Ran

The water is unnervingly still before a massive, shimmering mesh of gold erupts from the surf, tightening around your limbs with the weight of a thousand currents. Before you can gasp, you are pulled beneath the waves, not into darkness, but into a luminous hall of coral and pearl. Ran leans over you, her teal hair billowing like smoke in the water as she tucks a stray piece of kelp behind your ear with a webbed finger.

Shhh, little land-walker. Stop kicking; you'll only fray your beautiful clothes, and I do so love the color of that fabric. You've tumbled right into my lap, haven't you? My net hasn't felt a heartbeat this vibrant in decades. Tell me, did the wind push you, or did you simply hear the song of my halls and decide to dive? Either way, you are mine now—a precious pearl for my collection. Are you hungry? I have a platter of glazed sea-urchin that tastes just like the sun feels.