As soon as we reached the east ocean of Paloma, the pulsing waves of the ocean became calm. Except for the silver light of the moon; everything else around me was nothing but black.
Nevertheless, the ocean at night is still captivating regardless of its pulsing tidal waves. Even back in my original world, I have always found the ocean to be appealing; there is something about it that pulls me in that gets me lost into its own serenity.
But despite my adoration for the sea, I never learned how to swim. I tried so many times before though.
The first time was when my family went on a beach trip when I was really young; I think I was seven at that time, and I felt jealous with how people swam freely on the sea. So I followed after one of those adults, and as a result, I ended up drowning, well, almost.
In spite of that experience, my love for the sea didn't decrease the slightest. I still felt like I needed to learn how to swim. Until now, I still feel the same way about the ocean.
My chest lifted up as I took a deep sigh. "It's always peaceful at night," I mumbled to no one but myself.
Yet, Bakunawa seemed to have heard me as she replied to my head through telepathy. [Only on the surface.] Bakunawa transmitted.
I glanced behind my shoulder as I stared at Bakunawa's large eyes. "Why only on the surface?" I asked.
[The ocean houses a whole new race and culture underneath the surface of the sea, mortal. It's like there is another realm under here yet no one from the surface dwellers has any idea about it except for a few.] Bakunawa answered.
Hearing this piqued my curiosity, so I turned around, remaining seated as I faced Bakunawa's large eyes.
Because the books inside Bakunawa only stated about the things on the surface of the world of Nucleus; there are still many things that have remained as a mystery.
"Is there like a mermaid or some kind of merfolk down there?" I questioned as my heart thumped from anticipation, staring wide eyed at Bakunawa. After all, I love the ocean.
Bakunawa laughed in a loud boisterous manner, making tidal waves on the surface of the ocean. [There are a lot of them, and their race is called seafolk; they are divided by tribes. The one at rule right now is the Syokoy Clan, and they are at war with the Sirena Clan; the second tribe ruling the oceans.] Bakunawa said.
"Syokoy Clan?" I mumbled in awe.
I only know about what a sirena is; they are similar to mermaids in my original world. But I don't know what a Syokoy is. "What do they look like?" I inquired, grinning excitedly.
[Well, all Syokoy have a humanoid figure with scaled fish-like skin and gills slits on the side of their face. The green ones are classified as peasants or workers. The blue ones are warriors and mostly rulers in the tribe.] Bakunawa explained.
"Oh…" I mumbled.
[We're here.] Bakunawa stated.
I turn around again, looking at the lights and smokes coming from the huge island from afar.
Afterwards, Bakunawa swam up on the shore of the Nusantara Island, and Ynez finally exited Bakunawa's body after staying inside for 1 day and 2 nights.
"This is so nostalgic," Ynez mumbled as she stared around the area. "The island is still the same beautiful island it was from the moment I left fifteen years ago."
I nodded in agreement as I roamed my eyes around, feeling wonderstruck.
The night sky glowed coming from the lights in the city. The sea water crawling up on the shore made a calm soothing sound, resounding to my ears. And the air is not just plain salty anymore; the scent coming from the city mixed in with the breeze, giving a fresh cheerful vibe in the atmosphere.
In front of us laid three separate paths. The one on the left is leading deeper to the wild forest. Located in the middle is where the path to the city is. And on the right are nothing but huge boulders.
"I used to live here for 15 years. Nothing much has changed since then," Ynez mumbled again, looking sentimental.
"Mm," I hum, then I took the letter from Chief Roy inside the Shadow Circlet. I put a little mana on the black ring, and another dimension came into view around me; Chief Roy said that the dimension in the ring is only visible in my eyes.
I don't really understand how this works, but Chief Roy told me that there are many dimensions in the world that can't be seen by physical perception alone.
Despite Chief Roy explaining in detail, I still didn't understand anything. Anyway, what matters is how I used this ring. At that, I glanced at Bakunawa and Ynez, who are still staring around us in astonishment.
"Let's go meet up with the royal family, I need to hand the letter from Chief Roy to the King of the Dark Elves," I stated at Ynez and Bakunawa.
Ynez frowned as she knitted her brows together, looking at me. "I need to meet up with grandpa and grandma first," Ynez said firmly.
"But…" I trailed as I stared at the letter inside the Shadow Circlet, then I glanced at Ynez who stared back stubbornly. With a sigh, I smiled helplessly as I shrugged. "Well, alright…let's go see the blue rabbit clan first; the letter can wait later."
[Are you sure? Didn't you say that you wanted to discover the matter about why you're here and all about it?] Bakunawa questioned, pulling her brows together as she stared at me.
