"The sea calls me, San. It always will."
"Then I'll follow, even if it takes me to the depths."
Prince San finds solace by the sea, where he encounters Wooyoung, a cursed siren bound to the ocean's depths. But as their bond deepens, the ocean's wra...
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Wooyoung stirred, his head heavy and his vision blurry. He groaned softly, shifting in place, but something held him back. His wrists were bound tightly with what felt like strands of seaweed, their grip as unyielding as iron. He blinked, his surroundings slowly coming into focus—a cavernous chamber, illuminated by bioluminescent coral and the soft glow of the ocean's depths.
He turned his head and froze.
San was there, floating nearby, his body slack but alive. His skin, however, told a different story. A patch of shimmering scales spread across his forearm, their iridescent hues glinting faintly in the dim light.
"San..." Wooyoung whispered, his voice trembling.
"Ah, you're awake."
The voice was smooth and amused, echoing through the chamber. Wooyoung turned sharply to see Yeosang lounging on a coral throne, his golden eyes glowing with cruel satisfaction.
"You've been quite the thorn in my side, Wooyoung," Yeosang said, resting his chin on his hand. "But now, I have everything I need. Both of you, right here, where you belong."
Wooyoung glared at him, his voice cold. "Let him go, Yeosang."
Yeosang chuckled, leaning back lazily. "Let him go? Why would I do that? He's exactly where he's meant to be. Can't you see?" He gestured toward San, his smile widening. "The longer he stays underwater, the more he'll become what you are. A siren. A creature of the ocean. It's only a matter of time."
Wooyoung struggled against his bindings, his anger flaring. "You're wrong! He doesn't belong here!"
Yeosang raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And you do? What makes you think you're any different, Wooyoung? You were once human, too, weren't you?"
Wooyoung's jaw tightened, but he didn't reply.
A groan from San broke the tension. His eyes fluttered open, and he winced, his body feeling heavy and foreign. He glanced around, disoriented, before his gaze landed on Wooyoung.
"Wooyoung..." he murmured, his voice hoarse.
"I'm here," Wooyoung said quickly, his expression softening.
San's eyes darted to Yeosang, and his expression darkened. He struggled to push himself upright, ignoring the stiffness in his limbs. "You," he spat. "What do you want from me?"
Yeosang smiled, rising from his throne. "What I want is simple. I want you to accept your destiny, San. Embrace what the ocean has planned for you. Stop fighting it."
San clenched his fists, his voice rising. "No. I won't. If you want me to stop fighting, then face me. I challenge you to a duel."
Wooyoung's eyes widened in alarm. "San, no!"
San ignored him, his gaze locked on Yeosang. "If I win, you let us both go. If you win... I'll stay."
Yeosang's laughter echoed through the chamber, rich and mocking. "A duel? How quaint. Do you really think you stand a chance against me?"
"I don't care," San said fiercely. "I won't just sit here and let you decide my fate."
Wooyoung's voice entered San's mind, calm and pleading. "San, don't do this. He's too powerful. Let me handle this."
San glanced at Wooyoung, his expression softening for a moment. "I can't just sit by, Wooyoung. I have to try."
Wooyoung's mental voice was filled with frustration but also a deep, unwavering care. "You don't have to do this alone. Please, trust me."
San hesitated, but Yeosang's laughter interrupted the moment.
"Touching," Yeosang drawled. "But it doesn't matter. If you want a duel, I'll humor you. It will be fun to show you how powerless you really are."
