Chapter 9: The Sovereign's Abyss – Entering the Depths of the Mermaid Realm
As Neo sighed deeply, a sense of unease rippled through the air, stirring a disquiet in Clara's heart. She observed him closely, her gaze sharpened with suspicion.
Something about him didn't sit right. Her mind churned with unsettling thoughts.
Neo was... weak.
Beyond the palpable aura of death that clung to him like a shadow, he appeared frail. His Divine Energy, or rather, his primordial energy, leaked from him in faint wisps, barely a whisper of the might one would expect from someone of his supposed rank.
He seemed to have little command over it, an embarrassment for someone who claimed such power.
Was it all a ruse? Had he fooled them, or had they been mistaken from the very beginning?
He never said he was a high-ranked demigod, did he? No, they had simply assumed. If the truth was what they had come to believe, there would have been no need to bring him to the Mermaid Kingdom. No need to waste time and effort.
Clara's hand hovered instinctively towards the spear resting on her back.
Her fingers twitched, her instincts flaring to life in response to a sudden urge.
Yet as her hand moved towards the weapon, she saw him watching her. His gaze was fixed on her, unwavering, and then—just as her fingers brushed the spear's hilt—his eyes shifted. His gaze lingered on the weapon with a quiet, almost mocking intensity. A scornful flicker passed over his expression.
'Did he feel my bloodlust?'
Clara's confusion deepened, her thoughts spinning in circles. His affinity with Death was undeniable, too potent to ignore, to the point that it could detect even the slightest hint of malice aimed his way. Yet his control over primordial energy was clumsy, at best.
'So, is he truly strong, or is he as weak as he seems?'
The question gnawed at her as she made a decision. She would wait. Watch him. Observe. Perhaps there was more to him than met the eye.
The Azure Dragon continued its flight, cutting through the tempest that churned below them. Neo's breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles trembling from the sheer exertion of enduring such a journey.
The sky was an endless whirl of clouds, and below, the seas had been swallowed by an impenetrable darkness. The storms were endless, powerful hurricanes that ranged from tiny cyclones to gargantuan, violent storms. Their very presence was a warning to anyone who dared approach.
Without light to guide them, it was impossible to gauge the proximity of these storms—unless, of course, one was unlucky enough to be caught in their grasp.
The Azure Dragon, however, seemed to glide effortlessly through the maelstrom. With precision that could only come from years of experience, it navigated the hellish landscape of the sea devils' domain. It maneuvered through the dangerous, swirling currents with the ease of a seasoned navigator, avoiding the worst of the chaotic winds as though it knew exactly when and where each storm would strike.
Hours passed in a blur as they traveled through the heart of the tempest. Then, as if by magic, the clouds parted, and the horizon finally appeared, bathed in the soft glow of sunlight.
"We have arrived," Bernice's voice was a soothing balm to Neo's frazzled nerves. She smiled warmly, gesturing towards the distant shore.
Without hesitation, she commanded the Azure Dragon to descend, guiding it toward a secluded patch of coastline where the storm's fury could not reach.
Neo, however, was not so relieved. He staggered as he dismounted the dragon, his body still trembling from exhaustion. Dark circles had formed under his eyes, and his muscles screamed in protest. A full day of riding without rest had taken its toll, unraveling his already fragile constitution.
'Damn it, why does my body feel like it's falling apart?' he cursed inwardly, frustration mounting. 'I've reached the Awakened rank, so why do I still feel this weak? What the hell is going on?'
"You don't look well," Bernice remarked, a concerned frown on her face as she took note of his weary state.
Unlike Clara, who remained silent, Bernice's words cut through the air like a sharp blade. She did not hesitate.
"I know," Neo's voice was hoarse, but he hid the worst of his condition behind a veil of calm. "I've been using the Divine Water pond to recover."
"Was it the side effects of your recent battle?" Bernice asked, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Who were you up against? Are you gathering Tremor-ranked spells to ensure your victory in the next battle?"
Her questions came in rapid succession, each one more probing than the last. The intensity in her gaze was enough to make Neo take an involuntary step back.
