The sperm whale made getting to the surface so much faster, which Wooyoung appreciated because he could see the change in San's mood progressively get worse.

He went from marveling about getting to ride on a whale, to staring at any sea creature they passed with wide eyes, to falling silent with worry etched on his face.

Wooyoung knew he was thinking about Yeosang, and while he was too, he was also starting to fear that San would change his mind.

What if Yeosang convinced San to stay on the surface with him?

If that happened... Then Wooyoung would stay with him, no questions asked.

San was his mate now. Nothing would ever change that.

When they finally reached the surface, Wooyoung used his magic to search the surrounding area for any threats. His biggest concern was running into Seonghwa again, but the human wasn't anywhere within his magic's range.

He did pinpoint where their friends were, though, so he led San in that direction after they both said goodbye to the whale.

As they approached the beach, Wooyoung knew something was wrong. His skin tingled, urging him to stay alert. But it also told him that his friends needed him.

San followed him to the beach, stopping in the shallow water while Wooyoung shifted and started leaving him behind. "Woo, how..."

"Oh," Wooyoung paused and turned to his mate. "Right. I guess you get a crash coarse on magic today. Picture yourself turning into a human. You'll feel when the magic starts to work. Trust it and let it do most of the work."

"You make it sound so easy," San pouted. "What if I don't have any magic?"

Wooyoung giggled and shook his head. "Sannie, to be a merman you have to have magic. We can't survive without it."

San's face grew dark and Wooyoung knew he was remembering the times San had witnessed him low on magic.

With a firm nod, he closed his eyes.

Wooyoung bit his lip, ready to assist using his magic if necessary, and watched at San's tail started to shine.

He truly was a merman now. There was no doubting it, especially when his body started to rise from the water. Then his magic sent out a bright, pulsing flash of light, and San had legs again.

Although... he forgot to envision clothes.

Wooyoung cackled and slapped a hand to his mouth when San covered himself in embarrassment. "Sorry! I forgot to mention that part." He kept laughing while waving his hand, conjuring a simple t-shirt and shorts onto San's body.

"Yeah, that would have been nice to know." San grumbled as he trudged through the shallow water. Yet he still came over to pull Wooyoung into a hug.

They stayed there for only a few seconds, then started running down the beach as fast as they could.

That's when they heard a horrible cry, full of pain and sheer agony.

San instantly paled. He didn't hesitate before running faster, spraying sand behind him from how hard he was pushing himself forward.

Wooyoung did the same. He could sense five people ahead of them, two were wounded and one was weak.

A pang of guilt made his stomach twist into ugly knots. He knew that... all of this... was his fault in one way or another.

He'd been the one to come to the surface.

He'd been the one to get caught by humans.

He'd been the one to sacrifice himself and be taken by Seonghwa.

He'd been the one to abandon Mingi and Yunho... multiple times...

Now they were hurt because of him. Wooyoung ground his teeth together and started to charge his magic.

Next to him, San cupped his hand around his mouth and yelled, "Yeosang!"

Four heads turned to look at them. Then, one stood up from the rock he'd been sitting on and started hobbling toward them in a very awkward half run.

"Sangie, wait!" Jongho called from behind him. He caught up to Yeosang easily, yet didn't stop him. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Yeosang's waist and helped him continue forward.

An ugly sob tore from the older's throat and he reached for San.

Wooyoung stopped just long enough to see them collide in a fierce hug, then collapse into the sand. He took note of Yeosang's injuries and determined they weren't serious, so he ran the last meter to fall into Mingi's waiting arms.

His prince tried to ask him what happened, but Wooyoung waved him off and turned to Yunho to survey the damage to his arm.

It looked like Mingi had managed to stop most of the bleeding, which was good, but also very foolish of him to do.

"You're safe." Yunho whispered, slowly opening his eyes and smiling up at Wooyoung.

While he really wanted to make some kind of snide, teasing comment like he normally would, Wooyoung did his best to keep himself composed. "I'm sorry I left you." He whispered, then focused on Yunho's arm to finish healing him. "When did this happened? What happened exactly?"

Yunho glanced over his shoulder to look at Mingi, confusion flashing in his pained eyes. "It was the shark. It attacked when you swam away with... San." He paused, then started shaking his head. "But- How- He was-"

"I'll explain it all later." Wooyoung shushed him. He glanced at where San and Yeosang were still holding each other with Jongho on his knees behind Yeosang. "I don't understand though, did you fight the shark for awhile before it got you?"

"Yunho darted in front of it when it tried to chase after you." Mingi said slowly.

"But..." Wooyoung couldn't make any sense of this. "That was several hours ago? How are you still... I don't understand..."

"Youngie..." Mingi placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

It was Hongjoong who spoke next, though, drawing Wooyoung attention and adding to his overall confusion. "It's been maybe an hour, two tops, since you and San went over the cliff. Mingi and Yunho have been here on the beach for about twenty minutes or so."

"No, that's impossible! I feel like I've been gone for an entire day!" Wooyoung blinked and looked down at where his hand were still moving over Yunho's skin. Had he really only been with Mother Atargatis for a couple hours?

Or... Had time not existed with her?

It was definitely a possibility when he thought about it. She was a Goddess, why wouldn't she be able to manipulate time too?

With so many unanswered questions hovering in the air, Wooyoung took it upon himself to tell his friends everything that had happened.

