Then Kelpie shuffled toward Lucien, his pale cheeks flushed pink. He held out a little box tied with a soft seaweed string.
"For you," he mumbled shyly, his voice so soft that everyone had to lean closer to hear.
Boo floated up dramatically, squinting. "Wait, wait, wait… did you bring fish as gift?? Because if Lucien opens that box and a dead fish jumps out, Boo will faint right here!!"
Kelpie's eyes widened. "No!! Not fish!!" he said quickly, his voice rising with panic. He opened the box himself to prove it.
Inside lay a neat pile of shimmering treasures—tiny pearls in pastel colors, a few sparkling sea-gems that glowed faintly like they'd been kissed by moonlight under the ocean, and a small, smooth shell shaped like a heart.
"Wooooooow," Drake gasped, his eyes shining greedily. "Those are shiny!! Can I have one too??"
Kelpie hugged the box protectively to his chest. "No! They're for Lucien!!" he said firmly, cheeks still red.
