As Ruisu descended, schools of glowing leviathans twisted beneath the ocean waves, illuminating the coral cities below. The trio landed on a floating platform formed of iridescent sea-glass.
They were met by guards dressed in flowing robes made of kelp-fiber and pearl, bearing tridents that shimmered with spiritlight. Their language was melodic and fluid—completely alien.
Yuwen stepped forward confidently and began speaking in Iskynian:
> "Vaen selaros, en'shul Kai-Mare. Qingsai yul'Soulkindled."
(Peace upon your waters, noble tidecallers. Qingsai, bearer of soulflame, seeks the blessing of your courts.)
The guards stared in awe.
One elder priestess with seafoam hair raised her hand. "The Soulkindled… in our tides again?" she whispered.
An escort formed immediately, and Qingsai, Sandora, and Yuwen were led through great glassy tunnels filled with sea-life and spirit jellyfish. All around them, water flowed unnaturally—alive, as if the ocean itself was watching.
At the heart of Corathal stood the Tidecaller Sanctum, carved into a reef that pulsed like a heart.
There, a voice awaited him.
> "Welcome, Soulkindled. The Waters remember you… but will you remember them?"
The chapter closes as a figure cloaked in sea-crystal steps forward—Mist-Speaker Selari, the one chosen to test Qingsai's worth in the way of water.