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The vast deep blue was his home, and the wooden gunwale carving through the wind and waves was the sole anchor reinforcing the identity of Hummer, a roaming explorer. He had spent years sailing through unnamed waters, mapping the constellations, charting the flora of deserted islands, and documenting thousands of wonders in the thick leather notebook he always kept close at hand.
He was hopelessly in love with solving mysteries that had no answers. Becoming the first to discover something brought immense joy to his soul. To Hummer, the ocean was not merely a vast, empty expanse of water; it was a colossal canvas painted with intricate secrets. The claw marks of the wind on the water's surface, the shifting colors of the sky laced with salt spray, and the swirling direction of the eddies were all cryptic codes the world was daring him to decipher. Every time his feet touched the shimmering sand of a beach absent from any map, or every time his eyes met a new species of bioluminescent flora inside a mysterious limestone cave, his heart would pound with an unquenchable thrill.
His life as an explorer was nourished by a passion for the void waiting to be filled. The leather notebook—its edges worn down by sweat and salt air—was a treasure far more precious than any bar of gold in the world. Each page was marked by the ink of a quill: sketches of strangely shaped rock formations, vibrant sea anemones whose venom could bring down an elephant, sea creatures with bizarre faces, and even the dust of stars in the southern sky that no one had ever named. Those priceless memories did not remain merely in his head; they were pinned down by the tip of his pen as proof that he had seized the secrets of the universe into his hands.
He was obsessed with the pursuit of knowledge. The fainter a mystery left its clues, the more its traces faded into the mists of time, the more Hummer threw his body and soul into chasing it down. Fear never touched his eyes, even when facing a roaring waterspout or a rogue wave ready to swallow his old wooden ship into the depths. For him, dying in the pursuit of truth was far more desirable than living a quiet, dull life in a capital city devoid of new stories.
The scent of aged paper mixed with rich ink, the salty tang clinging to the tip of his tongue, and the sound of waves slapping against the ship’s hull at night had become his very breath. The young man often spent hours laying out star charts against his trusted brass compass, adjusting the ship's wheel with rough yet steady hands. He loved the moment the sun dipped below the horizon, when a cool breeze swept through his hair, leaving him embraced by the stillness of the world while his mind whirred, calculating the next wonder that might await beyond the edge of the sky.
Then, one night, a new mystery presented itself.
It began several months ago, on a night when the sea was so calm it lacked a single ripple. Hummer lay half-asleep on a hammock beneath the ship's deck, surrounded by the familiar creaking of the wooden hull. Suddenly, a cool, damp breeze swept past, carrying a faint sound. It was a wordless melody, resonant and gentle, drifting along the misty waves like music played from an ethereal instrument.
On that first night, Hummer bolted upright onto the deck, peering through the darkness with a telescope, but around him lay only a vast, pitch-black sea. He thought his eyes were tricking him and his ears were ringing from exhaustion.
Yet, the sound did not happen just once.
In the nights that followed, whether he set his compass east or navigated through distant rocky archipelagos, that faint, enchanting song drifted along the wind without fail. It often arrived just as he drifted off to sleep a melody gentle, sweet, yet tinged with a profound longing. It was so beautiful that Hummer would wake with a poignant ache in his chest. He tried to pinpoint its origin, checking the ship's coordinates and searching for nearby reefs or sandbars, but every time he composed himself to listen for a direction, the voice dissolved into the silence of the ocean, teasing him like a passing illusion.
It became a mystery that haunted the young explorer for weeks. He began to lose sleep. Every night, he would sit at the bow, abandoning his cherished notebook simply to wait for the sound of that song once more. Hummer realized he was no longer merely curious out of an explorer's instinct—he was helplessly yearning for that melody.
Until one afternoon, while his ship was navigating through a dense fog, a strange beam of sunlight pierced through the haze, striking the water's surface in a peculiar glow. The sea breeze abruptly died down. The compass on board spun wildly without direction, and in that absolute, heavy silence, the music returned.
"What now?"
Hummer tried to steady himself, staring through the fog-shrouded air with forced composure, adjusting the sails to prevent the ship from crashing into any hidden rocks or hazards.
