Chapter 10: The calm

On a sunny day in Port Natalia, a hooded figure could be seen walking along the beach. His shoe leaves a trail of footprints on the warm yellow sand as he hums an old familiar tune, accompanied by the sounds of the waves.

As he arrived at his destination, he lowered his hood to reveal long resplendent violet hair dancing in the wind. The forest dweller fishes for something in his bag before appraising it in his hand.

The ball of guidance is said to be able to allow people the ability to travel into the sea. Testing it out, Luka started walking into the water, further and further, the fact the wind hadn't tried to get him out shows that it should be working as his life isn't in danger.

He was a bit scared of going further but with the encouragement of his friend, Luka plunged his head in and was surprised to be able to still breathe. Moving forth, he started paddling himself downward as the Underwater temple is said to be on the bottom of the southern seas.

As for why he's doing this, the purplette has decided to do one last quest in Port Natalia before departing for his next destination. So, with that in mind he decided to go for one about a couple who wanted to marry each other but couldn't be due to multiple reasons.

Sinse the wife Meia is a mermaid; in order to marry someone, she would need to undergo a ritual where the Queen of the southern seas would give them her blessing in marriage. The problemis, the Underwater temple is... well, under the sea and It's also very dangerous to get to.

Considering Meia's husband is a normal human, Meia knew it would be impossible for him to make it there with her even with theball of guidance.

And that's where he came in. The forest dweller promised to help them receive the blessing by bringing the pledge Meia had written to the Queen of the southern seas by himself. Sure, Luka was supposed to be taking things easy, but he could never leave this matter alone.

His morale demanded he went there and helped them before leaving and that's what he'll do.

Meia handed him the ball of guidance and that's where the story resumes. Now back with Luka, he's swimming into the sea until there's barely any light left, though the ball of guidance does provide a magical pathway that shines in the direction he must go. So now all he's doing is silently moving forward, following the light until he arrives to where the Underwater temple is.

Sometimes he would see monster girls of different species swimming along without noticing him. As he went further into the sea, the sight of monsters became fewer and fewer. He wonders how anyone could even live down here, there's barely any lights, and just emptiness that span for miles ahead.

'Maybe that's why most of them moves to the surface...'

The forest dweller asks Sylph if she has ever been down here before, and she responded that she's only been here once before and that's back when they were all still worshipped by the people.

He wanted to ask what it was like back then before a panicked cried snap him out of his mussing. Somewhere near him, someone's calling for help.

'Sylph.'

'Keep going, It's just up ahead!'

'Got it.' A giant burst of bubbles appears as he speeds ahead. He knew that moving away from the path could be bad, but he did so anyway.

When he got there, the forest dweller saw a young-looking mermaid getting harassed by a group of lionfish girls. They surround her from every side to prevent her escape.

Putting them all to sleep would take a bit long and he was sure they were about to attack the young mermaid soon. So, with that in mind, he pulls Iris out and sends a blade of wind to disorient them.

[Sharp gust]

It didn't do any damage since they were in the sea, but that's not what he was going for. The trail of his attack causes the water around them to move around unexpectedly, surprising them by the looks of it. He uses that distraction to unleash his next move.

This time there's a lot more target than before, but he was sure he could do it.

[Whistling blade]

Luka turns into a green blur as he performs his technique, hitting the group of lionfish girls as they all turn to him with shocked expression.

When he was done, Luka was surrounded by a bunch of unconscious monster girls floating aimlessly. He went to check over the young mermaid and to ask if she was alright when he saw her looking at him in horror.

To be fair, she did just see him knocking out a school of lionfish girls by himself. It would be reasonable of her to be worried abouthim. What confused him is why she's still here even though she looks scared.

"..."

She has short white hair that barely reaches her shoulder, deep blue eyes that resemble the ocean itself, and her scales a beautiful light blue. Luka wonders why she has so many accessories on her but decides that's not important now. He gave her a smile that he hoped was comforting. Though, from the look on her face, he knew it didn't come across as he would've wanted.

"Hello there... are you hurt anywhere?"

At his question, she shrinks into herself, trying her best to not cower in fear. It reminds him of back when he was a kid.

His eyes soften, Luka hold out his hands in front of him and clasps them together.

"Wanna see something cool?" He said warmly.

His words caught her attention, and he opened his hands to reveal a sphere of air, using thewind, Luka spawned a bunch of bubbles that started flying around them.

At this, she gasped in awe before covering her mouth. Turning to him, she went back to cowering before wincing in pain, he caught that she's been hiding her left side from him this entire time. That must be where she hides her injury.

"Do you have a name?" He tried a different approach.

"...not supposed to..." She ended up muttering to him.

Luka tilts his head. "What was that?"

"M-mommy said I wasn't supposed to talk to strangers...!" She finally said, her face pouting in anger.

