The days following the final battle were marked by a profound stillness—a stark contrast to the violence and chaos that had defined their lives for so long. The mansion, once a symbol of Victor's power and control, was quiet now. It had become a place of healing, not only for Nereus but for Victor, too.
Nereus's shoulder wound was slowly healing, and every day he felt stronger. The magic of the ocean had accelerated his recovery, but the emotional scars—those took longer to mend. Despite everything, Nereus found peace in the newfound freedom they both shared. Victor had turned his back on the empire, a decision that left ripples across the criminal underworld, but it was one he didn't regret.
One morning, with the sun rising high over the horizon, Nereus found himself standing on a hill just outside the mansion. The breeze carried the scent of saltwater from the ocean in the distance, and it made him smile. It reminded him of home, but there was no longer the urgent need to return to the depths. His home had become something else now—someone else.
Victor approached silently, his presence grounding and comforting as he stood beside Nereus, his hands tucked in his pockets. His expression was calm, though a slight smile played at the corner of his lips.
"You've been quiet these past few days," Victor said, glancing at him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Are you thinking about going back to the ocean?"
Nereus shook his head, his gaze never leaving the horizon. "I think about it sometimes... but not the way I used to. The ocean was my whole world once. I never thought I'd belong anywhere else. But now... now it feels like that was another life."
Victor's eyes softened. "You don't have to make any decisions now. You've been through a lot. We both have."
Nereus turned to face him, his heart swelling with gratitude and affection. "I'm not going anywhere without you, Victor. My world is with you now."
For a moment, Victor looked taken aback, as if he hadn't fully believed Nereus would stay. But then his expression melted into something softer, more open. "I never imagined I'd have someone like you by my side. You've given me a chance to live a different life, Nereus. One I didn't think I deserved."
Nereus reached out, taking Victor's hand in his own. "We deserve this, Victor. After everything we've been through, we deserve to find happiness."
Victor exhaled deeply, nodding. "You're right."
The world around them was still, as if nature itself was holding its breath, waiting to see what they would do next. The weight of the past had been lifted, but there was still an undeniable uncertainty about the future. Nereus felt it in the pit of his stomach—he could sense that something was on the horizon, something bigger than either of them could predict.
"Where do we go from here?" Nereus asked, his voice quiet but steady.
Victor turned toward the horizon, his jaw set with quiet determination. "Wherever we want. We're not bound by the past anymore. We can leave the city, disappear if we want to. Live a life free from all of this."
Nereus looked at him with wide eyes, the thought of such freedom thrilling him. "Really? Just the two of us?"
Victor's smile widened. "Just the two of us. We'll go wherever you want—whether it's the ocean or somewhere else. No more battles. No more running."
A warmth spread through Nereus's chest. The idea of starting fresh, of leaving behind the bloodshed and pain, was like a dream.
He had never imagined that he and Victor could have such a future, but now it seemed within reach."I like the sound of that," Nereus said softly, stepping closer to Victor.
"But I don't want to decide just yet. Let's just take it one day at a time."Victor nodded in agreement, his eyes glimmering with something close to relief.
"One day at a time sounds good."As they stood together on the hill, watching the ocean glisten under the morning sun, Nereus realized that this was what peace felt like.
It wasn't a lack of danger or uncertainty, but a shared understanding that they could face whatever came their way together.For so long, Nereus had been searching for where he belonged. He had thought it was in the ocean, among the waves and coral.
But now, he realized that belonging wasn't about a place—it was about the people you choose to share your life with.Victor, the man who had once ruled through fear, had opened his heart. And Nereus, the curious merman who had stumbled into his world, had found his place.
As they stood together, side by side, looking out into the horizon, they knew that whatever came next, they would face it together.
And that was enough.