I stared at Myreidon, feeling a knot of confusion and disbelief tightening in my chest. God. The word carried so much weight, yet here it was being thrown around casually.

  “A god?” I repeated, my voice tinged with incredulity. “You mean… like some divine being?”

  Myreidon chuckled, shaking his head. “No, boy, not that kind of god. It’s a title, one earned through mastery of an element.”

  I blinked, trying to process his words. “A title? So, you’re not some deity or higher existence?”

  “I’m as mortal as you,” he replied, though the faint smirk on his face hinted at his amusement. “The title of a god is awarded to those who have achieved complete understanding of their element. In my case, water. There are six of us—or were, at least. Water, Lightning, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Ice. And the black boards behind me, it acts as an honor for all of the gods, at the moment, there were only 4 of the gods, the one and only mighty Myreidon Aquarion, Water God. The Lighting God, Xephyr Voltaris. The Fire God, Veyra Heltisea . And the Wind God, Alpheria Galher. And the other 2 elements, ice and earth is a placeholder. Not because there weren’t any God, it’s more like we couldn’t detect any individual claimed and proved to be the Gods. ”

  Hearing this, I frowned. “Six basic elements… Basic?” I asked, my tone skeptical. “Aren’t they the only ones? I thought everything came from them, including healing magic.”

  Myreidon raised an eyebrow at me. “Healing magic?” He leaned back, folding his arms. “Boy, that’s barely scratching the surface of what’s possible. There are far more intricate forms of magic beyond the basic six.”

  “More?” I muttered, unease creeping into my voice.

  “Yes,” he continued, “complex and specialized forms of magic exist. Sound magic, teleportation magic, domain magic… to name a few.”

  At the mention of teleportation magic, my breath hitched. A sudden chill coursed through me, the memories of my kidnapping flashing vividly in my mind. Myreidon noticed the change in my demeanor. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone softened.

  “Teleportation magic, I see, strikes a chord with you.”

  I shook my head quickly, trying to mask my discomfort. “N-No, it’s nothing,” I lied, though I knew he didn’t believe me.

  Still, he didn’t press. Instead, he elaborated on the other magics. “Sound magic, for instance, can create devastating noise or target individuals within a specific area. It can disrupt armies or lock onto a single enemy with precision.”

  “And domain magic?” I asked, my curiosity slightly outweighing my anxiety.

  “Domain magic is a form of entrapment,” Myreidon explained, his tone turning grave. “Once activated, it creates a prison—an isolated space that traps its targets. It’s often used to contain the most dangerous creatures or prisoners this world has known. Like teleportation magic, domain magic requires a magic circle to activate.”

  A prison... I couldn’t help but imagine myself trapped in one of those domains, unable to escape.

  I shook my head, trying to clear the images. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said after a moment. “This is… enlightening.”

  He gave a small nod, his expression unreadable.

  But I wasn’t here just for a magic lesson. Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders. “There’s something else I need to ask of you.”

  His eyes narrowed slightly. “Speak.”

  “It’s about Mira,” I began. “She’s requested to continue traveling with me and my friends as an adventurer.”

  The room fell silent. Myreidon’s expression hardened, and I could feel the weight of his gaze pressing down on me.

  “Before you misunderstand,” I quickly added, “this isn’t about me being selfish or trying to keep her away from you. This is her request, and I promised to bring it to you.”

  Still, the king said nothing, his silence growing heavier with each passing second. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

  “No.”

  I’d prepared myself for this answer, knowing it was the most likely outcome. After all, who would willingly let their child leave after such a painful reunion?

  “I understand,” I said evenly, keeping my voice neutral. “But I think you should hear me out first.”

  “I have heard enough,” Myreidon said, voice firm. “She has suffered enough. It is time for her to live as she was meant to—with her family, where she will be safe.”

  I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, safety isn’t the only thing that matters.”

  His eyes narrowed, and I felt the pressure of his presence intensify. “You are telling me her safety does not matter?”

