keep him under, waiting for his signal to bring him back up. Atha hoped that it would work. She didn't want him to die from the initial pain, or live with more wounds for the rest of his life. She honestly didn't know which would be worse, but she did know that either option would be most unpleasant.

Atha also hoped that the water was getting to every part of his body. The leather coverings could make it hard for the water to travel all the way down his legs. Atha waited, trying to keep herself calm, for his sake.

Finally he squeezed her wrist. He came up gasping and sputtering, then wincing from the blisters that immediately showed up on his skin.

"Take another breath," Atha instructed calmly. 

He obeyed, and she pushed him back under. His legs were just underneath the surface, moving back and forth with the gentle lapping of the water. She waited some more. After a few minutes he squeezed again. Atha brought him up, and after another breath put him right back under after seeing the blisters again. She was getting tired from struggling to keep Eltier down. Even though she was using almost all of her weight, she was barely heavy enough to do it. 

Atha was also getting worried. Surely he has been immersed long enough. Belon had taken five breaths, but he was a little boy. What if it doesn't work on Eltier? 

Another squeeze came, and she sighed with relief when his face broke the surface. No blisters. He took a moment to stand up, and when he got his feet under him he reached up and felt his face. Then he rolled up his sleeve. The giant scab was gone, replaced by perfect, smooth skin. Eltier looked at Atha, amazement making his eyes go wide.

"It worked...! It worked, Atha! It took longer than I thought it would, and I have no idea how you could have held your breath for that long all in one go, but it worked!" 

Eltier grabbed her around the waist and picked her up, spinning her around as fast as the water would permit. Then he stopped, just holding her there against his chest, that strange look on his face. His breath came fast and uneven, Atha thought from having to hold his breath for so long. She was beginning to feel that anxiety again, and pushed herself away from him.

"Yes, and I'm so glad it did. I don't know what I would have done if-"

"Hey!" A voice shouted from the shore. Atha looked up to see that a large group of people had assembled along the water line. A man was waving to other Pilgrims, beckoning them to come over. "It's true! The water doesn't burn them!" Atha felt a wave of shock go through her. 

How long had they been standing there? Had they seen the whole thing? More people came to ogle at her and Eltier. I'm surprised none of them tried to stop me... from their perspective it probably looked like I was drowning him. Atha looked back to Eltier, who was busy taking a drink of water from his hands.

"Ahhh, well, I don't have to take your word for it anymore. That was wondereful!" Eltier looked over to the shore as well, then back at Atha. "Seems like you may have some more customers."

"So many... do you really think it'll work for all of them?"

"Hey," he said, clasping her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll help." Atha looked up at him and nodded, then led the way back to the shoreline. The gathered people started calling out to them.

"Look, they're coming back!"

"How did it feel?"

"Miss, tell us, how did you find out the secret?"

Atha stopped a few feet from the shore, taking in the crowd of people, and trying to calm herself. Eltier continued walking past her to the shore. The people shied away from him and the water still dripping from his clothes and hair. He reached the shore, then shimmied out of his leather clothing and shoes, then went back into the water to stand beside Atha. Everyone had gone quiet, staring at both Atha and Eltier, waiting for answers to their questions.

This is what I always hoped for. If it really works for everyone... I need to make sure that each of them has to the chance to accept it.

"Um...," Atha paused, gathering her thoughts. "Well, I almost drowned in burning water years ago, so... that is how it happened to me."

"How many others are there?" Another guide asked.

"Only two that I know of. I didn't know that others could be immune until yesterday."

"How does it work?" A woman asked, clutching the arm of the man next to her.

"You just need to go into the water. Every part of you. And have someone you trust hold you down until the water doesn't burn you anymore."

"Excuse me," a voice said, and a few of the assembled people stepped back, creating a pathway for whoever was trying to get through.

"Atha!" A smaller voice said, and Belon came bounding through the crowd, followed by his mother, Margaret. Belon didn't hesitate a second before jumping into the water and hugging Atha where she stood. The little boy beamed up at her, and she hugged him back, relieved that he was still immune.

"Atha," Belon's mother said, coming right up to the water line, her dark curls framing a face that was a little too used to hardship. "I want to be immersed, too." Atha was taken aback at her words. To place so much trust in this as of yet unknown process... to place so much trust in her...

"Only if you are sure. We still don't know if it'll work for eveyone," Atha warned.

"I'm willing to try." Atha nodded, and Eltier stepped forward to the woman.

"What is your name?" he asked, coming to stand in front of her.

"Margaret. How are we going to do this?"

"I think it would be best to carry you to deeper water, and put you under there. What do you think, Atha?"

"That sounds like the best way to me. But Eltier, you're still wet. The water will burn her as you carry her out."

"I can bear it," the woman said firmly. "Just don't take too long." Margaret beckoned Belon to come closer to her. The boy released Atha and obeyed his mother, but did not reach out to her, since his hands were now wet from touching Atha's soaked clothing. "Belon, I want you to stay here by the shore," Margaret instructed.

"But I want to see!" the boy protested.

"It may not turn out like we hope it will. And if that happens... I don't want you to see me like that. Do you understand?" The gathered people began to whisper amongst themselves, voicing their own fears.

Belon nodded, putting on a brave face. "Alright. But you don't need to worry, Mother! Atha will help you, just like she did for me!"

Margaret smiled a sad smile. "I hope so, son." Margaret looked up at Atha, then to Eltier, and reached out her arms to be picked up.

"What's going on here!?!" A voice shouted over the crowd. Margaret froze, and Atha strained to see who had spoken. The lead guide, Joel, appeared through the crush of bodies and stopped short as he saw Atha, Eltier, and Belon standing in the water. "What in the... Eltier? You can touch the water, too?"

"I can now, thanks to Atha. She knows how to make others immune! Isn't it amazing?"

"This is... incredible. And highly dangerous." The man locked eyes with Atha, his bearded face grave. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"