Ocean Kisses

Treasured

XB pov

I don’t plan on keeping Keralis forever—just a week or two, maybe. Long enough for him to see it, to explore the monument with me. He’s curious, that much is clear. I could see it in his eyes every time he looked at the necklace, like he could sense there was something more to it, something calling him.

I didn’t force him to come with me. Not really. I just… nudged him in the right direction. It’s not every day you meet someone who makes you feel like this—someone you trust so quickly, so instinctively. So, I gave him the choice, even if he might not realize it yet. The necklace was my bond, my invitation. All he had to do was follow it, and he did.

The monument is no ordinary place. It’s vast, ancient, and alive in its own quiet way. The ocean hums through its halls, and light dances along the walls in shifting patterns only it can understand. It’s my home, but it’s also more than that. It’s a part of me, a piece of my soul. And for the first time in a long time, I wanted to share it—with him.

Keralis is still getting used to it all, though. When we first arrived, his eyes went wide with wonder, like a child seeing the stars for the first time. He’s spent hours exploring, touching the stone, watching the glow of the sea lanterns that line the halls. I haven’t seen him this relaxed since I met him—like all the weight he carries on land has been lifted. It’s strange, but it makes me feel... lighter, too.

He’s sleeping now, curled up in one of the makeshift spaces I set up for him. The monument isn’t built for comfort, but I’ve done what I can. It’s quiet here, save for the distant sound of the water pressing against the walls. I sit a few feet away, watching the shells on his necklace grow ever so slowly. The bond is strengthening, and while I’m relieved, I can’t deny there’s a part of me that feels guilty.

I know I’m being selfish, keeping him here. This isn’t his world, not really, and I don’t belong in his either. But I couldn’t help myself. Just for a little while, I wanted him to see things the way I see them. To understand. Maybe, by the time he leaves, he’ll forgive me for this... and maybe I’ll find a way to forgive myself.

How he was breathing underwater? A conduit. I had created it specifically for him, though I made sure it extended enough for his friends too, should they decide to come find him—or visit him. It wasn’t hard to make; I’ve built conduits before, and I knew it would help him feel safe. Breathing underwater isn’t natural for surface dwellers, after all, and I didn’t want him panicking.

Maybe I should’ve left a note. It would’ve been the polite thing to do, right? That’s what land people do—they leave messages, tell each other where they’ve gone. But I don’t know the surface world well enough, let alone the written language. I’m not good with words, and I can barely string together a proper sentence on paper. Even if I had tried, it would’ve been a mess, hardly readable.

Besides, I didn’t think about it at the time. I just acted. I didn’t want to give him—or myself—the chance to back out.

Still, as I watch him now, drifting peacefully in the soft, blue-lit waters of the monument, I wonder if I made a mistake. I didn’t take him. I gave him a choice, whether he realized it or not. The necklace called to him, pulled him here, and I gave him a way to breathe in my world. To live here, even for just a little while.

But his friends won’t see it that way. If they’re looking for him now—and I’m sure they are—they’ll think I’ve taken him against his will. I can almost hear the accusations already. Why did you take him? Where did you go? What have you done?

And maybe… maybe I should’ve been clearer. Maybe I should’ve left some sign for them. But it’s too late for that now. All I can do is hope they follow the conduit’s path and see that he’s safe.

Because I would never hurt him. I just wanted to share something real with him—my world, my home. And if they find us, well… I’ll face whatever comes. For now, though, I’ll let him rest, surrounded by the hum of the ocean and the pulse of the monument’s quiet magic. It’s peaceful here, and for once, so am I.

I heard it before I saw it—the low hum of a motorboat cutting across the water's surface above the monument. The sound sent a ripple of unease through me, the way unnatural things always do. I knew what it meant. Someone was looking for us. For him. I tightened my grip on Keralis's arm, gently but firmly, and began pulling him deeper into the safety of the monument.

Four figures broke the water’s surface shortly after. Divers. The beams of their flashlights pierced through the murky blue, searching, slicing through the calm that surrounded us. I couldn’t tell who they were from this distance, not yet, and I wasn’t willing to take chances. I pulled Keralis in closer, guiding him to a small alcove in the monument where the conduit’s magic pulsed strongest—our refuge. The glow of the conduit bathed us in light as I positioned him behind me, my own body acting as a shield.

If these weren’t his friends, I wouldn’t let them take him.

Keralis stirred slightly, blinking in the pale blue light. He looked up at me, confusion flickering in his half-awake gaze. “XB?” he mumbled, voice muffled by the water.

“Stay here,” I said quietly, my tone firm but calm. I kept my eyes on the approaching beams of light as they grew closer, cutting through the gloom like knives. The divers were searching carefully, methodically, their forms distorted by the water. My fingers curled slightly at my sides.

Keralis shifted behind me, and I felt his hand brush against my arm—a silent question. “It’s okay,” I murmured, though I wasn’t sure if it was more for his comfort or my own.

The divers were getting closer now, their outlines taking form in the shadows. I could just make out the glint of gear and tanks, the bubbles rising steadily to the surface. My gaze narrowed. It wasn’t time to act yet, but if they made the wrong move…

I wouldn’t let anyone take him from here. Not until I knew who they were.

I didn’t notice at first, too focused on the divers cutting through the water, but Keralis slipped out from behind me. It wasn’t until I turned slightly, catching the faint movement of him darting across the alcove, that I realized he was up to something. My first instinct was to stop him, to pull him back to safety, but he wasn’t acting panicked—he was focused.

The little device he’d brought with him—some sort of diver's radio—was clutched in his hands as he fiddled with it, carefully tuning the frequencies. The soft static buzzed faintly in the water as he adjusted the dials, his face scrunched in concentration.

I tilted my head, still shielding him, though now more out of curiosity than anything. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice slightly distorted through the water.

Keralis didn’t look up, his fingers working quickly over the radio’s controls. “Shh. Gotta figure out what channel they’re on,” he murmured, his voice calm but tinged with quiet urgency. “If it’s my friends, I can hear them. If it’s not… we’ll know.”

I blinked. It was… clever. A lot more clever than I gave him credit for in the moment. While I’d been preparing to face down the divers, Keralis had already started thinking ahead, trying to communicate—to gather information. I couldn’t help but smile faintly, shaking my head.

“You’re smarter than you look, land-dweller,” I muttered, crossing my arms as I hovered near him.

He shot me a crooked smile, clearly proud of himself. “Takes one to know one, fishy.”

The radio crackled to life then, and his expression turned serious again. A voice filtered through, warped slightly by the interference but still clear enough to hear.

“…any sign of them yet? Beef, you got anything down there?”

I saw the flash of recognition in Keralis’s eyes as he grinned triumphantly. “It’s them!” he whispered, though his excitement made it sound more like a shout.