When he spoke, his voice carried the authority of someone who had seen enough futures to know which ones were worth fighting for.
"I understand your wishes, Grandfather. The guilt you carry, the weight of their deaths..I won't minimize that or tell you it wasn't real, wasn't devastating."
He moved closer, the water parting around him with unnatural ease.
"But let me tell you something about the enemies who did this to your people. They still exist. They still laugh about this victory. They still tell stories and narratives about how they broke the great Thalsian, how they destroyed his precious underwater kingdom."
Thalsian's head rose slightly, something dangerous flickering in his ancient eyes.
