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Audio version of Jacklyn Taylor Stories
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Doubts in the Depths
Weeks had passed since Callen had formed a spiritual bond with the Ocean’s Heart. His strength grew, and his understanding of the sea deepened. But with this came doubts. At night, lying in his room under the soft glow of underwater crystals, he often gazed at the surface through the translucent dome of the city. Somewhere above, there was sunlight, warmth, and the life he had once known.
A question echoed in his heart: What have I lost by choosing this path?
One day, while wandering among the coral reefs outside the city, he noticed Liriel swimming nearby, silently observing his expression.
“What troubles you, Callen?” she asked gently, drawing closer.
He turned to her slowly, smiling, though the smile was strained. “I… I’m not sure I’ve chosen the right path. Down here, in the depths, I feel needed, but there’s a part of me that misses the surface. I miss the sun, the freedom of exploration, the sound of the wind.”
Liriel looked at him thoughtfully. “You can always leave if you wish. But tell me honestly: is that what you truly want?”
The Weight of Duty
Callen spent the rest of the day deep in thought. He knew that he was no longer just an explorer but a Keeper. His bond with the Ocean’s Heart meant more than simply possessing power; it was a covenant that demanded sacrifice. Yet the question that gnawed at him was this: What if the sacrifice was too great?
At a meeting of the Council of Keepers, held in the grand hall of the underwater temple, Callen shared his feelings. “I feel as though two parts of me are in conflict,” he admitted to the council members. “One part wants to stay here, to protect the ocean, to be part of it. The other part longs for the life I left above.”
Turaak listened carefully before speaking. “Balance, Callen, always begins within ourselves. You’ve already shown that you can wield the forces of light and darkness. Why do you think you cannot find harmony between your past and present?”
Liriel’s Wisdom
After the meeting, Liriel approached Callen. Her calm presence, as always, was reassuring. “You know, Callen,” she began, “the true meaning of the Ocean’s Heart is not about choosing one side but respecting every part of yourself. Light and shadow, strength and weakness, past and present—they all make us who we are.”
Callen looked at her, amazed by her insight. “You make it sound so easy.”
“No,” she replied with a faint smile. “It’s not easy at all. But it’s what makes us stronger. You shouldn’t see your mission as a sacrifice. It’s your choice, and only you decide how to live with it.”
A Decision
In the days that followed, Callen spent more time alone. He revisited the places where he first felt the ocean’s majesty, recalling his explorations and his passion for discovery. He realized that his drive to learn about the world had always propelled him forward, but now his goal had changed. It was no longer just about seeking knowledge but about preserving what he had learned for future generations.
One evening, he gathered Liriel and Turaak beneath the grand arch of the temple and said, “I’m staying. Not because I have to, but because I want to. The ocean has become a part of me, and I can’t abandon it. I understand now that choosing to be a Keeper wasn’t forced upon me. It’s what I truly want.”
Liriel smiled, her eyes glowing warmly. “Now you’ve truly become a Keeper, Callen.”
Embracing His Path
Callen continued his mission with newfound understanding. He no longer felt the weight of responsibility as a burden but saw it as an opportunity. He realized that his love for the ocean and its inhabitants wasn’t a limitation but a source of freedom. Every day presented new challenges, but he faced them with confidence.
The true meaning of the Ocean’s Heart, as he now understood, lay in harmony—not only with the sea but also with himself. This harmony allowed him to become what he was meant to be: not just a Keeper but an inspiration to all who lived beneath the waves.
