In the dark depths of the ocean, far below where sunlight could reach, there was a cave whose walls shimmered faintly with a pale blue light. Outside the cave mouth stretched an endless black void, the crushing deep sea held back by a glowing blue barrier that rippled softly like liquid glass.
"So hungry, so hungry, so hungry…"
A girl with long golden hair and a doll-like face sat curled on the ground, her arms wrapped around her knees as she muttered to herself.
"Astrid, be a good girl," said another voice gently. "Ethan will come for us. He'll save us, I promise."
The speaker was Lyla.
"Oh…" Astrid looked up at her, eyes dazed and uncertain, then nodded faintly.
"Astrid, why don't you sleep a little longer?" Lyla said softly, brushing her fingers through the girl's hair. "When you wake up…"
Her voice trailed off.
Without warning, a burst of milky-white light flared from Lyla's chest, as if a hidden star had suddenly ignited inside her. Her body trembled violently.