Then, the song swelled again.
This time, it wasn't faint like a dream. It was distinct, drifting along the cool gust that brushed against his face. Hummer's heart hammered against his ribs. Leaving the wheel, he rushed to the gunwale and peered through the smoke-thick fog. The silhouette of a massive, ancient sea stack gradually emerged ahead—a steep, deserted islet carpeted in moss and dark, jagged cliffs that appeared on none of his maps.
Without delay, Hummer hastily jotted down what coordinates he could gather into his notebook. He quickly dropped anchor, lowered the small skiff into the water, and rowed toward the deserted island without hesitation. The song grew clearer and louder with every stroke of his oars. Every note resonated deep within his chest, as if pulling the compass inside his heart straight toward the owner of that voice.
The small boat touched down on the dark sand. Hummer stepped ashore, clutching his favorite journal tightly to his side. Holding a lantern in his other hand, he squeezed through a complex maze of stone gaps, passing towering cliffs and a small natural cave tunnel. The deeper he walked, the more resonant, sweet, and powerful the voice became unlike anything he had ever heard before.
He followed the song until he was far from his boat, eventually arriving at a large natural sea pool enclosed on all sides by towering cliffs. Sunlight streamed through a gap above, striking the crystal-clear water and revealing the coral beneath.
And there... perched on a rock in the center of the pool, a figure sat humming a melody.
Hummer stood frozen, his entire body stiffening as if under a spell. The heart in his chest beat so violently it rattled his ribs. The young man who had survived monstrous storms and witnessed a thousand wonders across the globe was now utterly entranced by the vision before him.
The figure on the rock was a masterpiece nature had created with undeniable favoritism. Slender yet perfect in form, the pale, smooth skin mirrored the luster of a fine pearl under the soft sunlight filtering through the cliffs. Locks of timber-brown hair fluttered gently in the sea breeze as the figure tilted its head, humming a low tune. But what made the young explorer forget how to breathe... was the lower half from the waist down, swaying gently against the water's surface. It was a long, sweeping fish tail covered in scales of an extraordinary pattern—shimmering silver interwoven with deep onyx, glittering under the light like the mysterious balance of a yin-yang symbol.
Hummer stared mindlessly, his eyes revealing the unreserved fascination and awe of an explorer, until the figure on the rock paused its song, and a pair of striking eyes met his directly.
Clack.
The moment he realized how terribly rude it was to stare so openly, Hummer flinched. He instinctively jerked his head away, blood rushing to his face until his cheeks burned. He cast his gaze down to the stone ground, clutching his journal so tightly his knuckles turned white, suddenly overcome with awkwardness—like a child caught red-handed, waiting nervously for a punishment without daring to run away.
Heh...
A low, smooth laugh echoed from the middle of the pool a soft chuckle as resonant and melodious as the song from moments ago. The magnificent creature slithered down from the rock, its silver-and-onyx tail flicking lazily through the water as it swam toward the shore. Resting its long, slender arms on the cold stone shelf, the creature leaned its chin against them, tilting its head to look at the blushing explorer.
"Human..."
The smooth voice purred, teasing like a passing breeze. "To stare at me so intensely without blinking, only to suddenly turn away? Am I so strange and monstrous that you cannot bear to look any longer?"
Hummer swallowed hard, his throat dry, before turning back to face the creature with timid hesitation. He reached up to scratch the back of his neck awkwardly. "I-it's not that at all! I'm sorry... I've just never seen anyone... well, I've never seen a merman so breathtaking before."
Vefe's brow twitched slightly at the word 'merman', before a playful, mischievous smile crossed his lips. His striking eyes glittered like a predator locking onto a sweet, unsuspecting prey. Sirens were a mysterious species of the deep sea beings unknown to the human world, unrecorded in any journal, with no survivors ever returning to tell their tale. There were only myths of beautiful merfolk that humans foolishly dreamed up.
To Vefe, every human drawn in by his song was merely prey blinded by lust, destined to become food at the bottom of the ocean.
