No More the Shore

Gurgle... Grumble...

You float on your back in the warm ocean water, contentedly stretching out your stubby little limbs and spinning a perfect, lazy circle.

Plap plap~

Plap plap~

Your tiny little head cheerfully recalls the current situation.

You're a year-and-a-half-old sea otter, out foraging with your favorite Big One.

ROAARRR,

The sea surges into a massive whirlpool. A familiar figure comes barreling toward you, hauling something large on her back!

Before you can protest, the girl scoops you up onto her back as well and shoots toward the surface like a fish.

...

BOOM! Lightning flashes, thunder rolls, and the swollen rainclouds finally burst, dumping their water into the sea.

You and Vortice retreat to the safe cabin, staring at each other.

Vortice tilts her head with her classic puzzled face, then finally takes a good look at the "meat" she dropped on the floor.

The stranger coughs hard and spits out a mouthful of seawater.

You sense she's wary, but not hostile. Quietly, you inch closer to get a better look at this newcomer.

The stranger excitedly rummages through the jam-packed cabin. Meanwhile, Vortice stands nearby, blinking with cheerful curiosity.

You let out an angry squeal and lunge to snatch your ball back, but your attention is instantly pulled away by Vortice.

Vortice quietly tucks two shells you'd been eyeing into your paws, then nudges those parts toward the stranger, signaling she can have them.

You have no idea why those bits make the stranger so excited, but you've already stopped caring. You blissfully bury your little snout deep into those beautiful shells Vortice never once let you near.

Warmed by Vortice's open, earnest kindness, the stranger finally relaxes a bit and smiles at you both.

Vortice cheers and flings her arms wide open, ready to give her brand-new friend a huge bear hug.

The air currents in the cabin suddenly converge; amid the intensified wind pressure, you hear a crisp crack.

Vortice snaps out of it and hurriedly lets go. But Nautila is already grimacing in pain, her arm bent at an unnatural angle.

Seeing Vortice frozen in panic, you clamp your teeth onto her pant leg and tug her toward something.

Nautila instinctively slaps Vortice's hand away, leaning backward.

[@Compound Tonic]

Gulp, gulp, The medicine bottle hits the floor and rolls to a stop at Vortice's feet.

The girl, who had been so gleeful and carefree just moments ago, keenly catches the stranger's fear. Slowly, she lowers her hand.

Vortice is quiet for a moment. Then she drags over the biggest, softest blanket on the ship and spreads it out on the floor, a little distance away.

You're suddenly lifted into the air. Vortice carefully, almost timidly, holds you out toward Nautila, as if offering a precious gift.

She tilts her chin toward the door, then points to the blanket, stubbornly standing between Nautila and the door.

The rain doesn't let up all night. Midnight, Nautila walks to the cabin doorway and looks at the girl asleep on the deck.

Curled up tightly in the corner of the ship, she shelters herself from the wind and rain.

Vortice is covered with an extra blanket. She smacks her lips in her sleep and sinks into an even deeper, sweeter dream.

After a night of rain, it's the perfect time to fish in the early morning. You proudly bite the biggest fish of the day and toss it at Vortice. But...

SMACK!

Vortice takes the fish square in the face, cracking her morning-long daze. She looks at you, the corners of her mouth curving down. And then, fat, heavy teardrops start rolling down.

Next thing you know, she buries her face entirely into your belly and bursts into loud sobs.

Vortice is crying so hard she can barely breathe. You struggle desperately to rescue your belly from under her face, but eventually give up with a sigh and let her smear the snot all over you.

...

In the cabin, Nautila has threaded several fish onto thin wires. The flames have crisped their skin, and fat drips onto the floor below in a sizzle, releasing an aroma that instantly triggers animal instincts.

Saliva floods your mouth. Tempted by the cooked food, you and Vortice lunge forward almost simultaneously, both biting into the grilled fish.

...

Vortice shakes her head, picks you up again, then the two of you gesture wildly together, flailing all four hands and four feet in unison.

...

You gleefully jump into the water first, startling all the fish around.

As you and Vortice splash in one after another with joyful shouts, ripples rise from the depths below, as if responding to your calls.

Several beautiful white dolphins glide up from the depths, gathering around you, nuzzling you and Vortice affectionately with their snouts and fins.

They circle around you gracefully, some even leaping out of the water and splashing Nautila with little jets of spray, as if inviting her to join in.

Vortice bursts into giggles, dodging the water you splash at her in annoyance, and then, together, you both reach out toward Nautila.

Nautila grips your hands tight. One in front, one behind, you and Vortice lead her toward a hidden cave.

After a moment of darkness, one patch, two patches... countless patches of dreamlike, hazy light stir to life. Jellyfish surge toward the surface, pushed away by gentle currents, until even brighter light spills down from the dome above.

Sunlight pierces through stacks of rock, painting the seafloor in shifting shades of blue. Colorful coral and countless sea creatures cut through the blue, creating a sight so breathtaking that it leaves one speechless.

