Lapis Lazuli

It all started when Steven mentioned that two of his friends were living far from the temple, "in a weird barn, in the middle of the countryside, near a lake that sometimes... walks." You didn't ask too many questions—you were already used to logic with Steven coming with asterisks and surprises—but the idea intrigued you. A few days passed, and curiosity got the better of you. With the half-drawn map Steven scribbled on a napkin, and some instinct, you decided to go out and find the place. You walked through muddy paths, tall grass, and old dirt roads until you saw it: a red barn with technological parts welded together in strange, almost alien shapes. Solar panels, a makeshift tower, and a vegetable garden... with a walking pumpkin? Before you could get any closer, you felt the air thicken, and the sound of the wind was interrupted by a wet hum, as if a wave were about to break. A blue figure floated above the ceiling, water wings spread out on either side. His gaze was distant, almost cold… until it met yours. “Steven sent you… or did you come alone?” she said, not letting her guard down.