On the back side of Arendelle, right beside the ocean.
Lioro and Cid silently sat by a fireplace.
Beside them, a bound black-haired mermaid stared at them with horrified eyes.
"I've heard eating Mermaid grants immortality, what do you think?"
"....."
Lioro stared at him in silence, not knowing what to say.
Cid casually added firewood to the fire, making it burn brighter before continuing.
"It seems to be the right temperature."
"Is it?"
"Yeah, we can start cooking..." Cid said while slowly turning his head toward the bound mermaid.
The mermaid instantly started struggling for her life, trying to flail around with all her might. Alas, she was too weak, unable to break the bindings.
As she struggled, looking at her moving chest, Lioro touched his chin and fell into deep contemplation.
'How long will those seashell things hold on?'
It didn't seem like they were connected to any strap just stuck in place by God's grace.
It piqued his interest.
*Crackle*
Cid, beside him, added another piece of firewood to the fireplace before taking out a big-ass knife from somewhere.
Then, under Lioro's weird gaze, Cid took dramatically slow steps toward the struggling mermaid while moving the knife in a suggestive manner.
As he came close to her tail—
The mermaid suddenly stopped struggling.
As if she had lost all strength, she lay down powerlessly on the ground, her chest heaving with uneven breaths as her eyes grew blurry.
With a resigned look on her face, she slowly closed her eyes, a clear drop of tear sliding down her cheek.
"..."
Seeing a scene that seemed to have come straight out of some sick fantasy novel, even Cid froze and slowly turned to look at Lioro.
His eyes seemed to ask—
'What the hell do I do now?'
'This is what you get for being an idiot.'
Lioro rolled his eyes and came beside Cid, quietly whispering into his ear.
"Dude, it's a Disney world. How about being honest?...."
Cid stopped, then turned to Lioro and looked at him like he was seeing an idiot.
Lioro ignored him and walked toward the fearfully trembling mermaid.
Crouching down before her, he racked his brain for a possible solution.
'I mean, isn't it a Disney world? It's better to just come out and say it.....'
While Lioro was making up his mind, the black-haired mermaid, feeling a shadow cover the sun, slowly opened her eyelids.
Through her blurry vision, she saw a handsome white-haired man with otherworldly beautiful blue eyes.
Earlier, because of her fear of that demonic human, she hadn't taken a clear look at the other man who arrived.
But now that he was right before her...
For a moment, she unconsciously fell into a daze.
'Are people on the surface so..... beautiful?...'
She couldn't help but wonder.
But then her heart sank to rock bottom.
'What's the point..... he's just going to eat me anyway... demonic humans..... sniff....'
She lowered her eyes and bit down on the rag blocking her mouth.
Large drops of tears once again formed in her eyes, ready to fall like an uncontrolled tsunami.
But just then, a warm hand touched her chin.
Unconsciously following its lead, she raised her head, once again meeting that pair of beautiful eyes.
"We're not going to eat you, Ms. Mermaid."
They're not going to eat me?
It sounded like a scam...
But for some reason....
She wanted to believe him...
After all.
How could such a good-looking guy lie?
If it was said by that demonic human, then she definitely wouldn't believe him.
But this human... he was different... she felt it...
Lioro raised his hand and carefully removed the cloth binding her mouth.
Being able to breathe freely again, the mermaid took in a deep breath and visibly relaxed.
It's true! Handsome guys don't lie!
Unconsciously, she moved closer to Lioro, turning her back to Cid, not wanting to look at that demonic human.
Lioro was a little taken aback by the sudden change in attitude.
'It seems I was right. Being honest is the right way.'
Satisfied that his method was correct, Lioro gently smiled, making the mermaid blush.
Meanwhile, Cid stared at the scene with disgusted eyes.
'Being honest my ass!'
----
After some introductions, Lioro managed to learn her name.
Alana.
Perhaps she was one of Ariel's sisters from the movie; alas, he didn't remember the face of every side character, so it was hard to tell.
"A-and I-I was just swimming n-near the c-castle when he c-captured me!!"
"Captured you?"
