Seventy years passed as swiftly as waves breaking on the shore.
Under Hai Zhong's reign, the seas knew an era of peace. The scars Veyrin left behind slowly healed, and the people, once shaken by betrayal, thrived under the steady rule of their king.
With Fu Ling at his side, calm where Hai Zhong was fierce, thoughtful where Hai Zhong was decisive, the realm had balance.
But time, unlike the sea, showed no mercy.
Hai Zhong's face, as sharp and unchanging as the coral cliffs, remained untouched by years. His bloodline kept him almost immortal, a sovereign bound to the tide. Beside him, however, Fu Ling bore the weight of years as any human would. His once luscious hair paled, his shoulders grew frailer, and lines touched the corners of his eyes.
Whispers spread in the palace long before Hai Zhong allowed himself to see the truth. The Tide Heart, a sacred bond that could tie two lives together, had never been shared between them.