Well, it's good to know she has a family. He could work with that. "Where is she now? Do you want me to take you to her?"

The young mermaid wince again, only this time It's not because of her injury. "I don't know... she said she had an important meeting..."

Oh boy...

The forest dweller ended up having to take her with him to the Underground temple because the way back up is a lot longer and dangerous for her. She follows him quietly as if to not alert anymore monster girls to them, but now that she's with him it should be safer for her.

She did let him heal her after a bit more reassuring so that's one less problem to deal with.

"You have to let me hold you!" She gave her condition.

"Hmm." His simple respond took away some of her worries.

Maybeit made her feel more in control, some sense of security, so he let her cling tohis armas he started healing the cut on her abdomen. As the wound finished healing, he backed away to see her staring at him, this time in an unreadable expression.

"..."

"What's wrong?" He asks, checking her over for anything he might have missed.

The young mermaid turns away. "Nothing..."

===0===

She continues to cling to him as they travel further down, at this point Luka could not sense any monster near them at all. Whether this is because of the harsh environment down here or there's something else keeping the monster away from here, either way Luka would still have to move through.

When he sees a tall structure ahead of them, he felt relief to have finally made it to the Underwater temple. After making sure he still has the pledge Meia wrote, he enters the temple with his clingy companion.

Inside the tall structure, they saw beautifully carved walls and pillars depicting some sort of ancient history with a large white figure right in the middle. She is none other than the Queen of the southern seas, and if her powerful aura doesn't already convince him, she then spoke.

"Welcome brave trial takers, I am Kraken, the Queen of the southern seas." Her voice carries with it a kind tone, the one you might heard from visiting your grandmother. Well, if that same grandmother is also a 12-foot-tall squid lady with tentacles as wide as a tree trunk that also just happens to live in a temple under the sea.

Bowing low, Luka realizes this is the secondtime he has ever formally introduced himself to royalty. The first time was with Alma Elma and since he was trying to hide, the King of San Ilia obviously doesn't count.

"G-greetings your majesty, I am here for your blessing after completing the trial." He managed to say after a bit, feeling his shyness coming back.

The aged monster merely smiles at this. "Please, there's no need to be so formal. For one who has completed my trial, you may refer to me by my name."

"Right, of course madam."

"Hmm?" Kraken appraised him for a moment before letting out a laugh.

"Oh my! for one who succeeded in my trial, you are awfully shy aren't you?" She said, hitting the nail right on the head.

"Ah..." Luka blushes at her words.

Strangely enough, the young mermaid girl that is still clinging to him seems irritated by this. She pouts and looks away from him when he asks her about it.

Seeing this, the Queen addresses them both, her face taking on a professional expression.

"Now then, I will get straight to it. For both of you who has completed my trial, may I know your names?"

"Luka, just Luka." He figures this must be basic formalities, so there's no need to worry about telling her his name.

Suddenly, the mermaid next to him spoke out. "My name is El!"

Oh, so that's her name. He thinks it fits her – in a cute way.

"Now tell me, have you prepared a pledge?" Asked the Queen.

Pulling them out of his bag, Luka handed them over to her. "Yes, here it is."

After inspecting the pledge, she then spoke out loud. "Very well, I, the Queen of the southern seas Kraken now bestow upon you Luka the human and El the mermaidmy blessing in marriage. May your bond last till death itself tears you apart." She finished; a ringcreated by magic appears before them both in a brilliant flash of light.

"..." His mind was blank as he stared at the beautifully made ring in his hand.

Similar to him, El also didn't know what to say as she stared at the ring in her hand. Only, she started staring at him too, and her face started getting more and more red.

...

'Congrats on the wedding Luka! Does this mean I'm gonna be an aunt?'

"W-Wait!" Luka eventually managed to restart his brain and shouted out. "There's been a mistake! I'm not the one who the blessing is for!"

"Oh dear, is that so?" Kraken asked, she looked surprised.

He nodded, frantically trying to explain further. "Yes! The couple who was supposed to be married is not me and El! Please read the pledge again."

"I see..." One of her tentacles then brought a reading glasses to face. "Oh! Now I see. You must forgive this old monster; I've been getting clumsier as is age."

The forest dweller let out a breath of relief, thankful that things didn't escalate beyond that. Would it be rude if he returned the ring back? Or those he just has to keep it now?

Clearing her throat, the Queen then begins once more. "By the words on this pledge, I hereby gave my blessing to the Meia the mermaid and her husband. May their future be as bright as the sun." She then turns to them.

"And to rectify my mistake, I, Queen of the southern seas formally divorced the two of you. Does either of you have any problems with this? If not, then it is done."

With that, Luka has now been divorced approximately 1 minuteafter getting married. He honestly has no idea how to feel about this...

