This story is a work of fiction with AI illustrations. Its characters and discoveries are imaginary.
This story is entirely fictional. An aging submarine named Arunika sets sail again after spending years at the shipyard. On its journey to the Lazuardi Trench, its radio picks up a strange message that seems to have been sent from the past.
A Call in the Depths
Arunika was neither the fastest nor the most advanced submarine. Its walls bore the marks of countless repairs, while some of its control levers had to be operated patiently. But to Captain Raka, the vessel possessed something newer craft did not: the ability to remain calm when the sea held surprises.
On this voyage, Captain Raka was accompanied by Mira, an engineer who could detect even the slightest change in the sound of the engines, and Banu, a young radio operator who enjoyed recording wave patterns. Their goal was simple: to test Arunika's capabilities once more while mapping a safe route around the Lazuardi Trench.
When the submarine reached a depth where all surface light vanished, the old radio in the communications room suddenly came to life. Amid a long hiss, a faint, broken voice could be heard, yet it was clear enough to understand. The voice called Arunika by name and instructed the vessel to follow three blue flashes toward the Coral Gate. Banu checked the date spoken at the end of the message. It was from forty years earlier, when Arunika had just completed its maiden voyage.
The Trail of Three Lights
No one immediately believed that the message had truly come from the past. Mira suspected that an old recording might have been stored in the radio equipment, but her inspection found nothing. Captain Raka chose to proceed cautiously. They would not follow the message blindly, but neither would they ignore a clue that identified their vessel so precisely.
Moments later, three blue lights appeared beyond the observation window. They came from a group of tiny creatures swimming together before turning into a gap between underwater cliffs. Arunika followed from a safe distance. The passage was extremely narrow, forcing Mira to adjust the engine power gradually so the submarine would not touch the rock walls.
Beyond the gap lay a hidden valley. Pillars of coral formed a gate-like circle, while the sand below reflected a soft blue glow. The compass needle spun aimlessly. At the same time, the radio came to life again and played a second message. The old voice warned them not to switch on the main lights because the valley would answer the light with a powerful current.
The Secret of the First Arunika
Captain Raka switched off the main lights and allowed Arunika to move with only the faint light from the control room. Soon afterward, a powerful current swept over the submarine. Had they ignored the warning, Arunika might have been dragged away from the gate. The entire crew now realized that the sender of the message knew the valley very well.
They found a bell-shaped object at the center of the coral circle. Carved into its surface was the same symbol depicted in an old illustration in Arunika's engine room. Mira finally remembered a story from the submarine's maintenance records: during its maiden voyage, Arunika had once been lost for several hours, but the account of the incident was incomplete. The former crew had written only that they had heard a voice from a voyage that had not yet taken place.
Banu concluded that the valley did not send people to another time. It merely reflected sound waves across time, like an echo traveling along an extraordinarily long path. Arunika's crew from the past had apparently once been there. They received part of the message from the present, then left a reply that would not be received until forty years later. The stone bell at the bottom of the valley served as the link between the two voyages.
The Message Yet to Be Sent
The radio sounded for a third time. This time, the voice from the past asked for the coordinates of the way out because the younger Arunika had lost its bearings. Captain Raka fell silent. At last, they understood their true task. The old signal was not only a guide for them, but also a plea for help whose answer had never been sent.
Banu activated the transmitter and calmly read out the directions. Mira added a warning about the current and told them not to switch on the main lights. After the message was complete, the valley trembled softly. A relieved reply came through the radio, then the voice slowly faded away. On the control room wall, an old note that had previously faded became clearer: Arunika had made it home thanks to guidance from friends far in the future.
Captain Raka steered the submarine out through the Coral Gate. They did not take the stone bell or disturb the valley. As Arunika ascended toward brighter waters, the three of them agreed to preserve the location on a special map so that every visit would be made with care. The aging submarine had saved itself across a span of forty years, not through speed or strength, but through a simple message that finally arrived at the right time.