Woman: I know you’re trying to help, Pavel. But what you’re doing is extremely dangerous… You know that.
Pavel crosses his arms and avoids meeting her eyes. He seems sullen. The woman puts a hand to his back and guides him deeper into the tunnels, walking along the canal of spring water. Eddy follows along silently.
Pavel: I’m careful.
Woman: We all are, until the one slip up that kills us.
Pavel: I don’t slip.
Woman: You DID slip once. That’s why you’re here. We don’t doubt your skills on the water… But until you go home, you have to follow the rules.
Pavel: I didn’t need to come here in the first place.
There’s something like anger in his expression, and maybe a little shame. He won’t meet her eyes.
Pavel: I’m not SICK. I’m stronger than anyone else here. I’m FINE. You only bring us here so you can scare us. But being scared of the sea doesn’t help FIX it. This isn’t what Lady Shoshana wanted.
They pass a statue of the lady Shoshana, a peaceful looking woman with a trident in one hand and a burning blue flame in the other. She wears a hooded cape of feathers and the wall behind her statue is inscribed with radial lines, like a halo.
Woman: Oh, Pavel… Your mother has put so many thoughts into your pale brain… You are sick… And we can help. We can’t fix the sea without the aid of the prophetess, but we can help the people hurt by it. We don’t mean to scare you -- but seabite isn’t a joking matter. Your condition is extremely… complicated.
Woman: You’d do well to fear the a bit more, my child. Fear is a necessary evil, if it keeps your soul from becoming any more faded. Honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t learned anything from Eddy. He’s a model patient. He’s even scared of PUDDLES!
Pavel slots his roommate an unimpressed glare and the boy starts in on a passionate explanation of his fears.
Eddy: They’re probably shallow, but they might be SO deep…
