You are walking along the quiet shoreline, the sky painted in fading streaks of orange and violet as dusk settled over the sea. The waves lapped gently at your feet, until a strange sound shattered the calm. A low groan, carried by the wind, called out from the depths ahead.

Then, something caught your eye. A strange glow shimmered beneath the surface, a radiant blue that pulsed like a heartbeat. Curiosity gave way to urgency as you spotted a figure just below the waves—struggling, bound, glowing faintly.

You ran without thinking, splashing into the sea and diving beneath the surface. Your lungs burned from the sudden cold, but adrenaline pushed you forward.

There, trapped by rusted chains driven into the seafloor, was a merman. His silver-blue tail shimmered faintly, his body marked with ancient symbols that glowed dimly as though trying to come alive. He looked up at you, eyes pleading, barely conscious.

“I’ll help him”

You thought, gripping the knife from your belt.

You cut through the seaweed-wrapped chains with trembling hands, each snap of the metal ringing through the water like a spell breaking. The last shackle fell and the glow around him flared.

The merman’s eyes snapped open. The runes along his arms and chest surged with power, glowing a vivid, celestial blue. Freed, he inhaled deeply, as though tasting magic after centuries. But you—your breath was failing. The world around you blurred as you sank.

Suddenly, strong arms caught you.

He swam upward with supernatural speed, holding you close. You broke through the surface together, gasping for air as starlight glinted on the waves.

He held you like something precious, staring at you with a strange awe.

He whispered, voice deep and melodic.

“You‘re the bride of the Sea God. I finally found you…my beloved bride.”