dae_jeong_ina

In a windswept solsticea town, a young painter with a mysterious figure in his dreams. With each stroke of his brush, he creates a painting of a beautiful woman lying on rocks near the exact same beach he lives in. The woman is no ordinary woman. However, when the painting is finished, the water on the canvas appears as real as a river, and from within it, the Goddess of the Sea emerges from the painting and is reborn into the mortal world.

The painter, however, is no ordinary man—he is a descendant of an ancient bloodline connected to the gods. The goddess, who was once imprisoned within the canvas by the gods of the sky, believes that this man is the key to freeing herself completely and reclaiming all her powers.

Will the man give himself up to restore the goddess's powers? Or will he become the final sacrifice in a destiny that has been written for thousands of years?

Celestial : heart of the ocean

The sound of the cathedral bells echoed throughout the city of Solsticea, breaking the serene silence. Celestia walked slowly along the streets in the city center. She was not with Lean this time—he was busy with his business outside the city, leaving Celestia to explore alone.

Her long black hair fell gracefully, fluttering gently whenever the wind blew. The diamond on her forehead shone dimly under the light, attracting the attention of several passersby. They whispered, captivated by her beauty that seemed out of this world.

Celestia stared at the large cathedral at the end of the street. The building towered high, with stained glass windows sparkling in the twilight. The sound of the bells ringing from the tower grew louder, as if calling her to come closer.

She stepped closer to the cathedral courtyard, the air inside felt cooler,

"This place… feels different," she murmured softly.

She was still staring at the cathedral. However, as she was about to take a step further, a soft voice sounded behind her.

In front of her stood an old man in a white robe with an old cane, his eyes sharp but calm. His gaze seemed to be able to see something hidden behind Celestia's presence.

"I... was just taking a walk," Celestia answered carefully.

The old man smiled faintly. "Your eyes reflect the vast ocean. But, there is something deeper than that... something from another world."

Celestia froze. The man's words stabbed right into her heart.

"Who are you?" she asked in a lower voice.

The man stepped closer to her with old sandals ringing. "Just a guard of this place. A mark like the one on your forehead... he was in a very ancient time."

"The past. A symbol of something long forgotten"

Celestia was getting more curious. Her heart was beating erratically.

The man stared at her for a long time before finally saying, "You will soon find out, O Goddess of the Sea."

The sound of the bells rang again, echoing throughout the city. Celestia bit her lip, feeling that something big was waiting for her—something that might change her entire life in this mortal world.

"You will find your answer later, goddess, not now."

Her eyes stared at the man warily. "Who are you really, why did you suddenly speak like that? What do you know about my ocean?"

The old man smiled faintly and chuckled as he gently held the diamond sign "bless you, goddess

Celestia fell silent. "I don't understand…"

"A goddess should not love a human, because love can change the fate of the world." The old man said

Those words pierced her heart deeply. Without her realizing it, it was as if something had been forgotten or overlooked….

The man stared at her with sharp eyes, as if understanding something. He took a deep breath, then said slowly, "You will know everything later, the Keeper of Time will tell you in the future."

The man smiled mysteriously. "The time has not come. But... remember one thing, goddess. Take and reclaim what is yours..."

Celestia turned to the bell tower outside the cathedral's glass window. Its chimes sounded deeper, as if they had a greater meaning than just a time marker.

When she turned back to the old man—

Chapter 9