The first thing Thalren heard was the sound of waves.
Gentle. Slow. Peaceful.
Very different from the violent storm that had swallowed the ship the night before.
His eyes slowly opened as sunlight warmed his face. For a moment, everything was blurry. The sky above him was bright blue, and white clouds drifted calmly across the horizon.
He sat up suddenly.
The memory came back like a crashing wave.
The storm.
The monster.
The ship breaking apart.
"Father…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
Thalren quickly looked around. He was lying on a quiet beach surrounded by soft golden sand. Tall palm trees swayed in the wind behind him, and the calm ocean stretched endlessly in front of him.
But the ship was gone.
There were no sailors.
No broken planks.
No sign that the terrible battle had ever happened.
Only the endless sea remained.
Thalren slowly stood up, his legs shaking slightly. His clothes were still damp from the ocean, and grains of sand clung to his cloak.
"How… did I get here?"
He clearly remembered sinking into the deep water.
He should have drowned.
Yet somehow, he was alive.
As he tried to remember what happened, a faint warmth spread across his chest.
Thalren looked down.
The black scale-shaped crystal necklace still hung around his neck.
But something was different.
The crystal was glowing faintly.
The boy stared at it in confusion.
"Was it always like this…?"
Before he could think further, a voice suddenly echoed from behind him.
"Well, well… looks like the sea didn't claim you after all."
Thalren spun around immediately.
Standing near the palm trees was an old man.
He had long white hair tied behind his head and a thick beard that reached his chest. His clothes were simple, but his posture was straight and powerful.
Despite his age, his eyes were sharp.
The old man studied Thalren carefully.
"You're lucky, boy," he said. "The ocean usually doesn't return what it takes."
Thalren hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Did you save me?"
The old man chuckled softly.
"No. The sea brought you here itself."
He walked closer, examining the boy.
"You washed up on this island early this morning. Completely unconscious."
Thalren lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you… for helping me."
The old man waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't mention it."
He then looked toward the ocean.
"But I am curious about something."
His eyes narrowed.
"What kind of storm throws a child across half the sea and leaves him alive?"
Thalren remained silent.
He didn't know how to explain what had happened.
Would anyone even believe him?
The old man seemed to notice his hesitation.
"Well," he sighed, "no need to force it. You'll speak when you're ready."
He turned and began walking back toward the trees.
"Come with me."
Thalren blinked.
"Where?"
"To my house, of course," the old man replied casually. "You can't survive on this island alone."
The boy hesitated for a moment before following him.
They walked through a small forest of palm trees until a simple wooden cabin appeared between the trees.
It wasn't large, but it looked sturdy.
The old man opened the door and stepped inside.
"Sit."
Thalren obeyed quietly.
The man placed a bowl of warm soup in front of him.
"Eat first. Questions later."
Thalren didn't realize how hungry he was until the smell reached him.
Within minutes, the bowl was empty.
The old man watched him silently.
After a while, he finally spoke.
"So tell me, boy…"
"What's your name?"
Thalren looked up.
"Thalren."
The old man nodded.
"I'm Kael."
For a moment, silence filled the small cabin.
Then Kael suddenly asked a strange question.
"Do you hate the ocean?"
Thalren froze.
The memory of the monster and the broken ship flashed through his mind.
The ocean had taken his father.
His home.
Everything.
But after a long moment, he shook his head.
"No."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Thalren looked toward the open window where the ocean was visible in the distance.
"Because the ocean didn't kill them."
"The monster did."
A faint smile appeared on the old man's face.
"Interesting answer."
He stood up slowly.
"Then tell me, Thalren…"
"Do you want the strength to face monsters like that one?"
Thalren's eyes widened.
His hands tightened into fists.
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
Kael studied him carefully.
Then he nodded.
"Good."
He turned toward the door.
"Because if you stay here…"
"I'll train you."
Thalren blinked in shock.
"Train me?"
Kael looked back at him with a small grin.
"Boy, if you truly want to challenge the ocean one day…"
"You'll need to become far stronger than you are now."
Outside the cabin, the endless sea shimmered beneath the sunlight.
And for the first time since the storm, Thalren felt something new rising within him.
Hope.