Chapter 19 - No One Walks Into My Sea

The guardian never reached the heavens.

One moment, he was fading—bleeding divine light into the sea as something pulled him upward.

The next, he was snatched from the current. Dragged down toward the ruins near the Leviathan's castle.

A violent ripple split the trench as Vaelros emerged from the shadows, one hand gripping the guardian's throat, severing his ascent.

"You don't belong here," Vaelros said calmly.

The guardian struggled, golden blood leaking from the corners of his mouth. "I was sent—"

"I know who sent you." Vaelros leaned in, his voice a whisper. "What I don't know… is why you thought you could walk into my sea and live."

Zerieth coiled nearby, his scales flickering like wet obsidian—watching like a predator waiting for scraps.

"I was only following orders," the guardian rasped. "Delkaris said—"

"Delkaris lies," Vaelros cut him off.

He dragged a claw through the ruined sigil on the guardian's chest.

"You were meant to spy on her, weren't you? The girl. You saw her sigils."

The guardian stayed silent.

"Answer me," Vaelros growled, and with one sharp motion, he pierced into the fading divine core.

The guardian convulsed, light bursting out from his eyes and mouth.

Vaelros inhaled deeply, pulling the essence straight from the man's soul.

When the glow faded, the body dropped.

Zerieth slithered closer. "You always were theatrical."

"He would've warned them," Vaelros muttered, brushing aside what remained. "Now… he won't."

Zerieth's tail flicked. "So what did you see in his essence?"

"Enough."

"Was it her?"

Vaelros stared at the ruins. His voice low. "She has the power. All four."

"That's not possible."

"It is," Vaelros replied. "Because I remember… the last time I saw those marks."

Zerieth paused, then opened his massive fangs and swallowed the guardian's body whole and Vaelros held the remaining wings of the guardian in his hands.

Zerieth's voice slithered in. "What are you going to do with those?"

A flick of his tongue. "Do you… miss yours?"

Vaelros's eyes didn't flinch.

"No."

He brushed one wing with a finger and smirked faintly.

"I'm going to add them to my collection."

Zerieth chuckled darkly. "You always did have a flair for keeping trophies.

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What happened to the girl then?"

"The Abyssari showed up. Seven of them. Full force. Someone warned them. No wonder they came running to protect the one they suspect is theirs."

Zerieth hissed, low and guttural. "So what now? Let the girl roam free? Or are we finally capturing her?

It's been long since I tasted Niraya. I miss their sweet scent… of blood."

Vaelros didn't answer right away.

His eyes stayed fixed on the distant currents.

"I don't know yet. Let's wait. See what the heavens do next. If they dare send another puppet down here…"

The sea shifted in the silence.

And this time… it didn't seem so still.

✧𓂃⋆༶⋆𓂃✧

As Vaelros and Zerieth vanished into the trench’s gloom, Elara stirred from the dream.

✧𓂃⋆༶⋆𓂃✧

A blanket was draped over me after the goddess sent me back and I opened my eyes. Someone had even tucked the corners in like I was some fragile thing that might fall apart if left loose.

“Three days,” a familiar voice rang in my ears. “It's been three days since she fainted, what if she never wakes up? I swear I am gonna set the royal palace on fire even though I haven't awakened my magic yet, but I will somehow.”

I turned my head, and there he was.

Kaelen, perched on the armrest of the sea-silk couch beside me, looking like he hadn’t moved in hours.

“Hey, pink dragon,” I whispered. “Still here?”

He stiffened. “You’re lucky you were unconscious. That’s the only reason I’m letting that nickname live.”

I smiled, and his wings drooped in relief. He launched himself onto my shoulder, wrapping gently around my neck with a small huff.

“I’m still alive."

“You were glowing like a relic on fire. And muttering something in your sleep which I couldn't understand. You better be glad I like you. If you ever scare me like that again, I’m dropping you in a jellyfish nest.”

“Duly noted.”

It was only then I realised we weren’t alone.

I sat upright, slowly, and looked around.

The room was big. The ceiling curved like a seashell and smooth, pale blue with carvings of gold, stained glass windows with the ocean’s light beyond them. It looked all very expensive.

But I barely noticed the walls.

Because seven merfolk were leaning against the walls.

They weren’t guards. And they definitely didn't look like court members.

They wore outfits unlike anything I’d seen before here, deep blue sashes lined with bone clasps, and silver-scaled shoulder plates shaped like mirrored fins. Their skin was radiant and had muscles, all of them shared one trait:

Eyes that looked too ancient to still belong to the living.

My breath caught when I remembered what the Sea Goddess told me about… the ones who came when I was dying.

So they were real, the Abyssari.

They saved me.

The ones from the dream. The ones the Goddess whispered of.

My heart raced. Not from fear, but awe.

They weren’t just stories. They were real. And they were watching me, why?

Kaelen leaned in and whispered. “They showed up when you collapsed. Just… appeared out of nowhere. No one saw them arrive. The royal guards nearly fainted.”

Before I could ask more, one of them came forward.

She was really tall and looked so strong and her skin was like weathered stone and hair was braided into tide-knots along one side. Her voice was low, but clear.

"How are you feeling, dear? You were out for three days."

"What?"

Another one, a man with a carved necklace of dark coral, nodded slowly.

“The Sea Goddess… she said it was you. who saved me.”

The woman inclined her head. “We heard from Osvor the day he met you and he warned us already of what might happen so we stayed nearby all this time.”

I opened my mouth to ask more about that angel guy, but just then, the side door slid open.

Dravion swam inside the room.

He didn’t say anything right away. Just met my eyes across the room.

“You took your time,” he said eventually.

I gave him a smile. “You are always this dramatic when someone takes a nap?”

He moved near the edge of the bed. “They thought you wouldn’t wake up,” he said. “I told them you would but your little guy wouldn't stop crying.”

as Kaelen was busy denying he didn't cry, I saw a wound on his back.

"Who did this to you? How did it even happen?"

"It's nothing of concern, it will be better in a few days."

Dravion added, "we did try to get a healer for him but we couldn't as there were too many wounded after the incident and they are all busy healing people."

"I am fine, sea dragons heal quick, you wont even see the scar after a few days."

I hated how small he looked for a second. All his sass and wings couldn’t hide the fact that he’d nearly died too.

I reached out and gently touched his wing. He flinched, but didn’t pull away.

“You're stronger than you think,” I whispered. “Even without all the snarling.”

He huffed. “I don’t snarl.”

I smiled, but not the smug one I usually gave him, this one was filled with love.

And suddenly a knock on the door and we were asked to meet the king and the queen.

✧𓂃⋆༶⋆𓂃✧✧𓂃⋆༶⋆𓂃✧✧𓂃⋆༶⋆𓂃✧