The following morning, after cleaning themselves up and getting new clothes, Yusaku and Ryoken once again headed toward the dinning room. They were starving.

When they arrived, they saw a middle age man who Ryoken assumed was Yusaku's father. The vibe the merman was getting out of him was very similar to his own father. It made him wonder if this was because they are both kings.

Seemed to notice them, he stopped and looked up. After quickly greeting him, Yusaku introduced Ryoken. He was very specific about his friend being muted. As the man's gazed fell on him, the merman bowed. He greeted them both back with a smile on his lips. After that, they sat down at the table and started eating.

During the meal, he showed great interest on Ryoken's earings. He kept asking questions left and right. As the only one who could understand him, Yusaku translated everything while the merman came up with lies almost instantly after he had heard the question. He was well awarded if someone was to find out about his true identity, it would be trouble.

When he finally stopped, they thought the danger had passed. They were wrong as what he said next shocked them.

"It must be fun for you to walk around pretend to be a human, am I right, Ryoken? Or should I say prince of Atlanta?"

"Father, what are you talking about? Ryoken--"

"I thought I raise you better than this, Yusaku. There is no point in lying to me. Those earings are sacred treasure belong to the underwater kingdom. They has been passed down for generations and only the member of royal family who was chosen by the previous wearer gets them."

"How did you..."

"Breakfast is over. Faust, take Yusaku back to his room and make sure he stay there."

"As you wish, your majesty."

"What? I'm not going anywhere!"

He fought back but it was no use. With a simple chop to the back of his neck, the knight successfully knocked him out. After that, he carried the teen on his shoulder and left. Ryoken tried to grab him. However, he was stopped by the other knights as they blocked him with their swords.

"There's no need for you to be so work up."Yusaku is my son. I won't do anything to hurt him." The king then finished his glass of wine. "Now, where were we?"

Under the watch of the knights, Ryoken processed to come closer. He wanted to write but then he remembered the writing here is totally different from what his race used, so the man might not understand them. Again, he was shock when the man told him to use hand signs.

He then explained that he was here to cause no harm, he just wanted to see Yusaku. The merman also told him about how they met.

"So that's why he wanted to go to the Summer Castle so badly." He sighed. "When he begged me to let him go there after overhearing my convisation with the lucky survival of the recent shipwreck, I knew something was up. The way he asked the poor sailor, it showed he knew exactly what we were dealing with but he said nothing about it." He took a long pause before continuning.

"I thought I was being too hard on him for making him learn different things from drawn till dusk. But turned out, it was the right choise. If I haven't, he would have ended up being shark bait!"

"I understand how you feel. But I never thought of hurting him. Not for a single moment."

"If you think I'm going to thank you for saving my son from the horrible storm your father casted upon him and his crew, you are greatly mistaken! Nothing good ever comes from your race."

Receiving the sign from their king, the knights restained Ryoken.

"For causing multiple shipwrecks and murders, you will be punished under our laws! Take him to the dungeon!"

"Roger!"

...

Being thrown in the cell, the merman prince crashed hard on the ground as the door was closed shut and locked. Slowly pushed himself up, he moved to the wall and rested his back against it.

There was a million things going through his mind. Then suddenly, a bright light appeared outside the cell. It was so bright that he had to close his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw Jay laying on the ground with a puddle of blood forming below him.

Rushing there, he checked on the boy. There were wounds all over his body. However, the one hidden under his cape shocked the merman the most. His back, there wasn't any flesh left. Meanwhile, Jay slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the teen. With his weak voice, he called out then opened the palm of his right hand.

One look and Ryoken recognized them immediately. They were in different size but it was Aqua's seashell necklace and the contract between them.

"Something bad...has happened... Take...them...and save her... You are...the only one...can..." And he took his final breath.

At the same moment, the sky went dark as thunder and lightning torn up the sky. It wasn't normal. Even if a storm was coming, the weather wouldn't change so quickly.

"The trident!"

The thought his father declaring war on humans didn't strike him at all. No matter what he might do or say, Ryoken knew his father, he would never do something like this as it might lead to the destruction of their own kind.

Turning back, he paid his respect to Jay then took the necklace and scroll. As he did, they returned to their normal size. He remembered the eel telling him while they were still traveling together, if something happened to the contract, the deal would be neutralized. He would got his voice back. However, it would also mean he lost his chance to be with Yusaku as a human forever.

Without any hesitation, he torn the contract into pieces. Right after that, crack appeared on the seashell necklace and it broke. From it, tiny lights flew out, surrounding Ryoken. As they slowly faded away, the charming merman prince was revealed with his beautiful glimmering blue tail.

Taking a deep breath, he started to sing. It wasn't every long before the two standing guard outside appeared before his cell. It was then he stopped and commanded them to let him out. They did just so.

Reaching his hand out, he took Jay's cold hand and made him a promise before finally leaving with the help of the guards.

"Don't worry, no matter what it takes, I'll save Aqua."

"Rest in peace...my friend."