Thalassios stared at the house that was now his—a neglected relic inherited from his late grandfather. After years of university and countless dreams of a fresh start, he finally had the chance to begin anew — though not in the way he had imagined.

 

 

The peeling paint, grimy windows, and creaking door greeted him like ghosts from the past.

 

 

 

 

Inside, the living room was sparse: a battered, scratched TV, a worn-out couch, an ancient refrigerator that groaned with every opening, and a dust-covered stove. The only modern touch was a cheap, ill-fitted bed—a stark reminder of his meager funds.

 

Before leaving the house, Thalassios sought a moment of solitude.

 

 

He made his way to the small, cramped bathroom and stepped into the shower.

 

 

 

As the lukewarm water cascaded over him, the steam filled the room, blurring the edges of reality. Lost in thought, he became mesmerized by the rhythmic patter of water when suddenly the scene shifted.

 

 

For a brief, disorienting moment, the shower transformed into an endless, shadowy sea. The water deepened, and from the murk emerged a mysterious figure — a mermaid with eyes like liquid silver and hair flowing like seaweed. Before Thalassios could react, he reached out and grasped his wrist with a delicate yet unyielding grip.

 

A soft, echoing whisper filled his ears, “Thalassios…” The sound stirred feelings both terrifying and strangely comforting. He struggled as his pull intensified, dragging him deeper into darkness. In that suspended instant, he felt as though he were being called to a destiny he had yet to understand.

 

 

Then, as suddenly as it began, the vision faded. Thalassios gasped for air under the regular spray of the shower, drenched in sweat and confusion. The memory of the mermaid lingered — a premonition that hinted at secrets buried within him, leaving him with more questions than answers.

 

After drying off, still haunted by the mysterious vision, Thalassios pulled out his phone and opened his messaging app. He needed to share this moment, to anchor his swirling thoughts.

 

 

Thalassios sighed and began typing.

 

 

 

Maris’s reply came swiftly.

 

 

A small smile tugged at Thalassios's lips as he set his phone aside. Despite the shabby state of the house, the eerie vision, and the daunting road ahead, he felt a flicker of hope. With no funds for renovation and the burden of unanswered questions weighing on him, his only option was to move forward. He needed a job—a fresh start in the enigmatic town of Lethepolis.

 

And so, with cautious optimism, Thalassios stepped out into the sunlit streets, unaware that his journey would soon intertwine with a place known as The Golden Apple—a sanctuary that promised not only employment but also the key to unraveling the mysteries of his destiny.

 

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