The afternoon sun glimmered over Aqualis Village, but today the usual warmth carried a faint tension. Something felt… off. Even the children playing in the streets seemed hesitant, as if they sensed a subtle imbalance in the air.
Ocean Counter walked calmly through the village square, satchel in place, brown eyes scanning everything. The world shifted imperceptibly around him — a slight warp in a puddle, a stray leaf hovering midair — nothing anyone else could notice.
A low hum suddenly resonated through the streets. Buildings shivered faintly. Spells cast by children for fun fizzled before touching the ground. From the edges of reality, a magical anomaly emerged — an unstable ripple of energy, chaotic and dangerous, threatening to disrupt the village.
Villagers froze. "What is… happening?" one muttered.
Ocean sighed softly. "Not again," he murmured, stepping toward the anomaly.
The magical disturbance swirled and attacked. Rules of magic warped, probability collapsed, and minor chaos began to spread — carts toppled, lanterns flickered, and a few sparks danced dangerously close to children.
With a gentle wave of his hand, Ocean stopped the chaos. The anomaly twisted toward him, trying to strike — but every attack failed. Spells shattered in midair, flames fizzled harmlessly, and the world itself seemed to bend around him.
The villagers saw nothing. Children laughed again, thinking the sparks were harmless fireworks. Merchants continued their business, oblivious.
Ocean tilted his head, brown eyes calm. "You're persistent," he said quietly. A faint ripple of water circled his hands, expanding subtly. The anomaly collapsed on itself, neutralized without leaving a trace.
From beyond the village, a faint shimmer of abstract energy lingered. Kiyo Jian, or something similar, observed in silence, curiosity piqued further by the boy who could not be harmed.
Ocean adjusted his satchel and walked toward the schoolhouse. Another "ordinary" day, another hidden threat neutralized. No one noticed. No one ever would.
And that was exactly how he liked it.