"What did you say this horsette is called again?" I yawned as I had just woken up a while ago.
Apparently, I slept for about an hour but not before drooling on my beloved wife without even realising it! She didn't even make a fuss and just asked for it to be wiped away. I really don't deserve such a kind and understanding woman as my wife. Not to mention she even allowed me to continue sleeping should I wish, but I felt really bad for imposing on her. She had even secured our bodies together with a cloth to prevent me from falling over as we trotted slowly towards the port. If we had galloped from the beginning, we would have reached there by now.
"I think she's called— Kelpie, if I recall correctly," I pondered on her own words.
"K— Kelpie?! Rose… this horsette— is gonna kill both of us! We won't be able to get off this horsette anymore, and he's going to lead us to death when we reach the port!" I shouted at her.
"Kill us? Zen, sweetie, this horsette was given by the Underwater Dragon King himself. Why would he want to kill us when he needs our help? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Besides, if this horsette wanted to kill us, it would have galloped all the way instead of allowing me to control its trotter speed. And how do you even know it's a he? Feels like a she to me," she asked curiously.
"It's just something I recall before that all Kelpies are supposedly males who disguise themselves as female humans to lure them to their deaths. Can't recall where I read that from," I put on a thinking face.
"Sigh, must be your curse at it again. Are you good now? I want to pick up the pace. In the meantime, mind telling me what "adventure" you and Daisy underwent without my knowledge?" she queried as we started riding faster.
And so I did. I explained to her that Daisy was "dream surfing" using the Ethereal to search for me and somehow managed to do so, not to mention having the ability to see the future in that state. She helped me a lot in my fight with a Vessel whose speed surpasses my own. Obviously, Rose started rambling that we had been fighting too many Vessels recently and for whatever reason we are fighting one after another consecutively.
I am inclined to agree with her though. This is the third Vessel that we had miraculously defeated in such a short period of time, making me wonder if this is all part of some grand scheme or something. If it really was, it must have been some lousy scheme since we're the ones coming out on top thus far.
"Honestly speaking, I'm surprised you knew your way around here when it's your first time. How did you even know where to find me?" I asked her curiously.
"Me? Nah, that's all Kelpie's effort. All I did was give her your scent and she led the way to where you were. Sorry Zen, I refuse to believe that Kelpie is a male when she's so adorable," she started rubbing Kelpie's neck.
"Scent? Rose, this is a horsette, not a doggette. A horsette doesn't have an acute sense of smell. Why do I feel like you're just messing with me? Tell me how you got here in such a short amount of time after you sent Daisy to Daffodil," I squinted at her.
"Why would I mess with you? What do I even get from doing that? Fine, I'll tell you what happened. Can't believe you no longer trust your wife. You must have been fooling around with some female elves when you're here, huh, mister?!" she scolded me but started explaining her story thereafter.
She started off with her meeting with the Underwater Dragon King who personally visited the City Of Pines and made his loud announcement as soon as he passed through the gates. Surprisingly, she was the first to meet him despite being one of the few people he requested an audience with. What's strange was that my name was not among the people he requested, since he knew that I was her husband. He was the one who personally officiated us when we got married in Marrydia. Rose informed him that it was best that I tagged along, even if it's just for my insights, but he was adamant in preventing me from joining for some reason. Eventually, he caved when Rose threatened to stop helping since he refused to provide any reason as to why he didn't want my help.
After the initial meet-up, Rose ran back home, prepped Daisy, and sent her for Daffodil's care. Daffodil was already expecting Rose to send Daisy over since the Underwater Dragon King announced so loudly to everyone. Upon meeting the Underwater Dragon King once more, she was provided with a rather special Kelpie that was, according to him, triple blessed with speed to find me. She was sceptical at first, but since she was able to travel from the City Of Pines to where I was in such a short period of time, I guess it speaks for itself.
"So you're telling me that this Kelpie can move faster than a normal one? Now I'm curious as to who would be faster, my celestial beasts or this Kelpie," I chuckled.
"Not everything has to be a competition, my dear husband. Buckle up, we're almost at the port," spoke Rose as she pulled the reins upon reaching the port area.
There were a couple of people there who seemed to be preparing themselves for the journey. We dismounted, and I took over to hold the reins to guide Kelpie to where the Underwater Dragon King was. He was in his human form and walking on dry land. I never would have expected to see him coming to shore, but yet, here he is. Whatever is happening in Marrydia, it must be something extremely grim.
He spotted us and made his way towards our direction hastily. I won't lie, he looked like some attractive oppa with his fair skin, silky black hair, and white robes that never seem to ever get stained. My male attractiveness is next to zero in his presence, and I always wondered why Rose or Lily had never been attracted to him.
"I see that you've found him. However, I must insist that he does not come along. No offence, Zen, but I do not know where your allegiance lies," he spoke with a firm tone.
"My allegiance? It lies with my family and the protection of this realm," I answered.
