It might be coded

The Pulse Beneath

The stillness of the Ice Wall felt suffocating, even though the ocean around it teemed with quiet life. Acasia couldn’t shake the pulse she’d felt when her fingers brushed the ancient script, a rhythmic hum that seemed to resonate deep in her bones. It was as if the Wall itself was alive, watching, waiting.

“Acasia, seriously, you’ve gone all spooky,” Thalina said, attempting a playful smirk but failing to hide the edge of concern creeping into her voice. “What did you see? Or... feel?”

“It’s not important,” Acasia replied, her tone clipped. She turned away from the wall, the vibrations still thrumming faintly in her chest. “We should move. Being this close doesn’t feel safe.”

Thalina crossed her arms, her tail flicking in mild annoyance. “You’re acting like the wall’s going to eat us or something. It’s just a big hunk of ice.” She swam closer to the wall, squinting at the symbols Acasia had been studying. “These things aren’t even glowing anymore. Kind of boring if you ask me.”

Acasia grabbed Thalina’s arm before she could touch the wall. “Don’t. Trust me on this.”

Thalina’s expression softened, and she tilted her head curiously. “Okay, okay. No need to get all melodramatic. But seriously, Acasia, what’s going on? You’ve been weird ever since we left Coralstead.”

Acasia hesitated, torn between confiding in her friend and keeping her thoughts to herself. She didn’t fully understand what was happening, and putting it into words felt impossible. But the memory of the word—E’rathal—echoed in her mind, refusing to be ignored.

“Something about this wall isn’t natural,” she finally admitted, her voice low. “The symbols, the energy—there’s something here, Thalina. Something... old.”

Thalina’s eyes sparkled with intrigue. “Old, huh? Like, treasure-old? Lost civilization-old? Or creepy-ghost-old?”

“Maybe all three,” Acasia muttered, casting one last wary glance at the Ice Wall before swimming away.

Thalina followed, her curiosity piqued. “You can’t just drop a bomb like that and then clam up. Come on, spill it! What’s the big mystery?”

Acasia shook her head. “I don’t know yet. But those symbols—they’re part of an ancient script. I’ve seen it before, back in the library. It’s tied to stories about the Before Times, when the oceans were... different.”

“Different how?”

“Just different,” Acasia snapped, the pressure of her unease bubbling over. She softened her tone when she saw Thalina flinch. “Look, I’ll explain when I know more. Right now, we need to get away from here.”

Thalina frowned but didn’t argue. “Fine. But you owe me some answers later. And maybe an adventure or two. I’m not letting you hog all the excitement.”

They swam in silence for a while, the Ice Wall fading into the distance behind them. But Acasia’s mind remained tethered to it, replaying the strange vibrations, the glowing symbols, and the faint hum of the word E’rathal.

As they neared the edge of the open ocean, a shadow passed overhead. Acasia froze, her heart pounding. The shadow was massive, too big to be a normal sea creature. She grabbed Thalina’s arm, pulling her close.

“Did you see that?” Acasia whispered, her eyes scanning the waters above.

Thalina nodded, her carefree demeanor vanishing in an instant. “Yeah. What was it?”

“I don’t know. But stay close.”

The shadow moved again, circling them slowly. It was closer now, and Acasia could make out faint details: elongated fins, a sleek, serpentine body, and eyes that glowed faintly in the dim light.

“Acasia,” Thalina whispered, her voice trembling. “That’s not a fish.”

“No,” Acasia agreed, her stomach sinking. “It’s not.”

The creature stopped circling and descended toward them. As it came into view, Acasia realized it wasn’t just one creature—it was two, swimming in perfect unison. They were unlike anything she’d ever seen, their bodies shimmering with an otherworldly glow.

One of them opened its mouth, and a low, melodic sound filled the water around them. It wasn’t hostile, but it wasn’t comforting either.

“What do we do?” Thalina asked, gripping Acasia’s arm tightly.

Acasia’s mind raced. The creatures weren’t attacking, but their presence felt deliberate, as if they’d been waiting for something—or someone.

“We don’t run,” Acasia said finally, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins. “Let’s see what they want.”

The creatures swam closer, their glowing eyes locking onto Acasia. One of them tilted its head, almost as if it were studying her. Then, to her surprise, it spoke—not in words, but in images and sensations that filled her mind.

She saw the Ice Wall, the symbols glowing brightly. She felt the pulse again, stronger this time, and heard a single word echo in her thoughts:

E’rathal.

Acasia gasped, the vision fading as quickly as it had come. She looked at Thalina, who seemed unaffected, her expression still one of nervous confusion.

“Did you see that?” Acasia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“See what?” Thalina replied, her grip tightening.

Acasia turned back to the creatures, but they were gone. The water around them was calm again, as if nothing had happened.

But something had happened. And Acasia knew it was only the beginning.