The outer docks of Aquamara were a desolate place, far removed from the bustle of the inner districts. They served as the city’s connection to the unknown expanse of the ocean, where navigators ventured out in search of resources, and occasionally, answers. It was here that Aelira found herself the next evening, clutching her jacket tightly against the biting chill of the water currents.

She had spent the day trying to piece together Kael’s cryptic words. What connection could she possibly have to the massive creature they had seen? And why would the Council want to hide something like that? Aelira had learned to be cautious of authority, but the implications were more unsettling than she was prepared to admit.

The docks were quiet except for the soft hum of currents flowing through the coral infrastructure. Kael stood at the edge of a loading platform, adjusting the straps on a sleek submersible craft. The vehicle was small but durable, its metallic surface gleaming faintly under the bioluminescent glow of the surrounding water.

“You came,” Kael said without looking up.

“Did you think I wouldn’t?” Aelira asked, stopping a few steps away.

Kael turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “Most people wouldn’t. What we’re about to do… it’s dangerous, Aelira. The Council doesn’t take kindly to people digging into things they want buried.”

“I’m not most people,” she replied, crossing her arms. “I want answers. You think I’m connected to that creature? Prove it.”

Kael studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.”

He motioned for her to climb into the submersible, and she hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside. The interior was cramped but functional, with glowing control panels and a reinforced glass dome offering a clear view of the ocean outside. Kael slid into the pilot’s seat and began powering up the craft.

“This isn’t just about you,” Kael said as they descended into the dark expanse of the ocean. “It’s about all of us. Aquamara isn’t sustainable, and the Council knows it. We’ve pushed the ocean too far, taken too much. If we don’t find another way to survive, this city won’t last another generation.”

Aelira frowned. “And you think the answer is out there?”

Kael glanced at her. “I don’t think it. I know it. And I think you’re the key.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The submersible descended deeper, the light from the city fading until only darkness surrounded them. Kael activated the craft’s external lights, and the beams cut through the water, illuminating the strange, alien beauty of the deep ocean. Towering coral formations loomed in the distance, their surfaces alive with bioluminescent organisms. Schools of glowing fish darted through the water, their movements synchronized like a living tapestry.

But it wasn’t the beauty of the deep that held Aelira’s attention. It was the weight of Kael’s words. For as long as she could remember, she had felt out of place in Aquamara. Now, for the first time, she began to wonder if there was a reason for that.

“Where are we going?” she asked after a while.

Kael didn’t answer immediately. He was focused on the controls, navigating through a narrow trench that seemed to stretch endlessly into the darkness.

“There’s a place,” he said finally. “A ruin from before the flood. I’ve only been there once, but it’s… different. The water feels alive there. I think it’s connected to the creature we saw—and to you.”

Aelira’s pulse quickened. “How do you know about it?”

Kael hesitated, then said, “Because it called to me, too. But not like it did to you.”

Before Aelira could press him for details, the submersible emerged from the trench into a wide, open expanse. The sight before her stole her breath.

A massive structure loomed in the distance, its silhouette illuminated by faint, glowing tendrils that stretched out like roots into the surrounding water. It was unlike anything Aelira had ever seen—a seamless blend of natural forms and advanced technology, as if it had grown from the ocean itself.

“What is that?” she whispered.

“The Leviathan Nexus,” Kael said, his voice low. “Or at least, that’s what I call it. It’s where the creatures come from. And I think it’s where you’ll find your answers.”

The submersible drew closer to the structure, and Aelira felt a strange sensation wash over her. It was similar to what she had felt the day before, but stronger, more focused. The water around her seemed to hum with energy, as if it were alive and aware of her presence.

Kael docked the submersible at a small platform near the base of the structure. “Stay close,” he said as they exited the craft.

The platform led to an entrance framed by glowing tendrils that pulsed faintly with light. As they stepped inside, Aelira felt the hum intensify, resonating in her chest like a heartbeat. The interior of the structure was cavernous, with walls that seemed to shift and shimmer as if made of liquid. Strange symbols etched into the surface glowed softly, their meaning unknown.

“This place…” Aelira began, but her words trailed off as a deep, resonant sound filled the chamber.

It was the same sound she had heard in the district—the cry of the creature. But this time, it was accompanied by something else. A voice, soft and distant, whispered in her mind.

“Aelira…”

She froze, her heart pounding. “Did you hear that?”

Kael looked at her, his brow furrowed. “Hear what?”

“The voice,” she said, her voice trembling. “It said my name.”

Kael’s expression darkened. “That’s impossible.”

But Aelira wasn’t listening. She was drawn deeper into the chamber, the voice growing clearer with each step. It wasn’t just calling to her—it was guiding her.

At the center of the chamber, she found a massive, glowing orb suspended in a column of water. It pulsed with light, its surface shifting like the tides.

“Aelira…” the voice whispered again, and this time, it was unmistakable. The orb was speaking to her.

“What are you?” she asked, stepping closer.

The voice echoed in her mind, layered and melodic, like the sound of waves crashing against the shore. “We are the origin. The tide. The memory of the ocean. And you… are our heir.”

Before Aelira could respond, the chamber began to shake. The glow of the orb intensified, and the water around her surged with energy.

“Aelira!” Kael shouted, grabbing her arm. “We have to go!”

But Aelira couldn’t move. She was rooted to the spot, her gaze locked on the orb as its light engulfed her. For a brief moment, she felt weightless, as if she were one with the water itself. And then, everything went dark.