"Bernice, we should leave," Clara's voice cut through the tension, a quiet yet forceful interruption that brought the conversation to a halt. Her eyes briefly met Neo's, offering a silent apology for her daughter's persistence.
Grateful for the reprieve, Neo nodded, offering Clara a small, thankful smile.
The trio moved forward, and soon they stumbled upon a concealed carriage, hidden strategically amongst the massive beach rocks. It was a transport method employed for occasions such as this—far removed from the modern conveniences of cars or faster travel methods.
'A carriage?' Neo scoffed internally. 'And here I thought we had moved beyond this in the modern age. But I guess that's the price you pay for living in a place where monarchy still holds sway.'
Bernice climbed into the carriage first, and as she did, she glanced over her shoulder at Neo, who was clearly struggling to stay on his feet. His body was on the brink of collapse, barely holding itself together.
She hesitated for a moment, then offered him her hand. "Here, take my hand. I'll help you inside."
Neo frowned, a mix of annoyance and reluctance flashing across his face. Yet, in the end, his exhaustion won out, and he took her hand, using it as leverage to pull himself into the carriage. Bernice's smile was gentle, almost imperceptible, but it was there—delicate and unspoken.
Clara, with her usual quiet composure, took the reins of the carriage and set the course.
The journey was long, but eventually, the bumpy ride forced Neo into a restless sleep. He needed to be at full strength before meeting the Tyrant Queen, and he knew it. His body rebelled against him, but he fought off the pull of slumber, knowing the stakes of their mission.
He awoke only when Clara's voice rang out, soft but clear.
"Wake up, we're here."
Irritation flared in his chest. He had barely closed his eyes, and now it seemed like the world was cruelly reminding him that rest was not a luxury afforded to him.
His mind was sluggish, still groggy from the short nap, and as he opened his eyes, he saw Clara standing at the door of the carriage, with Bernice waiting beside her.
"We've been delayed for hours," Clara explained. "We waited for you to rest. The Queen's audience has already been put on hold until now."
It didn't feel like he had slept at all. The brief nap had hardly been worth it.
With a groan, Neo stumbled out of the carriage and found himself gazing at a majestic sight—the Azure Spire Palace loomed before him, a stunning feat of architecture and elegance.
The palace gleamed under the sun, its azure-blue walls shimmering like polished sapphires. It was a symbol of the kingdom's ancient, opulent history, and its sheer magnificence left Neo breathless.
As they entered the palace, Neo couldn't shake the feeling of both awe and unease. Every inch of the place screamed of a regal past, rich with power and secrets.
"Are we meeting the Queen immediately?" Neo asked, his voice hoarse but composed.
"Yes," Bernice confirmed, her tone measured. "She has requested to see you as soon as possible. She is busy with other matters, but she insisted on meeting you."
Clara followed silently, a shadow at her daughter's side, offering no more than a glance towards Neo.
The doors of the audience chamber were soon before them, and a guard, ever vigilant, stepped forward to announce their arrival.
Inside the grand hall, the Tyrant Queen, Lucia, sat on her throne. The room was a sea of ministers and citizens, all anxiously waiting for news.
Lucia's presence was nothing short of commanding. Her silver hair flowed like liquid moonlight, her crimson eyes glowing like rubies, cold and distant yet strangely mesmerizing. She radiated an aura of power and mystery, her gaze cutting through the room with chilling precision.
A guard entered and, with the air of someone announcing a momentous event, called out.
"The Princess Bernice Williams has arrived, accompanied by an esteemed guest!"
The room fell into tense silence, all eyes turning toward the entrance, awaiting the "esteemed guest" with hungry anticipation. Whispers floated through the crowd, the ministers' gazes filled with both suspicion and hope.
They knew of the Queen's failing health and Bernice's search for a remedy—the Divine Water. But would this guest truly be the one to save her, or would he prove to be yet another fool with empty promises?
And if he was the one capable of saving the Queen, then he would not be an ally. He would be an enemy.