Fates Entwined

Chapter 35: Into the Deep

The ocean stretched out endlessly before Miri, its waves crashing against the jagged rocks along the shore. The sound was deafening, and the sheer power of the water left her awestruck—and terrified. She stood at the edge, her heart pounding as the salt spray kissed her face.

"I... I don't know if I can do this," Miri said, turning to Marina.

The Lady of Water stood serene and calm, her silver-blue gown flowing as if woven from the ocean itself. She offered Miri a reassuring smile. "Water tests the soul, not the body. You do not need to swim. The ocean will hold you if your heart is pure."

"But what if it isn't?" Miri asked, her voice trembling.

"Then you will learn something far more valuable than purity," Marina said, stepping closer. "You will learn truth. That is what water seeks—it gives purity but also asks for it. You, Miri, must dive into the ocean. It will ask you three questions. Answer them honestly, and it will return you to the shore."

Miri stared at the waves, her palms slick with sweat. "And if I lie?"

Marina's gaze softened. "If you lie, the water will know. It will reject you, and you will remain in its depths until you find the courage to face yourself."

Miri bit her lip, her fingers brushing the ring Kael had given her. "I don't understand. If I'm already honest, and my heart is pure, how will the water give me more purity?"

Marina chuckled softly, a sound like rippling waves. "You are clever, Miri. Purity of heart is not about perfection; it is about growth. The water does not seek to cleanse you but to restore something you have lost."

Miri's brow furrowed. "What could I have lost?"

"Dive, and you will find out." Marina gestured to the ocean.

Miri hesitated. "Wait, I can't swim! I need a vest or something—protection!"

Marina's smile widened. "It is not a swimming contest, Miri. Nothing will harm you in the water. Trust it. Trust yourself."

Taking a shaky breath, Miri stepped closer to the edge. The waves roared, daring her to take the leap. Her heart raced as she closed her eyes and whispered, "For my sister."

Then, she dove.

The water enveloped her instantly, cool and soothing, but not suffocating as she had feared. She opened her eyes and gasped—not with air but in wonder. She wasn't sinking or struggling; she was suspended in a serene expanse of blue, the light above her rippling like a dream.

A voice echoed around her, calm and resonant, like the ocean itself was speaking. "Miri, you seek to save someone, but first, you must face yourself. Answer these questions, and the ocean will guide you."

Miri nodded, her voice steady. "Ask me."

The first question resonated through the water, surrounding her. "What is your greatest fear about Aaron?"

Miri's chest tightened. She knew the answer but was afraid to say it out loud. Still, she forced herself to speak. "That he'll leave me. That he'll realize I'm not enough—that I'm too caught between two worlds, too broken for him to love."

The water pulsed gently, as if comforting her. "And do you believe this fear to be true?"

Miri hesitated, her hand curling into a fist. Then, she shook her head. "No. Aaron loves me. I see it in his eyes, in everything he does. It's my own doubt, not his."

The water swirled, its voice softer now. "You are learning, Miri."

The second question came, gentle but probing. "Why have you never sought the truth about your mother and father?"

Miri's throat tightened. She hadn't expected this. "I... I was afraid. I didn't even know before today although I always felt I was different. My father is a mortal I never knew, and my mother is an immortal I barely understand. I thought knowing their story might make me feel even more divided—like I don't belong anywhere."

The water's currents rippled around her. "And now?"

Miri took a deep breath, or at least she thought she did. "Now I know it doesn't matter where I come from. I'm both mortal and immortal, and that's what makes me strong. Their story is a part of me, but it doesn't define me. I define me."

The water hummed, a soothing sound that seemed to ease the ache in her chest.

The third and final question came, soft but piercing. "You made a promise to Risha's mother. Will you keep it, even if it costs you everything?"

Tears pricked Miri's eyes, mingling with the water around her. She thought of Risha, unconscious and fragile, her soul hanging in the balance. "Yes. I promised I'd protect Risha, no matter what. She's my sister—not by blood, but by heart. I'd give up everything to keep that promise."

The water stilled, silent for a moment. Then it spoke, its tone gentle and approving. "Your heart is pure, Miri. But it is not purity you lack—it is hope. You have lost hope in yourself, in your path, in the light ahead."

Miri's breath caught. "Hope?"

"Yes," the water said. "You carry the weight of fear, doubt, and guilt, and they have clouded your hope. But hope is not gone—it is simply waiting. Let us restore it to you."

The water glowed, surrounding her in a soft, golden light. It was warm and comforting, like a long-lost embrace. Miri felt the heaviness in her chest lift, replaced by a quiet, steady resolve.

When the light faded, she found herself back on the shore, Marina standing before her.

"You did well, Miri," Marina said, her voice full of warmth. "The ocean has given you back your hope. Hold onto it—it will guide you in the trials to come."

Miri looked out at the waves, her heart lighter than it had been in years. "Thank you," she whispered, turning to Marina. "I'll carry this hope with me."

Marina nodded, placing a hand on Miri's shoulder. "And now, your next trial awaits."

With renewed determination, Miri stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.