At the water's edge, Logan noticed only one creature waiting—its sleek body breaking the surface as it looked up at him with bright, intelligent eyes. It resembled a dolphin, though with an ethereal shimr to its skin that hinted at sothing more.
Logan tilted his head, unimpressed at first. "Is that it?"
Victor chuckled behind him. "Haha, the other one must be shy. Don't let appearances fool you—this one's among the smartest creatures in the sea… maybe even the world."
He stepped beside Logan and pointed to the dolphin-like beast.
"I chose it for a reason. It's a dual-elental—light and water. A rare and powerful combination, and perfect for this journey. But that's not all. It's already absorbed plenty of crystals and should be ready to evolve as soon as it's tad."
Victor's tone softened a little. "This little one was found after the demon attack. Likely separated from its pod in the chaos… it's been alone since. With your help, we believe it can grow strong enough to survive in these waters without needing constant support."
Logan watched the creature carefully now, noting the flickers of mana dancing along its dorsal fin.
"And there's more," Victor continued. "If you can establish a few aquatic creatures around these shores, we'll be able to stabilize the area. Lady Elara is already preparing to cultivate water elental crystals here. With enough effort, we may be able to form a new Temple of Water."
He paused, glancing toward Elara. "If your aquatic beasts thrive and the mana conditions are t, the island might just accommodate a new sanctuary."
Lady Elara nodded, stepping forward. "We'll talk more about that on the ship. For now, I need to finalize our departure roster. I'll oversee which of my naval units are joining us."
She turned sharply, her black feathered captain's hat catching the light, and strode off with two guards following close behind.
"Guess she wants to speak to you alone later," Victor said with a grin. "She hasn't given her thanks yet. Don't mind her—she's just carrying a lot on her shoulders right now."
Ms. Claire stood quietly beside them and offered a knowing nod. She had spent nearly half a month in the Pearl Isles and already understood the burden Lady Elara carried.
"Logan, I won't be going with you this ti," Ms. Claire said, her voice calm but firm. "But I hope your trip goes well. Please keep updated if anything happens. I'll stay here to assist with the reconstruction and should return to Rosethorn by the end of the week—if all goes as planned."
She stood beside her companion, the large earthen roc that Logan had tad so ti ago. The beast was calmly standing next to his teacher, its feathers a mix of muted browns and deep green streaks with what looked like a roosters comb which showed bright red on top of its head. While it hadn't grown as massive as Logan's creatures, its fra was clearly built for speed and flight efficiency, more aerodynamic than bulky.
Ms. Claire adjusted the collar of her navy-blue long coat, the edges brushing against the tight formal pants she wore—matching the uniform of the Pearl Isles naval officers.
Logan gave a respectful nod, appreciating her calming presence even if she wouldn't be coming along this ti.
He turned his gaze back toward the dolphin-like creature now splashing happily near the dock. Workers were tossing small fish into the water, and the beast playfully leapt up to catch them mid-air, letting out short, echoing chirps of joy as it twirled back down with practiced grace.
It was clearly intelligent. And clearly enjoying itself.
"Hey, I'm not going down there to ta it," Logan said, waving off the idea with a smirk. "So… hand a fish. I'll do it my way."
Taking the offered fish, he pricked his finger and let a few drops of blood drip onto it. The crimson sheen soaked into the scales—but didn't spread. Logan used Serana's blood magic to control the flow, keeping it suspended, undigested.
Off to the side, Serana's eyes followed his hand with intense interest. She licked her lips at the sight of fresh blood being used so casually. Logan caught her stare and winked—his silent promise the vampire a share later.
He then tossed the fish toward the dolphin.
As it arced through the air, the blood detached, guided by Logan's will. Before the dolphin could bite down, the blood landed softly on its fin—then seeped into its body, the mark beginning to form.
The creature flinched, confused. Its mind pushed back instinctively—but just then, Victor Rosengard stepped forward and tossed several shimring water-elental crystals into the sea.
The dolphin imdiately twisted in the water, its attention shifting from the fish to the glowing crystals. It surged forward, abandoning the food in favor of the mana-rich prize.
"There. That should make it easier. Now hurry and finish it—I want to see what happens," Victor said eagerly, eyes fixed on the beast.
Within seconds, the ter-long dolphin began to grow—its body stretching and expanding until it reached nearly two ters in length. Its coloration lightened to a luminous silver-gray, and across its sides, glowing lines began to erge.
They looked like a fusion of runes and circuit-like patterns—thin, radiant trails of blue light that pulsed softly with every breath it took.
Logan narrowed his eyes, intrigued. He had never seen a creature evolve with markings like these.
Victor Rosengard stepped closer, equally captivated.
"Well now… that's sothing new," the Earl murmured, watching as the newly evolved dolphin broke the surface with a proud leap, glowing patterns shimring under the sun.
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Na: Thalas Species: Luminous Tidecaller Dolphin Level: 62 / Blood Mark: Left Pectoral Fin / Loyalty: 14/100
Str: 56 / Agi: 67 / Dex: 58 / Con: 48 / Int: 72 / Char: 68
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Hydrobeam Pulse: Fires a concentrated jet of pressurized water mixed with light mana, capable of piercing armor and stunning targets on impact.
Mirage Swim: Bends light around its body while subrged, making it nearly invisible in water. Can be used to evade or sneak past enemies.
Gleaming Wake: Leaves behind a trail of radiant water that heals allies slightly and blinds enemies who step into it.
Lun Echo: Emits a sonar burst infused with light magic, revealing hidden enemies and lowering their resistance to elental damage for a short ti.
Aegis Wave: Sends out a ring of mana-infused water that acts as a temporary shield around allies. Reduces incoming magic and elental damage.
Blessed Surge (New): Channels ambient water and light mana to temporarily boost its Intelligence and Charisma. While active, all healing and detection-based abilities are strengthened.
Runic Pulse Surge: Using its runes, Thala's body activate in a ripple sequence, emitting a synchronized mana pulse. This pulse travels through water, chaining between enemies like an electric current, dealing light-infused water damage and disrupting magic around its surrounding.
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