A cloaked lady darted through the narrow alleys, her footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestones. She was the same mysterious figure Arnin had pursued after his conversation with Prince Khane.
Constantly glancing over her shoulder, the lady's eyes flickered with anxiety. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Arnin descended from above, landing gracefully and blocking her path.
As he touched down, Arnin placed his palm on the ground, then rose slowly, his gaze fixed on the hooded figure before him.
A gust of wind from his descent blew back her hood, revealing her face. Her hair, a cascade of brown curls reminiscent of seaweed, was interwoven with small, delicate seashells.
She was no ordinary woman; she was an aquatic demon. Her expression twisted into a frown as she transformed into a swirling cloud of smoke, attempting to escape. But just as she began to rise, Arnin looked up, his eyes locking onto the dark, swirling mass. He levitated effortlessly, reaching out to grasp the cloud.
As his fingers closed around the smoke, she reverted to her human form, and Arnin's grip tightened around her neck.
"How... dare... you. How can I be caught by a weak mortal!" she gasped, struggling against his hold.
Arnin smiled as he looked at her, her gaze was as sharp as a dagger. He took a step closer, his movements deliberate and confident.
"It's been years. You're not the little aquatic demon you once were. You don't need the water as much as you did before," Arnin said with a sly grin, his hand gesturing towards the ground as if to emphasize her detachment from the sea.
The aquatic demon's eyes scanned him from head to toe before returning to his face. "Who are you?!" she demanded aggressively, her voice rising.
"I need your help," Arnin replied, hesitating before continuing. His eyes locked onto hers, his grin unwavering. "Tidalia Aquari."
Tidalia furrowed her brows, puzzled by how this strange mortal knew her name. Her fingers twitched,as if ready to summon her powers. It had been ages since she last visited the sea, and she had severed all ties with mortals and other land-dwelling demons over 200 years ago.
"Who are you? How did you kno—" she began, but Arnin cut her off, raising a hand to silence her.
"Or should I say," he paused, then spoke again, his voice clear and deliberate, "how have you been, little Daly?" He tilted his head slightly, a playful glint in his eyes.
Tidalia searched his eyes, her face contorting in disbelief. Her hands dropping to her sides. "Don't tell me... It can't be!" she whispered, her voice trembling.
************************************
In the courtyard of Laon's mansion, Prince Khane trained diligently, using the books Arnin had given him. He chose to learn gradually, without the aid of any weapons. Despite this, the training felt almost natural to him, a remnant of his past before his memory loss.
Sweat glistened on his bare torso as he moved, his hair and body drenched, yet he continued with unwavering determination. After some time, he would sit in a lotus position to clear his mind and focus.
As he sat in the courtyard, hands resting on his lap, Lady Pherna passed by. She noticed Prince Khane and approached him. "You are back already? Did you get the pill? And where's Arnin?" she asked, glancing around.
Prince Khane, eyes still closed, responded, "I got the pill. Arnin will not be here for some days. I don't know where he went; he didn't tell me."
"Hmph," Lady Pherna scoffed, then continued, "I just hope he isn't causing trouble out there. Or has he found another way to escape and left us here?"
"He won't do that," Prince Khane said calmly.
"You barely know him," Lady Pherna retorted.
"And I barely know you too. Please, my lady, I need to rest for some time," Prince Khane replied.
Lady Pherna hesitated, staring at Prince Khane before speaking. "Don't overwork yourself. I'm going to see if a letter has been delivered to me by that friend I spoke about," she said as she walked away.
"Be safe," Prince Khane said softly.
Lady Pherna peeked over her shoulder, her hair swinging gracefully as she walked. She smiled and nodded, "I will."
The words Lady Pherna had spoken about Arnin finding another way to escape lingered in his mind, but he pushed the thought aside. It was then that Prince Khane realized Arnin still had the 3,000 pieces of gold coins.
He shook his head, muttering to himself, "He won't."
************************************
It was night, and the curfew bell had already rung. The roads and the night were silent, with only the whisper of the wind and the hoots of owls breaking the stillness. There wasn't a single living soul on the streets; everything was deserted, even the woods.
In an inn, within a chamber, Prince Eyrin slept soundly on his bed. Palov stood by the door, keeping watch, while Lourix guarded the door from outside. Sleep began to cloud their eyes, and after some time, they slid down and rested their heads against the door, gripping the hilts of their swords in case of an unexpected attack.
A swirling cloud of smoke drifted around the inn, searching for an entry point. It found one: an open window leading to Prince Eyrin's chamber. The smoke slipped through the window and transformed into a lady. It was Tidalia Aquari, the aquatic demon.
She gazed at the sleeping prince, then placed her palms together. After intertwining her fingers, she rested her hands flat in the air, and black smoke enveloped her body. She controlled the smoke and directed it towards Prince Eyrin.
But just as it was about to strike him, the spell backfired. Tidalia, however, was quick enough to block the rebound.
Palov immediately opened his eyes and sprang to his feet, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. Lourix, startled awake, quickly opened the door.
Tidalia glanced at them, her eyes narrowing. Without hesitation, she leaped through the window, transforming into a swirling cloud of smoke and escaping into the night.
Prince Eyrin opened his eyes and yawned, stretching lazily. Then, he grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes.