Collide: The Memory of Stars

Selene's POV

The morning air was crisp as we gathered our things and continued our search along the beachside.

The salty breeze mixed with the faint scent of damp earth, the waves rolling gently in a rhythmic lull.

After resting for a full night, we were ready to move forward, hoping that the coastline would provide the next clue to the Sunken Bastion's location.

We walked along the shore, scanning the sand and rocky formations for any sign of something unusual.

It was slow work, and after what felt like hours, we found ourselves facing a dead end—a towering cliffside stretching high above us, its jagged edges carved by centuries of wind and water.

Khael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, that's inconvenient. Unless we want to grow wings, I don't see how we're getting past this."

Tyra leaned on her sword, eyeing the cliff before turning her gaze to the sea. "If there was a structure here, wouldn't something of it have washed up? Even if it's sunken, there has to be some kind of trace left behind."

Axel, standing a little apart from us, cracked his knuckles and stretched his arms. "Then, how about I take a look? I can't fish, but I sure as hell can do this."

Khael scoffed. "About time you proved yourself useful."

Axel rolled his eyes but ignored him, stepping closer to the water's edge. His expression shifted to one of focus, and the air around us grew heavier as he extended his hand. A faint hum resonated, the water responding to his presence. It was a subtle pull, a ripple that spread across the surface before stilling completely. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, something broke the stillness.

A dark shape floated up from the depths, tumbling lazily towards the shore.

As it drew closer, we saw it clearly—a large, aged fragment of what must have once been a structure.

Barnacles clung to its surface, and the edges were smoothed by time. But what caught our attention the most was the faint, barely visible text etched onto its surface in ancient Eldorian script.

Tyra stepped forward, brushing a hand across the stone to clear away debris. "It says... 'Deep down... ocean...' The rest is too eroded to read."

Khael frowned. "It's vague, but it's a start. If this is real, then the bastion isn't just under the sea—it's deep."

A moment of silence passed between us as we tried to piece together what little we had.

"Maybe there are more pieces," I suggested. "If we search—"

The atmosphere shifted, and instinctively, I summoned for my weapon.

The shadows around us thickened, stretching unnaturally as if something unseen was stirring within them. Then, without warning, dark shapes rose from the ground, their inky black forms writhing and shifting in unnatural ways. But these were different. More solid, more menacing. Their presence sent a chill down my spine.

Axel's grip on his sword tightened. "This isn't like the others."

From the darkness, a figure emerged, its form towering over the rest. Its presence alone was suffocating, the air around it distorting with an unnatural energy.

"Shadow Court," Tyra muttered, voice laced with recognition and disdain.

"We're dealing with something much worse than mindless Dark Matter."

The entity before us did not attack immediately. Instead, it watched, its hollow gaze locking onto me. A cold whisper slithered through the air, a voice both distant and uncomfortably close.

"You should not be here."

Then it moved.

The battle erupted in an instant. Tyra lunged forward, her broadsword colliding with the nearest creature.

The force of her strike sent ripples of dark energy dispersing into the air, but these foes were not as easily destroyed. They reformed almost instantly, striking back with unnatural speed.

Khael conjured a wall of flame, the fire roaring as it swallowed a cluster of enemies. They screeched, their forms twisting in agony, but the larger one merely walked through the blaze, unaffected.

I darted to the side, barely avoiding a shadowy tendril that lashed toward me.

With a deep breath, I channeled my power, feeling it surge through me. Light erupted from my blade as I slashed at the darkness, the energy slicing clean through the creature before it let out an unearthly wail and dissipated.

Axel moved with deadly precision, cutting through the smaller creatures while keeping an eye on the towering figure. "Selene! You need to focus on that one!"

I barely had time to react before the entity raised its arm, a pulse of dark energy radiating outward. The force hit me like a shockwave, knocking me back against the rocks.

My vision blurred for a second before I pushed myself up, shaking off the impact.

Tyra charged at the figure, but it caught her blade mid-swing, gripping the metal with inhuman strength before tossing her aside as if she were weightless.

She crashed against the ground but rolled to her feet immediately, determination burning in her gaze.

Khael gritted his teeth and raised both hands, gathering a swirling mass of fire between them. "Move!" he shouted.

Axel grabbed my wrist and pulled me back just as Khael released the spell. A torrent of fire exploded forward, engulfing the entity in a searing inferno. The light was blinding, the heat pressing against my skin even from a distance.

For a moment, we thought it had worked.

Then, from within the flames, the figure stepped forward, unfazed.

"Damn it," Khael cursed, already preparing another attack.

Axel didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, sword blazing with energy, and swung with everything he had. Their weapons clashed, a burst of force rippling outward upon impact. I saw the tension in Axel's stance as he struggled against the sheer power of the creature.

