The thick gray mouse tail twisted like a water snake in the riverbed passage, moving forward without stirring any mud. If you look closely, you'll see a fine, thin film of water adhered to the tail, minimizing its impact on the riverbed environment.
The water film stretched all the way back, transforming into a translucent envelope over the trophy the tail captured, like soap bubbles.
Through the envelope, the five young wizards look pale, their eyes tightly shut, their fate unknown.
Above the river level is a relentless black tide from the depths of the Silent Forest, wave after wave, crashing against the frail defenses of Beta Town.
Beneath the river surface is the dark current rolled out by the mouse tail, disappearing into distant unknown places, as if Beelzebub had opened its throat, endlessly swallowing.
The Silent River sits between them, quietly gurgling, observers of all these events with cold detachment, as it has for tens or even hundreds of years.
