Lirion's seventh turning arrived under a sky painted in impossible colors—the merged realm's eternal dawn-dusk now swirled with soft auroras of silver, gold, and crimson.
The boy—no longer toddling, but a bright, curious child with three perfect eyes and wings that shimmered like living opal—was the joy of every court. His laughter rang in three-part harmony. When he sang, flowers bloomed out of season, minor wounds closed, and even the oldest seraphim felt their ancient hearts lighten.
His gift was song.
Not mere music. True Song—power older than words, woven from light, shadow, and the human spark of emotion.
Aurora and Cassiel watched him with quiet awe. Lilith and Ethan with fierce grandparental pride.
On the morning of his seventh birthday, Lirion woke before dawn. Slipped from his cloud-silk bed. Padded barefoot to the highest palace balcony overlooking the merged gardens.
He sang.
Soft at first—a lullaby Aurora hummed to him as a baby. Then stronger. Notes rising, weaving, reaching.
The Song carried farther than anyone expected.
Across the merged realm. Through stable gates. Into places beyond.
And something answered.
Far from the palace, in the quiet edges where merged reality thinned into raw possibility, a new rift opened.
Not void. Not light. Not shadow.
Something softer. Greener. Alive with wind and distant waves.
A world of endless oceans, floating islands, ancient forests that whispered secrets.
From the rift stepped a girl.
No older than Lirion in appearance. Skin sun-kissed bronze. Hair wild sea-green waves. Eyes deep ocean blue. Bare feet. Simple dress of woven leaves and shell beads. Behind her—small, translucent fins like a betta fish, shimmering rainbow.
She tilted her head—listening to the fading echo of Lirion's Song.
Then sang back.
One clear note.
Pure. Curious. Inviting.
The rift widened gentle.
Lirion felt it—like a friend calling from far away.
He ran inside—wings fluttering excited.
"Mama! Papa! Grandmama! Grandpapa! Someone sang to me!"
Family gathered swift.
Scrying pool activated—showing the rift, the girl waiting patient on the other side.
Lilith's tail flicked thoughtful. "Aqua Realm. One of the lost elemental planes. Sealed since the great separation."
Aurora knelt to Lirion's eye level. "What did her song feel like?"
"Like home," he said simple. "But a different home. She wants to meet."
Cassiel exchanged glance with Aurora—memory of their own first meetings.
Ethan smiled soft. "Then we answer politely."
Delegation prepared small but warm.
Aurora, Cassiel, Lirion (carried in father's arms), Lilith and Ethan.
They stepped through the rift.
The Aqua Realm unfolded breathtaking.
Endless turquoise ocean under sky of perpetual soft rainbows. Floating islands of coral and vine. Cascading waterfalls that fell upward into clouds. Schools of glowing fish dancing in air.
The girl waited on a coral bridge—bare feet dangling over water.
Up close, she was even more striking. Fins delicate, tail hidden but hinted in graceful movements. Eyes ancient despite young face.
"I am Nerida," she said, voice like waves on shore. "Daughter of the Tide Mother. Your song crossed the deep. It woke us."
Lirion reached out shy—tiny hand open.
Nerida took it gentle.
Warmth flared between them—soft blue meeting tri-color glow.
Both children smiled wide.
Aurora stepped forward. "We come in peace. Your realm… it's beautiful."
Nerida bowed slight. "Yours called to ours. The Song of Three Bloods thinned the final veils. Elemental planes stir. Earth, Air, Fire… they hear too."
Lilith's wings shifted. "And their intent?"
"Curious," Nerida said. "Like mine. We were separated to prevent imbalance. But your merged realm sings harmony. We wish to learn."
Invitation extended.
Stay. Explore. Sing together.
Days turned weeks.
Lirion and Nerida inseparable—flying over oceans (her riding air currents he created with song), diving deep (him breathing water through her gift), building coral castles that glowed with tri-light.
Friendship pure, bright, childlike.
But power grew.
When they sang duet—oceans calmed storms planets away. Islands bloomed new life. Lost elemental spirits woke smiling.
Aurora and Cassiel watched, remembering their own young love.
Lilith and Ethan walked coral beaches hand in hand.
"Another bridge," Ethan murmured.
Lilith's tail curled around his waist. "Our grandson builds them faster than we ever dreamed."
Evenings—family gathered on floating lily pads.
Stories shared. Songs exchanged.
Nerida's mother—the Tide Mother—appeared once. Massive, gentle form of living water and pearl.
Blessed the children. Blessed the union.
"Elemental planes will open slow," she whispered like tide. "Guided by the Song."
Return home eventual—but gates remained.
Nerida visited often—learning shadow fire, celestial flight, human stories.
Lirion visited Aqua—learning to swim depths, to speak with whales, to shape water with voice.
Friendship deepened—innocent, profound.
Years ahead clear.
Other elementals would come.
Fire first—fiery tempered but warm.
Air next—playful, free.
Earth last—steady, ancient.
Each bringing gifts.
Each finding harmony through the children's Song.
The great merging continued—not forced, but sung into being.
Lirion's voice the key.
Nerida's harmony the answer.
And in the palace—tradition unbroken.
Every visiting night's end—Lilith sealed doors.
Took Ethan to bed.
Slow worship.
Essence given.
Love returned.
Whispered against his skin.
"Our legacy sings across worlds now."
Ethan smiled, surrendering as always.
"Because you summoned one broken man… and loved him whole."
Climaxes shared quiet—windows open to hear distant duet of grandchildren's practice songs.
Realms expanded.
Family grew.
Love the constant thread.
Eternal Song.
To be continued…