The chamber was heavy with the weight of Korrin's words. His voice echoed, and it felt like the very walls of the city were closing in on me. The Ocean's Heart—the artifact my father had stolen, the key to everything. The reason my mother had been forced into hiding. And now... the reason the ocean itself was breaking apart.
"I'm not just human?" I repeated, still struggling to grasp the implications of what Korrin had just said. I looked at Isaac, my hand still trembling in his. "What does that mean?"
Isaac's eyes softened, and he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "You're more connected to this world than you realize, Lila. Your mother wasn't just a mermaid; she was the guardian of the Ocean's Heart before your father took it."
"But I—" I choked on the words, trying to make sense of everything. "I'm not like her. I don't have... powers. I can't even swim like you."
"You don't need to swim like us to have power," Isaac said, his voice firm, a spark of something unfamiliar in his eyes. "The ocean's power runs through your veins. It's in your blood."
I shook my head, taking a step back. "I don't understand."
Korrin stepped forward, his voice cold. "It's true. Your bloodline is tied to the artifact. The moment your father stole it, he set off a chain of destruction, and it's been rippling through the seas ever since. You're the only one who can stop it now."
I felt a chill creep over me. "Stop it? How?"
"The Ocean's Heart is a living thing," Korrin explained. "It reacts to whoever possesses it. When it was stolen, the balance between the sea and the land began to deteriorate. The ocean began to wither, and a creature born from that imbalance was released."
Isaac's grip tightened on my hand, pulling me closer. "What creature?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"It is not like anything you have ever seen," Korrin said, his tone ominous. "It feeds on destruction. It grows stronger with each passing day. The only way to stop it... is to restore the balance."
I swallowed hard. "But how do I do that? I'm just a human. A half-human. How can I possibly..."
"You're not just half-human," Korrin interrupted. "You have the power of both worlds within you. But only the one tied to the Ocean's Heart can truly wield it."
I turned to Isaac. His face was set in determination, but I could see the worry in his eyes. "Isaac, I don't know what to do."
Isaac's voice was low and steady as he spoke. "I've seen what you can do, Lila. You're stronger than you think. You have everything you need to stop this."
Before I could respond, the entire chamber shook. The water around us rippled violently, sending shivers through my spine. A deep, guttural growl vibrated through the walls, echoing from the depths of the sea.
Isaac pulled me closer, his eyes wide with fear. "We need to get out of here. Now."
But Korrin didn't move. He stood still, as if waiting for something. I could hear the frantic whispers of the merfolk around us, their voices trembling.
"What's happening?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
Korrin didn't answer immediately. His eyes were fixed on the darkened waters beyond the city, where something massive was stirring. The shadows seemed to move with unnatural speed, and the water turned cold.
"The creature," Korrin said grimly, his voice tinged with a hint of fear. "It's here."
I turned, my gaze following Korrin's. And then, out of the blackness, it appeared.
A monstrous form emerged from the depths, towering over us. It was a creature of pure darkness, its body shifting and rippling like liquid shadow. Its eyes were glowing pools of molten gold, and its mouth was filled with rows of jagged teeth, sharp as knives.
Isaac's grip on my arm tightened as he pulled me back. "Lila, stay behind me."
But Korrin moved forward, drawing a long, jagged blade from his side. "No," he said, his voice commanding. "You need to face it. Only the one tied to the Ocean's Heart can stop this."
The creature let out a deafening roar, shaking the entire chamber. Its massive tail whipped through the water, sending waves crashing against the walls. I couldn't breathe—couldn't move. All I could do was stare at the creature, paralyzed by fear.
But then I remembered Korrin's words. The one tied to the Ocean's Heart.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward, even though my legs were shaking. I felt the pull inside me, a strange warmth rising in my chest. Something was stirring. Something ancient.
Isaac's voice was a whisper behind me. "Lila, no. You're not ready."
But I didn't listen. I couldn't. The creature was here, and I was the only one who could stop it. I had to try.
I raised my hand, the warmth inside me growing stronger, until it felt like the ocean itself was flowing through my veins. For the first time, I could hear it—the pulse of the sea, the rhythm of the tides. It was all connected.
A low hum filled the air, and suddenly, the water around me began to shimmer. The creature hissed, recoiling from the light that radiated from me. I felt power surge through my body, raw and untamed. It wasn't just mine—it was the ocean's. It was the Ocean's Heart.
I reached out, my hand trembling, and the creature's eyes flashed with anger. It surged forward, but I didn't move. Instead, I let the power build within me, gathering like a storm. The ocean responded, swirling around me, lifting the creature into the air.
With a scream, the creature was torn from the water and cast back into the depths, its roar echoing through the chamber.
It was over.
I stood, breathing heavily, my heart pounding. The power faded, leaving me standing alone in the center of the chamber.
Isaac appeared beside me, his eyes wide with awe. "Lila... you did it."
I looked at him, my mind spinning. "I... I don't know how."
But Korrin was watching me intently, his expression unreadable. "You've restored the balance," he said, his voice low. "But this is just the beginning. The Ocean's Heart has chosen you."
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End of Chapter 10