Alright! I have heard your pleas. Here is one last chapter. Perhaps there will be a little more in the future. But for now, enjoy this true final chapter!

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The ocean's currents were wild with anger. The water churned in turmoil, as though it too mourned the loss of their goddess. Alaria—the heart of the sea—had left them, and the ocean raged in her absence. The human girl had returned to the land dwellers, leaving behind the waters she was meant to rule. The goddess was gone. It was unforgivable. The ocean, vast and eternal, was at a loss.

The Elders of Neridia had gathered once again, just as they had when Kaelen had first brought forward the issue of choosing a human as his mate. The Mate Call had answered, drawing him to her, and they had seen no reason to stop him.

There were strict rules among the Merfolk—no human was ever to see them. Yet, when the ocean called, it was a different matter. The goddess Alaria had blessed their world, uniting mates through the call of the sea itself. It was a rare and sacred gift, even if it meant a merman would have to bring a human into their world.

But now, they faced a crisis. The human girl, Celestara Alaria, had returned to land. She was of their world, yet she no longer remembered it. She had no memories of being their goddess—only the instincts of a human girl who wanted nothing more than to return to her family. Her silence could destroy them all.

The Elders sat in grave silence. If she spoke of the sea, of the Merfolk, even of her true name, they could be exposed. The ocean's sacred secrets could be torn apart, bringing doom to their hidden world. Yet, she was part of them. She belonged to the sea, and they had no choice but to bring her back.

If only Kaelen had performed the ritual sooner, if only the priestess had not stopped it. But what was done was done, and now they had only one course of action left. They would bring Celestara Alaria back to their world. And they would do whatever it took to make sure she stayed.

Kaelen sat in the empty cave where Alaria—no, Aria—had once resided. His heart was broken, shattered into countless pieces. The cave echoed with silence, the place that had once been filled with her laughter now empty, void of the warmth she had brought. He missed her. She was his chosen, his mate. The ocean's call had never been more clear, more undeniable, than that moment when he had first seen her. They were meant to be together.

But he had let her go. He had allowed her to return to the human world, to leave the sea behind, much to the Elders' displeasure. He had seen the sadness in her eyes, the uncertainty, the conflict. She had been so determined, so headstrong, wanting to return to her family, to her home. He understood—he did. But she belonged to the ocean.

Wasn't there a saying among humans? "If you love them, let them go." But he never realized how painful it would be to let her leave. He had thought it was the right thing to do, but now the ache in his chest was constant. The sadness, the regret, the knowledge that he might never see her again.

Tears fell, silent and sorrowful, from his glowing blue eyes. He had hurt her, and yet he missed her desperately. He needed her by his side.

"Kaelen," a voice called softly from behind him.

He turned, startled, his heart sinking. It was Seppia. His closest friend. His oldest friend. The one he had betrayed.

Her wounds, still fresh, were a constant reminder of his actions. She had tried to stop him. Tried to stop the ritual that might have saved them all. He didn't know how to apologize. He had no words. No amount of regret could change what had been done.

"I'm sorry, Seppia," Kaelen whispered, his voice raw with guilt. "I never meant to hurt you. I know words won't be enough, but... I'm truly sorry."

Seppia paused, her expression softening. A faint smile tugged at her lips. Her green tail flicked nervously behind her. "I know," she said quietly. "I know you're sorry, Kaelen."

Kaelen stared at her, disbelief in his eyes. "Wait... what?"

"I know you're sorry," Seppia repeated, her smile growing ever so slightly. "But that's not why I'm here."

Kaelen furrowed his brow. She looked so serious, so nervous. She wasn't afraid of him, not anymore. No, the fear in her eyes was different—this was something else. Someone else.

"It's Aria," Seppia said, her voice trembling with the weight of her words. "The Elders have decided. Celestara Alaria must return to the sea, no matter the cost. She is to become one with the ocean and rule by your side."

Kaelen's heart broke and swelled all at once. He didn't want her forced back into their world. He had tried to give her freedom, to let her go. But if the Elders were determined, if they insisted she be with him, then how could he refuse?

She belonged with him. She was his chosen, and they would be united as the rulers of the sea. The oceans had called her to him, and no force in the world could break that bond.

But she had been free. And he had let her go.

"I need to find her," Kaelen murmured, determination lighting a fire in his chest.

Seppia nodded, her face serious. "You should hurry. The warriors are already searching for her. She's not safe, Kaelen. They won't stop until she's back where she belongs."

Kaelen swam toward the shore with all the speed he could muster. Every day, he had come here, hoping to find her—to bring her back. He had promised himself that if he ever saw her again, he would take her by force if he had to. He couldn't bear the thought of the Elders' warriors taking her. She deserved to be with him, in the sea, where she truly belonged.

He stopped at the beach, his heart racing in his chest. And there she was.

She stood there, her brown hair flowing in the wind, her gaze fixed on the horizon. He watched from the shadows, unable to tear his eyes away. She was beautiful, but something in her posture was different. There was a distance, an emptiness between them.

"I don't hate you," her voice floated toward him, carried by the wind. "But I can't come back. What you felt for me—it wasn't love."

Her words pierced his heart, yet they were also a bittersweet relief. She didn't hate him. She didn't hate him.

The wind tugged at her hair again, and Kaelen found himself aching to reach out, to touch her, to run his fingers through the soft locks he had once loved. The ocean's call was clear—he should go to her, he should pull her back into his arms. But he didn't. He stayed still, frozen in place, imagining what it would be like to touch her again.

"I hope you find peace," she said, her voice firm now, her resolve clear. "But I need to live my life now. And this is goodbye."

His heart shattered, but there was nothing he could do. He had let her go. She had made her choice.

But still, Kaelen couldn't let go. The warriors would come for her. The Elders would stop at nothing. He couldn't allow it.

"Lanka Selor," they both whispered, the words soft in the wind.

But she didn't hear him. She didn't look back. She walked away, her form growing smaller with each step.

Kaelen stood there, staring at her retreating figure, knowing that part of him would always belong to her. She didn't need to come back. She would never belong to the sea again. But he couldn't help but wish, deep in his heart, that the Elders' plans would work—that they would bring her back to him.

Until then...

A sly smile curved his lips, despite the aching in his chest.

"Until then, my beautiful Celestara Alaria."