The sea went quiet again.
Not violently.
Not suddenly.
But in a way that felt… unnatural.
Thalren noticed it before anything else.
He stood near the shoreline, breathing slowly, repeating the same movements Kael had drilled into him. His stance was steadier now. His swings sharper. More controlled.
But today—
The water wasn't responding.
Not like before.
The waves were too smooth.
Too even.
As if something beneath them had forced everything into silence.
"…Kael," Thalren called.
No response.
He turned.
The cabin door was open.
Empty.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
Kael was never gone during training.
Never.
The wind shifted.
A low vibration spread through the ground beneath his feet.
Thalren froze.
He had felt this before.
His hand moved to the crystal necklace.
It was warm.
Then—
Hot.
The glow returned.
Stronger than ever before.
The water ahead of him slowly began to rise.
Not like a wave.
Not like a current.
Like something beneath was pushing upward.
Thalren's breathing slowed.
"…Not again."
But deep down—
He knew.
This was not like before.
This was worse.
The surface broke.
A massive shadow moved beneath the water.
Long.
Endless.
The sheer size of it made the last Sea Beast feel small.
The ocean itself seemed to bend around its presence.
Thalren took a step back.
His instincts screamed.
Run.
But his body didn't move.
The pressure hit him.
Heavy.
Crushing.
His vision blurred slightly.
The same feeling from his visions returned.
Then—
The water split.
A portion of the creature emerged.
Not fully.
Just enough.
Dark scales.
Vast.
Ancient.
The surface around it trembled.
Thalren's heart pounded.
"…That's not a Sea Beast."
No.
This was something else.
Something far beyond.
The crystal burned against his chest.
The glow intensified.
The creature stopped moving.
The ocean froze with it.
For a moment—
Everything was still.
Then—
Two massive golden eyes appeared beneath the surface.
Watching him.
Thalren's breath caught.
The same eyes.
From the depths.
From his visions.
His body felt like it couldn't move.
The pressure was overwhelming.
But this time—
Something inside him didn't break.
It steadied.
The warmth from the crystal spread through his chest.
His breathing slowed.
He didn't step back.
Didn't run.
He stood there.
Facing it.
The golden eyes narrowed slightly.
As if observing him more closely.
Judging.
Measuring.
Then—
A voice.
Not heard.
Felt.
Deep within his mind.
Ancient.
Heavy.
"You…"
Thalren's eyes widened.
He couldn't speak.
Couldn't move.
But he understood.
The presence continued.
"…are not ready."
The words echoed through his mind like distant thunder.
Then—
The pressure vanished.
Instantly.
The ocean collapsed back into motion.
The creature moved.
Not toward him.
Away.
Its massive form disappeared into the depths once more.
The water returned to normal.
The wind resumed.
The world breathed again.
Thalren dropped to one knee.
His entire body trembled.
"…What… was that…"
A voice answered behind him.
"…Something you should never try to face right now."
Thalren turned.
Kael stood there.
But something was different.
His usual calm expression was gone.
Replaced with something serious.
Something heavy.
"You saw it too?" Thalren asked.
Kael nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Thalren swallowed.
"…What was that?"
Kael looked toward the sea.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"A Sea King."
Silence.
The word felt heavier than anything before.
Thalren looked back at the ocean.
"That… was one of them?"
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
The boy's mind raced.
"That wasn't even attacking…"
Kael's voice cut in.
"It didn't need to."
The truth hit harder than any blow.
That thing—
Had held back completely.
And still—
Thalren couldn't even move.
He clenched his fists.
"…It spoke to me."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…What did it say?"
Thalren hesitated.
Then—
"That I'm not ready."
Silence.
Kael didn't react immediately.
But his gaze deepened.
"…I see."
Thalren stood slowly.
His legs still felt weak.
"But I will be."
The words came out quietly.
But there was no doubt in them.
Kael watched him carefully.
Then gave a small nod.
"Yes."
The wind moved across the shore again.
The waves rolled normally.
But something had changed.
Not just outside.
Inside.
Thalren looked toward the horizon.
That was the level he had to reach.
Not Kael.
Not the Sea Beasts.
That.
The thing that could silence the sea itself.
And judge him with a single glance.
The crystal rested against his chest.
Still warm.
Still alive.
And deep beneath the endless darkness…
The golden eyes closed once more.
For now.