The fury of the sea crashed suddenly with a heavy silence, as if an unseen hand had lifted from the ocean.
The whirlpool gradually subsided, the waves returning to their natural course, before the ship slammed violently onto the water's surface, its metal frame shuddering, spray flying in every direction, as though the world itself had exhaled after a long suffocating hold.
The wet wood groaned sharply, debris and shattered glass tumbled across the floor as the ship rocked in weary instability, before finally settling amid an eerily calm sea, as if what had occurred were nothing but a nightmare.
Adam staggered to his feet, his body trembling from the fall, water dripping from his hair and clothes. He sprinted down the slanted corridor, shouting:
"Neulfer!!"
The cabins were a scene of chaos—doors ajar, moans filling the air. Adam slammed open the next cabin door, colliding with the wall, his voice rising in gasps and panic:
"Neulfer!! Where are you?!"
At last, a hoarse voice answered from within:
"Adam…"
He froze for a second, then surged forward.
Neulfer lay on the floor, clutching her three children to her chest, their bodies soaked and trembling, yet alive.
When their eyes met, Adam let out a sigh of relief that nearly dropped him to the deck.
Neulfer raised her head with effort, her gaze heavy with tears and exhaustion, her voice warm with her usual anxious concern:
"Are you all right? You look terrible…"
Adam nodded silently, still panting, muttering:
"We're… we're fine…"
He scanned the cabin anxiously, eyes darting across familiar faces.
"Where… where's Barwen?"
Nora, catching her breath beside her sister, shook her head along with Nariman, confusion evident on their faces.
"We don't know… we haven't seen him since we fell…"
Nariman stared at the open doorway, eyes wide with worry.
A strange sensation prickled through the air and water around them. Without hesitation, she rushed forward, followed by her father and sister, hearts pounding violently.
They reached the edge of the ship, the sea unusually calm before them.
Nariman stood at the edge, eyes fixed on the water, trying to sense Barwen beneath the surface through the faint vibrations of the current.
Her voice trembled:
"He's under the water! Please, Father… do something!!"
Adam paused, eyes scanning the waves, then quickly removed his shirt and plunged into the cold water.
He dove deep through the dissipating whirlpools until he spotted a shadow beneath, unconscious, a shoulder bleeding heavily, the crimson staining the water dark.
He extended his hand with force, grasped him, and pulled him toward the surface.
On the ship's deck, Nariman cried out for help, pleading to the others:
"Father's under the water! Please… help him!"
Nora rushed forward, shouting from beside her:
"Someone! Hurry!"
The passengers were still stunned by the recent chaos, unable to fully comprehend what had happened. Some stood frozen, shock etched on their faces, while others stumbled forward in panicked steps, tossing ropes desperately.
Adam gripped the ropes, pulled Barwen with all his strength, and the passengers helped lift him amid the screams, splashing water, and ragged breaths.
They hauled the two men onto the deck, and Barwen was laid, unconscious, upon the drenched deck.
Everything around her was a haze. Nariman froze, unable to cry or move. All she could see was Barwen's pale face, as if a piece of wax had been laid upon the soaked wood. He didn't breathe, his eyes shut deep, as though life itself had been drained from him along with the ocean water.
Adam dropped to his knees, pressing against Barwen's chest with fierce force, then leaned down to breathe life into him.
A desperate inhale escaped him—met only by Barwen's hollow exhale, empty of life.
Nariman's eyes followed the blood seeping from his shoulder, each drop whispering of loss.
Questions stormed through her mind like a hurricane: Would he die? Could she save him with her power? How, with everyone around?
There was no time to think.
Suddenly, Nariman realized her father's desperate effort meant only one thing: they were on the brink of losing Barwen, and he was fighting despair to avoid collapsing in the face of this loss.
Nariman grabbed her father's shoulder urgently, voice trembling:
"Father… get Barwen into the cabin… I think I can save him…"
Adam turned to her, his face a mix of fear and stern resolve:
"This is impossible… your power doesn't work for something like this… and I will not allow you to use it any further!"
She cried, pleading, eyes brimming with tears:
"Father… please! He'll die if we do nothing! Normal treatment won't work!"
Adam froze, exhaling slowly, eyes moving between his daughter and Barwen. Silence thickened the air, tension filling his heart. Nariman shook his father's shoulder:
"Father!"
Finally, with bitter resolve, he lifted Barwen swiftly into the cabin and closed the door firmly. Neulfer panicked: What's happening?!
Adam turned to Nariman:
"Do it… quickly."
Before anyone could respond, light erupted around Nariman.
Her white hair shimmered like burning snow, her eyes glowing with silent embers.
The air thickened with energy, making every breath heavy.
The blood seeping from Barwen's wound lifted from the water and dirt, swirling in a ring of concentrated power before wrapping around the wound, shining with a pure light.
Suddenly, Barwen gasped sharply, coughing as he expelled water from his chest, struggling to breathe.
Everyone stood stunned, breaths shallow, eyes fixed on what they had witnessed.
Nariman screamed, voice torn with joy:
"Barwen!!"
She rushed to him, embracing him tightly; his body trembled with pain, a moan escaping him uncontrollably.
Adam was swept by a surge of emotion, reaching toward her with force as he shouted:
"Nariman!! What are you doing?!"
He yanked her away from Barwen without hesitation, eyes blazing with jealousy and fear, as if all his being roared to protect her.
His trembling voice pressed on her:
"You're no longer a child!"
In his grasp, Nariman looked at her parents with wide, bewildered eyes, struggling to maintain composure amid the swirling anger and fear.
Adam's voice, tense and laced with worry, said:
"Nariman… how did you do that? Your power isn't supposed to work on living beings!"
Nariman tilted her head slightly, replying calmly:
"That's not true."
Adam froze for a moment, staring at her in disbelief, beads of sweat running down his forehead.
She continued in a low, steady voice:
"I didn't heal Barwen completely. That would be too taxing for me. I accelerated what I could, but I cannot finish it entirely."
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating, before Barwen muttered faintly:
"This… is incredible."
Adam continued to watch his daughter with deep concern—not admiration, but fear of what she had become.
Meanwhile, the young power user stood atop his sea creature, gazing at the ship from afar.
Gripping his throat, he muttered in a mix of anger and astonishment:
"What a madman… I survived by a miracle! One second later, my neck would have split!"
He ground his teeth in rage, eyes flashing before plunging into the depths and disappearing.