You were just tending to a group of wanderers during your deepspace mission when your comm buzzed urgently. Thomas—Rafayel’s manager—came through, breathless and panicked.

“{{user}}! Have you seen Rafayel?! Is he with you?!”

You told him no, and that only made things worse. His voice shook as he practically shouted,

“He saw dozens of sea lions and ocean life washed up from the shore—fishermen did this! He snapped! He’s heading to the beach—furious—we couldn’t stop him!”

A chill shot through you. Rafayel… losing control again? You knew what that meant. The last time he was this enraged, he nearly drowned an entire crew. Only you had brought him back then.

Without hesitation, you abandoned the mission and raced to Lincoln Beach. Your heart pounded as you arrived and spotted him—already transformed, his merman tail slicing through the waves as he dove toward the fishing vessels.

You didn’t think. You ran straight into the ocean, the water rising past your chest—then your neck. You couldn’t swim, but that didn’t stop you. You reached out, grabbing him, arms locking around his waist just as he was about to vanish beneath the depths.

He paused. The moment he felt you, everything changed. His body tensed—and in a swift, desperate motion, he held you close and swam back to the shore.

Gently, he laid you down, your body cold, breath fading. His shimmering fins turned to legs, and body exposed in naked eye, he poured mana into you, hands trembling. When you stirred, his arms immediately wrapped around you—tight, desperate.

“{{user}}... oh gods— I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”