Sea anemones trail their venomous tendrils in a slow, hypnotic dance. Shellfish cling close, living in quiet harmony with them. Predators lurk in the dark of the abyss, biding their time. This place is dangerous and beautiful, dark and dazzling, a world unto itself, a miniature of the ocean.

Vortice takes out a glistening, lustrous pearl. With an expression of utmost sincerity, she places it carefully in Nautila's palm.

You grumble to yourself, but thinking of all the delicious grilled fish and seafood stew you've eaten lately, you generously push the pearl further into Nautila's hand along with Vortice.

Nautila unties the small bracelet from her wrist, the one she always wears, adorned with a tiny nautilus charm.

After a brief silence that almost feels like an illusion, Vortice breaks into her usual bright smile and hugs you tight as she cheers.

What could you possibly tell? You're just a sea otter. Even if you caught a hint of something, your small brain couldn't quite grasp it. And so you let it go, diving headfirst into the joyful atmosphere.

...

The once-dilapidated ship cabin has been completely transformed, between two identical, simple but clean and sturdy beds sits a wooden chest stuffed full of plush cushions.

Before Nautila's voice even fades, you tumbled headfirst into your perfect little den, Nautila even left you a special spot for your precious little shells!

The warmth of the seafood soup from dinner still lingers in your belly, and to the rhythm of the girls' steady breathing, you drift off to sleep before long.

But when night truly falls, that ominous feeling begins to spread, thick and viscous like the sea mist.

In the darkness, the ocean becomes filled with horror and mystery. Sunlight no longer touches the surface, and deep in the abyss, something stirs with a low, guttural rumble.

You drift in the boundless, icy void, desperately trying to reach the distant figure weeping softly in the dark.

You jolt awake. There's no gentle breathing from the sleeping girls, everything is dead silent. You crawl out of your nest and follow Vortice's scent to the deck.

She is staring at the whirlpool in the distance.

Nautila's voice cuts through Vortice's dream-like murmurs. The next moment, Nautila excitedly pushes a set of metal equipment toward you both.

Vortice is unusually quiet. After a moment, she gives a firm nod, scoops you up, and pulls Nautila into a big bear hug.

ROAR, ROARROAR, ROAR!

The dormant iron behemoth let out a hoarse roar. The steam whistle blares, and amid the fluttering of seagulls, the entire ship seems to slowly come alive.

Nautila has worked herself to the bone, barely sleeping to patch the hull. With three days left before the predicted storm, all key parts were back in place.

Thump.

Vortice rushes over in a panic, pressing her ear to Nautila's chest, only to find that Nautila has simply passed out cold from sheer exhaustion..

Vortice exhales in relief, then bursts into laughter.

She carries Nautila to the bed, then grabs you and, ignoring your protests entirely, rolls gleefully across the floor with you several times.

This is the first time Vortice has been this relaxed since that day. Her eyes are sparkling with hope, her nose nuzzling happily into the soft fur on your chest.

Having stayed up for days, Vortice holds you tightly, leaning against the corner of Nautila's bed, and drifts into a deep sleep.

...

...

The ship has been sailing for only half a day when, without any warning, a massive storm strikes.

Their course is completely lost. Rain lashes down from all sides, giving no chance of retreat for these overconfident challengers.

The rudder remains eerily locked, stubbornly veering toward the vortex. No matter what Nautila and Vortice try, even coming close to breaking it, it refuses to turn.

Your brain is a mess, and you're desperately trying to cry out, but what is it you're trying to say...?

You can only let out a helpless shriek. You don't understand, can't they feel it?

That massive, horrifying presence, It has seen Vortice.

It has no intention of letting anyone leave.

The girl drags you and Vortice through the compartments, trying everything as the whites of her eyes begin to bleed a frantic red.

Clang, Bang!

The wrench slips from her exhausted grip, strikes the wall, then crashes down hard onto Nautila's foot. Yet, as if feeling no pain, she reaches down in a daze to pick it back up.

Crack, Boom!

The storm and the constant battering finally push the cabin past its limits. With a sharp crack, a rotted plank plummets from above, heading straight for Nautila...

When Nautila opens her eyes, eyes she has squeezed shut in terror, she sees something she has never expected.

Vortice has braced herself against the wall with one arm, shielding Nautila beneath her, while her other hand holds the entire ceiling up.

With one great shove, Vortice hurls the ceiling away, then grabs the near-delirious Nautila and cups her face in both hands, forcing their eyes to meet.

Nautila looks around blankly, letting the torrential rain pour down on her.

The storm rages with thunder and lightning, striking every nerve like relentless music at a demon's feast.

Without a word in response, Vortice drags the diving suit out of the cabin and, with no idea how it works, tries to force it on Nautila anyway.

By now, the ship is tilting fully and uncontrollably toward the whirlpool.

