Atlantis artificial sky was bathed in the soft glow of the Sun Siren. The city shimmered like a jewel at the bottom of the ocean, but Hope's eyes were not on the city.
They were on the girl beside him.
Princess Elara stood still, gazing at the radiant city below. The wind, or rather the artificial current created beneath the sea, brushed her short white hair across her face. In her eyes rested a weariness and wisdom far beyond her age.
"Starfallen…" Hope repeated, trying to process what she had said earlier. "Starfallen. Is that just a cool name, or a technical term?"
Elara smiled faintly but did not take her eyes off the city.
"Do you think this world, this System, these Dungeons… all came into existence randomly, Hope?"
She lifted her hand, closing her fingers as if grasping invisible dust.
"You already know the legend. The Rift catastrophe and how the First Architect sealed it. Everyone knows that story… because that was the event that changed the world. The world was facing annihilation fueled by humanity's fear. Creatures pouring from the Rift destroyed everything. But then a being appeared. It eradicated all the monsters and closed the Rift."
Hope frowned. "Yes, I've heard it. Since I share the same class as the First Architect, people say that makes me extremely powerful."
"Yes," Elara said, finally turning toward him. "Now let me tell you what you don't know. The 'curse' inside Lypin… the thing you call Starfallen… is actually an Architect. As far as we know, besides you, there are twelve more Architects in this world. They formed a union called STARFALLEN. We categorize them as the Twelve Zodiac."
She stepped closer.
"According to what is known, each of them once governed an aspect of the universe. But then… something happened. A Fall. They lost their former power. I don't know how accurate the legend is, but I believe they are Architects, just like you."
Elara locked eyes with Hope.
"That little healer friend of yours… Lypin. The energy I feel inside her is not ordinary. It feels very similar to yours. That cannot be coincidence."
She took another step forward.
"Tell me, Hope. Have you ever seen Lypin use abilities outside of healing? Offensive or defensive skills? Something… unusual?"
Hope scanned through his memories.
The Obsidian Alpha battle.Lypin's glowing eyes.The silver light she used.
"Yes," Hope said slowly. "Recently… she started using moon-themed abilities. Silver light. And she can manipulate gravity with that lunar power."
Elara nodded. A knowing expression crossed her face.
"As I suspected," she said. "The one inside Lypin… is Cancer."
"Cancer?" Hope blinked. "You mean… there's a crab inside her? Like a shellfish?"
Elara exhaled deeply and pressed a hand to her forehead.
"You are truly… unbelievable," she said, exhausted. "Metaphor, Hope. Symbolism. The Zodiac. We define the Starfallen through constellations. Lypin's Starfallen corresponds to Cancer. The ruler of the Moon. The Starfallen within her is the lost Lunar Architect."
Hope remained silent for a moment, processing.
"So…" he said slowly. "Lypin carries the soul of one of the twelve Architects currently alive in this world?"
Then he muttered to himself.
"That explains why she's so emotional and cries so much. I read that Cancer signs are sensitive. Statistically consistent."
Elara stared at him in disbelief.
"That's what you're focusing on? We're talking about the power of an Architect!"
She leaned toward him, narrowing her eyes.
"Sometimes I can't decide whether you're a genius or a complete idiot. You can bend the laws of physics and analyze dungeons, yet you can't grasp simple mythology."
Hope straightened his shoulders.
"Hey!" he protested playfully. "I am highly intelligent. Especially in physics, mathematics, and structural analysis. My IQ is significantly above standard deviation."
"Yes," Elara giggled. "But when it comes to emotions, relationships, and general culture, you're no different than a newborn."
Hope crossed his arms and turned his head away.
"Hmph. I'm sulking right now."
Elara burst into genuine laughter. Not the polite palace kind. Real, bright laughter.
"You're sulking? Oh no, I'm terrified," she teased, lightly punching his arm. "Come on, Baby Architect. I'll show you something you won't be able to sulk about."
"Where?"
"To explore Atlantis," she winked. "I'm a Princess, remember? There isn't a door that won't open for me."
Atlantis Royal Gardens – Thirty Minutes Later
Elara had kept her promise.
They exited through the back gates of the palace and entered the Royal District, forbidden to tourists and common citizens.
It was quieter than the rest of the city, yet far more enchanting.
The paths were made of drifting pearls. The trees bore transparent crystals instead of leaves, and tiny fish swam within those crystals.
Elara walked ahead, shaping the surrounding water with her hands. Sometimes she formed small birds from water and sent them flying. Other times she altered the current into rings swirling around Hope.
"Wow…" Hope murmured, touching one of the water rings. "How are you doing this? It doesn't look like you're spending mana. It's like… the water obeys you."