"A merman, you say?" The siren tilted his head, chin raised slightly as his silver-and-black tail splashed the water gently. "I am a siren... a creature that devours shipwrecked sailors. Foolish human, are you not afraid of me at all?"
Vefe drew himself up a little higher, intending to exude an intimidating presence to trick the prey before him, overwhelming the human's mind with lust until he willingly let himself be dragged into the deep.
Yet, the young explorer standing before him showed no sign of terror, nor any trace of crude lust whatsoever.
"A Siren, huh..."
Hummer muttered, his eyes wide with pure, unfiltered excitement. Instead of stepping back, he quickly moved closer to the edge of the water and knelt on the rocky surface, bringing himself to eye level with the creature. The young man leaned forward slightly, making no attempt to hide the fascination shining in his eyes so much so that Wifies was the one who ended up retreating a bit to maintain some distance.
"That's incredible... So your species is called a Siren! There’s no record of this anywhere in the world!" Hummer offered a bright, eye-crinkling smile, looking every bit like a big, cheerful Golden Retriever that had just stumbled upon hidden treasure.
"And that song you were singing... the one I've heard drifting on the wind for months... was that a Siren's song? It's so beautiful! So breathtaking that I couldn't sleep at night because I couldn't stop thinking about it!"
"W-what?"
The young Siren’s sly smile froze. His threats of eating human flesh vanished into thin air, completely disarmed by this sudden barrage of positive energy and praise. "You... aren't you afraid I'll eat you? I just told you I eat humans!"
"Oh, you wouldn't eat me. How could anyone who sings such a lovely, gentle song be cruel?" Hummer replied with heartfelt innocence. He took in the creature's stunning form with genuine awe before pouring out a rapid-fire stream of compliments, as if he might never get the chance to speak again. "And your scales... the blend of silver and onyx is so exquisitely arranged! They catch the sunlight like ancient runes. And your skin is as smooth as sea pearls... You’re so breathtaking that I don't even know how I can sketch you in my notebook to do you half the justice you deserve!"
The sheer honesty of the praise struck the young Siren head-on without a shred of pretense.
"Y-you..." Wifies froze. The playful, teasing smirk on his face crumbled in an instant. A faint blush crept across his pale, smooth skin, spreading from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. The way Hummer looked at him with such pure, warm admiration made him completely lose his composure.
"And your voice..." Hummer leaned in a fraction closer, his smile so radiant it felt like it could light up the entire world. "It made me realize that there are still wonders in this world worth searching for. Thank you for letting me hear your song. Truly, thank you!"
"En-enough... Stop talking."
Wifies spoke softly, his cheeks burning a deep red. The powerful Siren who had intended to lure and harm his prey was now hopelessly flustered, completely overwhelmed by the naive explorer's direct compliments. To hide his embarrassment, Wifies slapped his tail against the water, splashing sea spray onto Hummer's thighs before swiftly ducking half his head beneath the surface, leaving only his beautiful eyes peering up at Hummer.
"Now I'm all wet..."
Hummer chuckled softly, in high spirits. He wiped away the seawater from his thighs without a hint of annoyance. Remaining on his knees at the edge of the rocks, he gazed down at the creature with fondness and curiosity. Opening his thick notebook to a blank page, he said, "I'm sorry for startling you, but I meant every word. I didn't lie about a single thing."
Hiding half his face beneath the clear water, Wifies observed the young explorer through the mist. Truth be told, he was neither short-tempered nor cruel. By nature, Wifies was calm, composed, and soft-spoken. Yet Hummer’s innocent reactions and blunt compliments had completely shattered the cool facade he had painstakingly maintained for centuries.
Plop... plop...
Tiny air bubbles floated up from his lips underwater before Wifies slowly raised himself up. Water trickled down his forest-green hair and smooth shoulders. The flush on his cheeks and ears gradually faded, leaving a faint, gentle smile that quietly hinted at his underlying charm.
"You really are... a strange one," Wifies said softly, his deep, soothing voice pleasant to the ear. He glided closer to the edge once more, resting his slender arms cautiously on the cool rock. "I told you I am a Siren... a monster that sings to lure travelers to their doom. Yet you show no caution at all, spewing all this nonsense instead."
