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Chapter 26: Fountain of Youth

There was nothing in this room except for a fountain. And in this fountain was…

A mermaid.

Well at least I know where the name came from…

I approached her. She was combing her long, blond hair with her fingers; her green iridescent tail shimmering in the water.

"Um, excuse me? I'm here to acquire the mermaid elixir…"

She stopped combing. "Oh? So someone was able to pass..." she flicked her tail and continued combing.

I stood there awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. "So… how do I obtain it?"

"By taking water from my fountain." She examined her nails.

"Okay. May I take some water?"

"No."

I frowned. "Why not?"

"Well what do I get out of it?" She pouted.

"Ah… well what do you want?"

"Well I like flowers…" She looked at me innocently.

Ugh. Not this again.

In addition to my own rose, I also had Seiran's. I bit my lip. Would I sacrifice him for Garry?

No. I don't want to forfeit anyone else…

Then I remembered… The glass lily! The one from the room with all the glass bottles. I pulled it out of my satchel (which I had noted had appeared along with me in front of the door) and offered it to the mermaid.

She looked at it with disdain. "I don't want a fake one…"

I bit my lip even harder. "But… this one's much prettier… And it won't wilt. It'll last forever."

She reconsidered. "Well that's true…" She reached out and plucked the flower from my hand.

"Fine go ahead." She waved her hand.

I hurried and filled the vile I got from Dark with water from the fountain. I looked at it happily. With this… I can finally save him…

"Hurry up and get out of here." She glared at me.

I'd love to. But how? I looked around the room. A set of stairs had materialized, spiraling upwards.

That most certainly answers my question...

I walked up the stairs but stopped when my head was a few inches from the ceiling. No door? What do I do now? I pushed upward on the ceiling, surprised when it gave away. Climbing a few more steps, I lifted the top off the floor, and crawled out.

I was... in the statue room... So it was here the whole time? I sighed.

I walked over to the door and pushed it open.