"Then you will need to stay here. The last thing I want is for you to join your family against me," he sighed.
"What're you on about? Rose is right here, and Daisy is at home. They are my family. What are you not telling me? There's something you're withholding from me," I squinted at him.
He kept mum but glared at me. What is he not telling me? You would think he would be jumping for joy when you have more people willing to help, but there's some reason he's trying to push me away. And I want to know why. I don't like secrets that stop short of the truth.
"Can I have your absolute guarantee that you will protect Marrydia no matter the cost? Come what may, you will not abandon your duties?" he asked me seriously.
"As long as it's not the expense of Rose's life, I will protect your city. You have provided us hospitality there, why do you think we won't protect it?" I questioned him.
"That's because… never mind, let us be on our way. It's a long journey to Marrydia," he began, rounding off all the other people that were around the port.
"What is he not telling me? Any idea, Rose?" I turned to ask her, but she just shook her head, looking as puzzled as I was.
Strange. Why did he mention family, and mine specifically? Who else is there that is part of my family? According to Mom's diary, I'm her firstborn and both she and my father passed on before making another. Who else? A bastard belonging to my father that Mom wasn't aware of? If so, then I would actually have a half-brother, which is technically part of my family, not that it would excuse him for wreaking havoc in Marrydia though. Guess I'll find out when we reach there.
I glanced around to get a good semblance of who will be heading down. It was mostly soldiers from City Of Pines with a few from the elves. Had the other guildmasters made their way there or are they perhaps busy rounding up soldiers to bring them to Marrydia? City Of Pines had not even recovered from the previous assault of the beast monsters and here we are at the next war. I've no doubt that this is part of some grand scheme, but I can't figure out what it is. Why target city after city? What are they trying to achieve by doing this?
As I pondered deep in my own thoughts, Rose nudged me as we were about to depart. All the soldiers seem to be boarding some sort of ship, so we made our way there, only to be stopped by the Underwater Dragon King himself.
"And where do you think you're going?" he questioned us. I thought we were through with this by now.
"We're heading towards the ship. What else? Are you really going to keep questioning us all the way? If you're so distrustful of me, then you should have given a firm no. I know when I'm not needed," I squinted at him.
"What I meant to say is, you have no reason to be taking the ship when I've already provided you with a much better transport," he answered calmly.
"Better— transport? You meant the horsette? How is Rose and I even going to breathe or survive the underwater pressure? Last I recall, Marrydia is about four to five kilometres deep. My mermaid's breath potion doesn't last that long and there's absolutely no way our fragile human bodies are able to survive the pressure of the midnight zone," I explained to him.
"You don't have to worry as I have already thought of that. Kelpie moves much faster than the ship, and I need you there quickly to help with the situation. There's something afoul and powerful that is preventing me from stepping foot inside MY city. I know of your capabilities, Zen, and I wish for you to take control of the situation and do what you do best. Here, show this to any of my soldiers, and they'll understand," he handed me a gold coin with a square hole in the middle wrapped with red strings. Why do I get the feeling that I've seen such a thing before?
He placed his thumb on both of our foreheads and started chanting something. Is he— trying to bless us?
"What I'm doing is providing you with a protective atmosphere that gives you the ability to breathe and withstand the pressure of the deep. It'll last a couple of hours— more than enough time for you to make it to Marrydia. As for the deep-sea creatures, they'll know full well to avoid Kelpie. If there's any foolish enough to try, he'll know how to outrun them," he spoke as he continued casting his spell.
"Take care, both of you. For something strong enough to prevent me from entering my city, there must be more powerful than me. Or something afoul is at play, as I tasted the scent of a Cosmic Being. A direct interference from a God will not go unpunished by the others, so take extra care," he whispered to us.
The both of us nodded to him as soon as he was done casting his spell. This next mission sounds more complicated compared to my previous ones. If a Cosmic God is directly interfering with our realm, what's going to happen exactly? Will an all-out war between the Gods erupt, leaving us smack-dab in the middle? Will there be any Gods willing to help us in protecting us?
I sighed as I headed towards Kelpie, making sure to take the reins instead of Rose but making sure to secure both of us together. I do not know what is going to happen since this will be my first underwater trip on top of a horsette, but I know full well that being separated from Kelpie underwater will be our last trip for sure. Will it be worse without the protection of a ship? Guess I'm about to find out.
"One last thing, my powers surrounding the city are still in effect but I do not know how much longer it'll last. Under no circumstances should you leave the city unless you wish to be crushed by the depths. Stay inside and do what you do best. And remember, take him down," he spoke firmly, emphasising on a particular male before smacking Kelpie's butt, triggering him to start galloping towards the water.
I was hoping that I would have an opportunity to rest after my duty with the elven forest ended. Turns out it was just going to be another mission right after the next. And I have a bad premonition about who I'm going to meet down there. Who knew he's going to be my trigger point in life.