rules to

cient vows woven into coral and salt. An

to Maelora waters and yet

ed. Unw

ably p

ged here-strong strokes, focused gaze, as though the weight of th

threat but that's wh

e muffled by water but still

ing if I r

ate. You already s

ermission to f

said. "I came with you

. The entrance to the reef shimmered in the distance-a twisting arch of living coral veiled by illusion. Only tho

e of us. I reached fo

ed. "That's a

ll you, or it'll drown you.

rm. Calloused. Steady. The current recogni

l, a chill ran down my spine

and pearl, anchored in living reef. Bioluminescent seaweed lit our paths. Fish darted past like rumors in a

n no

re sta

ther or not to report

arm

've brought a

didn't le

you think?"

derstand why the sea kee

ple of Tides befor

unreadable-mouth neutral, eyes storm-dark.

ed Aero

dn't

him here," sh

no ch

ward. "The temple responded to both of us

es that tell

ophecy needs

or only for yourself?" He met her eyes without blinking. "I came to stop

o

h but

ooked back at me. "This is your decision, Is

y chin. "T

ftened. Jus

. The sea may whisper his name, but it still remembers

led quietl

adows of the temple. I let out a bre

side me, "that went b

not safe here. Don't mist

of it." But he f

e of the reef, where the currents

n water, watching the faint gli

k you," he sai

r w

letting

t do it

You did it for the pro

lding in, gaze serious. "Bu

ha

e... that melody, the words

frag

recogni

es

hy

were part of a lullaby. One my mother used

ened. "That

odd

sed to speak of a fairy who fell in love with a

re we are,"

to me, expres

ing the same mista

ng." For a moment, the sea stille

ession but it was the beginning of