Location: Still Submerged. Less 'picturesque reef', more 'getting really tired of the colour blue'.
Good news first: the library seems mostly secure. Checked it thoroughly yesterday. Only minor dampness creeping into the lower shelves, which isn't unexpected given the house's current impersonation of a bath toy. Spent a tedious hour reinforcing the preservation wards on the older grimoires and casting slow-release drying charms in the corners. Honestly, trying to maintain a functional library in a house that periodically decides to take a dip is a challenge even before you factor in magically-induced humidity and potentially leaky window seals. Some of these books are older than most mortal kingdoms; they deserve better than mildew.
Now the less good news. Decided to follow up on those Scalefin fish needed for the night-vision draught. Since deep-sea diving is currently off the table (my diving bell charm needs reagents I don't have, and frankly, I can't be bothered), I tried a simple Luring Charm. Focused it just outside the main parlor window, baited with a mote of shimmering light designed to attract curious, shiny-things-loving fish. The goal wasn't to catch one (too complicated through enchanted glass and wards), but maybe to get one close enough to observe its scale pattern properly, or perhaps snag a naturally shed scale floating by with a careful tendril of magic.
Did it work? Sort of. Did I attract Scalefins? Not a single one. Instead, I lured a small school of incredibly dopey-looking Lantern Prawns that bumped repeatedly against the window making little tink-tink-tink noises, and, more alarmingly, one very large, very grumpy-looking Grouper fish that stared intently at the light mote for five minutes before apparently deciding I was mocking it and attempting to headbutt the window. The wards held, but the thump nearly made me drop my teacup. Luring charm hastily cancelled. So much for easily acquired illusion components.
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The Hair, meanwhile, has discovered the way sunlight refracts through the water and creates shifting patterns on the floorboards. It's currently spread out in a wide, flat puddle (its 'relaxed' state, apparently), with various sections slowly undulating to follow the light beams. It looks like a giant, hairy amoeba practicing interpretive dance. It's marginally less annoying than when it tries to 'help' with spellcasting, so I'm leaving it be. Less chance of it trying to befriend the grumpy Grouper, anyway.
It’s the sounds down here that are starting to get to me more than the view. It’s not silent. There are clicks, pops, whistles from unseen sources. And sometimes, deeper, there’s this low, resonant groaning sound that vibrates right through the hull. Probably just deep-sea currents or shifting geology. Probably. Trying very hard not to imagine it’s something ancient and tentacled waking up for a snack. The Calm Nerves tincture supply is dwindling faster than anticipated.
Right. Productive efforts mostly thwarted. House still hasn't moved. Library is momentarily safe. Hair is occupied. Perhaps it's time for lunch. And maybe reinforcing the 'Keep Out Large Grumpy Fish' aspect of the aquatic wards. Just in case.
