Uncharacteristic caution defined Tempesti’s current climb, the Primordial Tower’s traps were (hopefully) not to pose a threat to her this time. This, plus her knowledge of the sentries’ presence would (hopefully) make reviving this shrine a safer prospect. Scanning the ground for pressure plates, the slightest change in the stone floor caught her eye and she cleared it easily with a short leap. The next, while slightly larger, posed no more of a challenge than the first. For several moments she allowed herself the illusion that this trip might be significantly easier than the previous one. Like all illusions, however, it proved fleeting, a fact driven home by the sound of heavy metallic footfalls descending the ramp.

Any hope that these two might share the sentiments of their comrades further down vanished as the colorful constructs brandished their weapons, preparing the strike. Mingled with the natural thoughts of self-defense were surprised speculations as to whether reenergizing the earth shrine activated all of the tower’s defenses. Profoundly encouraging, but less than ideal in terms of making her way up the tower quickly. Dodging a glinting golden blade, she nearly ran into the strange colorful chest of its wielder before ramming a shoulder into the machine’s body. No doubt a bruise would blossom where she made contact, but the impact was enough to send it reeling and give her an opening to get between the two of them.

“Harrowing Storm!”

Fortunately for Tempesti, these sentries seemed no less resilient against her magic than their associates, collapsing to the ground in a heap. At least this time she didn’t have to feel any of the guilt that accompanied the thought of having destroyed the previous constructs, knowing that they’d probably repair themselves after a bit. Carefully maneuvering around their still frames the senshi found herself standing before another door. Though it was nearly identical to the barrier between the Shrine of Primordial Earth and the rest of the world, this one bore an unadorned inverted triangle carved into the stone with a ferocious intensity. Gently pressing the palm of her hand against the rough surface, she felt the solid mass yield ever so slightly before sinking into its slot.

Unlike the room housing the Shrine of Primordial Earth, a small moat abutted the edges of the walkway before curving around the circular dais on which the standing stones and altar stood. A large crystal in the shape of a snowflake stood atop the altar’s mensa, impossibly balanced on a single point as it rotated haltingly. Meticulously carved twin waves rolled on either side, projecting the uncanny sense that someone had petrified an ocean swell, freezing it in white stone.

Despite its deceptively fragile appearance, the shrine’s central crystal proved surprisingly sturdy as she cleaned it. Sheer dread of breaking the gem had driven her to delay its cleaning for as long as she could manage, but if anything it almost seemed to push back with an unexpected determination.

A few deep breaths.

“Harrowing Storm!”

The air trembled as the senshi’s magic enveloped the altar, the scent of ozone hanging heavily as the room filled with a cool, thick fog that clung to her skin and condensed on her eyelashes, penetrated only by the crystal’s sharp gleam. For a moment she allowed herself a sense of pride. Another shrine tended, another fragment of her planet’s fractured power restored. Soft rumbling beneath her feet cracked the seconds long peace she’d earned as the floor of the shrine slid outward. The standing stones and altar revealed roots far deeper than she ever could have envisioned, stone plunging into unseen depths within the Primordial Tower. Deterring any effort to gauge the vastness below, the water began to churn around the baffled senshi, battering her against the pool’s ill-defined edges as it threatened to pull her downward.

Right.

She’d read about this.

Hours of research and anxiety and practice before swimming to the Island.

How to escape a whirlpool.

Forcing as much of her face as she could to breach the surface, she took the deepest breath she could manage and dove into the darkness beneath her. Tempesti wasn’t the praying sort, but if she was she may well have prayed that this trap didn’t extend to the tower’s base. Through the sensation of her burning lungs she felt the pull on her fuku lessen as she forced herself outward, then desperately upward until she crashed through the barrier with a series of sputtering gasps. Exhausted, she pulled herself onto the edge of the shrine’s walkway, sopping wet and panting with exertion. The whirlpool itself remained in motion, slowing over several long minutes before dissipating entirely.

These shrines didn’t seem thrilled to welcome visitors. Or maybe the defenses had to do things like that to reset themselves. She didn’t think there was a manager she could question on the matter, but she wouldn’t have turned down the opportunity.

Ugh.

The realization struck her that she was the manager now and firing them wasn’t an option. Her fatigued mind didn’t register the heavy footfalls outside the stone door, not at first. Holding her breath, she peered around the corner to see the two most recently disabled sentries on their feet once more. Despite their stilted motions, they seemed relatively functional. A trio of smaller, flying constructs hovered around them. Spheres of pale golden metal with wings of the same stained glass-like material as the larger machines. She couldn’t help but note their resemblance to the bee-like insects she’d seen around the city and the realization drew a smile to her face as she watched them emit…something…that seemed to rejuvenate their humanoid comrades, the cores in their chests glowing brighter with each pulse.

After several minutes of watching their apparent disinterest in her, Tempesti stepped fully out onto the ramp. With a series of soft mechanical sounds, the taller sentries turned their heads toward her. The tension melted from her shoulders as they returned their attention to their floating helpers, and for today at least, it seemed that she wouldn’t have to fight her way back down.