I gripped my weapon tighter, forcing myself to push past the lingering pain from the earlier hit. I had to do something.

Summoning my power once more, I focused it into my blade until the light intensified, glowing with an almost blinding radiance.

Then, with a deep breath, I charged.

Axel broke away just as I swung, my blade colliding directly against the entity's core.

A pulse of raw energy erupted from the strike, the force sending shockwaves through the air. The creature let out a distorted scream, its form flickering and breaking apart before finally disintegrating into nothingness.

The remaining Dark Matters faltered, their forms growing unstable before they, too, dissolved into the shadows.

Silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by our heavy breaths.

Tyra wiped sweat from her brow, giving me a sidelong glance. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."

Axel smirked, though exhaustion was evident in his stance. "Not bad, Selene. Not bad at all."

Khael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "We're definitely getting closer. They wouldn't be sending these things after us otherwise."

I looked back at the fragment, the cryptic message still carved into its surface.

Deep down… ocean…

We had our first real clue. And now, we had the attention of something far worse than we had faced before.

The scent of salt lingered in the air, mixing with the faint traces of battle.

We stood at the base of the cliff, our bodies weary but our minds restless. The remnants of the Shadow Court's ambush had long since faded into nothing, yet the uneasy energy clung to the air like a lingering whisper.

The dark ocean stretched before us, endless and foreboding, its depths a mystery.

Axel folded his arms, his gaze scanning the surface of the water.

"If that piece of debris was right, then what we're looking for is somewhere beneath us."

"But how do we even get down there?" Khael asked, clearly frustrated. "We don't exactly have gills, and I doubt swimming blind into the abyss is a good idea."

Tyra hummed in thought. "There might be a way. But…" she hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It's just an old tale. Something the elders in my hometown used to whisper about—an ancient blessing, lost long before the kingdoms of Eldoria even stood. They spoke of a power gifted by the mermaids themselves, allowing one to breathe and move freely beneath the sea."

Axel raised an eyebrow. "And you're only telling us this now?"

She shot him a look. "It was a bedtime story, not a strategy guide. I never thought it would be real."

I frowned, my fingers curling slightly. The ocean called to me—not in the way the Dark Matter did, but something else. Something softer, yet insistent. It wasn't a voice, not really.

More like a presence, waiting beneath the waves. I took a step forward, the whisper of the tide brushing against my mind.

Then, without warning, my vision darkened, and I felt my consciousness being pulled inward.

When I opened my eyes, I was no longer standing by the shore.

The space around me was vast and empty, filled with shifting light like the surface of water kissed by the sun. In front of me stood a figure—small, luminous, and familiar. The guardian of my power.

It looked up at me with its usual mischievous glimmer, though subdued compared to our last encounter. "Took you long enough to come back,"

It huffed, crossing its tiny arms.

I sighed, already bracing myself for whatever cryptic message it had for me this time. "You dragged me here. What do you want?"

It pouted. "Not me. You're the one being called. I just let it happen."

"Called by what?"

"The one who sleeps deep down," it said, its voice suddenly softer, as if even it didn't fully understand.

"The ocean wants you to listen. But you're still too weak to hear it properly."

A chill ran down my spine. "What does that mean?"

It tilted its head, its glowing form flickering slightly. "You'll find out when it's time. But first, you need to get the Mermaid's Blessing."

My breath caught. "How do you know about that?"

The guardian stiffened, eyes widening. For the first time, it looked uncertain.

"It's… not time for you to know that yet," it muttered quickly, before regaining its usual attitude.

"You should focus on the task ahead."

I narrowed my eyes but let it slide. "Fine. What do I have to do?"

It grinned, floating closer. "Three things. First, you must prove your intent—why do you seek the blessing? It is not given freely, nor can it be taken by force. The ocean must accept you."

I nodded, already feeling the weight of the trial ahead. "And the second?"

"You must retrieve something lost beneath the waves. Something that belongs to the ocean, taken by those unworthy of its gifts. Only then will you earn its trust."

The last condition came with a knowing glint in its eyes. "And third…" it paused for dramatic effect, "you must offer something of yourself in return. A sacrifice."

A cold feeling settled in my stomach. "What kind of sacrifice?"

It simply smiled. "That's for the ocean to decide."

I exhaled sharply, knowing I wouldn't get anything more out of it. "Of course it is."

The guardian twirled midair, its childlike amusement returning. "Better hurry. The others will think you've passed out again."

Before I could retort, my vision blurred, and the world of shifting light vanished.

When I returned to reality, I gasped, stumbling slightly. Axel's hand was already on my shoulder, steadying me.

"You okay?" he asked, worry laced in his voice.

I nodded, still shaken.

To be continued.