Ocean Kisses

Found You

XB pov:

I watched as Keralis’s expression lit up with recognition, and he greeted his friends with a cheer. The way he spoke to them, even with the strange names and words like “shishwammy” and “shish kabob” felt so relaxed, so familiar. It was clear that he was happy to see them.

Still, I hung back, swimming just out of earshot, letting them reconnect. I didn’t know these other people, so I wasn’t about to just swim in and introduce myself. They seemed important to Keralis, and that was enough for me to not draw attention. Besides, I didn’t want to distract him. I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about me just floating there, watching him interact with his friends from above the water.

I could hear their conversation as I drifted further, the voices muffled through the water. Keralis’s voice was the clearest, still excited but now more focused on the company he was keeping. I caught snippets of the others talking, one of them clearly asking Keralis about his disappearance and blaming me for kidnapping him I can tell that they were worried and I can tell that they were angry at me.

I could feel the tension in the water around me as I drifted further, trying to stay hidden, yet the voices carried clearly through the currents. Keralis’s excitement softened, and I could hear the worry in his friends’ voices. One of them, probably the one who sounded the most authoritative, was demanding answers, asking Keralis where he’d been and accusing me of... kidnapping him.

The word hit me like a sharp jolt, even though I knew it was coming. They didn’t know me, didn’t understand me or my intentions. They saw me as a threat, as someone who had taken their friend from them. I could hear the anger creeping into their voices, a sharp edge to the way they spoke.

“Where have you been, Keralis?” one of them asked, the tone a mix of frustration and concern. “We thought something happened to you. And now—this guy? What’s going on?”

It was clear that they had no idea what had truly happened. They were scared for Keralis, and I couldn’t blame them for that. But hearing them accuse me, it was like a weight pressing down on my chest. I hadn’t meant to upset anyone, I hadn’t meant to take Keralis away from them—I just... wanted to show him something different.

I clenched my fists, feeling a protective instinct flare up. Keralis had already explained to them about the situation; they should understand by now. But the more I listened, the more I realized they weren’t seeing the bigger picture. They didn’t understand the connection Keralis and I had formed, or the magic that had brought us here. They didn’t know the bond that was starting to grow between us.

I could feel my chest tighten with the weight of their accusations, but I couldn’t speak to defend myself. I couldn’t interrupt their conversation. All I could do was watch, listen, and hope that Keralis would be able to explain things in a way that would make them see the truth.

I had to trust him. He had to trust me. And hopefully, that would be enough.

keralis pov

As we ventured further into the monument, the low hum of the conduit seemed to echo off the ancient walls, filling the space with a strange energy. The glow from the conduit illuminated everything, but there was an almost oppressive silence in the water around us. It felt like the ocean was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Xisuma was the first to remove his helmet, and to my surprise, he took in a deep, relaxed breath, like he'd just stepped into a peaceful garden. The rest of the group hesitated, their hands trembling slightly as they reached for their helmets. There was a mix of curiosity and wariness in their movements, but they followed suit, taking off their masks one by one.

Beef was still eyeing the walls nervously, and I could tell he was trying to make sense of what was happening. I didn’t blame him; it was still a little strange, even to me.

“Is it... safe?” Beef asked, looking around at the imposing walls of the monument, clearly unsettled.

“Yeah, it’s safe,” I said, my voice quiet but confident, even though I wasn’t entirely sure myself. “The conduit here lets us breathe. We’ll be fine. But..." I trailed off, glancing around again. “Keep your wits about you. This place is... old, and it’s not unguarded.”

I scanned the area, looking for XB. I’d hoped he'd be here, maybe watching us from some hidden corner, but there was no sign of him. It made me uneasy.

I gave a quick look to the others, then zeroed in on False, who was already eyeing the conduit with obvious curiosity. I knew her well enough to recognize that look. “Don’t touch the conduit,” I said firmly, meeting her gaze. “It could make the guardians hostile. Trust me, you don’t want to mess with them.”

False hesitated, her hand hovering near the conduit, then she slowly pulled it back, giving me a small nod in acknowledgment.

““Guardians?” Beef asked, his voice tight with concern, his eyes wide. “What, like... sea monsters?”

“Sort of,” I replied with a wry smile, trying to lighten the mood. “They protect the monument. Not exactly monsters, but they’re fierce, and you don’t want to provoke them.” I paused for a moment, feeling the subtle shift in the water, like the guardians were already aware of our presence. “You should know about them, Beef. You’ve swum with me before down here…” I said, meeting his gaze with a straight face.

Beef’s face turned a shade redder, and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Oh yeah... I forgot. Whoops.” He chuckled nervously, clearly not thrilled by the reminder. He shot me an awkward grin, clearly trying to brush it off.

The woman with long hair, who I hadn’t yet learned the name of, was swimming gracefully around the monument. Her wide eyes flickered over every corner of the structure, clearly taking in all the details. She was more intrigued than nervous, which I appreciated—it was refreshing to see someone so eager to understand this place.

“So... this is what you meant by the heartbeat of the ocean?” she asked, her voice reverberating softly in the water as she glided closer to one of the monument’s walls. Her finger traced over the intricate stone carvings, her curiosity piqued.

I nodded, watching her. “Yeah. I don’t know exactly how, but it feels like this place pulses with life. The conduit... it’s what lets us breathe down here, but it’s also connected to something bigger. Something ancient. And we’re not the only ones who’ve noticed it.” My tone lowered, and I glanced around cautiously. “There are those who seek to control it. Some want to harness its power.”

She gave me a thoughtful look, her fingers still lingering over the walls. “How long have you known about this place?” she asked, clearly intrigued.

“A while,” I replied, a little evasively. “But not everything here is what it seems. I was... invited here. By the owner of the ocean monument.”

The woman—her name was Cleo, I realized, as she gave me a small nod of understanding—paused for a moment, her expression shifting slightly as if weighing my words. She glanced at the others, then back at me. “The owner?” she echoed. “Who is this owner?"

I hesitated, feeling the weight of the mystery pressing down on me. “Not exactly,” I said, my voice trailing off. “But... let’s just say I’ve been given access. And there’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye.”

Beef, still sheepish but clearly more comfortable now that the tension had eased, swam up beside me, looking over at Cleo. “You seem pretty calm for someone who’s underwater, not gonna lie. Not all of us are this chill.” He nudged her lightly, his voice playful but still with that slight nervous edge to it.

Cleo smiled faintly, her long hair drifting around her face like seaweed in the current. “I’ve always loved the ocean,” she said simply. “The water speaks to me in ways I can’t explain. It’s... peaceful.”

I smiled at her response, the calmness of it settling a little of the unease I still felt. “Good to have someone who’s not freaked out by all this.” I nodded toward the monument’s towering walls, the conduit in the center glowing softly. “Let’s keep moving. We’ve got a long way to go if we’re going to find what we’re looking for.”