“Besides,” Shazi added, “there’s no way any Lore Keeper is powerful enough to cause earthquakes all the way down on the ocean floor. Even if the Grand Keeper had stone Lore, I don’t think he’d be that powerful.”

“I agree,” Yasha said tightly. “It’s just not possible.”

“I still don’t think we should rule it out,” Barclay said. “But it’s all the more reason we need to find the Isle of Roane. So the Guardians can protect it—”

“I see it! I see it!” Cecily shouted, and the apprentices broke out of their huddle to peer over the starboard rail.

Ahead of them was a massive circle of clear water, crystal light in comparison to the murky depths of the Sea. Even from a distance, Barclay could spot bright colors below the surface: magentas, oranges, silvers, and greens. Excited, he helped Edwyn lower the rowboat while Yasha and Hasu furled the sails and dropped the anchor. Then everyone hauled their bags of spare clothes over their shoulders, and Shazi took off her prosthetic.

“This type of reef is called an atoll,” Edwyn explained. “A long time ago, this was a small island, but it gradually sank back into the sea. What you’re seeing here is the island’s tip-top—probably the mouth of a volcano, from its round shape—and you can see it’s made a sunken sort of pool. Now it’s home to thousands of different animal and Beast species.”

The apprentices nodded eagerly. This was far more interesting than Cyril’s dull lessons or Runa’s exhausting training sessions.

“Can anyone tell me what makes this reef special?” Edwyn asked.

“It has Beasts in it?” Hasu guessed.

Edwyn laughed. “Well, yes. There are reefs in other oceans, but this is the only one in a Wilderland. But what else is different about those versus this one?”

Viola’s hand shot into the air.

“Yes, Viola—you know you don’t have to raise your hand with me,” Edwyn told her.

“Coral reefs prefer warm climates with lots of sun, and, well…” Viola looked up at the overcast sky. “The Sea has a colder climate and is usually cloudy.”

“That’s exactly right. The temperatures of this reef are the coldest of any reef in the world. It survives due to rich mineral deposits in the water from the Beasts. But enough of this boring Scholar stuff. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?”

They hoisted their bags into the rowboat and—cramming together—paddled out to the atoll. Barclay gasped once they crossed over to the clear water. Beneath the boat darted hundreds of fish. Big fish with diamond-shimmery scales. Little fish with coiled tails. Round fish puffed out like balloons. Flat fish flipping through the water like golden coins. They all roamed amid the forest of coral and silver Gunkwort, a whole tiny world underneath the water.