One thousand meters in length and five hundred in width. These were the colossal dimensions of the Eternal Cruiser, a masterpiece of engineering and magic that defied the laws of nature and imagination. It was not merely a ship; it was a floating citadel, a microcosm harboring life, dreams, and wonders within its hull. Its design, divided into two main hulls, offered a unique experience: each hull functioned as an independent entity, allowing its passengers to behold two distinct realities simultaneously. While one hull gently submerged, offering panoramic views of the underwater world, the other remained on the surface, providing an infinite perspective of the horizon and sky. It was as if time and space bent around it, creating a fascinating duality.

  The Eternal Cruiser glided gracefully over the surface of the Sea of Glass, an ocean so transparent it seemed like an illusion. Its crystalline waters revealed an underwater world of almost unreal beauty: coral reefs that shimmered in vibrant hues, forests of giant kelp that swayed gently with the current, ruins of submerged cities that whispered forgotten tales, and marine creatures of fantastical shapes that moved with a hypnotic slowness, as if dancing in a dream. The waves, almost imperceptible, created a mirror-smooth surface, reflecting the starry sky with such precision that it was difficult to distinguish where the horizon ended and the firmament began. It was a sea of contemplative beauty, a place where time seemed to stand still, a perfect setting for an eternal voyage.

  Several corridors away, in a less crowded section, a female figure ran at full speed, her breath short and her heart pounding. Her hair, an intense crimson color, had come loose and billowed wildly behind her. Her every footstep echoed loudly against the metal floor, creating a metallic echo that mingled with the sound of her own agitated breathing.

  "I can do it! I can make it!" she muttered through her teeth, her eyes fixed on the wall clock that glowed with intense blue numbers. Time seemed to accelerate, and every second that passed brought her closer to the edge of despair.

  The main hallway was full of people and movement. People of all ages and places walked in all directions, boarding the cruise ship with haste and expectations. The rustle of fabrics, the constant murmur of conversations, and the sound of cart wheels created a disorderly symphony, an echo of life that resonated in the air. Among this bustle, the crimson-haired figure made her way with determination, dodging carts loaded with suitcases, elderly people who moved slowly with their canes, children who ran aimlessly, and couples who walked hand in hand. Her murmurs of apology were barely heard above the noise, but her presence was impossible to ignore. Every movement of hers was agile and precise, as if she had practiced this race against time a thousand times.

  She turned sharply at a corner, almost losing her balance due to the speed at which she was moving. Suddenly, she found herself in front of the Aquarium entrance, a structure that was not simply another attraction on the Eternal Cruiser, but an architectural and magical marvel. The Aquarium was a submerged extension of the cruiser itself. The walls, made of a transparent material reinforced with magic, offered a panoramic view of the underwater world. They were not mere crystals; they were magical barriers that withstood the pressure of the depths while allowing visitors to feel immersed in the marine environment. The light, though attenuated by the depth, filtered through with an ethereal softness, illuminating the water with blue and greenish tones that created an almost dreamlike atmosphere. Through those walls, one could appreciate the life that teemed around the structure.

  Fish with iridescent scales, which shone like jewels under the dim light, swam in harmony among corals that changed color depending on the angle of the light, creating a living kaleidoscope of shapes and hues. Creatures with luminous tentacles, like floating lanterns, glided gracefully among the rocks, leaving trails of light in their wake. Meanwhile, fish with membranous wings, which seemed taken from a dream, fluttered elegantly underwater, as if imitating the flight of birds in a liquid sky. In the distance, on the other side of the aquarium wall, a huge marine creature emerged from the depths. Resembling a whale, but with fins adorned with bright feathers that waved gently, it moved with a majestic slowness. Its large, wise eyes observed the visitors with a serene curiosity, as if it were the guardian of that underwater world.