"It's not nonsense at all," Hummer replied instantly without hesitation. Relaxing slightly, he pulled out a quill and dipped it in ink. "My name is Hummer. I'm an explorer... May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
Wifies looked at the quill in Hummer's hand, then lifted his gaze to meet the young explorer's eyes directly.
"My name is Wifies."
"Wifies..."
Hummer murmured the name softly. The gentle cadence in his voice as he spoke it was so warm that it brought a faint smile to the listener's lips. "What a beautiful name. It truly suits the owner of the song that kept me lost for months."
"Hmph..."
Wifies swam closer, placing both hands on the rock and pushing himself up right in front of Hummer. The young explorer recoiled slightly, his heart hammering against his ribs as he stared at the Siren who had leaned in so close.
"Hummer," Wifies purred his name slowly, his striking eyes sparkling with playful tease. "If I had known human explorers were this sweet-talked and endearing, I would have sung to call you here a long time ago."
"Y-yes..."
Hummer swallowed hard, a bright flush spreading all the way down his neck. Even so, his innocent eyes remained fixed on Wifies' flawless face. Lowering his gaze from the Siren's wet lips down to the notebook in his hand, the young man began to move his quill, carefully sketching a detailed portrait of the young Siren.
Throughout the afternoon and into the late evening, the two spent their time together in quiet harmony, bridging the gap between their two species with peaceful conversation. Hummer asked earnest, scholarly questions with pure curiosity, while Wifies answered in his deep, calm voice, occasionally teasing him back until Hummer scratched his cheek in embarrassment. The day ended with no malice or violence—only the soft beginnings of a budding friendship.
As the sun sank lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet, Hummer knew he had to take his leave to continue his voyage across other waters as his duty demanded.
"I must go now... but I promise I will keep your existence a secret," Hummer said, standing up and holding his notebook now filled with sketches of Wifies tightly to his chest. "The story of the Siren will remain in this notebook for my eyes only. It will never fall into anyone else's hands."
Wifies watched the young explorer step back. Offering a faint smile, he offered his blessing.
"Safe travels, Hummer... May the sea be gentle with you."
After that day, Hummer continued his journey as usual. He navigated his ship across new waters, discovering uninhabited islands and strange flora. Yet one thing had changed: a special section had been quietly added to his journal the tale of a silver-and-onyx-tailed Siren with a serene smile.
A secret he kept guarded, never sharing a single word of it with any merchant or fellow explorer.
Yet, the longing and nostalgia for that melody never faded, not even for a single day.
One night, as the ship sailed across a silent, motionless ocean beneath a sky so clear the Milky Way stretched brightly above, Hummer standing at the ship’s wheel suddenly heard a soft humming drifting along the cool breeze. It was that same familiar melody: gentle, soothing, and filled with a strange, hypnotic charm.
The young explorer’s heart beat wildly. Without a moment's hesitation, he dropped the vessel's anchor in the open water and took a leap of faith, lowering a small rowboat into the sea all by himself. He rowed through the water flat and still as a mirror leaving the great ship behind to venture boldly into the deep sea, guided only by the faint song.
Before long, amid the starlight glittering on the ocean surface, a familiar, exquisite figure emerged from the water right beside his small boat.
"I knew it..."
Hummer let out a bright, unrestrained smile, his eyes sparkling with pure joy. "It really is you, Wifies!"
Wifies rested his slender arms on the edge of the rowboat, tilting his head slightly as he regarded the young explorer with a calm gaze and a subtle, teasing smile. "Rowing out here all by yourself in the dead of night... Aren't you afraid I'll drag you down and devour you, Hummer?"
"If you really did drag me down to eat me, I suppose I’d just have to finish sketching the ocean floor in my notebook first," Hummer replied with a naive grin. Kneeling in the small boat, he leaned closer to the young Siren. "I missed you... I never thought I'd get to see you again."
Taking in that earnest, warm gaze, Wifies broke into a gentle smile, a faint rosy blush blooming on his cheeks under the moonlight.