  “That’s not what I said,” I corrected. “Of course, her safety matters. But Mira is not just someone who needs to be protected—she is someone who wants to protect others. She chose this path herself. Would you take that choice away from her?”

  Myreidon exhaled sharply, as if the thought irritated him. “She is still young. She does not fully understand what she is choosing.”

  I folded my arms, standing my ground. “And you do? You who weren’t there when she was alone? When she had to fight to survive, when she had to pick herself up over and over again?”

  His expression darkened, and I immediately regretted how that came out. But it was too late. I had said it, and I meant it.

  For a few tense moments, we simply stared at each other. Then Myreidon let out a low sigh, shaking his head. “You speak with a sharp tongue for a child.”

  I blinked, then hesitated. Right. I’m supposed to be a kid.

  I had spoken without thinking—spoken like an adult, like someone far older than my body suggested. But instead of dismissing me for it, Myreidon looked… interested. As if something about me had caught his attention.

  “Duke Caddel,” he said, his voice slow, measured. “You are quite the unusual one, aren’t you?”

  I exhaled, forcing myself to stay calm. “I just… I just know what it’s like to have my choices taken away from me. I know what it’s like to be forced into a path someone else decided for me. And I don’t want that for Mira.”

  Myreidon studied me in silence for a long moment. “Even if that path leads to danger? Even if one day, you cannot protect her?”

  I clenched my fists. “If that day ever comes, then I’ll accept it. But I won’t make decisions for her out of fear. And I don’t think you should either.”

  Another silence. But this time, Myreidon wasn’t just dismissing me. He was considering my words.

  Still, I wasn’t naive enough to think I had won.

  “She is my granddaughter,” Myreidon finally said, his voice quieter than before. “I will not let her suffer again.”

  I softened my stance slightly. “She won’t be alone. She has us. We won’t let her suffer either.”

  He sighed, rubbing his temple. “You are a stubborn one.”

  “So I’ve been told,” I muttered.

  He chuckled slightly at that—just a small one, barely audible. But it was there. And for the first time, I felt like I wasn’t just talking to a king, but to someone who genuinely cared.

  “…We will speak of this later,” Myreidon said at last. “For now, you may go.”

  I knew better than to push my luck. Bowing slightly, I turned to leave.

  I turned to leave, feeling the weight of disappointment on my shoulders. Though I knew Mira wouldn’t be happy with the answer, I couldn’t blame the king.

  First is Elyndor, don’t know if he has returned home yet, and now is Mira, the goal of getting everyone home has almost come to an end. I tried to be cheerful as they will be happy at home. But something inside me, it is… aching.

  Just as I reached the door, a piercing scream shattered the air.

  Both Myreidon and I froze. The sound was unmistakable—panicked, terrified cries coming from outside.

  “What now?” Myreidon muttered, standing abruptly.

  I bolted to the window, pushing the curtain aside. My heart sank at the sight. Crowds of Myrdians were fleeing from the town square, their faces pale with fear.

  “Your Majesty” I turned to the king, panic evident in my voice. “Something’s happening!”

  He didn’t waste a second, his demeanor shifting from composed to commanding. “Stay close, boy. Let’s find out what chaos has come to my city.”

  Without hesitation, I followed him, dread pooling in my stomach as the screams grew louder.

  Myreidon strode purposefully toward the armory, his royal cloak trailing behind him like a rippling tide. I jogged to keep up, gripping the sword he had handed me moments ago. Its balance was unfamiliar, and the weight felt heavier than it should have, but I had little choice.

  “Your Majesty,” I called, my voice tinged with urgency. “Why aren’t you coming with me? If this is serious, shouldn’t you—”

  He halted abruptly, his piercing eyes meeting mine. “Do you know what happens when a god interferes in mundane affairs, boy?”

  I blinked, unsure of how to respond.

  He smirked, his tone laced with a mixture of arrogance and humor. “One simple attack from me could blow this entire city apart. Would you like me to test that theory?”

  My stomach turned. “No, sir.”

