Castle in The Waves

My fall awoke the professor, who had been sharing the room with me. He stared at me with befuddlement, I explained to him that I had a bad dream. He obviously didn't believe me, but he didn't press further. I left the room.

Outside on the deck, the sun was creeping up on the horizon, gleaming against the ocean, like a glowing eye over a glass blanket. The waves were very calm, almost still, so I was able to relax here on the deck. Until I heard a faint noise.

I clenched my teeth, recalling my horrid dream. The noise was extremely quiet, but I could still hear the faint din of sound. I checked on the professor, he had not fallen asleep yet. I gave him a gentle shake to keep him alert. He seemed upset by this, but I was unrepentant. I told him I heard a noise. At this, he raised an eyebrow and turned away from me. I pulled him back over and elaborated. "I heard a sort of white noise, faint, but audible. It sounded like the same one from my dream, which took place in a stone structure. I'd bet there is a ruin around here." At this, the professor jumped up. The thought of a lost ruin excited him. He ran out of the room, to raise the crew.

A strong sense of regret hit me. I shouldn't have told him. My thoughts all pointed back to my own "death". I was certain I had doomed us by spurring on the professor. I decided there was no turning back, so I went to the deck.

Lantern was already being suited up to dive. The professor was adding immense lengths of tubing, almost as though he intended to send him to the bottom of the ocean. The captain watched the scene tenaciously, he clearly knew diving deep like this was dangerous with this equipment.

Lantern was all ready to go, so he hopped overboard. I watched his light descend deeper and deeper into the ocean, until I could not see it anymore. I wondered if Lantern would be okay, I was positive the castle was dangerous.

Lantern was gone for an hour or two, before he signaled to be pulled up. We saw his light rising from fathoms below. he surfaced, grinning a wry grin to us. We helped him on board the ship, and he removed his helm. He spoke excitedly "There's a ruin alright. Completely untouched, even by water."

I was confused by this, so I asked "What do you mean? It's under the ocean."

"Aye, I thought it'd be flooded, but as soon as I went in the door, there wasn't a drop of water in there. Like magic."

The professor and I showed great interest in this. We discussed travelling down one at a time, sending the suit back and forth. The captain interjected " You all can go down, Ah'll be stayin up 'ere." we nodded in agreement, and began preparing to descend. We allowed Lantern to go down first, since he was already suited. He descended without a problem. The signal came, and we pulled up the empty suit. I allowed the professor to dive next. The professor hopped over the side of the ship, into the sea. The captain turned to me after the professor went overboard, he said to me "I know I'm not the only one who has an idea of what's down there, I only pray that you make it back."

I cringed at this. I didn't appreciate this dour statement from the captain, while I was having my own reservations. It took a moment for the signal to come, but it did, so I pulled the suit up and put it on. I donned the helmet and grimaced at the water below. I dropped down and began my descent.