Chapter 33

Sophia nodded. "Then let's start with action. I suggest joint efforts-training exercises, resourcesharing initiatives-to build the trust we need. It won't be easy, but it's a start."

The room murmured again, calmer this time. One of the progressive Aquarian officials, a younger woman with scales that shimmered like sunlight, spoke up.

"It's a reasonable proposal," she said. "We cannot afford to waste time arguing among ourselves. Let's put it to a vote."

The conservative elders traded glances, their reluctance clear. But Tharros' steady gaze and Sophia's calm determination left them little room to complain. The motion passed by a thin margin, and the room slowly began to disperse.

Outside the chamber, Sophia exhaled heavily, the tension in her chest easing slightly. She felt a presence beside her and turned to see Kael, his face unreadable.

"You did well in there," he said, his tone quieter than usual. "But don't let your guard down. There are those who will do anything to see you fail."

Sophia nodded, her resolve stiffening. "I'm aware. But I won't let them frighten me."

Kael studied her for a moment, then gave a small nod of approval. "Good. Keep that fire. You'll need it."

The following days were a whirlwind of action. Sophia threw herself into her new role, organizing joint training lessons between Aquarian guards and Shark warriors. The meetings were anything but smooth; clashing egos and simmering tensions led to more than one heated confrontation.

During one such practice, Sophia stood on the sidelines, watching as an argument broke out between a young Shark warrior and an Aquarian guard. Their voices rose, sharp and biting, until the Shark warrior lunged forward, his fins flaring in aggressiveness.

Before Sophia could intervene, Kael stepped in, his presence commanding instant attention. "Stand down," he said, his voice low but strong. The Shark warrior paused, his gaze flicking to Garrek, who stood nearby. At a subtle nod from his boss, the warrior backed away, grumbling under his breath.

Sophia approached Kael, her frustration obvious. "This isn't working," she said. "If we can't even get through a single training session without a fight breaking out, how are we supposed to build trust?"

Kael's face softened slightly. "It's going to take time. These warriors have spent their entire lives viewing each other as enemies. Changing that won't happen overnight."

Sophia nodded, though the weight of the job ahead pressed heavily on her shoulders. She turned back to the training grounds, her mind racing with ideas to bridge the gap.

That evening, Sophia found herself in one of Aquaria's quieter passageways, lost in thought. The day's events had left her drained, her confidence wavering under the pressure of the mounting challenges. She barely noticed the figure approaching until a sharp voice cut through her thoughts.

"You don't belong here."

She turned to see Coren, one of the most vocal conservative council members, his face hard and unforgiving. His words struck like a blow, and for a moment, she fought to find her voice.

"Excuse me?" she said, her tone steadier than she felt.

Coren stepped closer, his eyes piercing. "You're an outsider. A top dweller. You may have Tharros' favor, but don't think for a moment that you'll ever be one of us."

Sophia's chest tightened, rage flaring alongside the sting of his words. "I'm not trying to be one of you," she said, her voice sharp. "I'm trying to help. If that's a problem for you, then maybe you're the one who doesn't belong."

Coren's expression darkened, but before he could reply, another voice interrupted.

"Is there a problem here?"

Sophia turned to see Tharros coming, his golden eyes flicking between her and Coren. The council member stiffened, his stance defensive.

"No problem at all," Coren said, his tone dripping with insincerity. He gave Sophia one last look before turning and walking away.

Tharros watched him go, then turned to Sophia, his face softening. "Don't let him get to you," he said. "Coren is a relic of the past. His fear blinds him to what's possible."

Sophia nodded, though the meeting had left her shaken. Tharros put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're doing more than anyone expected, Sophia. Don't question yourself now."

She met his eyes, drawing strength from his confidence. "I won't," she said, her resolve stiffening once more.

As the days turned to weeks, the joint efforts began to show small signs of improvement. The training sessions grew less contentious, and moments of camaraderie emerged, fragile but real. Sophia's tireless efforts won her the grudging respect of the Shark warriors and the wary admiration of the progressive Aquarians.

But the shadows of prejudice and mistrust lingered, and Sophia knew the road ahead would be anything but easy. Late one night, as she stood on a balcony viewing the glowing city, she felt the weight of it all pressing down on her.

"This is only the beginning," she murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on the faraway horizon.

Secrets in the Depths

The Coral Tower stood out in the dim light of Aquaria's shifting currents. Its spiraling shape cast rough shadows on the ocean bottom. Sophia walked slowly toward the gates, her mind going over parts of the mysterious text she had found days before. Each word and phrase seemed like a puzzle that wouldn't fit into the picture she was making in her mind.

