The ocean did not forget.
Even though the waves had returned to normal, even though the wind had softened and the sky looked peaceful again—something had changed.
Thalren could feel it.
It was in the air.
In the water.
In the silence between each wave.
He stood on the shore again, staring at the horizon where the Sea Beast had disappeared.
His hand rested on the crystal necklace.
It felt warm.
Not burning like before.
But alive.
As if it was waiting.
Behind him, Kael's voice broke the silence.
"You're thinking about it again."
Thalren didn't turn.
"It saw me."
Kael didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The boy clenched his jaw.
"Then it might come back."
Kael stepped closer.
"It might."
Thalren finally turned.
"Then I need to be ready."
For a moment, Kael said nothing.
Then—
"Good."
The old man tossed him the wooden sword.
"Then today, we stop training like before."
Thalren caught it.
"What do you mean?"
Kael's expression turned serious.
"From now on… you train to kill."
The words hit differently.
He wasn't a child playing with a sword anymore.
Thalren nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
---
The training moved closer to the water.
But this time, Kael didn't step in to attack.
He simply stood behind Thalren.
"Close your eyes."
Thalren obeyed.
The sound of the ocean filled his ears.
Waves crashing.
Wind moving.
Water shifting.
Kael spoke quietly.
"If it comes again… you won't have time to think."
The boy remained still.
"You won't have time to prepare."
The warmth inside the crystal slowly returned.
"So you must learn one thing…"
Thalren's breathing slowed.
"To strike without hesitation."
His eyes opened.
Sharp.
Focused.
Kael pointed toward the water.
"Do it."
Thalren stepped forward.
The water reached his ankles.
Then his knees.
Then—
He stopped.
His grip tightened on the sword.
The crystal began to glow.
Not wildly.
Not out of control.
But steady.
Controlled.
Thalren inhaled.
Then—
He swung.
The blade cut through the air.
A sharp arc of water followed it instantly.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
It shot forward and crashed against the surface, sending a burst of spray upward.
Kael's voice came from behind.
"Again."
Thalren moved.
Another swing.
Another water arc.
This one was sharper.
More precise.
The air itself seemed to slice with the motion.
"Again."
Strike.
"Again."
Strike.
"Again."
Strike—
Then suddenly—
The ocean responded.
The surface ahead of him shifted violently.
A dark shape moved beneath the water.
Fast.
Too fast.
Thalren froze for half a second.
Then his instincts screamed.
Move.
The water exploded upward.
A massive form burst out of the sea.
Not as large as the one from yesterday—
But still enormous.
A Sea Beast.
Its body was long and armored with dark scales. Its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth as it lunged toward him.
Thalren's heart slammed in his chest.
This wasn't training.
This was real.
"Don't think!" Kael shouted.
"Move!"
The beast crashed toward him.
Thalren reacted instantly.
He stepped forward instead of back.
The crystal flared.
He swung.
Hard.
The blade cut through the air.
This time—
The water didn't just follow.
It surged.
A powerful arc of compressed water shot forward like a blade.
It struck the Sea Beast directly.
A loud impact echoed.
The creature's head snapped to the side as the force hit it.
But it didn't stop.
It roared and twisted its body, crashing into the shallow water.
Thalren stumbled back.
His breathing turned heavy.
Fear crept in.
But something else rose with it.
Determination.
He gripped the sword tighter.
"Again…" he whispered.
The beast lunged once more.
This time faster.
Closer.
Thalren stepped to the side.
Barely avoiding the jaws snapping shut where he had stood.
Water splashed violently around them.
He turned.
Swung again.
Another arc.
Stronger.
Sharper.
This one struck the creature's neck.
A deep cut formed across its scales.
Dark blood spilled into the water.
The beast roared louder.
Its movements became more aggressive.
More dangerous.
But Thalren didn't step back.
Not this time.
His eyes locked onto it.
His breathing steadied.
The warmth in the crystal spread through his entire body.
The world around him felt slower.
Clearer.
The beast lunged again.
Thalren moved.
One step.
Perfect timing.
He raised the sword.
And with everything he had—
He swung.
The crystal burst with light.
A powerful surge of water erupted forward.
Sharper than anything before.
It cut through the air—
And struck cleanly.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Then—
The Sea Beast's body froze.
A deep line split across its neck.
And slowly…
It collapsed into the water.
The waves turned dark.
Still.
Silent.
Thalren stood there, unmoving.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
The sword slipped slightly in his grip.
He stared at the fallen creature.
"…I did it."
Behind him, Kael didn't speak immediately.
The old man simply watched.
Then he nodded once.
"Yes."
Thalren looked down at his hands.
They were shaking.
Not from weakness.
But from realization.
That was his first real fight.
His first real kill.
The ocean moved quietly around him.
As if acknowledging something.
Kael stepped forward.
"This is only the beginning."
Thalren looked up.
His fear hadn't disappeared.
But it had changed.
It had become something sharper.
Stronger.
He looked toward the horizon again.
Somewhere out there…
Were creatures far stronger than this.
Sea Kings.
And something beyond even them.
Thalren tightened his grip on the sword.
"…Then I'll keep going."
But far beneath the surface…
Where light could not reach…
A pair of enormous golden eyes slowly opened once more.
And this time—
They were watching much more closely.