  “That’s what I thought.” He resumed his stride, gesturing for a nearby servant. “Besides, I have Caelum, Leryn, and my elite guards to handle this. They’re trained for situations like these. My intervention is unnecessary.”

  I nodded slowly, though the weight of his words settled uneasily in my mind. What kind of power does a god wield?

  The closer I got to the square, the louder the commotion became. Shouts and muffled cries echoed through the water. When I rounded the final corner, I froze. My serious expression twisted into a laugh I couldn’t contain.

  There, in the middle of the square, were my friends—Sylas, Kael, Kaldor, and Mira—alongside with… my three damn employees. They were armed, each wearing determined expressions and surrounded by shimmering air bubbles around their heads.

  “What… what are they doing?” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.

  Their movements were painfully sluggish, the resistance of the water turning every swing of their weapons into an awkward flail.

  “Release Duke and Mira!” Sylas shouted, her voice distorted through the bubble.

  A royal guard raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “You are disrupting the peace! Cease this foolishness at once.”

  “Peace?” Kael retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’re the ones holding them captive!”

  The guards looked at one another, utterly baffled. Meanwhile, my friends fought valiantly—or as valiantly as one could while moving at half speed underwater.

  “Enough of this,” one guard muttered, gesturing for his comrades to move in. “Take them to the holding cells. We’ll sort this out later.”

  “No! Let us go!” Sylas protested, trying to pull free from the guard’s grip.

  Kael, ever the stubborn one, attempted to resist as well. “You can’t just—”

  As the guards surrounded my friends, Jasper stepped forward, his towering figure casting a shadow over the others. “Stand down!” he barked, his voice like a roll of thunder. “We’re here to see our leader, Duke Caddel.”

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  The guards exchanged confused glances. “This is the royal palace. Your so-called ‘leader’ is a guest of the king himself. You have no business here.”

  Lia, always quick with a retort, crossed her arms. “Guest of the king? You’ve got some nerve. Duke’s been more than a guest—he’s a hero to everyone here.”

  Finn nodded, his calm voice steady amidst the tension. “We owe him everything. And if you think we’re leaving without him, think again.”

  Before the guards could respond, I stepped forward, raising a hand to silence them. “That’s enough.” My voice was firm, but there was a hint of amusement as I turned to my loyal employees. “Jasper, Lia, Finn—you didn’t have to come down here. I told you I’d be fine.”

  “Fine?” Jasper snorted. “We know you too well, boss. ‘Fine’ usually means ‘about to jump into danger.’”

  Lia chimed in, grinning. “And we’re not letting you have all the fun without us.”

  Finn’s lips twitched into a rare smile. “Besides, someone’s got to keep you out of trouble.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, alright. Let’s get this sorted. Guards, cast a mobility spell on them so they can move freely. They’re with me.”

  The guards hesitated but obeyed, and soon my employees stood upright, their movements fluid under the water’s spell.

  Moments later, the restrictive pull of the water released my friends, and they swam toward me with renewed vigor.

  “Duke!” Sylas exclaimed, her face a mixture of relief and exasperation. “What is going on? Why are they calling you a noble guest?”

  “Not here,” I said quickly, glancing around. “Follow me. I’ll explain everything.”

  We returned to the room I’d been escorted to earlier. Though it was damp and cramped with all of us inside, the familiar faces brought a sense of comfort amidst the chaos.

  Sylas wasted no time. “Start talking. What’s this about royal families and noble guests?”

  I hesitated, glancing at Mira. She stepped forward, her gaze steady despite the tension.

  “I’ll explain,” Mira said softly, stepping forward. There was a brief hesitation, as if she were still processing it herself. Then, with a deep breath, she met their gazes and said, “I’m… the princess of this kingdom.”

  The room fell into stunned silence. Even Jasper, Finn, and Lia—who had been whispering among themselves about how they might make a fortune selling underwater artifacts—completely froze mid-conversation.

  Sylas blinked. Once. Twice. Then, as if her brain had finally caught up, she practically shouted, “What?”

