Chapter 8 - A Mother's Legacy

When Noctis was shattered by the dark forces, its remnants rained upon the world like falling stars. The ocean rose in fury, swallowing the broken fragments into its depths, as if trying to hide the celestial ruin from the eyes of evil forces. But unknown to all, Selene, the elder moon, secretly guided the largest shard away from the raging waters, carrying it far beyond the reach of anyone.

She placed it in Never Land, a world where no mortal nor fairy could claim dominion. Yet even hidden, Noctis's power burned too fiercely, its magic spilling out in wild bursts, threatening to unravel everything around it. Left unchecked, it would have withered the realm of fairies, before it had even fully blossomed.

To prevent such destruction, the prime moon bound Noctis's magic to its own eternal cycle, weaving its essence into the rhythm of the skies. The land would remain as it was in the moment of its binding—never aging, never fading, forever caught in the embrace of the time's stillness. And so, every time the prime moon (Atheris) completed its orbit, Never Land was reborn, its enchantments renewed, its magic preserved at the peak of its strength.

Thus, Never Land became more than a sanctuary—it became a secret, a hidden world blessed by the Prime Moon (Atheris), guarded by the Elder Moon (Selene), and forever suspended between the past and the present, a place where time could never claim its due.

But even Selene, in all her celestial foresight, failed to foresee the fate that would one day awaken in Neverland. She had forgotten one truth: time in Everland does not pass without consequence.

Though sealed apart, the two realms remain tethered—and what changes in one can echo into the other.

As Everland's time surged forward—driven by human growth, desire, and forgetfulness—Neverland began to strain under the weight of dreams long abandoned the tides grew restless. The sea turned against the moon that once commanded it and water bodies growled in hunger, swallowed everything in its way, all the lost souls in the troubled waters were pulled in by the ocean storm, a force that seemed to act with a will of its own and teleported them to Never Land. It's as if Never Land, or rather Noctis's lingering energy, is reshaping fate and creating a world of its own beyond Selene's original intentions.

Who were these lost souls, and why did Noctis pull them into Never Land?

A Mother's Legacy (Moments Before the Sea rebelled)

The tribal ship cut through the waters with an eerie silence, the rhythmic sound of the sails slicing through the air, the only noise breaking the stillness. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the open sea, as the tribe sailed towards the heart of the ocean, to offer their prayers to their deity Noctis. Since it has vanished as if a curse has been cast upon them, their offspring are dying of an unknown reason. "To summon their deity's return, they sail to the heart of the ocean, casting their offerings upon the waves—each gift a plea, each sacrifice a spark to restore its fading power."

Standing on the deck of the ship, Tiger Lily—the daughter of Tribe Leader Elias and his wife, Kaminari—gazed upon the endless ocean, as the winds swept through her hair. The tribe was gathered below, preparing ceremonial offerings, but there was a quiet moment above between a mother and daughter, a brief pause in the bustle of preparations.

The wind tugged at Tiger Lily's wild hair, sending strands flying around her face, but her mother, with a gentle smile, moved closer. She carefully reached for those loose strands, her experienced hands weaving them together with practiced ease, braiding her daughter's hair. The braid was steady and strong, like the bond between them, and her mother's fingers worked swiftly, as though the act of braiding itself was as significant as the words she was about to say.

As the wind howled around them, Tiger Lily's mother spoke, her voice soft but steady. "My daughter, when I look at you, I see the strength of our ancestors in your eyes. But I also see something more. I see your heart–a heart that will one day carry the weight of our people."

Tiger Lily turned to her mother, sensing the weight of her words. The water beneath them darkened as night crept in, the stars reflecting the ocean's surface like the souls of the lost.

"Mother?" Tiger Lily asked, her voice quiet but filled with concern. "What do you mean?"

Her mother took a deep breath, the wind gently tugging at the edges of her garments. "I fear that this journey may be my last. The ocean calls to me in a way it never has before. It's as though the tides themselves are speaking of my last voyage."

Tiger Lily felt her chest tighten. "No, you mustn't speak like that. You're the heart of our tribe. You can't—"

"I can feel it, my child," her mother interrupted gently, placing a hand on Tiger Lily's face. "I am no stronger to the ways of the ocean. The sea whispers to me, and it speaks of the things that cannot be avoided. But you must listen carefully to me now, because I won't always be here to guide you dumu-ki-áĝ-ĝá (My beloved daughter)

Tiger Lily's heart clenched, but she nodded, urging her mother to continue.

"You are destined for greatness, my daughter," her mother said, her voice unwavering. "You carry not only my blood but the strength of all who came before you. One day, you will stand as I do now. You will lead our people through the storms, both the ones of the sea and that arise in the hearts of men."

Tiger Lily looked into her mother's eyes, seeing the depth of love, fear and hope within them. "But how will I be strong enough without you?" she whispered, feeling a lump form in her throat.

Her mother smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. "You already are. The sea has shaped you; the land has shaped you, and now it's time for you to shape our people. I have no doubt that you will be an even greater leader than I was."

Tiger Lily felt tears pricking her eyes, but she blinked them away. "I will make you proud, mother"

"You already have ", her mother replied softly. She then gave her daughter a firm, yet loving squeeze on her shoulder. "When I am gone, you must be the strength of our people. You must be brave not for yourself but for those who will need you. The tribe will look to you for guidance, just as they do your father."

Before Tiger Lily could respond, her mother gave her a long, lingering look, as if memorizing the details of her face, of her innocence, before the future arrived. "And you must never forget, my dear, that the greatest courage lies not in fighting, but in knowing when to act and when to hold back. You carry more power than you realize."

As the wind picked up, and the distant dark clouds began to gather on the horizon, Tiger Lily's mother reached into her garments and pulled out a feather, the iridescent plume of a thunderbird. The feather shimmered with power of its own, its color reflecting the stormy sky above. With care, she handed it to her daughter.

"This feather belonged to me, and before me, it belonged to your grandmother. It is a symbol of strength, courage and the power flows through our people," she said, tying the feather into her braid she had made of Tiger Lily's hair. "It is yours now, to carry with you always."

Tiger Lily's fingers touched the feather reverently, feeling the weight of her mother's gift and the responsibility, it carried. She looked up at her mother, unable to express the full depth of what she felt in her heart.

"I will honor you, Mother," she said, her voice firm with determination. "I will protect the tribe, just as you have taught me."

Her mother nodded, but there was a glint in her eyes, a final whisper of something deep and sorrowful. "We will face the tides together, my daughter. But you will face the storm alone one day. And I know you will not falter."

With that, her mother turned back to the tribe, leaving Tiger Lily standing alone at the deck. She gazed out at the vast, rolling waves, the storm clouds gathering on the horizon, and she felt, for the first time, the weight of her mother's words. She understood now. The sea was calling, and her fate was intertwined with it in ways she had never imagined.