The peace that had settled over the Isle of Brine lasted for two weeks. Two perfect weeks of quiet mornings, shared meals, and evenings spent watching the sunset from the cabin.
Hugo had started to believe that this was his life now, simple and content, far from the chaos and danger that had brought him to this world. But that belief shattered on a morning that began like any other.
Hugo was outside the cabin, mending a section of fishing net that had torn during his last catch. Nerelle was in the tide pool, singing softly to herself as she combed through her hair with a piece of smooth shell. The sky was clear, the ocean calm, and everything felt right with the world.
Then the water began to churn. Hugo looked up, his instincts immediately on alert. The ocean near the shore was bubbling, the surface breaking apart as something large rose from the depths.
Not one thing, but many. Dark shapes emerged, moving with purpose toward the beach.
"Nerelle," Hugo called out, his voice tight. "Get inside."
Nerelle's head snapped toward the water, her eyes widening. "No. Hugo, wait. Don't attack them."
"Why not?" Hugo asked, already reaching for his fishing rod.
"Because they're my people," Nerelle said, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and worry.
"They're Thiren. The deep-sea dwellers."
Hugo paused, his hand hovering near the rod. He watched as the figures broke through the surface fully, revealing themselves. They were humanoid, tall and powerfully built, with skin that ranged from pale blue to deep turquoise.
Their eyes were large and luminous, adapted for seeing in the darkness of the deep ocean. They wore armor made from scales, coral, and each carried weapons that looked sharp and deadly.
There were six of them, moving in a tight formation as they approached the shore. The leader was a woman, taller than the others, with skin the color of storm clouds and hair that flowed like ink in water. Her eyes locked onto Nerelle, then shifted to Hugo, cold and assessing.
The group stopped at the water's edge, close enough to speak but far enough to react if things turned hostile. The leader stepped forward, her voice carrying across the beach with authority.
"Nerelle of the Silver Coral Colony. We have been searching for you."
Nerelle swam to the edge of the tide pool, her expression guarded. "Lady Scyra. I didn't expect to see you here."
Lady Scyra's gaze didn't waver. "Your colony was destroyed over a year ago. We thought you were dead."
"When word reached us that the Pearl of Tides had been recovered, we came to investigate." Her eyes shifted to Hugo, narrowing.
"And we find you here, with a human. Explain yourself."
Hugo felt the weight of those words. The tension in the air was thick, and he could see the way the other Thiren were watching him, hands resting on their weapons. They thought he was a threat, and he'd taken Nerelle against her will.
Before Hugo could speak, Nerelle pulled herself out of the tide pool, moving to stand, or rather balance on her tail, between him and the Thiren. Her voice was firm, brooking no argument.
"Hugo didn't take me. He saved me. I was trapped in a containment sphere, left to die."
"He freed me, sheltered me, and helped me retrieve the Pearl. Without him, I wouldn't be alive."
Lady Scyra's expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes. "A human saved you?"
"Forgive me if I find that difficult to believe. Humans are known for their greed, for hunting our kind."
Hugo stepped forward, keeping his movements calm and deliberate. "I'm not like the humans you're talking about. I'm just a fisherman. Nerelle needed help, so I helped her. That's all."
One of the other Thiren, a younger male with scars along his arms, scoffed. "Just a fisherman? Then explain how you defeated Kragnar."
"Explain how you managed to retrieve the Pearl when dozens of our warriors have died trying."
Hugo glanced at Nerelle, who gave him an encouraging nod. He turned back to the Thiren, meeting Lady Scyra's gaze directly. "I had help."
"Nerelle guided me, taught me how to move in the water. And I got lucky. That's all."
Lady Scyra studied him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deception. Then she did something Hugo didn't expect. She drew a short blade from her belt and lunged.
Hugo reacted on instinct, his hand shooting out to grab his fishing rod. He swung it up just in time to deflect the blade, the metal ringing as it struck the enchanted wood.
Lady Scyra pressed the attack, moving with a speed that caught Hugo off guard. She was fast, faster than Kragnar, and her strikes were precise.
