Chapter 19 - The Star That Fell Into the Sea

I thrashed around endlessly, overwhelmed by an unbearable itch. My body was restless, moving through the algae in a desperate attempt to find relief. But nothing helped. The sensation worsened with each passing second until I felt something strange—a piece of my scale coming loose.

My heart pounded.

— What?! How?!... Weren’t they just growing? Why are they falling off?!

I looked at my tail in panic and saw small crystalline fragments slowly detaching, spinning in the water and reflecting the soft glow of the moonlight. A chill ran through my chest. I tried to grab the shards and press them back into place, but it was useless. Every second, more scales detached, falling like drops of shattered glass.

Despair took hold of me.

— Krahs! — I cried, feeling tears well up in my eyes.

The old shark woke with a jolt, alarmed by my urgent call. The moment he saw me trembling and crying, his eyes hardened for an instant, but his expression soon softened. With a careful movement, he picked me up and cradled me gently.

— It's okay, child. This is normal — he said, his voice firm but comforting.

I sobbed quietly, clutching my fists against my chest as my body continued to tremble.

Lilay, on the other hand, barely stirred. Sleepily, he cracked open one eye, blinked sluggishly, and glanced at the scene with disinterest. With his messy hair and a trickle of drool at the corner of his mouth, he realized there was nothing food-related happening. Shrugging, he stuffed algae into his ears and went back to sleep like the incorrigible slacker he was.

Meanwhile, Krahs wiped away my tears with his rough, firm hands. I hadn’t even noticed I was crying until that moment.

Time passed, but the pain didn’t lessen. Each tiny scale that fell made my skin burn and my tail pulse with discomfort. The old shark remained by my side, keeping me safe, his warm and protective presence surrounding me.

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— I... I hate this... — I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. — I don’t want these scales... They only hurt me.

Krahs sighed.

— Child, growing can be painful, but change happens for a reason. Our bodies know what they need. This pain will pass soon.

He paused, reflecting for a moment. Then, with a small, weary smile, he pulled me closer.

— Let me tell you an old story. Maybe it will help you forget the pain.

He settled into the sand and placed me beside him. His eyes, tired yet wise, turned toward the translucent ceiling of the nest. The moonlight and starlight filtered softly through the water, casting dancing reflections around us.

— Long ago, two stars fell into the sea — he began, his voice reverent. — They were a man and a woman, beings who could walk the land and swim the ocean. At that time, the sea was empty, home only to small fish.

He smiled, as if he could see the scene unfolding before his eyes.

— But they brought with them their gifts and filled the ocean with life. They created corals, magnificent fish, vibrant plants... And finally, they had a child. A being as radiant as the sun, as powerful as it was beautiful. However, the birth of this wonder came at a cost. The woman, his mother, did not survive.

My breathing slowed as I listened intently.

— Before she departed, her blood spread through the ocean, carrying her final wish: that her child would never be alone. That he would have companions. And so, from the creatures she loved most, mermaids were born.

He paused, gazing at the stars as if trying to capture something within them.

— Even after countless eras, despite our greed and our flaws, the descendant of the stars still wishes to protect us.

Then, he looked at me, his eyes reflecting the silver glow of the moon.

— And that’s why I tell you, Nexha... Your changes are a gift. Do not fear them. Embrace them.

I remained silent for a moment. My tears had stopped. The pain felt less intense now, as if his words had soothed something deep within me.

But then, suddenly, a blue glow appeared at the tip of my tail. It slowly traveled up my body, reaching my stomach and enveloping me in a soft, shimmering light.

I watched in awe. When the glow faded, I saw that new scales had formed in place of the old ones. They were shinier and smoother, almost translucent, with an intense blue radiance that had never been there before. If my scales had already been different from Krahs and Lilay’s, now they seemed to belong to a completely different creature.

Krahs smiled.

— See? Everything is fine, Nexha.

Before I could respond, the system’s familiar sound echoed in my mind.

[Natural evolution of Crystal Scales detected.]

[+5 Defense]

[New skill acquired: Passive Hardening – Your scales naturally increase in resilience, reducing moderate physical impact.]

My vision darkened from exhaustion. With one last effort, I nestled into the warmth of Krahs and, finally, fell asleep.