The waters of the Typhoon Sea Rift shimmered with soft, living light.
Above the Tideheart Nexus, Aethralun began to unfurl like a blooming coral flower. Great towers of living reefstone spiraled upward, luminous with veins of harmonized memory. Gardens of crystal kelp floated between rising plazas. Bridges of braided tide-light connected islands that hovered freely in the currents.
And from within the Choir Vaults, the first of the Deep Singer descendants awoke.
The children emerged cautiously—some blinking in confusion, others laughing, their voices forming little trills of raw, pure resonance. They wore simple tunics spun from memory-silk, and their eyes shimmered faintly with the Tideheart's touch.
Leon knelt down to meet one of them—a boy with silver-blue hair and wide, curious eyes.
"Hey, little guy," Leon said, offering a hand. "Welcome back."
The boy tilted his head, studying Leon for a moment. Then he smiled—a radiant, fearless smile—and placed his small hand in Leon's.