I dismissively waved my hand at Bakunawa. "Don't worry, that can wait, we have time anyway," I mumbled.
'Nothing can go wrong in this journey anyway, right?' I thought in my head. After all, the journey back and forth was nothing but peaceful to me. With that, the three of us sauntered our legs to the left path, going deep inside the wild forest.
After a while.
The dead leaves chattered as me, Bakunawa and Ynez walked to the shadow parts of the woods.
"We'll need to walk more," Ynez mumbled; her round eyes stared ahead with anticipation.
I raised my head and the white light from the moon, peeking between the branches and leaves of the trees, glowed to my face. As I breathed in, the wild stench of the woods and animals mixed in with the soft gust of the wind.
The weather on this island is very humid, moist, and warm. There is barely any wind, and mostly, everything is covered in thick fogs obscuring our sights around us.
Eventually, the three of us reached the elevated parts of the forest as our surroundings became even more dense with towering trees, and the scent also gave off a rich earthy scent; it made me feel like I'm in the middle of a jungle, which I am. The air also became colder as we went up higher into the forest.
"Almost there..." Ynez expresses, almost running as she walks past those big leaves, blocking our views in front of us. "Let's quicken the pace."
Bakunawa and I glance at each other, smiling at Ynez as we also match the increasing pace.
The three of us sprinted up the hills, and suddenly, three arrows came speeding to our directions. With monkey dance, I dodge as I step to the right, and the arrow hits the trunk of the Tall towering tree.
I glance at the two to check their situation. Just like me, they also dodge the arrows that came their way. Bakunawa only swayed her body to the left a little; her body dodged the arrow with ease, and the arrow hit nothing but air. Meanwhile, Ynez springs her legs up, making the arrow hit the ground.
Afterwards, the three of us glance at each other, taking notice of the lurking humanoid figures up on the trees and everywhere around us.
"No outsiders are welcomed in our territory. Go back to where you came from." A deep profound voice echoed through the foggy forest.
Bakunawa and I turned our heads at Ynez, and she stared back at us.
"Let me handle this," Ynez mumbled.
Bakunawa and I nodded, staring with vigilant eyes at the figures surrounding us behind the shadows.
Ynez stride forward, staring around us as she took a deep sigh. "Brothers and sisters, it is me, Ynez. I came back here to visit the tribe and my grandparents. Can you please let us through?"
No one answered, but someone among them pulled the string in their bow, releasing the arrow to Ynez.
Ynez dodged with ease.
"You have got some guts to go back here after leaving this tribe, Ynez. You should know that anyone who tries to leave the Clan will no longer be part of it." The deep profound voice remarks with anger.
Ynez furrowed her brows. "I'm sorry for leaving, I just wanted to know the truth..."
"We no longer care about you Ynez. We want you to leave. Leave this territory with your friends." The profound voice stated.
Ynez nodded, biting her lip. "I just want to see grandma and grandpa again, please..."
"Your grandparents died trying to search for your whereabouts, Ynez. And as for you. You left the tribe, so you are no longer part of us." Someone stated among the shadowed figures.
Ynez looked startled as her eyes widened in disbelief. "No...this can't be true..."
Afterwards, Ynez turned and dashed away, leaving me and Bakunawa surrounded.
[Mortal, can you follow after Ynez? I'll talk to the blue rabbit clan and do my best to fix the situation.] Bakunawa stated at me.
"Of course, do your best, and I'll do my part," I said, turning around as I followed Ynez through the woods.
It took some time for me to catch up with Ynez as I saw her hiding under the big leaves next to a Coconut tree near the stream; her chest is leaning to her legs as she bends her body, crouching on the wet ground.
I cleared my throat as I sat next to her. "Hey, uhm, I'm sorry about your grandparents," I mumbled, grabbing the back of my neck.
"Shut up, hooman! I don't need any pity from you!" Ynez yelled at me.
I closed my mouth as I remained quiet, sitting next to Ynez. After some time, Ynez soon stopped crying as she stared at nothing in a trance.
"I was raised by my grandparents, because my father committed suicide when my mother died from giving birth to me," Ynez said all of a sudden.
I glance at her, waiting for her to continue.
Ynez then smiled bitterly to herself. "Back then, all I knew was that my father was out there still looking for my human mother. They didn't tell me that my mother died because of me. And they didn't say that my father was already dead because of me."
My brows cross together.
"You probably think that they just wanted to protect me, right? But from what?!" Ynez questioned, looking at me in anger. "From telling the truth?"
A sigh came out of my lips. "I don't know. I'm not your grandparents," I replied, scratching my neck lightly.
Ynez glared at me. But I didn't care.
