The Siren's Song cut through the waves of the Deep, its wooden hull creaking with each swell.

Talia leaned against the starboard railing, her eyes fixed on the endless expanse of midnight blue.

The vastness of it all still amazed her, even if she grew up on an island. But this – this was different. They had left the relative safety of Solara's waters behind, venturing into the true Deep, where the Abyssal Creatures lurked.

This was the realm of danger but also adventure.

The Water Riders sent special vessels manned by their men – not the same men that had administered the test on the islands – to gather the Promises that had to be Initiated.

These vessels were not only made with special wood that was much more resistant than its common counterpart but they were imbued with all sorts of skills and enchantments. Even though Talia and the others were currently still in the South Deep, the weakest of the Four Seas, it didn’t mean that the Abyssal Creatures were innocuous – the giant Abyssal Scuttler Boss had proven that. Therefore, these vessels were much faster than most creatures except for the few Agility-based monsters like the Abyssal Cudas.

Those, however, posed no threat to a manned Water Rider ship.

Not with the kind of crew that manned them, at least.

No Water Rider under level 25, except for a few cabin boys sourced from the second year students, was allowed on board.

And this was the standard for the South Deep. It was rumored that the vessels gathering the scions of the Great Families – the descendants of Kraken Slayers who had accumulated incredible fortunes – would sometimes be accompanied by Elders or Tide Masters. Tide Masters were those on the path to becoming Elders themselves. And even when either of those were too busy, there would be at least the Head of a Great Family to gather and deliver the Promises of the North Deep to the Academy.

The Water Riders took their duty to protect the new recruits extremely seriously.

This ship, unlike the Water Riders administering the test, had started from the last stop the testers had made and arrived at Solara as its last stop before the Academy.

From there, all young Promises, who had been escorted onto the massive galleon, would only descend again once they reached the Academy.

It was an unofficial tradition for the Promises not to touch any other land after leaving their native islands.

The salty breeze tugged at Talia's hair, carrying the scent of the sea.

Talia inhaled deeply, tasting the unfamiliar tang of the open Deep that she had been too nervous to enjoy while she was on the rickety raft with Takai and Fiora.

It should have been exhilarating, this moment she had dreamed of for so long.

Yet a gnawing worry persisted, dulling the edges of her excitement.

Her Primary Mana Channel was still far from the level required by the Academy.

She had hoped that her encounters on Solara – the fight with the Abyssal Scuttlers, the confrontation with the Boss Scuttler – would have boosted it more significantly. But her progress had been frustratingly slow, barely inching towards the threshold she needed to cross. This was a serious problem.

If she didn’t find a way to reach Level Two in her Primary Mana Channel, she was looking at being rejected right at the gate.

And considering how poor her rep had been, she wasn’t sure she could have another shot the year after.

Talia's fingers absently traced the outline of her golden bracelets, the metal cool against her skin.

“You're brooding again,” Fiora's voice cut through her thoughts, sharp and clear as always.

The blonde leaned against the railing beside her, golden hair shimmering in the sunlight.

Despite the early hour, she looked immaculate – not a strand out of place.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Talia sighed, shoulders slumping slightly.

“Just thinking about the Academy's requirements. My Primary Mana Channel—”

“Is still not good enough,” Fiora finished for her, rolling her eyes. “You've mentioned it. Repeatedly. In fact, I'm pretty sure you mumble about it in your sleep.”

“Easy for you to say,” Talia muttered, a hint of bitterness creeping into her voice. “You're not the one who might get turned away at the gate.”

Fiora's expression turned softer.

“Look,” Fiora said, her voice lower now, almost gentle. “Whatever happens, you’ll figure it out. You didn't come this far to give up now. And besides,” a hint of her usual smirk returned, “who else am I going to leave in the dust if you're not there?”

Talia nodded, grateful for the unexpected support.

“Well, since you’re being so nice,” Talia said conspiratorially, gesturing for Fiora to get closer.

“What?” The blonde asked.

“They usually Initiate people on these boats,” Talia told her.

She had gotten that information from Maui, her father.

Maui, apart from refusing to give her the most important information he had and also refusing to tell her more about himself, had actually been quite helpful.

