Far below the surface, the sirens regrouped in the shadows of the deep ocean.
One of the warriors, a burly figure with scars running across his scaled chest, spoke with frustration. "Chief, why did we comply? This is our territory. With our numbers, we could have overwhelmed the ship, even if it carried a wizard."
The 'mermaid leader' turned to him, her expression somber but firm. "And what would that achieve? Do you know how our strength compares to what it once was?"
The warrior fell silent, but his jaw tightened in defiance.
She continued, her voice low but sharp. "At our peak, we ruled these seas. We built an empire beneath the waves, tamed the fiercest beasts, and commanded elite armies. And now? We're a shadow of what we once were. One wizard could wipe out our entire tribe if they so wished. That ship carries not just a wizard but the future of their kind."