lined the walls like tangled arteries, and the floor was slick with condensation. Here, the sea was closer-its vo

this faultline?" he ask

re. The Veil forms where memory pools. Yo

caring," M

glanced

d reached the edge of everything she believ

yone about this?" he as

lied. "Curiosity becomes control. Wonder becomes war. You wo

dn't

she wa

ched the chamber, th

rrounded by open ducts and pipes. Faint light shimmered from the floor, casting ripples li

said, stepping forw

edge of the platform. "What

he said. "With me

. "What do yo

just respond to voice or will. It respo

stood in

fath

art of him still echoes the

them. "So... what?

. "I need him.

"You want me to

have. The moment you stepped into

t human. Not monstrous. Jus

o it,"

t his arm.

this can stop what's c

hand tightened briefly,

o the center o

spered. "Breathe. Let

ver his heart and the

she s

of underwater language that pulsed in his bones. The shi

ything we

cliff of gla

ered with stars, though

-larger than cities, all eyes a

era

tur

the edge of the cl

, but not old.

made it," Jam

aky step forward

er replied. "But part of me staye

acked. "Why didn'

id. "And I had no choice but to become it.

de him, her glow b

path," she said.

emor shook

he sea beast

alvryn. The c

hed out. "W

pered. "Not to com

rward and ope

of the

s and the fl

the things humanity had

e of co

mem

is f

water

was on the floor of

ide him, relie

platform, her eyes f

d it,"

its place, the hum had settled. It was no

ispered. "My dad. He's

. "And now

re stabilizing. The faultline's stopped pu

screen fl

wned. "

sat up.

sealing the harbor gates. Full military mo

his breath. "We ne

her head. "

y n

t listen to words

yes. "Then we'll