Ocean Kisses

Guardians

keralis pov

As XB swam closer to our group, the soft light from the conduit danced across his features, illuminating his scales and fins in a way that made them shimmer like a living work of art. Even with his nervous movements and the tension in his body, he was breathtaking, effortlessly graceful in the water. But something about his expression tugged at my heart—he looked scared, more vulnerable than I’d ever seen him.

Still, I couldn’t ignore the pressing questions swirling in my mind. “princess,” I started, my voice as calm and steady as I could make it. “What happened to the other guardians? Why is it so quiet here?”

His teal eyes flickered toward me for a brief moment before darting away. It was subtle, but I caught the way his tail swished slightly behind him, betraying his unease. Instead of answering, he let out a soft hum and glanced at the others. “You brought quite the group,” he said, his tone light, though the tension in his voice was hard to miss.

I frowned. That wasn’t like him. XB had always been straightforward with me, especially about the monument and its inhabitants. This—deflecting—was new, and it unsettled me. “You didn’t answer my question,” I pressed gently, trying not to sound accusatory. “Where are the guardians? It’s too quiet, even for this place.”

XB’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought he might actually answer. But then he shook his head, his fins twitching slightly. “It’s nothing to worry about,” he said, his voice carefully neutral. “The guardians are... elsewhere.”

“Elsewhere?” False chimed in, her skepticism cutting through the water. “That doesn’t sound reassuring.”

XB didn’t even look at her. His focus was locked on me, and for a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes—something that looked like regret. “Just trust me,” he said softly. “It’s better this way.”

I wanted to push him further, to demand answers, but the way he looked at me—so fragile, so haunted—made me stop. Instead, I nodded, though my chest felt heavy with the weight of unspoken words. “Alright,” I said quietly. “If you say so.”

XB’s shoulders seemed to relax slightly, and he gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod. But even as he tried to appear composed, I could feel the tension radiating off him, like the ocean itself was holding its breath. Whatever was going on, it was big—and he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.

As XB led us deeper into the monument, the water seemed to grow cooler, the dim light from another conduit casting strange, shifting shadows along the walls. The air felt heavier here, as if we were truly leaving the safety of the first conduit behind. My curiosity grew with every step—or rather, every gentle glide through the water—as I noticed there wasn’t just one additional conduit. There were several, their soft pulses creating an almost musical rhythm that reverberated through the chambers.

“What’s with all the conduits?” Cleo murmured, her voice slightly distorted by the water. “This isn’t normal, is it?”

XB glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. “They’re here for protection. The monument is... more complicated than you think.”

Before I could question what that meant, a distant sound echoed through the water, sharp and mechanical, shattering the quiet. It was faint at first, but unmistakable—the sound of a boat engine, accompanied by muffled voices. My heart sank as I realized the noise wasn’t coming from the monument but from above.

“The Coast Guard,” False said, her voice tight.

I turned to the group, my chest tightening with worry. “They’re inspecting the boat.” My mind immediately went to Xavier. He was up there, likely trying to figure out why no one had reported in.