We Breathe Water, You Breathe Lies

Page 15

    The water around them shimmered, and an eerie silence fell as the guardians' presence grew stronger. But instead of the reassurance they sought, an echoing voice reverberated through the ruins, filled with disdain.

"Foolish mermaids!" a booming voice thundered, rippling through the water like a tidal wave. "You dare disturb us again? Your desperation is amusing."

Elara and the other mermaid exchanged horrified glances. The guardians, once revered as powerful protectors of the ocean, now seemed more like petulant deities. "We seek your help!" the other mermaid pleaded, her voice trembling as the shadows of the guardians loomed larger.

"Help?" the voice scoffed, a disdainful laugh bubbling through the depths. "What have we to gain from you? We offered our aid once, and what changed? Nothing! Your kind continues to ruin the seas, and you expect us to intervene in your petty squabbles?"

Elara felt a surge of anger. "We're not the same as before! We can't stand idly by while humans destroy everything we hold dear!"

"Silence!" the guardians bellowed, the force of their fury sending tremors through the ruins. "You are nothing but a blip in the vastness of the ocean, insignificant and naive. We will not be bothered by your cries for help any longer. Find your own way to deal with your problems!"

With that, the guardians' presence faded, leaving behind a heavy silence that hung in the water like a shroud. Elara's heart sank, anger boiling within her. She felt utterly defeated, yet the fire of determination flickered in her chest.

"Damn them!" she spat, fists clenching. "They could have helped us, and yet they choose to ignore our plight. What do we do now?"

The other mermaid's expression hardened, her resolve strengthening. "We can't give up. We need to come up with a new plan, one that doesn't rely on their indifference. There has to be another way to protect our pod from the threat of humans."

Elara nodded, her mind racing. "We'll find a way. We have the relic, and it's time we put its power to use. We'll gather our allies and build a strategy. If the guardians won't help us, then we'll take matters into our own hands."

With newfound determination, they swam away from the ruins, leaving behind the shattered stone and the echoes of the guardians' contempt. The ocean stretched before them, vast and unforgiving, but Elara felt a renewed sense of purpose. They would not let their home be destroyed without a fight.