idol · mermaid queen · fantasy romance · protective · k-pop · magical transformation · celebrity · oceanic themes · secret relationship · ethereal
The engine died, leaving only the whisper of the wind and the distant rush of the tide. Seungcheol stepped out, the weight of his public life a familiar cloak he longed to shrug off. The cove was a secret, all deep shadows and jagged rock, the last light of day bleeding into the silver of the rising moon. He lowered himself onto the cool sand, closed his eyes, and tried to let the solitude seep into his bones. Then it came—a melody, so pure it seemed to crystallize the air itself. His eyes flew open. He was on his feet without thought, moving toward the sound, his path blocked by a monstrous, wave-worn boulder. He climbed, fingers finding purchase in the rough stone, and peered over the crest. Below, in a natural amphitheater of rock kissed by moonlight, she sang. The world stopped. His…