  Kael, ever the calm one, furrowed his brow in thought, though the crease between his eyes showed he wasn’t far from shock himself. “You’re saying you’re royalty? Actual royalty?”

  Mira nodded hesitantly, her fingers curling into the fabric of her sleeves. “Yes.”

  Jasper whistled low under his breath. “Huh. And here I was, thinking we were all just a bunch of random adventurers scraping by.” He shot Finn a sideways glance. “We could’ve been treated like nobles if we knew sooner.”

  Finn scoffed. “Or imprisoned for kidnapping a princess.”

  Lia, who had been unusually quiet, muttered under her breath, “This just keeps getting wilder.” Then she frowned. “Wait. But if you’re a princess, why were you…” She trailed off, but her meaning was clear.

  Mira’s expression darkened slightly. “Because I didn’t know until now.”

  Sylas let out an exasperated groan, rubbing her temples. “Let me get this straight—you’ve been a lost princess this entire time, and we had no clue?”

  Mira sighed. “I didn’t exactly grow up in a palace.”

  Kael leaned back slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Then how did you end up… well, with us?”

  Mira hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Because I’m also a hybrid.”

  That made them freeze again.

  “…Come again?” Sylas asked, her eyes narrowing.

  “I’m half Myrdian, half human,” Mira explained. “That’s why I can breathe underwater without magic.”

  Kael blinked, looking between Mira and me. “So… not just a princess. A princess and a hybrid?”

  Jasper let out a laugh, shaking his head. “Alright, this just keeps getting more ridiculous. What’s next? Is Duke secretly an emperor?”

  Finn elbowed him. “Don’t give him ideas.”

  Kaldor, who had been quiet up until now, spoke in a low, thoughtful tone. “That explains why the guards were so protective of you.” His sharp gaze studied Mira carefully, as if piecing together something he hadn’t realized before.

  Lia, still looking a little overwhelmed, hesitated before asking, “So… does that mean you’re, like, half-mermaid?”

  Mira groaned. “No, not exactly—”

  Sylas threw up her hands. “Okay, okay, hold on. First, you drop that you’re a princess, then right after you hit us with the fact that you’re a hybrid? Couldn’t you have spaced those out a little?”

  Mira gave her a sheepish smile. “I figured it was best to just… get it all out at once.”

  Kael tilted his head. “That does explain why you always seemed a little different when we talked about noble customs.” He gave a small smirk. “Turns out you were above all of them.”

  Sylas crossed her arms, still looking skeptical. “So, what happens now?”

  Mira’s face fell, and I knew it was time to say my part.

  “There’s something else,” I said, my voice more reluctant than I would have liked. “Mira… she won’t be coming with us on our next journey.”

  The silence that followed was suffocating. Then–

  “What?” Sylas demanded, her voice rising. “Why not?”

  I braced myself as I explained the king’s decision as best as I could. The more I spoke, the tighter Sylas’s fists clenched, and even Kael—who usually remained composed—looked like he wanted to argue. Finn muttered something about how “Duke should’ve just punched the king,” which earned him a smack on the arm from Jasper.

  “Are you insane?” Lia gawked at Finn. “You seriously think punching the king of an entire underwater kingdom is a solid plan?”

  Finn shrugged. “Worked on a bandit leader once.”

  Mira, despite the heaviness of the conversation, let out a small chuckle. But before she could comment, I continued. “Also, one more thing about King Myreidon. He’s a Water God.”

  A beat of silence. Then Finn let out a short laugh. “Ha. Good one.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  Finn blinked. His amusement flickered. “…Wait, you’re not joking?”

  Lia and Jasper instantly pounced on him, Jasper throwing an arm around Finn’s shoulders while Lia grinned like a cat who’d just found a particularly stupid mouse.

  “Ohhh, this is rich,” Jasper snickered. “Not five minutes ago, Finn was out here saying, ‘Duke should just fight him.’”

  Lia mock-gasped. “How brave! How fearless! Telling our dear boss to brawl with a literal god!”

