On the birthday of a six-year-old Timmy, there were the familiar st of freshly baked cookies that lingered in the air. His mother, Oakley, a woman with an artistic fir set up a small, intimate celebration for Timmy’s birthday.

  Timmy’s father, Henry was there, too. He always looked like he was beat up or drained, but somehow, he po make this work today.

  Henry g Oakley with a hint of fatigue in his eyes while taking a cookie aing it. “One hour, Oakley,” he said with a touch of exasperation. “Just one hour of rest before the chaos begins.”

  Oakley smiled warmly. “Everyone’s still getting ready. You’ve got time for a quiap if you want.”

  Henry shook his head. “I’ll just watething till they’re ready. ’t risk falling into a deep sleep and missing everything.”

  Meanwhile, in Molly’s room:

  Molly was trying on swimsuits in front of her mirror. Her dark attire trasted sharply with the bright, pyful swimsuits she was testing. Molly was unimpressed while trying to find something that matched her own style.

  Osana, her older sister hovered nearby. She saw the outfits that Molly was trying on and they all looked very revealing. “Molly, you better not wear that outfit to the beach,” she chided. “It’s ly beachwear material.”

  Molly shot Osana a dismissive look while adjusting the straps of a particurly fshy swimsuit. “Why do you even care? It’s just a beach. I don’t knoe’re even going. It’s not like I’m ied in swimming or whatever. And Timmy’s going to be a wreck out there. I don’t evehe point...”

  Osana sighed. “It’s just a day at the beach, Molly. Maybe it’ll be good for all of us. Just... maybe try something a little more rexed.”

  Molly rolled her eyes but ultimately slipped into a more casual swimsuit with a ck of enthusiasm.

  Timmy had been asleep while all of this was going on in his own room. When he woke up on his 6th birthday, he leaped out of bed, barely pausing to dress himself before sprinting out of his room.

  In his rush, Timmy actally bumped into Molly, who was standing in the hallway with her arms crossed. “Whoa, watch where yoing, Timmy,” Molly said while looking down at her younger brother. “Yoing to knoething over.”

  Timmy’s face fell slightly, but he quickly brightened up again. “Sorry, Molly! I’m just really excited for the beach today! Dad said it’s going to be awesome!”

  Molly rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, try not to get in everyone’s way. Not everyone is as excited as you are.”

  Despite Molly’s dismissive attitude, Timmy’s enthusiasm didn’t waver. “Okay! I’m just gonna go see if Dad’s ready!”

  After everyone was ready to go, they all piled into Henry’s trusty old truck. Timmy had one question that had been b him for a while, and now seemed like the perfect time to ask.

  “Dad,” Timmy began, looking up at Henry with those curious, i eyes, “what’s the truth about the world?”

  Henry, navigating the wheel and the road, g Timmy in the rearview mirror, a small smile tugging at the er of his lips. “The truth about the world, huh? You sure like to ask the big questions.”

  Timmy nodded eagerly, his little heart beating with anticipation.

  Henry tinued, “Well, Timmy, you’re not going to like this, but I’ll give it to you straight. In this world, people are born with different levels of magical power. Some folks, like us, have low magic. We call ourselves ‘civilians.’ And then there are those who have high magid they’ve got it made.”

  Timmy listened ily, trying to absorb every word his father was saying.

  Henry went on, “See, it’s all about money and power. People with high magic have fewer bills to pay and more job opportuhey eve jobs in the magical industry right out of the gate. But for folks like us, we have to study and work hard just to make a det living. It’s a tough world out there.”

  Timmy frowned, deep in thought, trying to grasp the plexities of the world he was just beginning to uand.

  Henry cluded, “But don’t worry, Timmy. I may not have much magic, but I’ve got something eveer. I’ve got you, and I’ve got a dream to make a full-time job out of ndsg. We’ll make our way, oep at a time.”

  Timmy’s young mind struggled to fully prehend the plexities of magid power, but a few things were clear. He uood that high magic was important and that it seemed to make life easier for those who had it. The idea of being strong and important, like a superhero, excited him.