Arin waited just inside, and as usual, you couldn't read her face. Her dark eyes were fixed on Sophia as she leaned casually against the clear doorway. She seemed tense and guarded, and Sophia couldn't help but notice it.

"You're late," Arin said in her usual stern voice.

Sophia walked past her with a shrug. "I had no idea you were keeping track."

"You're the one who insists on answers," Arin answered, pushing off the wall and falling into step beside her. "I hope you're ready for what you might find."

Sophia didn't answer. The Tower's halls seemed colder today, their runes pulsing faintly as if feeling her unease. The silence between her and Arin stretched, broken only by the soft hum of the Tower's old magic. Finally, they reached the room where the text awaited, spread across a stone table like a relic from another age.

Sophia moved to the table, her fingers brushing the leaves. The symbols shimmered slightly, shifting as if alive. She glanced at Arin, who stayed by the doorway, her arms crossed.

"Are you going to help, or just stand there?" Sophia asked, her tone laced with anger.

Arin's lips twitched, a hint of amusement breaking through her otherwise stoic face. "I'll help. But don't expect me to enjoy it."

She joined Sophia at the table, her hands hanging over the text. The runes reacted instantly, glowing brighter under her touch. Sophia watched her carefully, noting the flicker of uneasiness in Arin's eyes.

"What do you know about this?" Sophia asked, keeping her tone bland.

Arin paused, her fingers tracing a line of symbols. "Not enough," she said eventually. "And too much."

Sophia frowned. "That's not an answer."

Arin's eyes snapped to hers, sharp and unyielding. "Some answers come with consequences, Sophia. Are you sure you're ready for them?"

The challenge in her words was clear, but Sophia refused to back down. "We don't have time for riddles. If this text can help us understand the Leviathan and what's coming, then we need to know everything."

Arin's face softened, just slightly. She sighed, her shoulders relaxing as she turned back to the text. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

The hours passed in a blur as they worked together, decoding bits of the text. Sophia's frustration grew with each cryptic phrase, but Arin's steady direction kept her grounded. Slowly, a pattern began to appear, hints of a story that sent chills down Sophia's spine.

An old force bound in shadow. A union formed in fire and blood. The rise of the Abyss, and the fall of the Light.

Sophia looked at the words, their meaning sinking in. "The Leviathan," she whispered. "It's tied to this this ancient force."

Arin nodded, her face grim. "The Leviathan isn't just a monster. It's an expression of something older, something that predates even the founding of Aquaria."

Sophia's mind raced, putting together what she knew. "And this union? The 'bond in fire and blood'? It's talking about us, isn't it? Me, Tharros, Kael, and you."

Arin didn't respond quickly. Her gaze was faraway, her fingers drumming lightly against the table. Finally, she spoke, her voice low. "That's what it suggests. But predictions are rarely clear. There's always a price, Sophia. Always."

Sophia frowned. "What aren't you telling me?"

Arin's gaze snapped to hers, the unease in her eyes obvious. "You think I have all the answers? I don't. But I know enough to be afraid. Magic like this it doesn't come without consequences."

The tension between them was thick, unsaid questions lingering in the air. Sophia wanted to press her, to demand the truth, but something in Arin's face held her back. Instead, she turned back to the text, her determination hardening.

As the hours wore on, Arin grew quieter, her attention shifting inward. Sophia noticed the change but said nothing, her own thoughts consumed by the revelations they had found. The Leviathan's connection to an ancient enemy, the part of the Union it was almost too much to process.

But Arin's unease didn't go ignored. Every so often, Sophia caught her looking at the door, her fingers twitching as if itching to leave. It was slight, but it was there. And it made Sophia wonder: what was Arin hiding?

Finally, as they reached a particularly troubling passage, Arin stood suddenly, her chair scraping against the stone floor. "That's enough for today," she said, her voice tight.

Sophia looked up, shocked. "We're not finished."

"We've done enough," Arin said, already moving toward the door. "You should get some rest."

Sophia watched her go, mistrust gnawing at the edges of her thoughts. Something was wrong. Arin was hiding something, and whatever it was, it had shaken her deeply.

Unbeknownst to Sophia, Arin didn't leave the Tower. She retreated to a smaller chamber, its walls lined with mirrors that reflected her troubled face back at her. Her hands trembled as she reached for a bottle of dark liquid hidden in the folds of her robe.

The magic in the vial pulsed slightly, a forbidden power that she had sworn never to use again. But the text had confirmed her fears. The Leviathan wasn't just a threat to Aquaria; it was a punishment for her past sins, a force that had been waiting for centuries to rise again.

Arin closed her eyes, her mind rushing. If the prophecy was true, then the Union of Four was their only chance. But it also meant confronting the darkness she had long buried, the decisions she had made that had led to this moment.

