The haunting chant lingered in my ears long after the light of the Hall of Ancients faded. It was more than just a melody — it was a call, a summons woven from the very fabric of the sea, echoing across time and space. I felt it thrumming inside me, stirring something deep and ancient.
As I surfaced back into the submarine, the quiet hum of the engines felt almost too mundane compared to what I had just witnessed. Yet, the weight of the ocean's secrets now rested heavily on my shoulders.
Korrin's eyes met mine, his gaze intense but gentle. "The song you heard is the Ocean's Song — a mantra passed down through generations of sea guardians. It binds the shards together and reveals the path to restoring balance."
I nodded, but a thousand questions swirled in my mind. How could I possibly navigate a war I barely understood? How would I face enemies who had already stolen pieces of this powerful artifact?
Then my thoughts drifted to the scientist — Dr. Liam Pierce — the man whose obsession with the ocean had always seemed... unsettling. I remembered the flicker of disdain in Korrin's eyes whenever Liam's name came up. Now, I understood why.
"He's searching for the shards too," Korrin said quietly, as if reading my thoughts. "But his motives are twisted by his father's legacy — a dark secret tied to the Ocean Heart's power."
I clenched my fists. "And what about me? What role do I play in all this? Am I just a pawn in a game I don't even know the rules to?"
Korrin's expression softened. "No, Selene. You are the bridge — the hope for both our worlds. But that means sacrifice. You must learn to wield the Ocean Heart's power without losing yourself."
A sudden jolt rocked the submarine, snapping me out of my reverie. Alarms blared as the hull trembled beneath us.
"We're not alone," Korrin warned. "They've found us."
Panic surged through me, but I pushed it down. The ocean was calling — and I would answer, no matter the cost.
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