Ankyra Sound drowner of hope

His growling ceased immediately at the sight of those canary yellows.

In the sparest of moments, Svalinn was thrown back into his adolescent body—

He was standing in this very spot, looking into these same eyes, hearing those exact words in that voice. The Sea Witch was unmistakable.

Returned to his husk, Svalinn shook his head and the apparition was no more. Come and gone like déjà vu. He was aware of his irregular heartbeat, but that was all. The scuttling creatures, the dripping, the pounding surf: none of it reached him.

And the longer he stared at that voidspot upon the altarstone, the faster his mind worked to frantically reject its formation into his black-hooded mother. Stop it. He shut his eyes to her.

You're losing it. Get a hold of yourself.

She's dead.