'Don't worry Luka! There's plenty of fish in the sea!'

'Not helping, Sylph!'

===0===

One trip back later, Luka got out of the ocean with El without any problem. Kraken had offered to help them get back to the surface in a much quicker way, but Luka politely refused, his instinct telling him not to take it. The sun is still up so he assumes not that much time has passed.

He would have preferred not to go through an emotional roller-coaster like that, but if what he's doing is making the world a slightly better place, then he guesses It's worth it in the end.

Looking over, El seemed fine despite everything and he called to her.

"I'll be leaving soon. Will you be alright?"

"Huh? You're gonna leave me!" She exclaims in panic.

The forest dweller raises his hands in a placating manner, "It's fine. There's not much dangerous monster in this time of day."

"No! I don't want that!"

His words don't work as intended however as she continues to huff and clings to him. Normally he would have dodged her and kept his distance, but it seems his will to make sure she's fine is overpowering his shyness.

"El..."

"Hmph!" The young mermaid just buried her face in his shirt, ignoring him.

Clueless on what to do, the purplette was about to ask his friend for help when he saw something shining below.

It came from her start shaped bag she kept on her side. Inside it he saw some candies and a plethora of shells and shiny crickets.

"How about I stay with you until your mother came?" He began, gaining her attention. "We could go collectshells on the beach while we wait, who knows? Maybe we'll find one that has a pearl. Do you want that El?"

...

"...Hm." She gave a curt nod, that's the best he'll get for now.

"Come then. Where do you want to look first?"

With her face still in his shirt, she mumbles. "Not here... already check."

He sighs, exasperated by her brattiness. She's acting like one of those spoiled princesses he read about in fairy tales.

"She is here."

The sudden pressure as the air changes took Luka by surprise. Holding El close protectively, he turns to the person who just appears behind them in apprehension that quickly turns to fear.

"Ara Ara~ What do we have here?" The Queen of all succubus said as she hovers slightly above the sand, presenting herself in an inviting pose.

Pulling out the book he immediately calls out, "Page 257!"

Alma Elma is here. And she's here for him.

The best he can do now is minimize the damage that might occur during the encounter. The flying obscenity is intrigued by his actions just now, observing his every 's good, he could use the extra time that gives.

The page monster appears and was about to greet him as usual but his serious expression and what he says next let her know now's not the time for that.

"Listen, I need you to take El with you and have everyone stand guard at Port Natalia just in case something bad happens, alright?"

As he finishes his words, Luka handed her "The Four Animists" and gently pushesthe young mermaid away from him. El looked worried about what's happening but Page 257 grabs her with the giant hand she has and nodded to him.

"Got it! Please be careful Luka!" She speeds off after saying that, making her way to the port town with a struggling El.

"W-Wait! Why are we leaving without Luka? He's still there!"

Making sure they got away safely, the purplette finally faced the tall succubus behind him. She's leaning forward with one hand covering her eyes from the sun, looking the same direction he was. Luka figures it was a mocking gesture considering her vision is probably better than most monster kind, which is better than most humans.

"My oh my~ Was that a monster listening to your commands just now, or has my eyes deceived me?" She said, her voice carries with them a certain joy that befuddles him. The way she speaks is deliberate and playful as if she's enjoying every bit of this.

"Don't say it like that, I'm not her leader or anything." He sighs.

"Hmm~?" She questions, the smile on her face getting even wider than before.

Not playing her games, he cut straight to it. "Why are you here Alma Elma? Did you come to cause havoc in this town or is it for me?"

"Well now, should I answer that? A woman needs to keep her secrets you know~" That somehow made him worrier than if she had just said 'yes'.

Not to mention, she practically just confirms the fact she have stuff she wanted to do here. Whether they are good or bad is up to him to interpret, and her to do.

Iris shines under the midday sun, the wind picking up just as his will to defend the towns' people rises from the depth of his heart. Looking ahead, his hardened blue met her excited scarlet.

"I won't let you..." Luka begins.

"Can you~?" Alma Elma challenges.

"I don't know. But that's not stopping me." He commits to it.

"Then please! Feel free to try as hard as you want! Let us both freely expresses ourselves in this wonderful bouquet of chaos!" She celebrated, dramatically posing in the air as she did so.

Black clouds started blocking the sun, suddenly enveloping the whole town in dark and ominous shadows. If the wind was strong before, now It's overpowering. At the centre of it all two figures could be seen preparing their first move.

A storm is coming. And the forest dweller is right in the middle of it.

"Entertain me, Luka-boy~"

END OF CHAPTER


Author's note: Aaannnnnnnd cut! That's all folks. Thanks for reading, I'm going to my class now so please wait till I have the time to write the next chapters.

Feel free to leave any reviews, I love reading them and if you guys have any questions, I'll be sure to answer them when I have the time.