Chapter 13: Saltwind Rising

Nestled where tide met treeline, June commissioned Saltwind—a semi-submerged village designed to honor Mer-Folk tradition while blending with eco-tech innovation. Coral spires pulsed with bioluminescent light, forming aquatic halls linked by kelp-fiber walkways. Song currents—sonic streams encoded with messages—whispered through water paths, carrying ancient chants and new proposals alike.

Yet not all was harmonious.

A faction of younger Mer-Folk, led by the ambitious tide-seer Rylas, argued for immediate expansion and martial readiness. "We cannot swim in shallow ponds while the land prepares fleets," he warned. "The surface will not protect us. It never has."

Elder Marell responded with dignity. "Saltwind was not built for war, but remembrance."

To settle the divide, June initiated a Memory Mirage—a full-immersion projection woven through the System Hall. He chose a grim episode: the Deepfall Accord, where a once-great aquatic empire fractured under greed and internal division.

The simulation pulled viewers into ghostly ruins, where golden coral once glimmered. Faded voices argued, alliances cracked, and guardians drowned by their own pride.

Silence followed the vision.

June stepped forward. "Expansion means nothing without unity. Power without heritage is just driftwood in a storm."

Rylas relented—partially. "Then let our roots grow before our waves surge."

Saltwind flourished not just as a settlement, but as a dialogue between generations—a cultural tide tuned to the frequency of peace.