She stared into the vial, her image warped and twisted by the liquid's dark glow. "Not yet," she whispered, her voice shaking. "Not yet."

Back in her rooms, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something. The parts of the puzzle were starting to come together, but there was still so much she didn't understand. And as she looked out at the glowing city, a sense of foreboding settled over her.

The Leviathan was coming. And with it, the secrets of the depths would finally come to light.

A Rift in the Ranks

Kael's footsteps echoed through the stone hallways of the barracks, his jaw tight and his mind racing. The sense of deception burned hotter with each passing moment. The signs had been there for weeks-the missing supplies, the tampered weapons, the stress simmering beneath the surface. Now it all made sense, but the realization left a bitter taste in his mouth. The men he trusted, the soldiers who were meant to protect Aquaria, had turned against him.

The small room he entered was dimly lit, the only light coming from a lantern hanging above the center table. Maps and reports were scattered across its surface, proof of Kael's relentless pursuit of the truth. He slammed a fist down on the table, the irritation coursing through him like a tidal wave.

A voice broke the quiet behind him. "You look ready to tear someone apart."

Kael turned sharply to see Sophia standing in the doorway. Her expression was a mix of worry and curiosity. She had become a fixture in these investigations, her sharp mind proving useful in piecing together clues. But this this was something Kael wished she didn't have to see.

"I've found them," he said, his voice low and cold.

Sophia stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "Found who?"

"The ones responsible for the sabotage," Kael answered. "It's not just one or two. There's a faction within the troops. They resent the agreement with the Shark Clans, and they see you as a threat to Aquaria's traditions."

Sophia's face fell, but she quickly masked her feelings. "Do you know who's leading them?"

Kael nodded, his jaw tightening. "An officer. Someone I trusted."

Kael didn't wait for Sophia's answer. He was already moving, his steps purposeful and his mind focused on what needed to be done. The officer-Commander Jarek-had been with Kael for years. They had fought side by side, weathered countless wars together. The thought of confronting him filled Kael with a mix of rage and regret.

He found Jarek in the training yard, barking orders at a group of trainees. The sight was almost ridiculous, given what Kael now knew. Jarek turned as Kael neared, his expression shifting from surprise to something more guarded.

"Commander Kael," Jarek said, his tone carefully bland. "What brings you here?"

Kael's eyes burned with suspicion. "We need to talk. Now."

Jarek paused, then nodded, dismissing the recruits with a sharp gesture. They moved to a quieter area of the yard, the tension between them palpable.

"What's this about?" Jarek asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.

Kael didn't waste time. "The sabotage. The lost supplies. The guns that broke during training. I know you're behind it."

Jarek's face hardened, his eyes narrowing. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me," Kael growled, moving closer. "I've seen the reports. I've heard the tales. You've been gathering men against the Shark Clans, against Sophia. Against me."

Jarek's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Kael thought he might deny it again. But then the officer's shoulders straightened, his face defiant.

"You're damn right I've been gathering them," Jarek said, his voice rising. "The Shark Clans don't belong here. They're savages, and they'll turn on us the first chance they get. And Sophia? She's a surface person. She has no place in Aquaria's affairs."

Kael's hands clenched at his sides. "Sophia has done more for Aquaria than you ever will. And the Shark Clans are our friends. You don't have to like it, but you will respect it."

Jarek's laugh was bitter. "Respect? You think bringing outsiders into our ranks is strength? It's weakness, Kael. And it's going to get us all killed."

Kael's patience snapped. He grabbed Jarek by the neck, slamming him against the wall. The recruits in the yard froze, their eyes wide as they watched the fight.

"You've betrayed your oath," Kael said through gritted teeth. "You've put every soldier in this city at risk. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't drag you before the council right now."

Jarek sneered, defiant. "Because I'm not the only one. There are more of us, Kael. And no matter what you do, you can't stop us."

Kael's grip tightened, his anger boiling over. But before he could move, a voice cut through the tension.

"Kael, stop."

He turned to see Tharros standing at the edge of the yard, his golden eyes calm but demanding. Kael released Jarek, who stumbled but quickly recovered, his stubbornness intact.

"Get out of my sight," Kael growled. "And pray that I don't find you again."

Jarek glared at him, then turned and stalked away, the recruits parting to let him pass. Kael watched him go, his chest heaving with rage and frustration.

Later, Kael sat with Tharros in a private room, the weight of the day pressing heavily on him. He recalled the confrontation, his voice laced with bitterness.

"I trusted him," Kael said, his hands curled into fists. "I trusted all of them. How could I have been so blind?"

Tharros studied him for a moment before speaking. "Leadership isn't about being perfect, Kael. It's about making hard choices and sticking by them. You've done that. And you'll need to keep doing it, even when it feels impossible."