Zane Cryoheim

Cold spray lashed against the ship's hull. The new vessel, crafted by the most experienced artisans, cut through the waves of the Icy Sea. The wind whipped the sails, pushing the heavy hull forward. The crew worked in harmony and precision, yet some still cast glances toward the waters. After all, rumors are not born from nothing...

Merfolk. These creatures struck terror into even the most seasoned sailors; although no one had seen them for certain before, ships nonetheless vanished in the Icy Sea, leaving no trace behind.

Zane was on board. As the crown prince, he was present on the ship along with a crew of experienced sailors and the captain. He didn't believe in the sailors' tales, dismissing them as the drunken fantasies of over-served mariners in coastal taverns.

Then, the sailors spotted a large school of fish in the water and decided to catch them. They cast the nets, capturing a great many, and began to pull them up, but the nets felt heavier than usual. The answer revealed itself the moment the nets were hauled onto the ship's deck.

A merman. A creature entangled in the net. Zane noticed him quickly. The sailors recoiled in horror, clutching their weapons upon seeing the creature, but Zane stopped them.