A couple days later Benthomaar arrived at the temple. He brought with him some Merlopian scrolls relating to Nyad. Himself, Wu, Misako and Lloyd were holed up in the library comparing the texts to some of Wu's own scrolls. Jay was unable to focus on anything but the muffled voices coming from the room, intense curiosity plaguing his mind. He wanted one of them to burst out of the room yelling 'I found it! I found how to bring her back!' and then this nightmare would finally be over.

Instead when the doors finally opened it revealed four glum weary faces who made the short trip to the dining room for refreshments.

Jay helps to serve up some lunch as the other ninja arrive to partake in the meal.

"So.. how's it going in there?" Asks Jay.

"Slow." States Wu.

"We weren't expecting this to be easy." Says Benthomaar, with slightly more cheer. "So it's not surprising we haven't found anything of use just yet."

Jay nods, taking a bite of his sandwich. After he swallows he asks, "Is there anything I could do to help?"

Wu frowns, and exchanges a worried look with Misako.

"I didn't realise you had scholarly ambitions?" Says Benthomaar.

Cole snorts.

Jay ignores him. "Well, I'm not sure I'd call it that, but I do love reading."

"Yeah, Starfarer comics." Adds Kai.

"Hey! That is a legitimate form of literature!" Argues Jay.

"I don't think we need your talents at this time." Says Wu diplomatically.

"But Lloyd gets to help?"

"Lloyd is my nephew."

Misako holds a hand up between the two. "What Wu means is that you should let us take the first pass, once we have a better idea of what we're dealing with, there will be more opportunities for collaboration."

"But, I just want to help." Pleads Jay.

Lloyd glares at Jay and says, "We won't be able to discuss the text objectively if we need to tiptoe around your emotions. You can help us by staying out of the way."

Jay feels all eyes in the room snap to him as his face flushes with embarrassment. "Fine!" He says as he storms out of the room.

As he leaves he hears Cole say, "Too far Lloyd!"

And Kai chip in, "Well, he's not wrong."

Jay spends the afternoon sulking in his room. When Kai comes to fetch him for dinner, he lies, saying he has a stomach ache. "Fine, keep sulking, whatever." Grumbles Kai as he walks back towards the kitchen. He listens out for the sound of the library doors, and footsteps of the scholars, then waits a minute before sneaking into the library. "I'll show them," he mutters, "I can do reading stuff.."

He grabs a fancy looking scroll sitting on top and starts to examine the contents.

While many tales have been written on the feats of Nyad, little thought has been given to how the transformation occurs. Elemental masters of water can freely control their element without merging with the ocean. Simply connecting with their elemental powers is not enough, they also need to connect physically with their element. The elemental master may need to inhale water, as a way of physically connecting to their element, as well as a sign of commitment to merge fully, and leave their human form behind.

Jay felt sick, and it felt like someone was squeezing his chest. He put the scroll back where he found it and quickly went back to his room. She inhaled seawater for me.. without knowing if it would work. Tears stung his eyes, as he suppressed a sob, holding it in until he was in the privacy of his room. Lloyd was right, oh how I hate that Lloyd was right! He slams the door to his room before collapsing into the bed, now openly sobbing into the sheets. He didn't deserve someone like her to love him. He didn't deserve her sacrifice. He remembered the awful feeling when his lungs were burning, and he couldn't hold it anymore, opening his mouth and letting the water in. And she had done that willingly! For me! His breaths were becoming ragged, at first he thought it was just because of the crying, but soon enough each breath was taking significant effort, enough to even distract him from his miserable memories. He sits up, wiping a sleeve over his face before fetching his inhaler from the nightstand and taking a puff, adding an extra layer to his defeat. Lloyd was right, he was too emotional to help with the scrolls, and the stupid doctor was right, it was looking more and more like he might actually have asthma.

There is a gentle knock at the door. Jay slips his inhaler into the drawer, out of sight, and lies back on the bed facing away from the door. "Go away." He manages to say, with his breathing becoming a bit easier.

Cole opens the door anyway. "I'm just bringing you some food." He says, placing a plate of food inside the room. He hesitates in the doorway. "Are you ok? Kai mentioned a stomach ache?"

"I'll be fine, I just want to be alone."

"Ok." Says Cole before closing the door, Jay hears the gentle sound of footsteps heading back to the kitchen.

The next day Jay was making breakfast when Lloyd comes in.

"Jay.." he starts tentatively, "I wanted to apologise, about yesterday."

"It's fine." Says Jay coldly, not turning from his bowl of cereal. "You were right."

"No, I wasn't."

"Oh please! Yesterday you were the only one in that room who was being honest with me. Don't ruin that now."

Lloyd sighs. "Fine, I was right, but I was also cruel. I wasn't trying to hurt you, and I am sorry."

Jay finally turns to face Lloyd, seeing his big sad eyes. He hated being the subject of their pity. "Apology accepted," he says with a hint of annoyance, "now get back in there and figure out how to save her."

Lloyd looks down guiltily, "I'll try, but.. it's not looking good."

There is an awkward pause before Lloyd leaves to join the other scholars in the library.

Jay turns back to his cereal, suddenly not hungry. Why did he have to tell me that? It was probably because he had just praised Lloyd for his honesty. Ugh. At least the events from yesterday could be put to rest.

That night Jay had his first asthma dream, finally opening up to Cole.

After about a week Wu, Misako and Benthomaar decide to travel to Merlopia, to conduct studies there instead. Pixal is also chosen to travel with the group, in order to pilot the sea bounty, and keep it in working order.

"Why isn't Lloyd going?" Asks Kai.

"Ask Lloyd." Says Wu with an edge of bitterness.

"I'm needed here, and you don't need me." says Lloyd, matching Wu's tone.

"I've left copies of the more relevant scrolls, you can continue to study them here." Says Benthomaar as a compromise, obviously uncomfortable with whatever conflict has arisen between the two.

"Did you get kicked out of study club too?" Whispers Jay loudly to Lloyd.

Lloyd responds by walking off in a huff.

"Great.." says Cole realising he was the most level headed human who would be left at the monastery.