I. Harbor Hideout & Hot Potato
Still panting from their shameful retreat, Rayan and his friends skidded into the old boathouse. Salted wind whipped through broken boards as they collapsed against mildew-scented barrels.
Rayan pressed his back to the wood, whispering, "So… we didn't kill his brother, but we DID insult his family dinner."
Yeon cradled his pike like a toddler clutches a comfort blanket. "My 'Dark Lord' rep is on life support."
Cezar peered through a crack, muttering, "Next time, I'm choosing the other barrel."
Tonio consulted an imaginary flowchart. "Our survival odds: negative infinity percent."
A soggy messenger lizard scuttled in, dropping a scroll before bolting.
Rayan unrolled it with trembling fingers:
"Report to Headmaster Elira. Immediately. No excuses. And bring… the Leviathan's apology letter."
They stared at the note like it had been written in dragon-blood.
Yeon: "You can't seriously want a letter from a sea-god?"
Rayan: "That's like asking for an eulogy."
With no dignity left, they trudged to the Academy courtyard, where Headmaster Elira waited beneath a banner reading "WELCOME… KIND OF."
II. Group Counseling with Elira
Elira's expression was a perfect blend of disappointment and amusement.
Elira: "You fled like mice in a cheese cellar."
Rayan: "We panicked sincere-ly."
Yeon: "He had feelings."
Elira: "Not 'it.' A he."
Cezar: "He eats crabs for breakfast."
Elira sighed. "You'll apologize in person and repair every coastal ward—no exceptions."
Elira (softly): "Because if you don't, his next visit won't include pleasantries."
III. Great Coastal Wardwork
Equipped with enchanted soap, scrubbing brushes, and one bucket of sparkling seawater, the four rebuilt the time-ward stones along the docks.
Rayan attempted the inscription, concluding with "May this ward never dine on us again."
Yeon penned a blood-ink apology: "Sorry, brother of Leviathan, for the smashing. Signed, Yeon."
Cezar hammered wards into place, narrating: "Not there, maybe there… what is north?"
Tonio cross-checked runes in his codex as algae dripped off his brow.
A sudden menace appeared: a gargantuan sea-scorpion the size of a wagon wheel, scuttling toward them. Yeon screamed and fired a blood-ink bolt—right into Rayan's back.
Rayan (yelping): "Could you not?!"
Yeon: "I thought ink was a good repellent!"
Cezar: "Nope."
IV. Leviathan's Inspection & Dark Mishap
The Leviathan glided in, each scale shimmering, eyes locked on the repaired wards.
Leviathan (echoing):
"Is this… worthy?"
Rayan stepped forward, voice shaking:
"Brother… we apologize. We panicked."
Yeon, attempting levity, blurted:
Yeon: "Maybe we tell him we only ate his fish sticks, not his fish family?"
Before Rayan could intervene, Tonio smacked Yeon across the face.
Yeon (rubbing cheek): "Oww—dark humor is an art!"
Rayan: "Not that dark!"
The Leviathan exhaled a wave of approval.
V. A Gesture of Good Faith
Cezar offered a half-cooked crab leg, trembling.
Cezar: "Token of peace?"
The Leviathan sniffed, then accepted it delicately.
Leviathan: "Acceptable."
It fluttered a fin, blessing the repaired wards with glowing runes.
VI. Leviathan's Departure & New Hunt
Leviathan: "I release you all from my wrath… such as it is."
"Consider yourself lucky."
It dove into the depths. Moments later, its voice echoed:
"My hunt calls me to the 100-kilometer trench. Pray you stay off my menu."
The four exhaled in relief—until Yeon quipped:
Yeon: "At least we're not on that menu."
Rayan elbowed him.
VII. Aftermath & Dark Humor Penalty
The boathouse grew still. Yeon cracked a grin.
Yeon: "Guys, is it weird I'm hungry?"
Rayan glared and smacked him gently.
Rayan: "Not funny."
Yeon: "Worth it."
Cezar: "One more "fish sticks" joke, and I feed you to sea-scorpions."
Tonio (shaking head): "Let's go before the next apex predator texts us."
They limped away, battered but alive—wiser about apologies and dark humor consequences.
End Of Chapter 25