Bab 1
The afternoon wind swept through Andriani Vincent's long, flowing hair. She stood at the doorstep of her new house, gazing at the vast ocean that stretched endlessly before her. The sound of crashing waves broke the silence, bringing a strange yet calming salty scent.
This simple wooden house, with faded white paint and small windows facing the sea, felt like the hug she needed after years of being confined in the middle of a noisy and fake city.
"This is my home now," she murmured softly, more to herself.
Andriani was not the type of person who liked small talk. Life in the city had forced her to play a role she never enjoyed—smiling at coworkers she actually hated, responding to empty compliments with forced laughter, and hiding her boredom behind a social mask.
When her family inheritance gave her enough money to buy this place, she didn't think twice. Away from the crowd, away from anyone. Just her and the ocean.
"Finally, some peace," she thought as she placed a cup of warm tea on a small table on the terrace. The sky began to change color, from bright blue to a dazzling orange hue.
She walked slowly towards the beach, the soft sand touching the soles of her feet. The waves gently touched her ankles, as if saying hello.
There was no sound other than the sound of water and wind. No phones ringing, no deafening horns honking, no one pretending to care. But as her eyes traced the shoreline, a movement caught her attention.
In the distance, she saw the figure of a man sitting on a large rock that jutted out slightly into the sea. His hair was light blue, wavy like a river, reflecting the light of dusk.
He looked calm, as if the rest of the world could not disturb him. Andriani stopped walking, captivated by his strange yet alluring presence. The man was holding something in his hand—a small shell that glowed softly. He played with it casually, while his gaze was directed to the calm ocean.
But then, the wind brought a strange sparkle to Andriani's eyes. A tail?
Andriani's heart beat faster. Beneath the man's body, stretched a large scaly tail, sparkling blue and green like a jewel. Its fins moved slowly, as if keeping up with the rhythm of the waves.
Andriani gasped. She wanted to step closer, but her body froze in place. Was this real? Was she seeing something impossible? Or was her mind starting to play tricks on her? The man suddenly turned his head, his sapphire green eyes meeting Andriani's gaze.
In an instant, the world seemed to stop. The sea that had been making noise was now silent. Andriani felt fear and curiosity burning in her chest. And for the first time she felt a pleasant fluttering feeling besides the boring disgust.