"Look, whatever their reason is, I'm pretty sure that they did it for love. They did it because they love you," I stated bluntly.
"And what if they didn't?" Ynez asked, skeptical.
"Would you rather believe they didn't?" I questioned back. "Is that what you think your grandparents are?"
Ynez didn't respond as she stared at the ground in silence.
"I think you know them better than me, Ynez," I mumbled softly.
Ynez didn't reply, but after a while, she took a deep sigh and shouted.
"Aaaaaaaahhh!!!"
I wince, covering my ears.
Ynez stops, then she glances at me with clarity. "Thank you hooman," she said.
I nodded as I stood up. "It's nothing, anyway, let's go back to your Clan."
Ynez frowned as she knitted her brows. "They hate me."
"Bakunawa is speaking with them right now, let's go check if she's fine," I said as I started walking.
"Right," Ynez replied, following beside me.
As we walked back, a low inaudible beautiful singing voice of a maiden echoed to my ears.
Ynez and I stopped as we both glanced at each other.
"Did you hear that?" I asked, roaming my eyes around.
Ynez nodded. "I think I know what it is, but I'm not sure," she answered, looking dubious.
"Haaah heeeeh hiiiiih hooooh huuuuh..." The beautiful feminine voice echoed again.
My brows creased, and immediately, I followed where the voice was coming from, feeling like I'm being called upon.
"Wait hooman...!" Ynez whispered in a loud voice.
I turned around and saw that Ynez seemed frightened. "What?" I said, puzzled with Ynez.
Ynez bit her lip, roaming around in doubtful eyes. "I think we should ignore it..."
My brows furrowed together as I stared at Ynez in dissatisfaction. "Well, you can go back by yourself, I'll go check it alone," I said and left.
"Hooman...!" Ynez called again in a loud whisper.
But I didn't stop or turn around again as I continued walking.
I heard Ynez grumbled. "Arrrgh!"
I glanced over my shoulder and saw her stomping her foot on the ground, and afterwards, she followed beside me.
"I'll run away as soon as I sense danger," Ynez muttered, walking with vigilant eyes.
"Okay," I replied simply as I continued to follow where the beautiful voices were coming from.
Soon, Ynez and I reached the river stream again, and a crowd of pretty women was floating above the water stream, while their fish-like tails thrash in the air then slapping down to the water surface.
Ynez and I glance at each other.
"They are the Sirena Clan..." Ynez whispered, looking afraid that the mermaids would notice us hiding behind the big leaves.
I didn't respond as I stared at the mermaids, which Bakunawa calls Seafolk. For some reason, I feel like they're calling for me, or was that just my imagination?
"Hooman...! We should leave them be. Some Sirena don't like being disturb," Ynez mumbled to me.
With a sigh, I nodded in agreement with Ynez. "Let's go," I said.
"Good, it's better not to disturb them, trust me," Ynez stated again, heaving a sigh of relief as she turned and left.
I glance once again at the Sirena Clan before leaving.
"Haaaaah heeeeh..." They started singing again.
I swallowed as I voluntarily stride forward near the stream. One of them noticed me.
The Sirena woman widened her eyes in delight. [Princess...]
At that, more Sirena women turn their heads at me.
[Princess finally heard our calls...]
"Princess...?" I asked, confused.
[We've been waiting for you princess...]
When I made eye contact with them, I felt a connection. Something about them is making me feel like I belong to the water. I move one more step, lowering my head down, and the Sirena grabs my top, pulling me slowly to the water.
[Princess, come with us and meet your mother, Queen Serena. She will explain everything...]
I swallowed, staring at them in a trance. "...my mother?"
[Yes…Queen Serena…the ruler of the Sirena Clan and half the ocean.] The crowd of women giggled to themselves as they pulled me down bit by bit.
Inch by inch, they pulled me down carefully.
"Hooman...!" Suddenly, someone pulled me up on the ground, and the Sirena gnashed their canines at Ynez.
"Let's run!" Ynez said, pulling me along with her as we ran back to the forest.
After running a distance from the river stream, Ynez and I stopped as we both heaved, catching our breaths. Even from this distance, I could still hear the calling of the Sirena Clan to my ears. I wonder if what they said was true, or were they just lying?
I don't know.
According to the novel, Nasrin's mother has already passed away, but not everything about that novel can be trusted. So there is also a possibility that the mother of this body is still alive. However, whether that was a lie or not, I don't think I should meet Queen Serena. After all, I'm not the original Nasrin.
"Stupid hooman," Ynez commented, glaring at me as her mouth twitch.
I only smiled wryly. "Let's go to Bakunawa?"
Ynez rolled her eyes, then both of us started striding to the hills.