In the short span of time he had spent with Talia before leaving, he had not only unlocked her glaive, awakening the Soul Weapon, but had also given her a lot of tips for the Academy. She had asked why he would tell her these things given that he didn't seem to like the idea of her joining the Water Riders, but his response was just a cryptic utterance, proclaiming that if his daughter had to go, she might as well go prepared.

And apparently, the first trial that a future Water Rider would face was their Initiation.

Talia had never known that the Water Riders used Initiations as tests.

It was apparently kept secret – on the pain of death – to avoid anyone messing with the recruiting process. They used it as the first filter – they'd get some weaker monsters on board in order to test the resolve of those recruits who thought they had already made it. It was devious, but it worked.

In fact, it was an excellent method to create an effective filter for attitude, too.

“But we’re already Initiated,” Fiora frowned after listening to Talia’s explanation. “And how do you know this?”

“Trade secret,” Talia smirked. “Even though we’re Initiated, they’ll at the very least ask us to kill a monster.”

“Oh,” Fiora scoffed. “That’s it?”

Talia gazed at the blonde from head to toe.

“They’re not going to give you an Abyssal Scuttler. Don’t take this lightly.”

“I’m not worried about myself,” Fiora smirked. “But if I were you, I would be worrying about…” The blonde pointed her thumb behind them, and Talia followed an imaginary line that led to Takai napping with his back against the main mast.

“I’ve already told him,” Talia sighed.

“Well, thanks,” Fiora said, feeling slightly awkward now that the conversation had come to a halt. “You don’t disgust me as much anymore,” she added, trying to compliment Talia.

“Thanks?” Talia laughed.

“You’re welcome,” Fiora nodded to herself before going away.

As Fiora walked away, her confident stride drawing the eyes of the nearby sailors, Talia's attention returned to the vast waters ahead.

The Deep was different here, she realized.

The very air felt charged, crackling with an energy that made her skin prickle.

It was as if the water itself was alive, pulsing with ancient, unknowable power.

Much more than the waters at the edge of the Calm Belt.

After half an hour of observing the water, a strange sensation coursed through her arms.

Suddenly, the skin beneath her bracelets began to tingle and burn almost. Talia glanced around, making sure no one was watching, before carefully sliding off one of the golden bands.

Her eyes widened.

The dark, tentacle-like marks on her wrists were... moving.

Subtle undulations rippled across her skin as if responding to some unheard call.

As she watched, transfixed, she became aware of something else – wisps of power, faint but unmistakable, were emanating from the marks.

With her heart racing, Talia cautiously reached out with her senses, probing the strange energy.

It felt... familiar somehow.

Ancient and vast, yet intimately connected to her very being.

Also… it felt distant.

Intimate but… distant.

The wisps of energy seemed to dance just beyond her grasp.

Talia closed her eyes, focusing on them.

She imagined reaching out. For a heartbeat, she felt connected to something immense, a vast ocean of power that made her abilities seem like a mere droplet in comparison. Visions flashed behind her closed eyelids – dark depths teeming with bioluminescent life, ancient structures pulsing with raw Mana, and always, always, the sense of something colossal moving just beyond her perception.

The tentacle-like marks on her wrist burned painfully now.

“Argh,” she stifled a shout with gritted teeth.

Talia's eyes snapped open, and she slammed the bracelet back on with trembling hands.

Her breathing came in ragged gasps as she struggled to calm her racing thoughts.

As quickly as the connection had formed, it disappeared, terror now gripping her heart.

She could see the tentacles had suddenly stopped moving, resting dormant.

The railing creaked under her white-knuckled grip.

“Everything okay?” Takai's concerned voice startled her.

He stood a few paces away, worried.

His hair was tousled from sleeping, and he squinted against the morning sun.

Talia forced a smile, hoping it didn't look as strained as it felt.

“Yeah, just... seasick,” she lied, hating how easily the deception came out of her lips. “Still getting used to the motion, I guess.”

Takai nodded sympathetically.

“The navigator said we should reach calmer waters by midday. Maybe try some of that ginger tea Mom packed for us? It might help settle your stomach.”

“Thanks, I'll give it a try,” Talia said, grateful for his kindness even as guilt gnawed at her for the lie.

As Takai moved on, heading towards the galley, Talia cast one last glance at her covered wrists.

What the fuck was that? Talia wondered.

But she didn’t want an answer.

She really didn’t.