  For an instant, the female figure stopped, completely captivated by the beauty of the place. Despite the urgency that drove her to keep running, she could not avoid staying a few more seconds to admire the spectacle. It was as if she were immersed in the Crystal Sea itself, enveloped in a world of colors and life that seemed to defy reality. She approached the aquarium wall, and the transparent, almost imperceptible material gave her the feeling that there was no barrier between her and the depths. The water pressure, though contained by the magic of the structure, felt almost palpable, as if the ocean breathed just on the other side, waiting for someone to dare to cross over.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  It was then that she saw it. A small fish, no bigger than her hand, swam among a group of anemones that glowed with a soft violet light. Its scales were unlike any fish she had ever seen before; they seemed to be made of small, translucent gems, each shining with a different color: sapphire, emerald, ruby, amethyst. It moved with an unusual grace, as if dancing to the rhythm of an invisible music, tracing circles in the water.

  The small fish seemed to notice her presence. With an agile movement, it separated from the group of anemones that swayed gently and swam directly towards the aquarium wall, stopping right in front of her. Its eyes, large and round like miniature moons, shone with a golden light that contrasted vividly with the deep blue of the seabed. It stared at her, with an intensity that seemed to penetrate the magical material of the wall, as if it could see her beyond the barrier that separated them.

  A soft smile drew on the female figure's lips, almost without realizing it, as she extended a hand towards the transparent wall. Her fingers approached, as if, for a moment, she believed she could touch the fish through the enchanted glass. The fish, in response, flapped its small fins with a quick and playful movement, performing a pirouette in the water that left a trail of bright bubbles. Then, with a final elegant turn, it swam away among the corals.

  The figure withdrew her hand slowly, still with the smile on her lips and the image of the magical fish engraved in her mind. For an instant, everything seemed to stop, as if time had been suspended in that fleeting encounter. But then, like a whiplash, reality hit her hard.

  ?The roll call!

  Crossing the threshold of one of the wide side corridors, the atmosphere changed drastically. Here, an almost martial order reigned, where the silence was only broken by the echo of a firm, authoritative voice. A short, stout woman advanced with a determined step, taking attendance with a rigor that admitted no errors. It was Dolores, and although her physique did not impose in height, her presence radiated an undeniable authority that made everyone around her maintain strict order. Her uniform, impeccably ironed despite fitting her corpulent figure, seemed to reflect the discipline she demanded. In her hands, she firmly held a metal clipboard, where with precise strokes of white chalk, she marked the attendance. That record was implacable, a silent testimony of the presence or absence of each of the workers under her command.

  "Joaquín!" she called, her voice cutting through the air like a knife.

  "Present, Mrs. Dolores," a tall, thin figure responded, head bowed and a subdued tone of voice, as if trying to go unnoticed.

  "Sofía!" she continued, without pause.

  "Here," a nervous, young voice replied, barely managing to conceal the tremor that ran through her.

  "Selene!"

  An uncomfortable, dense silence fell, which seemed to stretch for endless seconds. Dolores frowned, her eyes scanning the hallway with a gaze that could pierce walls. Just as she opened her mouth to call again, a figure slid stealthily into her place in the last row. It was Selene, moving with the agility of someone who has perfected the art of going unnoticed. Her steps were quick but silent, as if trying to blend into the shadows to avoid being discovered. Arriving at her spot, she straightened up quickly, adjusting her uniform and smoothing out imperfections in an attempt to regain her composure. She took a deep breath, holding the air for a moment before exhaling slowly, trying to calm her racing heart.

  "P-Present, Mrs. Dolores," she said, her voice hesitant but audible enough.

  With a couple of quick and determined steps, Dolores approached Selene. She stopped in front of her, maintaining a short but respectful distance, and stared at her, as if trying to decipher something in her expression. Her dark skin, warm and luminous, contrasted sharply with the grayish uniform she wore, giving her an air of uniqueness amidst the monotony. Her eyes, an intense and penetrating crimson, matched the vibrant color of her hair, creating a harmony that was impossible to ignore. However, what caught Dolores's attention the most was not her striking appearance, but the subtle, almost imperceptible smile that Selene was trying to hide. It was a smile that hid something, perhaps a secret or a contained emotion.

  For a moment, they both stared at each other, as if measuring themselves in a silent duel. Finally, Dolores marked the attendance with a quick movement of her hand, without uttering a word. Selene breathed a sigh of relief as Dolores looked away, trying to regain her composure while mentally repeating that the worst was over. At least... for now...