The moon rose pale and full over Fisherman's Cove, painting the slate‑gray water in gleaming silver veins. Lanterns bobbed in the small harbor, strung from masts of the docked fishing boats where villagers tended nets and shared muted laughter. The scent of brine and wood smoke mingled in the cool night air.
Lila Su stood at the edge of the quay, wrapped in a sea‑blue shawl, cradling Leo's hand. He peered up at her, eyes wide with excitement. “Mama, is it time?"
She smiled, brushing his hair back. “Almost, sweetheart. Just a moment."
Behind them, Theo Lu emerged from the shadow of the boathouse, dressed in simple linen trousers and a sand‑colored shirt unbuttoned at the collar. In his hand, he held a small, polished seashell, silver filigree wrapping its rim—a ring box Lila had never im
