I was deep in the throes of responding to angry Mythigram messages when the air in the MECCP office shimmered with an unearthly glow.
I blinked, convinced that the water bottle next to my desk had finally lost its mind—until I saw it.
Two towering figures, rippling with oceanic energy, materialized right in front of me, their presence so immense that the air itself seemed to contract around them.
For a brief second, I thought I might have accidentally triggered some kind of MECCP portal malfunction.
But no—this was far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The figures shimmered like water in sunlight, only to shrink, twisting and contorting as they deflated into two perfectly ordinary humans.
Well, "ordinary" by Mythica standards.
They were dressed in sleek, ocean-themed suits, the kind you see on those mythical royals, embroidered with symbols that probably meant something deep—probably "don't mess with us" or "we're from the deepest depths of the ocean."
Honestly, I didn't have time to study their embroidery.
One of them—tall, regal, with a trident staff that looked like it could impale a ship—gave me a side-eye before muttering, "I told you, they can't handle our real forms in these cramped spaces."
The other figure, slightly shorter but with a dramatic air that could rival any over-the-top villain, flicked his hand with an exaggerated flourish, taking in the sterile office with disdain.
"This is… beneath us," he said, his voice carrying a thick, salty edge. "We are here for our wayward child. We need to meet with a Carl Suis?"
I froze mid-scroll, my brain only half-processing the words. Then it hit me.
"Wait... are you OK's parents?" I asked before I could stop myself, the words tumbling out with the force of a rogue wave.
My heart hammered in my chest. I'd read about these two—Oceanus, Lord of the Oceans, and Ceto, Goddess of Sea Monsters—but nothing prepared me for meeting them in person. And certainly not in the middle of an office filled with angry Mythigram rants.
Oceanus—the taller of the two—nodded, his eyes glimmering with an ancient wisdom that made me feel like a flea on a whale's back. "Yes, our son. Though he's been going by his nickname—'OK,' as you call him. Officially, he is Krakenthir, son of Oceanus and Ceto."
"Great. Just great," I muttered under my breath. Of course, OK's parents would be even more intimidating than he was. I could practically hear the ocean roaring in their voices.
Before I could gather my thoughts, Ceto—the sharp-eyed one with a look that could cut through steel—turned her gaze on me. "Are you… Carl?"
I nodded hastily. "Yes, yes, that's me. Thank you for coming—"
Oceanus waved his hand, and in a split second, water rushed up from the floor and swallowed me whole. The world blurred into a whirlpool of panic and confusion, and before I could even scream, I was plunged deep underwater.
I could barely think as the current dragged me downward, faster than any free dive I'd ever done, pulling me toward the ocean depths with such force that I thought my lungs might implode.
My stomach churned, my thoughts scattered like debris in the current. I tried to grasp for something—anything—but it was too late. The world went dark.
The sudden pressure released, and I found myself standing at the base of an impossibly large set of marble doors.
I blinked a few times, confused, and then looked up—way up—at the monumental structure in front of me.
The palace was massive, and the towering kraken statues guarding the entrance made me feel like a mouse in the presence of lions.
A servant in a blue robe ushered me forward, leading me into a grand chamber where two enormous thrones stood at the far end. In those thrones sat Oceanus and Ceto, both looking every bit the gods they were rumored to be.
Oceanus's beard flowed like seaweed, his eyes glowing with an unsettling mix of storm and calm. Beside him, Ceto—whose scales shimmered like they'd been dipped in liquid silver—stared at me with an expression that was anything but welcoming.
I took a deep breath and approached the thrones, remembering the advice I'd gotten from Dr. Philippe before this. "Be respectful, but firm," he'd said. "They're not used to being challenged, but you're their best shot at saving OK."
"Thank you for seeing me, your majesties," I said, bowing low, my stomach doing flips.
Ceto's lips barely moved as she waved her hand dismissively. "Let's skip the pleasantries, Mr. Suis. We're here for our son's… troublesome behavior."
I straightened up, my nerves jangling. "Right. So, I understand that you're not happy with OK—Krakenthir—and his recent, uh, dance moves?"
Oceanus's gaze sharpened. "Dance moves? He nearly drowned three islands with his last performance. The boy's lack of control is an embarrassment to us—and to him."
I swallowed hard. This was going to be more complicated than I thought.
"I get it," I said, trying to sound calm. "But you have to understand—dancing is his passion. It's in his blood. If you just take that away from him, you'll be making the situation worse."
Ceto leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "And you have a solution to this problem, I presume?"
I took a deep breath. "What if… what if there's a way to let him continue dancing without causing destruction? A compromise."
Both gods were silent for a moment, exchanging a glance so subtle that I nearly missed it. Oceanus was the first to speak. "Go on, Carl Suis. Tell us your plan."
I hesitated, then plunged in.
"I propose that OK stays on house arrest—under your supervision—and that he receives a special transformation permit. One that lets him change into a human form temporarily. That way, he can dance in a safe environment, without causing any tsunamis or… other issues."
Ceto's eyes flashed with something I couldn't place. "A transformation permit? So you believe this boy—our son—can be trusted to follow the rules of such a delicate agreement?"
I nodded, trying to sound confident despite the knot in my throat. "Yes. OK isn't a lost cause. He's just… misunderstood. He needs someone to guide him, not punish him. You can help him learn how to control his power."
Oceanus stroked his beard thoughtfully. "A temporary transformation… How long would this last? And under what conditions?"
"Only as long as he proves he can stay in control," I said quickly. "If he follows the rules, he can continue dancing, but if he causes another incident, the permit would be revoked, and he would return to his house arrest. It's a chance for him to prove himself without… further consequences."
Ceto exchanged another look with her husband. The silence in the room grew unbearable.
After what felt like an eternity, Oceanus sighed. "You make a compelling argument, Carl Suis. We will agree to your terms—on one condition."
I held my breath.
"If he breaks the rules, not only will he return to his punishment, but you, Carl Suis, will be held accountable as well. We will make sure of it."
I nodded quickly. "Understood. I won't let you down."
Ceto's gaze softened, but only slightly. "We shall see."
The tension in the air seemed to crackle as we wrapped up the meeting. Oceanus and Ceto were willing to give OK another chance, but they weren't exactly convinced that it would work. And honestly, I wasn't either.
Before they left, Oceanus turned to me with a final thought. "One more thing, Carl Suis. You speak of using the public's anger to help our son. I am curious to see how you plan to achieve such a thing."
I hesitated for a moment, wondering how much I should reveal. But then I remembered that this was my only chance to save OK—and maybe even myself—from the wrath of these oceanic titans.
"I'm going to need funds," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "A public apology video, a Tide Relief Fund for the affected communities, and a PR campaign. We'll turn the public's anger into something positive. If OK can show that he truly cares about the destruction he's caused, we can make this work."
Oceanus seemed to consider this for a moment. "Funds, you say? You would ask us to provide these funds?"
I nodded. "Yes. If you truly want OK to have a future beyond this, you'll need to invest in it."
Ceto smirked, but there was something grudgingly admiring in her eyes. "You are bold, Carl Suis. Let us see if your plan can turn the tides in your favor."
With that, the gods departed, leaving me standing alone in their massive palace, trying to wrap my head around what had just happened. But one thing was clear— the stakes had just gotten higher.
And I had a feeling things were about to get a lot more complicated.
As I was magically transported back to the MECCP office, the weight of the deal pressed on my shoulders.
I'd made a promise to the gods, and I wasn't about to let it go down in flames. The public was furious, but maybe—just maybe—I could turn their anger into something that would save OK from a fate worse than house arrest.
But one question lingered in my mind— could I really pull this off?