Morning sunlight slowly spread across the island.
The sky was clear, and the waves rolled steadily against the shore. Everything appeared calm and peaceful, but Thalren's body felt anything but calm.
Every muscle in his arms and legs ached from the previous day's training.
Dragging the heavy log through the water had pushed him further than he had ever gone before. Even lifting his arms now felt difficult.
Yet he still stepped outside the cabin.
Kael was already waiting near the beach.
The old man stood quietly with his arms crossed, watching the rising sun.
"You're late," Kael said without turning around.
Thalren frowned slightly.
"I woke up early."
"Not early enough."
Kael turned toward him and tossed the wooden sword again.
"Pick it up."
Thalren caught it.
His fingers tightened around the handle.
"Are we sparring again?"
Kael nodded.
"Today I want to see something."
Thalren stepped forward and raised the sword.
"Then I'm ready."
The boy rushed toward Kael and swung his weapon.
The old man blocked easily.
Wood struck wood with a dull sound.
Thalren attacked again.
Faster this time.
But Kael's defense remained effortless.
Their blades clashed repeatedly as the training continued.
Minutes passed.
Thalren's breathing slowly became heavier.
Sweat formed across his forehead.
But something felt different today.
His movements were smoother.
More controlled.
Each strike carried slightly more strength than before.
Kael noticed immediately.
"Again," he said calmly.
Thalren swung harder.
Kael blocked again.
Then suddenly—
The crystal necklace flashed.
A faint blue light spread across Thalren's chest.
His next swing moved faster than before.
Much faster.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
For the first time, he had to step back to block the attack.
The wooden swords collided with unexpected force.
Thalren froze.
He felt it.
Power.
A sudden surge of strength had rushed through his body.
"What… was that?" he whispered.
Kael lowered his sword slowly.
"So it finally appeared."
Thalren looked down at the glowing crystal.
The light faded again.
But the feeling remained.
It was as if something inside him had briefly awakened.
Kael walked closer.
"Attack again."
Thalren hesitated.
"But the power disappeared."
"Then bring it back."
The boy took a deep breath.
He closed his eyes.
The warmth from the crystal was still there.
Faint.
But present.
He focused on it.
The steady pulse inside the necklace.
Slow.
Deep.
Like a distant heartbeat.
Then he swung again.
The crystal flashed.
This time the light spread through his arms.
His strike moved faster than he expected.
Kael blocked, but the impact pushed him backward across the sand.
The old man stared at the boy carefully.
"Interesting."
Thalren looked shocked.
"I didn't mean to—"
Kael suddenly laughed.
A deep, satisfied laugh.
"You should see your face."
Thalren blinked.
"You're not angry?"
"Why would I be?"
Kael pointed toward the glowing necklace.
"That power is exactly what I wanted to see."
Thalren looked down again.
"So… I can control it?"
Kael shook his head.
"Not yet."
He tapped the boy's chest lightly.
"Right now, the relic is reacting on its own."
Thalren frowned.
"So I'm not actually using it?"
"Not consciously."
Kael walked toward the water.
"But that will change."
He pointed toward the waves.
"Come."
Thalren followed him into the shallow water.
The cool waves reached their knees as they stopped.
Kael looked out toward the horizon.
"Power like that cannot be controlled on land."
Thalren tilted his head.
"Why?"
Kael's eyes became serious.
"Because it belongs to the depths."
He turned toward the boy.
"If you want to control it, you must learn to move with the tide itself."
Thalren stood quietly as the waves pushed gently against his legs.
"Close your eyes," Kael said.
The boy obeyed.
"Listen."
Thalren focused.
At first he only heard the wind and the water.
But slowly, another sensation appeared.
Movement.
The endless rhythm of the waves.
Forward.
Back.
Forward.
Back.
Kael's voice spoke softly.
"Feel the tide."
Thalren breathed slowly.
The warmth in the crystal returned again.
Stronger this time.
The necklace began to glow faintly beneath his shirt.
Kael noticed immediately.
"That's it."
Thalren suddenly felt the water around his legs shift.
The waves moved differently.
As if responding to him.
His eyes opened in surprise.
The water around him had begun to swirl gently.
Not violently.
Just enough to move in a slow circle.
Kael stared.
"Remarkable…"
Thalren looked terrified.
"I didn't do that!"
Kael smiled.
"Yes you did."
The swirling water slowly stopped.
The crystal's glow faded again.
Thalren stared at the calm waves.
"I felt something… deep below."
Kael nodded.
"You're beginning to sense the depths."
The old man looked toward the distant horizon again.
Far beyond the island.
Far beyond anything Thalren could see.
Something enormous was moving through the deep waters.
Something ancient.
Something powerful.
Kael crossed his arms.
"This is only the beginning."
Thalren looked at the glowing crystal once more.
Inside it, the faint blue light pulsed again.
Slow.
Steady.
Like a heart awakening.
And deep beneath the endless sea…
Something had started to notice him.