"Because I am the Daughter of the Ocean," Elara said proudly. "Our lineage is the only one capable of commanding Leviathans. For us, water is not an element. It is a limb."
She paused. Her smile faded.
"But it is… a lonely power," she said softly. "People fear me, Hope. Even my own people. The guards, the servants… they respect me, but no one truly approaches me. They know that if I lose control, I could bring the ocean down upon them."
Hope looked at her and saw the fragile girl beneath the noble strength.
"I'm not afraid," he said.
Elara turned to him.
"I know. That's the strange part. You're different. You're not intimidated by my power, my status, or my dangerous nature. You're… curious about me."
She smiled shyly.
"For the first time, I'm spending time with someone who is special and lonely like me. I think… you might be my first real friend."
Hope smiled.
"Friend. I like that term. An efficient type of relationship."
Elara rolled her eyes.
"You ruined the moment again! I was trying to be emotional and you switched to analysis!"
"That's my nature!"
"Oh really? Then let me show you the power of nature!"
She ran toward the massive ornamental pool in the center of the garden. The water was deep and crystal clear.
"Watch!" she said excitedly. "I'll show you a spell I've been working on. It's very rare."
She stepped to the edge and spread her arms.
A blue aura surrounded her. The water rose in response to her call.
"Look, Hope! I can make the water dance!"
She spun on her toes. The water rose around her like a spiraling vortex.
It was breathtaking.
But in her excitement, she misjudged her footing. The marble was slick.
Her foot slipped.
"Ah!"
She lost her balance and crashed into the pool.
SPLASH!
The water vortex collapsed, drenching Hope.
"Elara!" Hope rushed to the edge. "Are you okay?"
The water stilled.
But what surfaced was not the same girl.
At least… she no longer had legs.
Where her elegant legs had been, a long, shimmering turquoise tail extended from her waist down. The scales glistened like diamonds as it swayed gently beneath the water.
Gills opened behind her ears. Translucent fins formed along her arms and back. Her eyes turned completely blue.
This was her true form.
Her Siren form.
Elara rose slightly above the surface. Her hair clung to her face.
When she noticed her tail, pure horror filled her eyes.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hide the tail beneath the water.
"Don't look!" she shouted, trembling. "Don't look! I'm disgusting! I look like a monster!"
Most humans and other races fled when they saw this form. Or stared in revulsion. Even Prince Nereus considered noble sirens using this form a sign of low refinement.
Hope blinked.
Then a huge grin spread across his face.
His eyes sparkled.
"WHOA!" he shouted. "YOU HAVE A TAIL?!"
Elara froze. "What?"
Hope crouched at the edge of the pool, nearly falling in.
"This is incredible!" he said in awe. "Look at that scale arrangement! The geometry is perfect! And those fins look amazing. You must swim incredibly fast with this. Does the color provide camouflage? That's so cool!"
Elara was speechless.
"You… aren't disgusted? You're not afraid?"
"Why would I be?" Hope said. "This is unbelievably beautiful. Legs are inefficient in water. But with that tail… you could split the ocean itself!"
He extended his hand.
"Can I touch it? Please! I just want to examine the texture."
Elara's cheeks flushed red.
Her shame dissolved into a strange warmth. For the first time in her life, someone saw not her monster side… but her magnificent one.
Slowly, she approached and lifted her tail slightly above the surface.
"Okay…" she whispered. "But be gentle."
Hope brushed his fingers against the cold, gleaming scales.
"Perfect…" he murmured.
At that exact moment—
Heavy footsteps and the clatter of armor echoed from the garden entrance.
"SOMEONE IS HERE!"
"NOISE FROM THE ROYAL POOL! BREACH!"
Elara flinched. They were drenched. They were in a restricted zone. And she had been in her Siren form.
"Damn it!" she hissed.
She leapt from the water. Midair, her tail shimmered and vanished, transforming back into human legs the moment she landed. But she lost balance and crashed into Hope.
They rolled onto the wet grass.
Lantern lights approached through the trees.
"Quick!" Elara whispered, grabbing his hand and pulling him behind a bush. "My father's guards! If they see us like this… they'll throw you in prison and lock me in my room!"
Hope peeked through the leaves. His heart pounded.
"What do we do?"
Elara leaned close to his ear. Her wet hair brushed his cheek.
"We run," she said, a playful glint in her eyes. "I have a secret passage."
But the lights were too close.
And emerging from the shadows was not only the guards.
A larger.
Darker.
Silhouette.
Hope swallowed.
"I think…" he whispered, "…it's too late to use that secret passage."