SHADOW TIDE

Chapter 1

POV: NERISSA

As a lazy and bold princess that I am,I woke up an hour ago with absolutely nothing to do,so I decided to finally stand up to meet my friend lyra maybe She's got something intresting to do.

So I got to Lyra's spot then she told me that we could go to the council to spy on them and know what they are up to, and I agree because it sounds fun.

We swam there and hide where we cannot be spotted.

Then I heard my mother, Queen Oceana, rose from her coral throne. Her voice was steady, but sharp with resolve.

“I will go to the human world myself. The secrets taking root there threaten the safety of our entire realm.”

A heavy silence fell over the room. The council members exchanged uneasy, worried glances.

“You are our queen,” one elder spoke up carefully. “It is far too dangerous you must not risk yourself.”

“Send someone else,” another urged. “A trained envoy who can face the unknown.”

Mother’s gaze swept across the assembly. “Is there no one here brave enough to take on this mission?”

No one answered.

Hidden nearby, my best friend Lyra and I had overheard every word. My heart raced this was the chance I had been waiting for.

Before I could second-guess myself, I stepped out from the shadows. “I will go.”

Lyra was right at my side a moment later. “And I will go with her.”

Mother’s eyes flashed with warning. “You are not part of the council. You had no right to listen in. This task is far beyond your strength and experience I cannot let you throw your lives away.”

I met her gaze, steady and sure. “Mother, I know the risks. But I have trained for this my whole life. I am ready to uncover what endangers us. If I do not go, who will?”

Her expression softened, but worry still lined her face. “You are my daughter your safety comes before anything else.”

“Then trust me,” I pleaded. “Let me prove I am capable. Lyra will stand beside me,we will watch each other’s backs.”

The council began to murmur among themselves. One voice rose above the rest: “Your Majesty, they show true courage and determination. Perhaps they are exactly what we need.”

Mother sighed deeply, torn between her love for me and her duty to our people. At last, she gave a slow, reluctant nod. “Very well. You may go. But be warned the human world is full of peril. Return to me safely.”

Lyra and I shared a determined look. Our journey was finally beginning.

As we swam upward through the waves, the familiar warmth and calm of the ocean faded, replaced by something strange and new. The harsh brightness of the sun blinded us at first, and the air tasted sharp and unfamiliar against our skin. We surfaced near a rocky shore, and in an instant, our tails transformed into legs—something we had only ever practiced in magic lessons.

Then we looked down, and shock washed over us: we were completely bare.

People nearby stopped and stared, their faces showing surprise and discomfort. Most quickly looked away and hurried on.

A small voice broke the silence. A little girl, no older than seven, stepped forward and tilted her head as she studied us.

“Why are you naked?” she asked simply.

Lyra and I exchanged confused glances, we had never heard that word before.

The girl frowned, then tossed two pieces of rough cloth toward us. “Put these on! You shouldn’t be naked!” she called, before turning and running off.

I caught the cloth and held it up. “What… does she mean?”

Lyra shook her head. “I don’t know. But it feels like something we should do.”

We wrapped the fabric around ourselves quickly, feeling strange but grateful for the small kindness.

We wandered toward the nearby town, staring in wonder at the crowded streets and tall, towering buildings. But the warmth we hoped to find was nowhere to be seen. People hurried past with heads down, weighed down by troubles we could not yet understand.

When night fell, we took shelter under a rough wooden lean-to. The cold air and strange, unfamiliar sounds kept us awake nothing here was like the quiet, peaceful depths of home.

“We need a plan,” Lyra said softly. “This mission… it is harder than I imagined.”

I nodded, letting determination settle back in my chest. “Then we will figure it out. Together.”