"The Cave of Treasures?"

Finally, Reine and her party managed to catch up with Mama Orca's pod again, and they told her of the next quest. Her reaction didn't conceal her surprise at all, and this prompted Neil to ask: "What's wrong about it?"

"First of all, young man, that place is not meant for humans to visit," Mama Orca gazed at him solemnly. "It is located at the deepest point of this ocean… your human lungs would not stand the sheer pressure of such depths…"

"But…"

"Even mermaids, if not properly trained, will not be able to reach the place," an orca added. "It's a death sentence from the King! You are not meant to return!"

Neil immediately turned at Reine. "Is that true?"

"…well…" Reine took a deep breath. Her next word came out as if it took all of her energy. "Yes."

Neil turned his body around and looked at Reine and Viv. Now, even the latter couldn't mask her worry with that teasing glint in her eyes. It finally occurred to him that they had known of the risk all along.

"You know of this and yet you came along?" his voice was strained in disbelief. "Are you crazy?!"

"Maybe…" Reine nodded gravely. "Or maybe I just want to keep the game fair."

Neil remembered what Viv had told him once:

You see, Reine is all about fairness. She can't stand something unfair.

But, this was getting unfair to her.

"Look, you—"

"We came here not to question my decision," Reine interjected harshly. "We came to see whether there is a way to keep you alive."

"Of course, there is…" Mama Orca interposed gently. "But, surely such methods carry risks."

"Such as?"

That question was the trigger for Reine. Suddenly, her whole body became limp and the infinity symbol appeared on her scarlet eyes. It didn't last for long, but it surely took its toll on Reine's body as when she regained her consciousness, she fell to the ground, prevented only because Neil and Viv immediately supported her.

That didn't escape Mama Orca's watchful eyes. "It has awakened…"

"You knew…?"

"I have guessed," Mama Orca nodded. "From your stories of Gwen's power, I know something is missing," she said. "So… what did you see?"

"Is there nothing else we could do?" she pleaded.

"I am afraid, my child, that might be the best course of action…"

"What is it?" Neil asked.

Reine released herself from Neil and Viv's careful support and sighed long. "Turning you into a merman," she replied. "But such spells are often… irreverisble."

Reine bit her lower lip. "And I don't like Morgana."

"Morgana?"

"She is the sea-witch… the only one who can perform such spells," Viv explained. "And being a witch, she is a bitch."

"That's very elaborative," Neil commented sarcastically.

"Ugh, you sound like Reine now," Viv groaned. "It's hard to tell you about her… you have to see her in tenta-glory and all that."

"Tenta… what?"

"She is an octopoid woman," an orca told him. "I suppose by now you shouldn't be surprised that such creatures exist?"

Neil glanced at Reine. Her usually blazing eyes lacked their familiar lustre, as if the previous vision had leeched off all of her life force. She was looking at him, too, her mouth sealed in silence. He began to think that perhaps, if they had this encounter on the land, he could see her tears.

"Making a deal with a witch… is almost like you're making a deal with Death himself…" she murmured. "No, perhaps death would have been a better relief…"

Viserys was staying in front of the door leading to her chamber. "The Mistress does not wish to see you," he told Allen flatly. "But, you should head for the palace garden."

"Why?" he demanded.

"You will find your answers there," the dolphin said. "That was what the Mistress said."

Confused, Allen chose to believe in Gwen. As he swam towards the palace garden, he tried to think of something that might have offended her. His heart clenched with an unfamiliar feeling—much more intense that guilt, but not exactly desperation either. Allen gritted his teeth as he raked his head for answers, although he knew he might not find it there.

Maybe I shouldn't have removed her veil? Dammit. I didn't mean to do that… but… oh shit. Dammit. Dammit.

"Ah, you're the human prince!"

The voice jerked him back to the present time. A young merman, around his age presumably, stood before him with a friendly grin on his face. His hair was blonde of an orangish shade, and his tail shared the same colour with translucent fins.

"Are you lost?"

"Yes and no," Allen admitted. "I know the way to the garden, but I don't know my way around the Seeress' mind—much less her heart."

The young merman held his breath, but a moment later he broke into a fit of laughter. "I never heard someone spoke so… emotionally about the Seeress!" he swam closer to Allen. "Well, not even her sisters knew their way around her. So, no biggie!"

"My name's Rod, by the way," he stretched out his hand.

Allen shook it. "Call me Allen."

Rod proceeded to tell Allen about the sisters, most notably the fifth sister: Leightone. He spoke in a very lively manner, but not discourteous at all, one thing that Allen rarely found in court members both on the shore and in Atlantica. Before Allen had realized it, they were already swimming to a more secluded corner of the palace.

Rod looked around; his aquamarine eyes scanning their surrounding nervously. When he had made sure that not even a fish could hear them, he looked at Allen.

"You are… the prince from the shore, right?" he asked.

Allen was surprised by the sudden change of mood, but he nodded.

"I saw it," Rod claimed grimly. "I saw the trident glowing in your hand."

Allen remembered Gwen's warning. "You must be—"

"I was told," Rod interjected quickly. "that the rightful king of this realm shall be a human of Triton's blood. The trident has acknowledged Triton's blood in you."

Quick on his feet—metaphorical ones, this time—Allen sensed what the merman was implying. "I can't do that."

"They will rise at your call!" Rod urged. "We have been waiting for the Blood of Triton to take up arms!"

"That does not necessarily mean…"

His thought interrupted his speech. Suddenly, it occurred to him that he had intended to go to the palace—but Viserys' action had made it clear that Gwen was inside her own chamber. Therefore, it was near impossible that Gwen would be the person he would be seeing at the garden (except there was some teleportation magic involved, which he was sure there was not any).

Gwen would surely know of this encounter beforehand.

Gwen knew. She was the Seeress, after all.

Allen looked at Rod. His aquamarine eyes were filled with hope, almost bordering to desperation. He didn't know exactly what was going on, what lied under this dissatisfaction towards the current king, and why him besides the claim of him being the Blood of Triton… but that might warrant further research.

Gwen stared emptily at the sphere floating above her palm, from which she watched the entire conversation. She noticed Allen's hardened expression—one did not need her power to decipher what was going through in his mind.

Another piece being placed on its place… she noted inwardly.

She sighed long and closed her eyes.

She felt warm trails forming on her cheeks, which was quickly washed away by the cold seawater.

She tried to ignore it, but somehow that warmth persistently remained on her skin. Just like Allen, she thought, touching her lips so lightly, fearing lest the feel of his touch would dissolve under her skin.

What will be of Neil and Allen?

Stay tuned to find out!

Thanks for reading!

Please rate and review! ^^

A/N: Hey guys, please drop by at my new story, The Princess and the Pauper. Like the title suggest, it's an adaptation of Barbie's movie of the same title (and hence Orwell's novel The Prince and the Pauper) ^^ hope to see your reviews there! ^^