After Niecalli and Pializtli's fun day above ground and their promise to not tell anyone of their excursion for fear of getting into trouble, they told Namor. Proudly, as a matter of fact. Damn the punishment for going against the rules, this is something to be excited about. Namor initially rages at the thought of them disobeying orders and worries over his adoptive little sister. His obvious fondness for the girl and practically raising her made her adoption official after this incident. Since her disobedience has always been playful, add to that his evident soft spot for Niecalli, as well as her new skill, per se, allows him to overlook the incident of them going above ground. Pializtli is still punished of course. He is neither next in line nor an adoptive sibling.
Although her misconduct is forgiven, it is not forgotten. Namor spends the last few days dragging Niecalli for visits above ground, trying to figure out how she can breathe both air and water. Underwater, Talokanils' natural skin color shows but their iconic blue skin, when above ground, is a cause of their lack of oxygen, despite having respirators on their mouths, noses, and gills for breathing. Entirely the same as Niecalli when she's above ground with her mask and coverings on. But when her masks are off, her gills close in on her skin and completely disappear, allowing sufficient oxygen into her system through the air passing through her lungs. Having sufficient oxygen lets her keep her skin's natural color. The same could be said when Niecalli is underwater. Her gills open like nothing happened, allowing sufficient oxygen in her system as well. Her appearance stays the same in either state. She has all the advantages of a Talokan physique with the looks of a human. Half Talokanil for sure, the other half they are not so sure.
"Come on" Niecalli begs. "How am I going to be a good leader if I don't even know what's happening on the surface? And besides I am basically superhuman compared to all the other humans up there."
"No. You're not even ten yet and you haven't even finished your training." Namor rejects, walking away.
"Isn't this the best time to go? While I'm young? People are more compassionate to children, and I can probably mooch off of someone by explaining how sad and alone I am. I can make an excuse of how I don't have parents or something… which is somewhat true." Niecalli follows Namor as he walks.
Namor stops and turns to her. "Finish your training first then I'll re-evaluate."
"Is that leaning to a yeeees?" Niecalli cups her hands together and tucks it under her chin, staring up at Namor with her extra big, pleading eyes.
"Yes." He sighs with his hand rubbing his temples.
Niecalli leaps and hugs Namor tight.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She squeals and runs off. "I'm going to go train right now!"