` The wind screamed across the sea as waves crashed against the splintered remains of a merchant ship. Rain blurred the horizon, and lightning lit the sky in brief flashes of silver. One final wave slammed into the deck. Then everything went dark.

`

` When consciousness returned, soft water lapped at the shore. The storm was gone, replaced by the quiet sound of seabirds and the distant rush of the tide. Warm sunlight filtered through drifting clouds, and the air smelled of salt and wildflowers.

`

` As Y/n slowly opened their eyes, they realized they weren't alone. Just beyond the rocks, half-hidden beneath the crystal-blue water, a figure watched in silence. Long hair floated with the current like strands of sea silk, and shimmering scales glinted beneath the surface. Curious eyes met Y/n's for only a heartbeat before the figure disappeared beneath the waves. A splash echoed from the cove.