Morning hit her like a wave.
Not the gentle kind—the heavy, dragging pull of a tide that had decided she needed to be awake yesterday. Zanya groaned, rolled out of bed, and tugged on a swimsuit before she could convince herself to stay put.
A swim. She needed a swim.
The dream still clung to her like mist—moonlight, breath in the dark, a voice whispering 'Find me' Her skin tingled, her heart uneasy. Only one place ever reset her properly. The ocean.
The beach was nearly empty at sunrise—soft pink light, cool sand underfoot, and the hush of waves crawling up the shore. The moment Zanya stepped into the surf something inside her cracked open.
Warmth spilled through her. Not heat—recognition.
As if the ocean inhaled sharply and whispered, 'You.'
Zanya froze ankle-deep in water.
" … okay, that's not normal."
A ripple fanned out around her legs, too symmetrical to be accidental. The tide tugged gently, encouraging—almost coaxing. She waded deeper.
Salt filled her lungs like incense; the world sharpened. She could feel the water's tiny pushes and eddies, its moods. The Sea-Favored sensation from the Tolkien trait thrummed in her bones: 'the sea notices its own.'
When she dove under, the connection amplified.
Out past the breakers, the water thinned along her left side—pressure shifted—and a small spiraling current formed beneath her.
Not a whirlpool. Not a spell. Just a gentle, perfect spiral that seemed to follow her.
Zanya broke the surface and laughed, breathless. "Okay. That wasn't me."
No flare of mer-magic, no starburst of power—this was resonance. The ocean responding to her like a tuning fork.
A shiver crawled up her spine.
"Something out here knows me," she said, half to the water, half to herself. The ocean answered with a soft, approving hiss.
A chime pulsed in the back of her skull—deeper than the System pings she'd gotten used to, like sonar.
[HIDDEN TRAIT REVEALED]
[SALTBORN SOUL — Stage 1]
[Effects Unlocked:
• Heightened ocean intuition
• Enhanced tidal awareness
• Passive moon sensitivity (low)
• Dream-connection: active]
Zanya blinked salt from her lashes. "Stages. Of course I have stages."
The System glimmered, unhelpful and cheerful.
The connection felt uncannily right—and terribly dangerous.
Back at school, damp hair and salt-scent clinging to her, the girls noticed immediately.
Emma's laugh thinned. Cleo's hands went to her lap as if checking them. Rikki's expression folded into suspicion.
"Were you… swimming?" Emma asked, voice small.
"Is that a crime?" Zanya replied, keeping her tone flat.
"You're acting weird," Rikki said finally.
Zanya wanted to say "So are you but I'm not getting involved," she said, because some rules were sacred.
Their relief was instant and delicate; they didn't relax completely—just enough that Zanya could tell she hadn't pushed the timeline off balance yet.
Still—the ocean—something else—pulled at her.
'You can't avoid it,' her instincts whispered. 'Saltborn.'
She clenched her jaw and tried not to lean into the tide of curiosity.
During lunch the System chimed in that helpful, business-like tone it used for obvious conveniences.
[ACTION RECOMMENDED]
[You have sufficient SC for a practical support item.
Current Balance: 278,050SC]
[Available:
- Animal Crossing — Seashell Compass (Support Item)
Cost: 1,200 SC
Function: Passive directional aid in coastal waters; enhances environmental reading of currents and tides. Non-magical; crafted with island techniques and natural materials.]
Zanya felt irritated—she wanted to be in control—but the sea had other plans for her wallet.
"Fine," she grunted.
[PURCHASE CONFIRMED — Animal Crossing: Seashell Compass]
[New balance: 276,850SC]
A small, palm-sized shell appeared in her hand: pearly, iridescent, inset with a tiny carved arrow. When she held it, the shell gave a faint vibration, aligning subtly with the nearest directional pull of the water.
She slipped it into her pocket. The nervousness in her chest quieted to a manageable edge.
"Useful," she admitted.
The System chirped as if proud.
---
That night, exhaustion pulled her under like a net.
Moonlight again. Water again. The glow of something ancient, far below.
A heartbeat through the deep:
"Find me…"
Clearer this time. Closer. Stronger.
A tidal ache wrapped around her ribs.
'Follow the current.'
She woke up with salt on her tongue and the ocean still whispering her name.
The System pinged one last time before dawn.
[MISSION UNLOCKED: FOLLOW THE CURRENT
Objective: Approach Mako Island (recon).
Reward: Labyrinth — Crystal Orb (Navigation Aid / Vision Catalyst)]
Zanya stared at the ceiling, pulse quick.
"Oh no," she whispered.
Canon was approaching—and the tide was rising.