The Siren's fate

Capítulo 1

Long ago, when the oceans whispered the songs of sirens across distant shores, they were feared as bringers of death. With voices like the winds of fate, they called men to the depths, where the seas claimed their souls. But as the world changed, and humanity grew wise with the passage of centuries, a new balance was required.

The seven Siren Elders each one from the Seven Seas, in their infinite wisdom, decreed that the old ways must end, not only for the sake of morality but for the survival of their kind. A sacred edict was woven into the waters, forbidding sirens from taking innocent lives, from bending human will with their enchanting songs, and from drawing humans into the eternal embrace of the ocean. The Seven Seas decree was a covenant to protect their existence, ensuring harmony between the realms of land and sea as the human world advanced.

In this modern age, the only humans who fall to the sirens' hands are those whose hearts are tainted with evil. The sirens, now silent guardians of a delicate balance, act as divine arbiters.

Their task is not one of vengeance, but of necessity—calling to the sea only those whose deeds disturb the world's peace. Though their songs no longer lure the innocent, their ancient power endures, serving a greater purpose.

The guilty are drawn to the depths, where the ocean swallows their corruption, and the waters return to calm. It is said that in their final moments, these souls hear the sirens' song—not as a melody of death, but of cleansing, a final requiem for a broken spirit and a world left in balance.

***

Iryen

Hyrem hummed with life, the energy of the solstice celebrations buzzing through the water like an ancient pulse. The capital, always magnificent, seemed to glow even brighter under the spell of the festivities. Banners of bio-luminescent algae draped the towering coral structures, their soft light casting a constellation of colors across the city. Iridescent sea creatures twirled and swirled above the streets, caught in the currents as if they were celebrating with us.

I swam slowly down the main street, my fingers trailing across the smooth, ancient coral walls. Each ridge told the story of Hyrem, of Aetheria. The city had stood for centuries, a symbol of strength and power beneath the waves, but today, even with all its splendor, there was an unsettling current beneath the surface. The hum of the city, though cheerful and alive, felt distant, almost muffled by the weight pressing down on my chest.

Around me, the streets were lined with vendors selling treasures pulled from the deepest parts of the sea—pearls in every shade imaginable, rare gemstones that glittered in the soft light, delicate shells arranged in intricate patterns. Music floated through the water, carried by the currents. Sea harps strummed soft, melancholic tunes, mixing with the laughter of the people. Schools of vibrant fish darted overhead, weaving through the banners as though they were part of the celebration.

Despite it all, I couldn't shake the tension twisting in my gut. The Solstice Festival had always been a time of joy and renewal, but this year, it felt different. Heavier. My coronation loomed just beyond the horizon, and with it, the crushing weight of expectation. The council's whispers, their doubts, echoed in my mind as I glanced toward the palace rising at the city's heart.

The palace, Hyrem's crown jewel, stood tall and proud, its crystalline spires glowing softly with a silvery light that reminded me of the moon's reflection on the surface. It used to fill me with pride, but now, all I felt was uncertainty. I could almost feel the eyes of the people on me, their silent expectations like a current pulling me in.

"Princess Iryen!" A child's voice jolted me out of my thoughts. I turned to see a small group of young Aetherians swimming toward me, their eyes wide with excitement, tails flicking rapidly through the water. In their hands, they held a delicate wreath of sea flowers, shimmering with the soft light of the bioluminescence.