  With wide eyes, Timmy turo his father and said, “Dad, I o get a lot of magic! Then when I get big, I’ll be a superhero!”

  Henry chuckled while looking back at Timmy through the rearview mirror. “Well, if that happens, son, I’m gonna need a bigger truck to keep up with all your superhero adventures.”

  The eruck erupted in ughter Even Molly, who had been quietly , cracked a small smile at the exge.

  After they arrived at the beach, they didn’t waste any time.Timmy couldn’t wait to start swimming. Timmy’s parents set off on a spot far away, allowing the children to have fun by themselves.

  Osana k down and securely fastened a colorful floatie around Timmy’s small arms. She smiled warmly at him and brushed a few strands of his hair away from his eyes. “There you go, little buddy. I want to make sure you’re safe out there.”

  Timmy’s eyes shoh gratitude. “Thanks, Osana. When I level up, I won’t his anymore.”

  Osana chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Oh, really? What level are you now, Timmy?”

  Timmy grinned, his imagination taking flight. “I’m a level 1 swimmer right now, but by the end of the day, I’ll be level 100, just like in my games!”

  Molly, lounging oowel with a bored look, raised an eyebrow at Timmy’s enthusiastic decration. “It doesn’t work that way in real life, Timmy. You don’t just level up like you do in yames.”

  Timmy tered, “It does too! I’m going to level up my swimming today, just you wait!”

  Molly smirked. “Oh, really? I bet you won’t ‘level up’ today. If you ’t swim by the end of the day, you’ll have to give up yames for a week.”

  Timmy’s eyes widened. He realized this was a challenge. “Deal! But if I learn how to swim, you have to py Starcrashers 3 with me for a week.”

  Molly sidered the wager for a moment. Her smirk turned into a full smile. “Alright, you’ve got a deal. Let’s see if you make it to level 100 today.”

  With the bet set, Timmy’s resolve grew strong. Osana gave him an encing pat on the back, aook a deep breath, ready to prove himself.

  Timmy stood at the water’s edge, staring out at the waves crashing on the shore. To him, the water looked like a powerful oppo. In his vivid imagination, he pictured an enemy out in the o, and he had to swim after them. He sprinted into the water, eager to quer this imaginary adversary.

  However, Timmy’s youthful enthusiasm got the better of him, and he went in too deep. The water rose above his head, aruggled to keep himself afloat.

  Osana noticed Timmy’s struggle almost immediately. Without a sed thought, she sprang into a. With powerful strokes, she cut through the water and reached Timmy just in time.

  “Timmy, hold on to me!” Osana shouted. She ed her arms around him, keeping his head above water, and began swimming steadily back to the shore.

  Osaly id Timmy down on the beach.

  “Timmy, you have to be more careful,” Osana said with . “You ’t go all the way out like that on your first time in the sea. You o start closer to the shore and gradually work your way out. It’s important to build up your fidend skills first.”

  Timmy looked down to the ground. “I’m sorry, Osana. I just wao be a hero and level up….”

  Molly, who had been watg from the shore, walked over. “Look at Timmy, Osana. He’s just a little baby, not even fit to swim in the kiddie pool yet and he’s going right into the deep from the start.”

  Molly’s insults stung more than the saltwater and she just kept them going. “What’s the matter, Timmy? ’t handle a little swim? Ugh, you’re such a baby.”

  Timmy was overwhelmed by the harsh words and his own feelings, but he tried to hold back from produg any tears.

  Osana’s face turned crimson with a Molly’s taunts. She spun around to face her sister. “Molly, that’s enough! You don’t have to be so cruel. Timmy is just a kid who’s trying to learn. He doesn’t need you tearing him down.”

  Molly crossed her arms defiantly. “I’m just telling it like it is. If he’s gon washed away on his first go, he shouldn’t be out there.”

  Osana stepped closer to Molly, her eyes bzing. “You think you’re being helpful, but all you’re doing is making things worse. You were once learning too, remember? Why don’t you show some empathy for once?”

  Molly’s gaze faltered for a brief moment, be she quickly brought back her unimpressed look. “Fine, whatever. Just don’t expect me to coddle him.”

