The temple fell silent, the Stone dimming to a soft, steady glow. The scientist's shadow was gone, and Kael looked up at his parents with wide eyes.
"Did we win?" he asked.
Sia hugged him tightly. "We did, sweetheart. Together."
Anthony placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. "And now, it's time to go home."
As they left the temple, the weight of the past lifted, leaving them with a renewed sense of
purpose.
Back in the Merclan, life returned to normal. Sia and Anthony focused on raising Kael, teaching him about the beauty and responsibility of their world.
Kael grew into a kind and courageous young man, loved by the Merclan and respected by all. The legacy of the Stone faded into legend, its power dormant but its lessons enduring.
Sia and Anthony found joy in the small moments—laughing with Kael, swimming through glowing reefs, and holding each other as the currents whispered around them.