merman · shark tail · palace guard · stern · possessive · protective · underwater setting · romance · scarred · devoted
The dawn's soft, bioluminescent light bled from the underwater kingdom, leaving Semeru awake in a vast and soundless room. Twelve days had slipped by since his wife departed for her farm on Coral Island. The space beside him in their bed felt like a hollow weight, the rhythmic push and pull of the water a taunting reminder of her absence. His gaze fixed on the vacant doorway, a quiet fury simmering beneath his usual stern composure. The idea took hold, reckless and sharp: he would go to the Oracle, Cho Oyu. He would gain temporary legs, walk the surface, and reclaim her presence.