  Osana noticed his distress and crouched beside him, whispering, and “Don’t listen to Molly. You’re just getting started, and everyone has to learn at their own pace.”

  Timmy stared at the sand with his small face set in a frown. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought. His eyes were welling up with uears. Osana’s wrew, but before she could say anything more, Timmy suddenly looked up with his faow flushed with anger.

  “Molly, you never say anything immy shouted. “You just always say how bad I am at things! Why ’t you just say something nice for once?”

  Molly’s fident facade faltered for a moment. Her mouth opened and closed while trying to find a response. “I… I was just trying to—”

  “No!” Timmy cut her off “You don’t care! You never care about how I feel. You just want to make me feel bad!”

  Molly opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. Timmy gave one angry look in Molly’s dire and then ran down the beach. “I hate you!”

  Osana stood by. She g Molly, who now stood by sadly. “Maybe you should think about what you say before you speak,” Osana said quietly with disappoi. “Words hurt, even if you don’t meao.”

  Molly stood there, staring at the spot where Timmy had just run off. The weight of his words—“I hate you!”—hung heavily in the air.

  “I messed up,” Molly said quietly. “I didn’t think he’d ever say that to me. I didn’t expect him to get so upset.”

  Osana looked at her sister with a blend of sympathy and frustration. “Molly, it’s not just about what you intended. It’s about how your words made him feel. You were so focused on proving a point that you didn’t see the hurt you were causing.”

  Molly’s eyes filled with tears. “Shit…didn’t mean to hurt him like that. I thought I was just being ho… but… I didn’t think he’d feel that way. I never wanted him to hate me.”

  Osana took a deep breath, trying to bance her own frustration with uanding. “Well, you start making things right by apologizing to him. He o know you’re sorry and that you care about him.”

  Molly wiped her tears and nodded. “You’re right. I’ll find him and apologize. I’ll make it right.”

  Timmy trudged down the beach. The sa heavier with each step. His tears merged with the salty sea breeze. Eventually, he made his way to where Henry and Oakley were sitting on a bhey were enjoying a moment of rexation.

  Henry looked up with a smile spreading on his face. “Hey, Timmy! How’s the swimming going? Are you having fun today?”

  Oakley turned her gaze toward him with warmth. “Yeah, Timmy. We were just talking about how great it is to see you enjoying the beach.”

  But the duo saw Timmy’s tear-streaked fad downcast eyes. Their smiles faltered. Henry shifted to . “Timmy, what’s wrong?”

  Before Timmy could answer, Molly caught up with him. “Timmy!”

  Molly rushed over, breathless and red-faced from her run. She stopped a few feet away, her eyes locked on Timmy’s. “Timmy, I was a jerk, and I’m—“

  Before she could finish her apology, their attention tly drawn to an ued arrival.

  The colossal sea creature emerged from the depths of the o, its massive tentacles reag for Molly, who was closest to the Kraken. Before anyone could react, the Kraken’s powerful appendage snatched her away, and she ulled into the water.

  In an instant, the beach was filled with shouts of panid desperation. Henry and Osana leaped into the water to rescue Molly. They swam towards the Kraken, but the creature retreated beh the surface, taking Molly with it.

  Osana mao swim with Timmy back to the shore. She could see the in his eyes. Osaly told him, “Timmy, stay here on the beach. I’ll be right back with Molly, I promise.”

  Timmy trembled in reply, “But Mommy, Daddy, and Molly all went uer after that monster. I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want to lose any of you.”

  Timmy was taken back to present time. The water flowed around Timmy.

  Timmy’s anger surged through him like a tidal wave, fueling a power he never knew he possessed. He focused on the Kraken and in his mind, images of the o’s depths came to him along with the knowledge of these creatures.

  The water around Timmy became a dark, swirling energy. From the depths of his rage and sorrow, he began to summon the power of the deep sea. Massive creatures—gigantic sea serpents, formidable sharks, and swarms of fierce, glowing jellyfish—emerged from the swirling currents.

  The creatures roared and writhed, creating an almost tangible aura of power. They surged toward the Kraken with a predatrace.