Hugo backpedaled, using the rod to parry each blow. He didn't attack, and didn't try to counter. He was being tested, and he knew it. Lady Scyra was gauging his strength, his reflexes, his ability to hold his own.
After a flurry of strikes, Lady Scyra stopped, stepping back. She sheathed her blade, with an unreadable expression. "You're no ordinary fisherman. That much is clear."
Hugo lowered his rod, breathing slightly harder than he'd like. "I've had some help from the system. It's given me skills I didn't have before."
Lady Scyra's eyes narrowed. "The system? You're a Ranked being?"
Hugo nodded. "SSS-Ranked Fisherman, apparently."
The Thiren exchanged glances, and Hugo saw surprise ripple through the group. Even Lady Scyra looked taken aback, though she hid it quickly.
"An SSS-Rank," she murmured.
"That explains much." She turned to Nerelle. "And the Pearl? You have it?"
Nerelle nodded, swimming back to the cabin and returning with the Pearl of Tides cradled in her arms. The moment the Thiren saw it, their demeanor shifted.
The hostility faded, replaced by reverence. Lady Scyra stepped closer, her hand reaching out as if to touch the relic, but she stopped herself.
"You truly recovered it," she said, her voice softer now. "This changes everything."
Nerelle held the Pearl out to Lady Scyra. "It belongs to all the Oceanborn. I want it returned to the remaining colonies, to help protect those who are left."
Lady Scyra took the Pearl carefully, her expression one of profound gratitude. "You honor your people, Nerelle."
"This will save countless lives." She looked at Hugo, and this time, there was respect in her eyes. "And you, Hugo Barley."
"You have done what many of our greatest warriors could not. For that, you have our gratitude."
Hugo nodded, unsure of what to say. "I just did what needed to be done."
Lady Scyra's lips curved into a faint smile. "Humility from someone of your rank."
"That is rare." She paused, seeming to consider something. "There is a matter I would like to discuss with you."
"The Thiren live in Abyssal City, deep beneath the ocean. It is a place few surface dwellers have ever seen."
"I would like to extend an invitation to you, to visit our city and meet our people. Your strength and your bond with Nerelle have earned you that honor."
Hugo blinked, surprised. "You want me to come to your city?"
Lady Scyra nodded. "There are things happening in the deep waters, things that may require someone of your abilities."
"And frankly, I am curious to see what an SSS-Ranked Fisherman is truly capable of."
Hugo looked at Nerelle, who was watching him with wide eyes. "What do you think?"
Nerelle hesitated, then smiled. "I think it could be good for you to see more of this world. And Abyssal City is beautiful. You'd like it."
Hugo considered the offer. Part of him wanted to stay here, to keep the peace he'd found on the Isle of Brine.
But another part, the part that had driven him to accept the quest for the Pearl, was curious. This world was vast, and he'd only seen a small corner of it. Maybe it was time to explore more.
"Alright," Hugo said finally. "I'll come. But I'm not leaving Nerelle behind."
Lady Scyra's smile widened. "I would expect nothing less. She will come with us as well."
"The journey will take a day, perhaps less if the currents are favorable. We leave at first light tomorrow."
Hugo nodded, already planning what he'd need to bring. The Thiren began to retreat back into the water, but Lady Scyra lingered for a moment, her gaze resting on Hugo.
"You are an unusual human, Hugo Barley. I look forward to seeing what you will become."
With that, she turned and dove into the ocean, disappearing beneath the waves with the rest of her group. Hugo stood there, watching the water settle back to calm. Nerelle swam up beside him, her expression a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked.
Hugo looked down at her and smiled. "No. But that never stopped me before."
Nerelle laughed, the sound light and full of hope. "Then let's make sure we're ready. Abyssal City is unlike anything you've ever seen."
Hugo nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. Tomorrow, he'd leave the Isle of Brine for the first time since arriving in this world.
He'd dive deeper into the ocean than he ever had before. To see just how far this new life could take him.