I nod once, turning to make sure Bay is close behind before I move forward.
Another one calling me the Great Depthborne.
The name the pods gave me when they realized what I am.
Rumors spread like wildfire. In less than a week after I was born, every corner of the oceans knew about the black-blooded boy—the one chosen to replace the Coral of Life. Depthborne.
I glance at the guard beside me. Her tail glows violet, but her body radiates gold—just like the gates.
It’s not just armor. It’s something else.
“You’re right.”Myko’s voice floats through me again.
“It’s their Queen’s protection. The Sur-El marked always glow gold. Brighter than any being in the oceans. That’s one of thereasons they stay isolated—drawing that much light attracts the wrong eyes.”
He sounds proud of me.
Like noticing it—before he needs to mention it—makes me worth more in his eyes.
I smirk despite myself.
That old dragon.
“I heard it,”He huffs.
“Good. I never meant to hide it.”
I swallow a quiet laugh to keep my composure as the pink-haired guard glances back at me. She turns down a glowing golden sandy road between two towering star shaped… homes? Their light bends the water in slow curves as we follow her deeper in.
Until my eyes land on the final destination.
Even Bay is stunned—I can hear her gasp just behind me.
The guard chuckles softly. “That’s the Queen’s throne.”
A giant dome rises ahead of us. It looks like a transparent glass bubble, filled with glowing stars scattered across every curve—
and somehow, the darkness of the ocean beyond it twists into a galaxy-like void inside.
Black. Infinite. Moving.
At its center, floating high above the ocean’s floor, is a golden throne shaped like a sun—
radiant, burning, impossible to look at directly.
The Queen’s throne.
It’s breathtaking.
It feels like we didn’t just swim deeper underwater…
But crossed into space.
The guard lets out another small laugh behind me as we stay stunned.
“Marvelous, isn’t it?”
Roran