Creak, Squeak,

Creak, Squeak,

The raging current grips the hull like two enormous hands wringing out a wet cloth.

The ship lets out a groan under the immense strain. Vortice is shouting over the storm, desperately stuffing Nautila into the diving suit while pulling you tighter against her with her other arm.

BOOM...

The violent jolt sends Nautila flying, slamming her into a wooden barrel that has rolled across the ground.

Nautila, enduring the pain, stumbles to her feet and rushes to Vortice's side.

Nautila stands frozen in place. For the first time, she sees that carefree, lively, naive girl wearing a complex, worried expression.

Vortice reaches out her hand. Though she doesn't understand how the device works, driven by beast-like instinct, she forcibly finishes dressing Nautila in the diving suit.

Rain pours in through a hole in the roof, splashing on both of them.

Silence fills the cabin. It is Vortice who finally breaks it.

Nautila suddenly realizes why the torrential rain fell early, why the tornado appeared without warning. She begins to tremble uncontrollably.

Following Vortice's finger, Nautila feels a sense of fear crawling up from her subconscious.

Fear from the bottom of the Moskstraumen. Fear of something beyond mortal comprehension.

......

Nautila clutches at Vortice desperately. Though Vortice, with her beast-like strength, could shake Nautila off easily at any moment, she doesn't.

She just picks you up and nuzzles you affectionately.

She plants herself like a wall against the raging storm, holding you and Nautila firmly in her arms. Then she takes a deep breath, breaks into a wide, reassuring grin that is so entirely hers.

Nautila wipes away her tears, pulls herself together, and manages a somewhat ugly smile.

Seeing Nautila finally let her go, Vortice quietly, ever so quietly, takes your paw in hers and presses her face against your paw pads.

Your wailing cries fill the air as you are placed into Nautila's arms. The next moment, as the ship tilts again, Vortice turns without hesitation and runs toward the whirlpool.

...Plop.

Like a fish returning to her sea.

The storm drowns out all the screams. A mountainous wave crashes over the deck and sweeps you both into the sea as well.

Beneath the dark blue waters, countless thread-like tendrils of black ooze unfurl toward Vortice. Her hands dissolve into massive churning currents, her expression serene and tranquil, the depths of her eyes calm and still, as if the eye of the whirlpool itself.

Vortice finally can't help but burst into tears, pressing her hand against her own chest.

Then she raises her hand. A vortex carrying destructive force, yet abnormally gentle, pushes you both far, far away from the whirlpool.

Strand by strand, the dark slime clings to Vortice's body, spreading across her entire body in an instant.

The whirlpool begins to converge inward toward its center, carrying with it the fulfillment of Its desire. The girl, as if entwined and pulled by countless dark seaweeds, slowly sinks into the sunless deep.

...

Everything has settled down. The sky is a clear, washed blue. On the tranquil sea, the ship drifts quietly.

You stare curiously at the human bobbing on the surface in that weird outfit.

Plap-plap.

Plap-plap.

You dive joyfully into the warm water, swimming in the opposite direction from the human struggling toward the ship.

You don't notice your tears merging into the sea.

Unlike what the Academy had anticipated, your first Link with this volatile Awakener went surprisingly smoothly.

After this unexpected dream, you think you've found the answer.

It's a golden afternoon in Mythag. Sunlight filters through the stained glass windows and falls across the face of the girl wrestling with her Leonian language textbook.

Riiip, the textbook splits clean in two, right in the middle of what was shaping up to be quite a touching moment.

Vortice's beast-like instinct catches the difference instantly. She springs like a catapult and lunges in, wrapping you in a crushing hug.

At the same time, the muzzle she's wearing delivers a solid blow to your poor nose.

The device Mythag specially developed for her effectively contains her power overflow. Now, Vortice's maximum destructive power is only equivalent to that of a slightly stronger-than-average human.

It takes considerable effort to peel the exuberant, puppy-like girl off yourself. Finally willing to sit still, she perches opposite your desk, fixing you with those bright, gleaming eyes.

You only paused for a brief moment before choosing to use "I", adopting the consciousness from that dream as your own.

You rack your brain and weave every adventure story you've ever heard in your brief, conscious year of life into the tale you spin for Vortice.

After all, heavens, there is simply no way you could say anything cruel to those innocent eyes.

Vortice lowers her head and presses her face against your palm, just as she did when you were still little Coalsie.

She breaks into a smile, wide, bright, and so entirely happy.

Bang. Thud. Clatter...

BANG!

Nautila has just walked into the classroom when she sees her new best friend barreling wildly around the room chasing a sea otter in a Mythag hat, leaving a trail of demolished equipment in her wake.

You whistle casually, then quietly, ever so quietly...

...toss your calculus homework toward the sea otter's paws amidst the commotion.

In the blink of an eye, the homework turns into crumpled scraps, lying peacefully in a pile of waste paper.

Mythag, today too, is as friendly and peaceful as ever.

How wonderful. How truly, perfectly wonderful.