  Finn’s face paled as he turned to me. “You’re serious?! He’s actually a god?”

  I sighed, crossing my arms. “Not in the way you’re thinking. It’s a title, one earned through mastery of an element. Myreidon isn’t some immortal divine being. He’s as mortal as we are.”

  That didn’t seem to help much.

  Sylas’s eyes widened. “So, you’re telling me we just had an audience with one of the most powerful elemental masters in the world?”

  Kael rubbed his temple. “I’m starting to understand why those guards nearly drowned us the second we set foot here.”

  Kaldor let out a thoughtful hum. “You mentioned it was a title… does that mean there are other gods like him?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. There were six in total—Water, Lightning, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Ice. At the moment, only four have been confirmed. Myreidon is the Water God, Xephyr Voltaris is the Lightning God, Veyra Heltisea is the Fire God, and Alpheria Galher is the Wind God. The spots for Ice and Earth are currently empty because no one’s been acknowledged as a god of those elements yet.”

  Mira’s head tilted slightly. “That’s… the first I’ve ever heard of something like this.”

  That caught Sylas’s attention. “Wait, even you didn’t know? And you’re royalty here?”

  Mira crossed her arms, looking mildly frustrated. “I told you—I only just found out I was a princess, remember?”

  Lia elbowed Finn. “So, Finn. How’s it feel knowing you told your boss to punch a god?”

  Finn groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Sylas fumed. “They’re just going to keep you locked down here?” She turned to Mira. “What do you want?”

  Mira hesitated. “I… I want to stay with all of you,” she admitted, her voice thick with emotion. “But after everything, I can’t just ignore what I found here. My parents… they’ve suffered for so long without me. I don’t want to hurt them again.”

  For once, Sylas had no immediate retort. Her frustration was clear, but she couldn’t argue against that.

  “If it’s for her safety,” Kaldor finally said, breaking the tension, “then we can’t argue with that.”

  Mira’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  Kael exhaled through his nose, then gave a small, dry chuckle. “You’re apologizing? For finally having a family?” He shook his head, offering her a rare, genuine smile. “You’re an idiot, Mira.”

  Sylas crossed her arms, her expression conflicted. “We’re not letting you go without one last meal together,” she declared firmly.

  Lia, Jasper, and Finn all nodded in agreement. “And drinks!” Finn added, earning a groan from Jasper.

  The tension in the room slowly dissolved as the idea settled. We couldn’t change what was happening, but we could make sure we had a proper send-off.

  For the next few hours, the room was filled with laughter, reminiscing, and stories from our time together. Sylas and Kael took turns recounting our past adventures, while Jasper and Lia exaggerated tales about their own exploits. Even Mira, despite everything, smiled and laughed along.

  The reality of our parting still loomed over us, but for now, we pushed it aside. Tonight, we were just friends sharing one last moment together.

  The room felt cramped but lively, with laughter bouncing off the damp walls. Plates of shimmering seaweed salad, roasted kelp-wrapped fish, and bowls of glowing blue soup sat in the center of the table. A platter of what looked like coral-shaped breadsticks caught my eye—they even crunched like coral when bitten into.

  Jasper reached for another piece of fish but paused as Lia’s voice rang out. “Careful, Jasper. You’ll need a sword to fend off the next mimic that comes for your bag.”

  He groaned, rolling his eyes. “I told you, that was a strategic retreat! I distracted it.”

  Lia smirked, poking at her seaweed salad. “You distracted it by screaming, ‘It’s got my pack!’ and running in circles?”

  Finn, dipping a breadstick into his soup, chuckled. “To be fair, it did have teeth. But Jasper, next time, try not to trip over a rock while being so ‘strategic.’”

  Jasper leaned back with mock indignation. “Oh, sure. Let’s not talk about Finn setting off every trap in the ruins with his lockpicking skills.”

  Finn raised an eyebrow. “And yet, I got us out of that, didn’t I?”

  “You smashed the door with a rock,” Lia teased, laughing. “Such finesse!”