"I merely stopped by to sing away my loneliness... I didn't mean for you to row all the way out here to find me."
In the vast, tranquil expanse of the ocean, the small boat became their private sanctuary. Beneath the starry sky, the two conversed tirelessly. What began as a chance reunion at sea grew steadily into a tender, enduring bond. Every time Hummer's ship anchored near deep waters, that familiar melody would float upon the wind. Wifies became both a trusted confidant and a mysterious compass, sharing the secrets of the sea with the young explorer, while Hummer recounted tales of the dry lands and distant stars, his eyes shining with wonder as the calm Siren listened.
Their relationship, built on mutual devotion and growing ever closer, reached a turning point one afternoon when Hummer's ship arrived at the Deep Trench an ancient sea chasm rumored to hide the ruins of a lost civilization.
"You cannot, Hummer,"
Wifies said, hauling himself up onto the edge of the rowboat. His tone was level, yet laced with a strict, serious edge he had never shown before. "The currents down in this trench are far too treacherous. The air below is thin, and the pressure is immense. A human like you will not survive the trip back up."
"I've prepared thoroughly for this, Wifies!" Hummer declared excitedly, lifting a heavy metal diving suit and a round brass helmet to show him.
"I redesigned the air tube system and added extra weights for better balance. You know I can't just let a mystery right in front of me slip away... Trust me!"
The young Siren stared into those pure, stubborn eyes and let out a long sigh. Hummer’s unwavering dedication and passion for exploration were the very things Wifies adored most yet they were also the things that terrified him above all else.
"If anything happens to you... I will truly never forgive you."
Wifies murmured softly, finally giving in to the young explorer’s stubbornness.
Having fully geared up in his heavy diving suit, Hummer offered a bright smile through the brass helmet’s visor before slowly letting himself sink into the abyss of the deep trench. Wifies flicked his silver-and-onyx tail, diving alongside him into the depths, keeping a watchful, cautious eye on the explorer from a short distance.
As they descended deeper, sunlight faded away, replaced by darkness and bitter cold. Hummer walked steadily along the sandy seabed, marveled by the ancient stone structures before him. But suddenly, the unexpected struck.
A massive coral rock formation above cracked and collapsed under the immense water pressure. Huge, jagged debris plummeted through the water, striking Hummer’s air tube and the visor of his helmet with full force!
CRACK!
The fractures spread rapidly, and the overwhelming water pressure instantly breached the helmet and suit! Panic seized Hummer as salty seawater surged into his mouth and nose, forcing him to desperately tear off the brass helmet. But the freezing deep-sea water and sheer panic prevented him from holding enough breath in his lungs. The young explorer was rapidly starved of oxygen; his vision blurred, and his consciousness faded into the darkness.
"Hummer!"
Wifies’ eyes widened in shock. The young Siren lashed his tail, cutting through the deep currents at maximum speed. With swift movements, he unbuckled the heavy diving suit from Hummer's body to free him from the dead weight, then grabbed the explorer by the waist, attempting to pull him toward the surface.
Yet the surface was far too distant. The body in his arms was losing consciousness; Hummer’s mind drifted away as his airless lungs thrashed uncontrollably.
Wifies knew all too well that if he waited until they reached the surface, Hummer would drown. Without another second of hesitation, the young Siren used his slender fingers to cup Hummer's face, pulled the explorer toward him, and pressed his lips against Hummer's.
A warm, gentle touch met in the freezing currents. Wifies infused his own breath and the mystical essence of the sea through their parted lips, softly and deliberately channeling life into Hummer's throat and lungs. That gifted breath slowly coaxed the explorer's consciousness back from the brink.
The warmth at his lips gradually reignited Hummer's fading awareness. The air passed through the Siren's kiss, flowing down his throat and into his parched lungs. Hummer’s eyes slowly fluttered open. His blurred vision adjusted to the dark until he saw Wifies’ face barely inches away.
Wifies’ beautiful eyes were no longer cold or teasing; they were filled with an unprecedented warmth and deep anxiety. His slender arms wrapped tightly around the explorer's waist, his silver-and-onyx tail beating continuously to keep them both from sinking further into the chasm.
