Elias returned to the mainland, but he could not forget the dark mermaid. Night after night, he thought of her, and each thought filled him with longing. He knew there was a way to free her, a way to sever the chains that bound her to the Abyss.
The legend of the Dark Mermaid was not a myth—it was a curse.
Arista's ancestors had made a pact with the ancient sea gods, binding their royal bloodline to the deep. In exchange for power and control over the seas, they gave up their freedom. Arista was the last of her kind, the last to carry the curse, and unless she broke it, she would remain bound to the Abyss forever.
Prince Elias, in his desperation, sought the counsel of a sorcerer. The old man spoke of an ancient spell, one that could sever the bond between the mermaid and the Abyss. But there was a price to pay.
"A heart for a heart," the sorcerer muttered. "To free her, you must give what you most cherish, what you hold dear. Only then will the chains be broken."
Elias did not hesitate. He loved her, and he would give anything to see her free. But he did not know the true cost of his choice