At one point, the other three moved closer too, taking a seat on the rock again. Yeosang was curled into San's arms, still sniffling softly while Jongho rubbed his back. The younger glanced at Wooyoung, eyes filled with relief to see that the merman was alright.

Wooyoung went through as many details as he could remember, being careful not to give too much information about Mother Atargatis, especially when Yunho and Mingi started asking him question after question.

He didn't blame them for being curious, he knew he'd do the same if the roles were reversed, but thankfully they backed down when he explained her wishes.

"Just tell me this." Mingi murmured, his voice still full of childlike wonder. "What was she like?"

"Magnificent." Wooyoung sighed. "She's... She's everything we've been taught, and so much more."

Tears were in all the mermen's eyes, San included, at the very idea of their Goddess watching over them like they'd always hoped. It was like they could feel her now, her arms holding them in a comforting embrace, telling them that she had always been with them.

"There's something else." Wooyoung looked at San now and knew the worry on his face was reflected on his own. The next bit of their story was going to have the biggest effect, and neither of them knew how everyone would react.

"You mean besides San being brought back to life?" Hongjoong asked, scrunching his nose in disbelief. "What more could there possibly be?"

Yeosang sat up and turned to his friend. His face was grim, his skin pale. "There's a catch, isn't there? What, are we only going to get you for a day? And hour? And then your time is up? How the hell is that fair?!"

San was quick to grab Yeosang's hands, holding them gently in his own. "No, Sangie, it's nothing like that. I'm going to be around for a very, very long time."

Hearing those words made Wooyoung's heart pound in his chest. He couldn't help it. He knew it was wrong to be excited about it right now, but he was going to get to spend the rest of his life with San by his side.

"But," San continued, looking down at his and Yeosang's hands, "Things will be different from now on."

This was it. This was the point where Wooyoung was afraid Yeosang would convince San to stay on land. He sat completely still, watching the couple. They had a bond Wooyoung would never fully understand, a bond so strong that it scared him if he was being completely honest with himself.

"Different how?" Yeosang's eyes darted over San's body, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

"I'm going to have to leave, Sangie."

"What?!" Several voices said at the same time. Wooyoung's breath caught in his throat and tears pricked his eyes.

"I'll still be able to visit, but..." He reached into his shirt and pulled out the necklace showing his bond with Wooyoung. "I have to be with my mate and start our new life together."

A heavy silence fell over the group of seven.

San leaned forward to press a kiss to Yeosang's forehead, leaning his lips there for several seconds, before he stood and walked toward the water.

That's when Wooyoung realized this was perfect timing. He could see beads of sweat gathered on San's forehead, giving away that his magic was starting to wear out.

They locked eyes and exchanged a loving smile right before San walked into the calm waving lapping against the shore.

"San! What are you doing?!" Yeosang pushed himself off the rock and made to run after his friend. But this time Jongho stopped him.

The look on the youngest's face hinted that he was connecting the dots. He knew what was about to happen.

When San was knee deep in the water, he turned around to face his friends.

Then he transformed.

Five shocked gasps came from around him as they all watched San push his upper body out of the water and flick his tail in a beautiful curve behind him.

Yunho was the first to move, sitting up and covering his mouth with his hand. Wooyoung would have stopped him, but he was healed enough that it didn't matter. "By the Mother... She truly gave you such a blessing."

"She has." Wooyoung agreed. He pulled out his own necklace to show his friends, then braced himself for their reaction.

Mingi let out a long sigh, but he surprised Wooyoung by nodding. "I knew this was coming, one way or another. Congratulations, Wooyoung."

"You... You're ok with this?"

"How can I not be?" Mingi flashed a crooked smile and cupped Wooyoung's cheek. "He has more than proven himself a worthy mate for you."

Pure joy made Wooyoung's heart burst. He wrapped his arms around Mingi's waist while leaning over to hug him. "Thank you. Both of you." He turned to look at Yunho, who was... watching Hongjoong glance back up at the cliff.

He wanted to ask about it, but his attention was drawn to Yeosang hobbling toward the water now. "Sangie, you need to rest." He said, leaving his friends to hurry to the human.

Yeosang had a head wound that was slowly bleeding and several cuts along his right arm, face, and chest. It looked like his leg was injured too, but all of it was still not fatal in any way.

"Leave him." Jongho said, taking Wooyoung's hand and pulling him aside. His eyes swam with so many emotions while watching Yeosang walk into the dark ocean. "Give them a moment."

As if seeking his own comfort, Jongho's other arm snaked around Wooyoung's waist to pull him closer. "I'm so glad you're both safe." He whispered.

Before Wooyoung could answer, Yeosang spoke again, his voice cracking. "Sannie. You... You're..."

"A merman. Mother Atargatis, she gave me this gift. So I could be with Wooyoung." He bit his lip, anxiously waiting for Yeosang's response.

The human's shoulders shook for a few seconds, then he threw himself into the water and started crying again. "I'm s-so happy for you! You des-serve this, S-Sannie."

It was like a veil was lifted from the group of seven at Yeosang's acceptance.

There was a lot that still needed to be discussed and figured out. So many changes were about to happen, but as Wooyoung watched Yeosang and San hug, and Mingi reached up to take his hand while Jongho kept an arm around his waist, he knew it was something they'd figure out together.