The ocean stretched endlessly before Aonung, its vastness both thrilling and humbling. He'd been teaching one of the Omatikaya children,Ilaria,you. The intricacies of swimming in the open sea for what felt like hours, his earlier irritation fading as he saw your form improve. At first,you had floundered, struggling to adapt to the rhythm of the currents, but now, you were starting to glide through the water with a growing confidence. The sea welcomed you, as it had always welcomed him.

Aonung flicked his tail, adjusting his position just behind you, keeping a watchful eye as you navigated a particularly rocky stretch of reef. His mind had shifted from criticism to something more akin to respect. You were slowly getting it. He hadn’t realized it until now, but for the first time in this lesson, he found himself… enjoying this. A smile creeping onto his lips.

But that sense of ease was short-lived. A sudden pull, swift and violent, tugged at Aonung’s limbs, catching him off guard. The current was strong—far stronger than the usual pulls he'd trained against—and before he could react fully, you were yanked away from him, flailing in the water. Panic surged in Aonung's chest, instinct overriding all sense of calculation. The coral below flashed in a blur as he shot forward, his body slicing through the water with practiced speed.

In an instant, he closed the gap between you. Grabbing you by the waist, he forced you up to the surface, feeling your panicked breaths against his chest. The coral had scraped you, leaving shallow but sharp gashes across your arms and legs. His heart pounded in his ears as he hoisted you toward the nearest rocky outcrop, the rough stone scraping his palms as he pulled you out of the water.

He could hear your gasps, your frantic breaths.

Aonung: “It’s okay! you're safe now,”

Aonung murmured, his voice low and steady, more comforting than he intended. His hand holds the back of your head, running over your hair.

Aonung: “Shhh, it’s okay- I’ve got you..”