This work explores issues of duty, legacy, and the invisible connections between humanity and the world. Here we follow a young woman as she learns about herself, comes to terms with her destiny, and finds her place in the world.
Lila had always been oddly drawn to the sea. For her, it was something more profound than her acquaintances dismissing it as a strange fixation with the sea. As if the tides kept secrets for her alone, she could almost hear whispering in the waves. She experienced the tug even more keenly after her grandmother's death. Her grandmother had handed her an almost deteriorating home on an edge overlooking the ocean. Since she was a little girl, the cottage had given her the creeps. Now that she was the proud owner of the property, she felt driven to find out what had happened there.
Sitting on the porch, Lila marvelled at the moonlight on the silver waves on her first night at the cabin. She experienced an unexplainable sensation of tranquillity as the sea wind rustled through the pines, mixed with a persistent curiosity. Her grandma had been a mysterious person who had whispered secrets and half-told stories. She used to remark, "Listen to the sea, Lila," "It will tell you things you can't learn anywhere else." As she fell asleep, calmed by the sound of the waves, the words replayed in her head.
Lila got up early the following morning to go exploring. Old books, fading photos, and a dusty collection of seashells arranged in elaborate patterns along the walls were among the many artefacts from her grandmother's life that littered the house. But one shell was particularly noticeable. It was rich in blue, like the deep ocean right before dark, and more significant than the others. She experienced an odd tingling sensation when she lifted it up, as though the shell was pulsing with vitality.
She chose to bring the shell down to the shore since she was so intrigued. She felt the rising sun on her skin as she made her way down the small path through the thick grasses until her feet hit the wet beach. Holding the shell, she waited for a revelation of some sort. She felt foolish after a few moments and started to back away. She heard it, though, a tiny murmur that was nearly drowned out by the sound of the waves as she turned.
"Lila..."
She looked about as she froze. The sound seemed to come from everywhere, and the beach was deserted. She raised the shell to her ear, her heart racing. Like a soft murmur of voices, the whisper became louder and blended with the sea's sound.
"Lila... come closer."
Looking out at the water, she quivered. She came onto an unexpected rocky outcrop as the tide went out. Lila started to move in its direction after feeling a mysterious force pull her. She noticed a little, antiquated-looking pendant stuck between two stones as she arrived at the rocks, glinting in the sunlight. She prayed it free and held it up to examine the elaborate pattern. It resembled the seashell her grandma had treasured in shape.
She clasped the pendant in her palm as she lay in bed that night. As she closed her eyes, she could still hear faint murmurs getting louder.
"Lila, find the door."
The words reverberated in her head, mingling with her fantasies until she saw herself there on the moonlit beach once more. She followed the whispers in the dream to a cave on a cliff that she had never seen before. At its entry was a massive wooden door etched with symbols that gleamed dimly in the darkness.
The dream was still in her head when she woke up. Somewhere along the coast, the cave seemed genuine, as if it were waiting for her. The following morning, with the pendant pressed to her chest, she headed out determined to find it.
The miles of rugged coastline were dominated by towering cliffs. After what felt like an eternity of fruitless searching, she finally saw a faint track descending the cliff face. Her heart thumping, she followed it till she arrived at the cave of her dream. The door was there, etched into the stone.
She pushed it open with shaking hands and entered the cool, dark room. The shelves that lined the cave's walls were stocked with glass jars and vials of odd, glistening materials. She was drawn to the shadowed figure in the middle of the room, though, a man standing next to a pool of water that radiated an unearthly light.
He said, "Lila," his voice resonating across the cavern. "I've been waiting for you."
She clutched the pendant and muttered, "Who... who are you?"
"I am the Keeper," he answered, the shadows hiding his features. "One of us, a protector of the tides, was your grandma. The secret to both her heritage and yours now lies in this pendant.
Lila stepped back, her head spinning. "What are you saying? Why me?
He pointed to the pool. "Because you can hear them," he added. "The murmurs. They are the guardians of the ocean's secrets and the voices of those who came before them. The only people selected are those who can hear the whispers.
Her mind was swimming with a thousand ideas, but the pool began to light up before she could speak. Images of storms, shipwrecks, and faces she didn't identify but assumed she knew flashed across the surface. She was captivated as historical scenes unfolded in front of her.
The Keeper said, "Your grandmother used to stand where you do now." She was determined to defend the sea and keep its mysteries. However, each guardian must finally delegate responsibilities to someone else. You're here for that reason.
Lila's mind was racing, yet the Keeper's words hit a chord deep within her. She remembered listening to the waves at night, the whispers that had always been with her and her grandmother.
Her voice was no more than a whisper as she questioned, "What... what do I have to do?"
Light glowed in the Keeper's eyes as he grinned. "Just listen, like you always do. The sea will lead the way.
He put a hand on her shoulder and reached out. Waves smashing, winds howling, and people whispering in languages she didn't understand but felt she understood filled the cave with a startling surge of sound the minute he touched her. The sounds, along with memories and pictures, overcame her and gave her a sense of purpose she had never before felt.
She opened her eyes to find the pendant warm on her chest, and the Keeper left, leaving her alone in the cave. In place of the voices, a profound silence seemed strangely comforting.
The burden of her new job weighed heavily on her as she emerged from the cave. Even though she didn't fully understand what it meant to be a guardian of the tides, she had faith that she would eventually learn. She now knew why the ocean had always beckoned to her.
Subtle changes occurred in Lila's life during the next few weeks. She listened to the waves and felt the currents change beneath the surface as she spent hours at the shore. She started to comprehend the subtle messages that the waves carried, the language of the tides. She developed a sense of the sea's rhythm, recognising when a storm was approaching, when the sea was quiet, and when something was wrong.
Lila saw a bunch of fishermen getting their boats ready to go out to sea one evening as the sun was setting. A warning from the wind gave her a twinge of discomfort. She went up to them and told them to hold off until daylight. They initially dismissed her worries with laughter, but something in her eyes persuaded them to pay attention. They were aware of how close they had come to catastrophe when a strong storm moved in hours later.
People in the village began seeking her counsel regarding the upcoming weather, tides, and maritime mysteries the moment word got out. She became a folk hero as the sea protector and the girl who could hear voices.
Lila matured into her role and willingly took on the responsibility that was placed upon her over the years. She wore the pendant constantly as a symbol of her grandmother's past and the bond they shared. She would often visit the cave in the hopes of communicating with the Keeper, who appeared to her only as a shadow.
She felt someone sitting next to her one night while she was sitting on the rock and listening to the waves. The moonlight softened the Keeper's features as she turned to face him.
He stated, "Your time is nearing its end," in a soft voice.
Lila understood and nodded. She had anticipated this day, just as her grandma did. The murmurs of the ocean had become softer, as if they were getting ready to be replaced by a new voice.
Her voice was a mix of acceptance and despair as she enquired, "Who will take my place?"
The Keeper glanced down at the village below, grinning. The river will decide, as it always does. It can be someone you're familiar with or someone who hasn't even been born yet. Finding those who truly belong in the water will take time.
A sense of tranquilly washed over Lila as she cast her final, lingering gaze towards the ocean. It was time to release her grip on the sea's mysteries now that she had done her job.
The weight of the pendant on Lila's heart caused her to stand on the beach as dawn broke. With a final whisper, she tossed it into the ocean and bid her farewell. Amidst the sound of the water consuming, its whimpers were muffled out.
Get rid of it.
As the tide rolled in, a different voice—not unlike Lila's—emerged; this one paid attention to the hidden wisdom of the waters.