  Kael smirked. “Says the one who tripped over a branch and face-planted in a bush while ‘sneaking.’”

  The table erupted in laughter. I shook my head, grinning as I tore a piece of breadstick. “And somehow, you’re all still here to tell these stories. Miracles do happen.”

  Lia winked at me. “Only because you keep us alive, boss.”

  Mira smiled quietly, her gaze lingering on each of us as if trying to memorize this moment. Her laugh, soft but genuine, blended with the laughter of the group.

  “Remember when Sylas nearly burned down that inn?” Kael teased, earning a sharp glare from Sylas.

  “Or when Kael fell into that pit trap?” Mira added, giggling through her tears.

  “And don’t forget Duke,” Kaldor chimed in, a rare smile gracing his face. “You thought that mimic was a treasure chest.”

  He leaned back in his chair, pointing at me with a grin. “Or Remember that time in the dungeon when Duke tripped into a pit trap because he was ‘sure it was safe’?”

  Sylas burst into laughter, nearly dropping her plate. “Oh, gods, yes! And then he tried to play it off like he meant to do that. ‘It was a tactical maneuver,’ he said!”

  “Hey, it was tactical,” I retorted, though my face heated. “It distracted the goblins, didn’t it?”

  Kael, ever the quiet one, chuckled softly. “Sure, if you count screaming as a distraction.”

  Sylas smirked. “You do scream a lot in fights, Duke. It’s kind of your thing.”

  Kael raised a brow, clearly enjoying the teasing. “Maybe we should give him a new title. ‘Duke the Screamer,’ perhaps?”

  The room erupted into laughter while Mira, sitting quietly next to me, laughed softly. Her eyes glistened with happiness as she watched us. For a moment, the weight of everything that had happened seemed to lift, replaced by the warmth of camaraderie and fond memories.

  By the end of the meal, the laughter had turned bittersweet, and promises to reunite filled the air.

  The surface shimmered above us as the royal family prepared to escort us out. The night was cold and the mood was somber, the weight of the goodbye pressing down on all of us.

  Jasper, standing tall as ever, stepped forward and gave Mira a respectful nod. “We didn’t know you for long, princess, but you’ve earned our respect. Thanks for watching our backs in that dungeon. We’ll never forget it.”

  Lia, her usual mischief replaced by sincerity, smiled warmly. “You were braver than most adults I’ve met, Mira. Keep that fire alive.”

  Finn, ever the man of few words, simply said, “Thank you.” But the meaning behind it was clear in his steady gaze.

  Mira, clutching her grandfather’s leg tightly, looked up at them with a watery smile. “I should be thanking you. You helped Duke. And that means the world to me.”

  Jasper gave me a quick glance, smirking. “She’s got your loyalty, boss You’ve got good taste in friends.”

  The royal family stood with us at the edge of the shimmering water, their regal presence contrasting with the raw emotion of the moment.

  Mira’s mother, her voice thick with gratitude, turned to us. “Thank you. For protecting her, for giving her joy, and for treating her like family.”

  Her father nodded solemnly. “You’ve given us something we can never repay. Know that you’ll always have a place here.”

  Mira clung to her grandfather’s leg, her small frame trembling as she fought back tears. Finally, she broke free, running toward us. She threw her arms around Sylas, then me, she tried to reach for Kaldor and Kael but her arms are not long enough. We gathered in a circle, hugging each other with Kaldor’s huge body act as a shield from the cold breeze. Mira sobs breaking through.

  “You’ll come back, right?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

  I ruffled her hair, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Of course. We’ll come back. Promise.”

  As we turned to leave, Myreidon’s voice rang out, firm and commanding.

  “Wait.”

  We all froze, turning back to him.

  “She can continue adventuring with you,” he said, his tone measured. “Under specific conditions.”

  Hope flickered in Mira’s tear-filled eyes. “Really?”

  The king nodded. “We’ll discuss them soon. But know this—if she goes with you, I’ll be watching closely.”