The day's overcast sky hung heavy, threatening rain. Mira stood at the edge of the cliff, looking out over the endless expanse of ocean. The wind tugged at her hair, and the waves crashed against the rocks below in a rhythm that seemed to echo her racing heart. She had been drawn to the sea for as long as she could remember, but today, the pull was stronger than ever. It was as though the ocean itself was calling to her, reaching out with unseen fingers.
Her hand slipped into the pocket of her jacket, where the stone lay, warm against her fingers. She pulled it out, staring at the smooth surface, the faint markings that shimmered in the dull light. It had been a day since she found the stone, and its presence in her life felt like more than just a coincidence. Every time she touched it, it felt as though something was stirring deep inside her—a connection to something ancient, something hidden beneath the surface of the world.
She glanced over her shoulder, but the house was still a distant silhouette against the trees. Her aunt was gone again—Ethel was often out gathering supplies, leaving Mira to her own devices. Mira knew her aunt was always busy, always working. There was little time for them to connect, and it had been that way for as long as Mira could remember. But it felt like something was shifting now. The island, the sea, even the very air—everything seemed to be drawing her in, beckoning her toward something she didn't yet understand.
The tide was low today, revealing the rocky stretch of beach that curved toward the lagoon. Mira had been coming here more often, finding some kind of peace in the solitude, in the whispers of the sea. But there was something different today. The air felt thick, charged with an energy that made her skin tingle. She couldn't shake the feeling that something important was about to happen.
Her feet moved of their own accord, carrying her down the path toward the shore. As she stepped onto the sand, her gaze shifted over the water. It was still and smooth, but there was an underlying current of motion beneath the surface, a restlessness she could feel deep in her bones. The hum of the waves seemed louder now, almost like a song that was just out of reach.
Mira stopped at the edge of the lagoon, staring into the depths of the water. The stone in her hand grew warmer, and she could feel the pull—stronger than ever. She lowered herself to the sand, feeling the coolness of the earth beneath her legs as she sat cross-legged, her fingers still wrapped around the stone. Her heart beat steadily in her chest as she closed her eyes, the sounds of the ocean filling her senses.
The wind carried the faintest whisper, and for a moment, Mira thought she heard something—an ancient, melodic hum that seemed to come from the depths of the ocean. Her eyes shot open, and the world seemed to shift around her. The lagoon rippled, and something large moved beneath the surface. She leaned forward, her breath caught in her throat, as a figure began to rise from the water.
It wasn't a person. It wasn't even a creature. It was something… different. A being, made of water and light, rising from the depths like a ghost of the sea itself. Mira's heart pounded in her chest as the figure's form solidified, a shape that flickered in and out of focus like the waves themselves. Its eyes—dark, endless—met hers, and she felt something stir deep within her soul, a sensation she couldn't put into words.
There was no sound, no spoken words, but Mira understood. The figure's gaze was filled with knowledge—an ancient wisdom that spoke directly to her heart. It was as if the sea had been waiting for her, had been waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.
You belong to the depths.
The thought washed over her, clear and undeniable. She didn't just belong to the land or the island. She belonged to the sea. The pull she had always felt was more than a connection—it was a part of her, an ancient bond that tied her to something far greater than herself.
Her fingers tightened around the stone, and she felt a warmth radiate from it, as though the stone itself was responding to the figure in the water. The markings on its surface began to glow, brightening as the figure's presence seemed to intensify. Mira's breath caught in her throat as the figure moved closer, its form shifting like liquid light.
But before she could react, the figure began to fade, sinking back into the water with a fluid motion. The lagoon settled, the ripples fading as quickly as they had appeared. The air, thick with the energy of the encounter, began to calm, and the sea returned to its normal, rhythmic motion.
Mira sat still, her mind racing as she tried to process what had just happened. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but there was no fear, only a sense of awe and wonder. The sea had revealed itself to her. It had shown her a truth she hadn't known, a truth that tied her to this island, to her mother's legacy, and to something far beyond her understanding.
Before she could fully gather her thoughts, she heard the crunch of footsteps behind her. Her aunt's voice called out, sharp and filled with concern.
"Mira, what are you doing here?"
Mira turned slowly, her gaze lingering on the now-calm water. The stone was still warm in her hand, its markings glowing faintly in the fading light.
She didn't answer. She didn't need to. The sea had already spoken.