Rising Tides [Klance Ver]

Chapter 11: Whispers in the Tides

The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the streets of Aqualis, casting dancing shadows across the bustling city. It was the night of the festival, an event celebrating the unity and harmony of the merfolk. The usually serene currents of the underwater kingdom were alive with laughter, music, and vibrant colors. Every corner of the city had been adorned with bioluminescent flowers and intricate coral sculptures, the shimmering lights reflecting off the merfolk's scales as they twirled in time with the music. Lance swam slowly through the crowds, taking in the beauty of the celebration. His eyes searched for one person in particular—Keith. It hadn't been easy convincing him to attend the festival. Keith always carried himself with such an air of responsibility and burden that he rarely allowed himself to enjoy anything resembling fun.

But tonight, Lance had made it his mission to change that.

He spotted Keith standing near the edge of the gathering, his dark fins and tail blending into the shadows. The prince's usual stoic expression remained fixed, but there was something more guarded about him this evening, as though the festivities unsettled him. Lance drifted closer, his heartbeat quickening as he neared the distant figure. Keith's dark hair swayed gently in the current, his purple-tinged fins catching the light in a way that made them shimmer momentarily. He stood alone, watching the dancing couples with an unreadable expression.

"Keith," Lance called softly, his voice cutting through the gentle hum of music. Keith turned, his gaze locking onto Lance, those deep eyes filled with their usual quiet intensity.

"What is it?" Keith asked, his voice measured, though the slightest hint of curiosity flickered in his tone.

Lance hesitated for a moment, suddenly feeling self-conscious. The idea of asking Keith to dance seemed absurd now that he was standing before him, but something inside urged him forward.

"I was thinking," Lance began, shifting awkwardly, "this festival is about unity, right? A time for everyone to come together, relax a little. So... how about you share a dance with me?"

Keith's brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "A dance?"

Lance shrugged, trying to play it off. "Yeah, just one. It might be good for you to loosen up a bit. You've been carrying the weight of Aqualis on your shoulders nonstop."

Keith's gaze remained steady on him, unreadable. For a long moment, he didn't respond, and Lance feared he might have overstepped. But then, Keith sighed softly.

"I'm not exactly one for dancing."

"That's okay," Lance said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'm not very good at it either."

Keith gave him a long, considering look before finally nodding. "One dance. Nothing more."

Lance's heart skipped a beat as Keith stepped closer. The music around them was soft, melodic, and they floated together in the gentle currents of the water. Lance placed a hand gently on Keith's shoulder, feeling the coolness of his skin under his fingertips, and Keith rested a hand on Lance's waist, his touch hesitant but firm. For the first time since they had met, the tension between them seemed to melt away. It was just the two of them in this moment, moving in sync with the soft sway of the ocean's current. As they danced, Lance couldn't help but notice how natural it felt to be close to Keith like this. Keith, who had been so distant and guarded, now seemed more open, more present. The coldness that had once defined him seemed to fade, replaced by something warmer, more vulnerable. But before Lance could say anything, the festive atmosphere around them abruptly shifted. The lights dimmed, and the music faltered. The water itself grew colder, the once gentle currents now swirling with an eerie unease.

Keith immediately stiffened, his senses on high alert. Lance turned to see what had caused the sudden change, and his heart dropped. Emerging from the shadows at the edge of the city was a figure unlike anything Lance had ever seen.

It was a Thalassian.

The creature's body was twisted and contorted from the immense pressure of the deep sea. Its fins were long and jagged, sharp spikes protruding from its tail and arms. The dark, almost black coloration of its scales was interrupted by eerie bioluminescent patterns that flickered across its body. Its blind, milky-white eyes glowed faintly, and its sharp teeth and claws gleamed menacingly in the dim light. Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd as the Thalassian swam toward the center of the gathering, its movements slow but purposeful. The festival's joyful atmosphere had been completely replaced by an overwhelming sense of dread. Keith stepped forward, placing himself between the Thalassian and the rest of the merfolk. His posture was tense, his expression unreadable once again, but Lance could see the intensity in his eyes.

"What do you want?" Keith demanded, his voice cold and commanding.

The Thalassian bared its sharp teeth in what could only be described as a twisted grin. Its voice was deep, gurgling, as though it had spent centuries in the crushing depths of the abyss. "I bring a message," it rasped. "The time of reckoning is upon you. The Thalassians have not forgotten."

Keith's eyes narrowed. "You were banished long ago. Your kind has no place here."

The Thalassian's grin widened, its claws drifting through the water as it spoke. "Banished, yes, but not forgotten. In the abyss, we have grown stronger. We have adapted, and we have waited for our moment to rise again." Its blind eyes seemed to fix on Keith, though it was impossible to tell where it was truly looking. "The surface-dwellers, the merfolk of Aqualis, all will fall before us."

A ripple of fear swept through the crowd, the murmur of voices growing louder. The merfolk had long believed the Thalassians to be gone, forgotten in the depths of the ocean, but now, with one standing before them, the reality of the threat was undeniable.

Keith remained unmoved, his posture still rigid with authority. "If you think Aqualis will fall easily, you are mistaken," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "United, we will defend our kingdom."

The Thalassian let out a chilling laugh, its bioluminescent markings flashing briefly in the dark water. "United? Perhaps. But for how long? Your strength will falter, and when it does, we will be there, ready to reclaim what is ours. You cannot stop what is coming, Prince of Aqualis."

Lance, standing just behind Keith, could feel the tension radiating from him. He knew Keith was trying to remain calm, to project strength in the face of the enemy, but Lance also sensed the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This was no ordinary threat—this was something ancient, something powerful.

"You've delivered your message," Keith said, his voice firm. "Now leave, before I make you."

The Thalassian's grin faded, replaced by a more menacing expression. Its spiny fins flared, and its claws flexed as if readying for a fight, but after a long, tense moment, it lowered its head slightly.

"As you wish, prince," it hissed, its voice dripping with malice. "But know this—when the war begins, there will be no mercy. Not for you, not for your people, and certainly not for your surface-dweller friend."

Lance felt a chill run down his spine at the creature's words, but before he could react, the Thalassian turned and disappeared back into the darkness, its twisted body fading into the cold abyss from which it had come. The silence that followed was heavy, the festival's joyful atmosphere shattered beyond repair. Merfolk whispered among themselves, their eyes wide with fear, while others looked to Keith for guidance.

Lance swam closer to him, unsure of what to say. "Keith, what does this mean? What are we going to do?"

Keith's expression remained hard, his jaw clenched tightly. "It means the war we feared is closer than we thought. The Thalassians are preparing to strike, and we need to be ready."

For a moment, Lance thought Keith would dismiss him, would pull away into the cold, distant persona he often wore. But instead, Keith turned to him, his dark eyes meeting Lance's with a rare flicker of vulnerability.

"I'm sorry," Keith said quietly, surprising Lance. "For the festival, for dragging you into this."

Lance shook his head quickly. "You don't need to apologize. I'm in this with you, no matter what happens."