UtmThey moved inland.
---
Far enough that the sea was no longer visible—
---
But never far enough to forget it.
---
---
The air changed.
---
Drier.
---
Still cold—
---
But lighter than before.
---
---
The ground stabilized.
---
Less jagged.
---
Easier to walk.
---
---
No one spoke for a while.
---
---
Footsteps carried the silence.
---
---
Thalren walked ahead.
---
Slower than before.
---
Not from exhaustion.
---
From thought.
---
---
Behind him—
---
Kaizen.
---
Watching.
---
---
And beside him—
---
Alric.
---
Quiet.
---
But not absent.
---
---
"…You were going to say something," Kaizen finally spoke.
---
---
No response.
---
---
"…Back there."
---
---
Alric exhaled softly.
---
"…Yes."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…Then say it."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Alric adjusted his glasses.
---
Buying a moment.
---
---
"…Not everything at once," he said.
---
---
Kaizen's gaze hardened slightly.
---
"…You think we're children?"
---
---
"…No."
---
A pause.
---
"…I think you're unprepared."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
For a moment—
---
It felt like Kaizen might push further.
---
---
But he didn't.
---
---
"…Start somewhere," he said instead.
---
---
Alric nodded once.
---
---
"…What you've been fighting…"
---
A pause.
---
"…those are the lowest layer."
---
---
Thalren's steps slowed slightly.
---
---
"…Sea beasts," Alric continued.
---
"…Common ones."
---
---
"…Common," Kaizen repeated.
---
---
"…Relatively."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…They follow instinct."
---
"…Hunt."
---
"…Feed."
---
"…Survive."
---
---
Simple.
---
Predictable.
---
---
"…Then there are others," Alric said.
---
---
Silence.
---
---
"…Stronger."
---
"…Less predictable."
---
---
He hesitated.
---
Choosing his words carefully.
---
---
"…You've already seen one."
---
---
Thalren's eyes shifted.
---
---
The memory surfaced.
---
The pressure.
---
The silence.
---
---
"…The one that left," he said.
---
---
Alric nodded.
---
---
"…That wasn't a normal beast."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…It was above them."
---
---
Kaizen crossed his arms slightly.
---
"…A higher tier."
---
---
"…Yes."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
"…They're rare," Alric added.
---
"…But when they appear…"
---
A pause.
---
"…they don't lose."
---
---
The words carried weight.
---
---
"…Then why did it leave," Kaizen asked.
---
---
Alric didn't answer immediately.
---
---
His gaze moved—
---
Toward Thalren.
---
---
"…That's the part that doesn't fit."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Thalren didn't react outwardly.
---
---
But inside—
---
Something shifted.
---
---
"…There's another layer," Alric continued.
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…Much higher."
---
---
The wind picked up slightly.
---
---
"…Things that don't just react…"
---
---
"…They decide."
---
---
The same word again.
---
---
Thalren's fingers tightened slightly.
---
---
"…They don't come to the surface," Alric said.
---
"…They don't need to."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…The ocean moves for them."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Kaizen's voice cut in.
---
"…And the thing we felt?"
---
---
Alric didn't answer directly.
---
---
"…It shouldn't have been there."
---
---
The words landed heavier than anything else.
---
---
"…But it was," Kaizen said.
---
---
"…Yes."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
They walked a few more steps.
---
---
The ground rose slightly.
---
Leading toward a higher ridge.
---
---
Alric slowed again.
---
---
"…There's more," he said.
---
---
Kaizen glanced at him.
---
"…Of course there is."
---
---
A faint exhale escaped Alric.
---
---
"…Power in this world…"
---
He paused.
---
"…isn't just strength."
---
---
Thalren's gaze shifted slightly.
---
---
"…It's depth."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
"…The deeper something exists…"
---
A pause.
---
"…the more it changes."
---
---
The wind passed over them.
---
---
"…Creatures…"
---
"…people…"
---
---
He stopped there.
---
---
Didn't continue.
---
---
Kaizen noticed.
---
But didn't push.
---
---
Thalren did.
---
"…People?" he asked.
---
---
Alric looked at him.
---
A brief pause.
---
---
"…Some are affected more than others."
---
---
Not an answer.
---
But not avoidance either.
---
---
Silence returned.
---
---
The ridge came into view.
---
Higher ground.
---
Clear sight ahead.
---
---
Kaizen stepped up first.
---
Then stopped.
---
---
Thalren joined him.
---
---
Alric followed.
---
---
From the ridge—
---
The sea became visible again.
---
---
Far.
---
Endless.
---
---
And for a moment—
---
Nothing moved.
---
---
Then—
---
A shift.
---
---
Not on the surface.
---
---
Below.
---
---
Subtle.
---
Massive.
---
---
Gone in an instant.
---
---
Alric's eyes narrowed.
---
---
"…It's still there."
---
---
Kaizen didn't respond.
---
---
Thalren stared at the horizon.
---
---
"…Depth…" he repeated quietly.
---
---
The word felt heavier now.
---
---
Not just a concept.
---
---
A truth.
---
---
And somewhere far beneath that endless water—
---
Something existed—
---
At a depth—
---
They hadn't even begun to understand.