Once he was certain Hummer had received enough air and was regaining his senses, Wifies gently pulled his lips away, though his hands remained cupping the young man's face.
‘You stubborn human...’
The deep, soothing voice echoed directly inside Hummer’s mind a telepathic connection unique to Sirens. Wifies cast him a scolding look, yet the warmth of the hands cradling his cheeks betrayed the Siren’s true feelings.
Hummer gave a faint nod to signal that he was alright. Wifies lost no time; he guided Hummer’s broad hands to wrap tightly around his neck before unleashing a powerful sweep of his tail. He propelled them through the deep aquatic curtain, surging toward the surface above at incredible speed.
SPLASH!
The pair broke through the water's surface, breaking into the crisp night air. Hummer coughed softly, clearing the salty moisture from his throat, frantically pulling deep gulps of air into his lungs. His hands held tightly to Wifies’ shoulders while the young Siren buoyed him up beside the small rowboat.
"Hummer! Are you alright?"
Wifies’ usually calm voice quivered slightly. He frantically checked the explorer's face and body, unable to hide his panic. "I told you it was dangerous! If I hadn't been in time... if you had been without air any longer..."
Hummer drew a deep breath to steady his racing heart, then looked at Wifies’ face so close to his own. Though the young Siren tried to maintain a stern tone, his trembling eyes and undisguised worry brought a soft smile to the explorer’s lips.
"I'm sorry... Wifies," Hummer said faintly, his voice utterly genuine and tender. He placed his large hand over Wifies’ hand resting on his shoulder. "I was being stubborn... I'm sorry for scaring you and making you worry so much."
The sincere apology, offered without a single excuse, instantly melted away Wifies’ lingering frustration. The Siren let out a long sigh, lowering his gaze to hide the embarrassment beginning to take hold.
"I... I apologize as well," Wifies murmured, a faint pink flush spreading across his cheeks and the tips of his ears under the moonlight. "I should have stopped you more firmly. I shouldn't have let you go down there in the first place..."
"It wasn't your fault at all," Hummer smiled brightly, his warm, earnest gaze fixing on the Siren as he leaned a bit closer. "Besides... thank you for saving my life just now."
Wifies froze. At the mention of their underwater kiss, a burning flush rushed across his pale face, turning him beet red all the way down to his neck.
"I-I was merely passing air to you! Don't go thinking anything improper!"
"I haven't said anything yet," Hummer chuckled softly with affection, his clear eyes gazing at the Siren with feelings that had shifted deeper than ever. It was no longer just the wonder of an explorer; it was love and an enduring bond fully taking root. "Though my heart is beating so fast... I'm not sure if it's from the lack of air, or because of your kiss."
"H-Hummer!"
Wifies scolded in a breathless squeak, lightly pushing against Hummer’s chest to mask his fluster before carefully helping the explorer climb back into the small boat.
Once safely aboard, Hummer sat catching his breath on the edge of the boat, looking down at Wifies who still rested his arms against the side. The Siren looked up at him with eyes full of tenderness, and a faint smile touched both of their lips.
Hummer leaned down from the small boat, extending a hand to gently brush a damp strand of forest-green hair away from the Siren’s delicate face. The warm touch of human skin dissolved all of Wifies’ residual distress in an instant. His body went slightly rigid in the water, the Siren's heart skipping a beat so violently it resonated in his chest.
"Were you frightened?" Hummer asked softly, his gaze filled with open, unmistakable affection. "Just now... down in the deep, it was so sudden I almost lost consciousness. But your touch was so clear."
"W-what are you talking about..." Wifies gasped, looking up timidly. The blush that had faded came rushing back, flooding his pale cheeks and ears once more. "I told you, I was only giving you air. I didn't mean to..."
Before the Siren could finish his flustered excuse, Hummer leaned in closer. His intense gaze locked onto Wifies' striking eyes before pressing his lips softly onto the cool, tender lips of the creature beneath the water's surface.
Peck.
