Falling face-first into the sea, the icy shock of the water seized Cheon Areum's lungs before he could even gasp. The moment his body hit the surface, it plunged deeper, clothes dragging like anchors, and bubbles rushed past his ears in a dull sound.
He opened his eyes, salt stinging them to blink repeatedly, and flailed his limbs—desperately trying to replicate the swimming techniques he'd memorized through lectures and videos. He knew the theory, had watched enough tutorials to teach it himself. But his frail body had never been strong enough to actually try, and it showed. No matter how much he kicked, no matter how perfectly his arms cut through the water, he wasn't rising—he either sank deeper or remained stubbornly suspended in place.
Cheon Areum instantly stopped struggling, abandoning the futile attempt to swim. If his limbs wouldn't take him up, then he'd just use his abilities. Letting his body sink deeper into the cold, murky water, he closed his eyes and focused.