A soft, feather-light touch whispered through the tranquility of the night. It was not the desperate, panicked kiss they had shared in the deep sea to trade breath, but a sweet, honest kiss overflowing with all the feelings pouring from the explorer's heart. Hummer held his lips against Wifies', lingering delicately, savoring the salty, cool touch unique to the young Siren with pure adoration.
Wifies’ eyes widened in surprise, his body tensing for a moment. His slender hands resting on the boat’s gunwale instinctively gripped the wood tightly, while his silver-and-onyx tail flickered uncontrollably beneath the water. His heart hammered like a war drum, yet he didn't pull away or push the human away. Instead, Wifies slowly lowered his eyelids, closing his eyes to surrender to the warm, intoxicating touch.
That small response made Hummer’s heart flutter.
He didn't rush. The young explorer held the kiss gently, giving Wifies the time to decide for himself. The human's warm breath brushed against the Siren's cool skin, while Hummer’s fingertips tenderly cradled the side of Wifies' pale cheek. And then, Wifies leaned in.
It was just a slight movement, but so clear that Hummer could barely hold back a smile.
The Siren’s soft, cool lips pressed back awkwardly, as if he had never known how to return a kiss before. He moved his lips uncertainly, but as he felt that Hummer wasn't laughing or pushing him, the tension in his body slowly dissolved.
Their first true kiss lingered, deepening softly.
Hummer tilted his head slightly for a closer touch, letting their lips brush gently against each other, again and again. Every time he pulled back slightly, it was only a fraction of an inch before leaning back in, as though neither was willing to let the other slip beyond their reach.
"Mmm..."
A faint murmur slipped inadvertently from Wifies’ throat.
The moment he heard it, the Siren started, opening his eyes in sudden bashfulness. But Hummer simply held his gaze from inches away, their noses almost touching, a tender smile adorning his face.
"I'm sorry."
"W-what are you apologizing for..."
"I ended up kissing you for too long."
Wifies' face instantly flushed crimson.
"You really are..." He bit his lip, which still held the lingering warmth. "...an shameless human."
Hummer offered a broad smile before pressing a soft, brief kiss onto the corner of Wifies’ mouth once more, then teasingly kissed away the flush on his smooth cheek.
"Hummer...!"
Wifies let out a soft gasp, reaching up to touch his burning lips. "You opportunist!"
"I'm not taking advantage at all," Hummer laughed softly, his bright eyes regarding the Siren with pure, warm sincerity.
"I'm just following what my heart calls for... Thank you for saving my life, and thank you for that kiss."
The disarmingly honest words left Wifies completely speechless. He could only press his lips together, savoring the lingering warmth as his pale face burned bright red to the tips of his ears. The young Siren cast his gaze downward to escape the explorer's fond, puppy-like stare, taking a long breath before raising himself slightly out of the water to give him a harmless scold.
"You..."
Wifies murmured softly."You say whatever you want without any consideration for me... Next time, if you're stubborn and drown again, I won't save you."
"Yes, yes, I understand," Hummer grinned, reaching out to softly untangle the damp, forest-green hair of his companion. "From now on, I'll be much more careful... because I still want to stay and talk with you for a very long time."
Looking into those honest eyes, a soft smile finally broke through on Wifies' face. The Siren relaxed, resting his chest comfortably against the edge of the small boat, happily letting the young explorer stroke his hair. Beneath the water, his silver-and-onyx tail beat in a gentle rhythm, sending tiny ripples across the sea that caught the starlight, scattering light in every direction.
After that night, their bond wove itself into a seamless perfection without the need for grand promises. Hummer continued his journeys to explore the vast world as he had always dreamed, guiding his ocean vessel through uncharted waters and documenting wondrous tales in his thick journal. Yet the most visible change was the cheerful smile he wore every time night fell.
On every calm night when his ship anchored in the quiet ocean, beneath clear skies sparkling with stardust, a cool breeze would carry a sweet, soft melody across the water's surface. It was a song of deep, tender connection, sung by the young Siren to guide and accompany the explorer on every leg of his journey a quiet promise that these vast seas would never be lonely for Hummer again.
End