"Y-yes! H-he just suddenly appeared o-out of nowhere a-and c-caught me i-in a large net!" Alana accused, holding a burger in one hand and pointing at Cid with the other.
"A large net?"
"Yes! It was all black in colour! I got so scared—"
Alana stopped and took another bite of the burger before continuing.
"—thinking I'd been caught by some monster....."
Feeling the delicious taste fill her mouth, she cried.
Sniff
'Why does the surface have such delicious dishes??'
She took another bite.
*Nom*Nom*
Lioro lightly patted her back and pulled out another burger from his inventory, placing it on her fishy tail.
Seeing more food, Alana's eyes visibly glowed.
Cid, feeling dissatisfied, suddenly grinned and said with an evil smile,
"Eat, eat everything so that we can fatten you up for slaughter!"
Alana nearly choked on her food.
*Cough*
Lioro patted her back while giving Cid a reproachful look.
"Stop teasing her."
"Tsk."
*Cough*Cough*
Alana coughed a few more times before looking pitifully at Lioro and asking,
"A-are you really going to eat me?...."
"Of course I am not going to eat you."
Alana nodded before saying,
"I trust you."
Cid visibly snorted.
This crappy atmosphere was giving him shivers.
Were there really such gullible people in the world? No wonder there were kidnapping cases every now and then.
"He's just messing with you, Alana. Although he doesn't look like it, he's actually a good per—"
Lioro suddenly stopped and turned to look at Cid.
Cid looked back at him in confusion.
After a few seconds—
Lioro turned back to the confused Alana and said,
"I believe he has a good heart... probably"
Alana narrowed her eyes and looked at Cid with a gaze full of doubt.
A blood vein throbbed on Cid's forehead.
Alana instantly grabbed Lioro's hand for protection.
Lioro soothed both of them before asking the real question.
"Alana, what were you doing near the kingdom?"
'Is the underwater palace nearby? Don't tell me King Triton is our neighbour...'
Alana gulped down her food before replying.
The taste was simply too irresistible.
"I was staying in the castle when my sister Ariel suddenly pulled me out, saying there was a wedding going on in Arendelle..."
'So we really are Triton's neighbour?'
Lioro didn't know how to feel, while Cid's eyes glowed with excitement.
"I was reluctant at first, then we heard a Witch was driven away by some heroic Swordmaster and Wizards, which piqued my interest..."
Alana suddenly fell silent and stared at Lioro.
Heroic Swordmaster.
She looked at his side.
There was no sword.
Heroic Wizard?
She didn't see a staff either.
Alana blinked visibly, then asked in a curious voice,
"Excuse me, but..... are you the one who drove off the Witch?...."
"Yes, it was us—"
"It really was you!"
Alana barely contained her bubbling excitement and quickly asked,
"Can you show me some magic?"
Lioro thought for a moment before raising his hand.
"Tier 4 Magic: Crystal Lotus."
A beautiful crystal lotus formed above Lioro's hand, exuding a cold hue.
Alana stared at the lotus with widened eyes.
"It's beautiful...."
Cid sensed the weak magic power emitted by the Tier 4 spell and gave it a disdainful look.
"Why don't you show her your favourite spell? Hollow purple-something?"
"Hallo? Purple??" Alana tilted her head in curiosity before turning to Lioro with expectant eyes.
Lioro shook his head.
"That magic is a little dangerous. It could end up harming someone if I'm not careful."
"I see." Alana nodded in understanding.
Then she started asking about other magic.
Lioro casually showed her a few spells. It was fun seeing her reactions to such low-tier spells.
"I-I am really flying!" Alana exclaimed as she soared through the air under Lioro's Fly spell.
"I didn't know you could fly," Cid said.
"Here." Lioro handed him a spell scroll containing the Fly spell.
"Thanks."
After some time, the spell's effect dissipated and Alana fell from the sky.
"I-I'm falling!!!"
Lioro teleported and easily caught her before teleporting back.
"That was really fun! Thanks, Lioro!"
Alana hugged his neck with a bright smile.
"Your skin is getting drier. Should I drop you in the ocean?" Lioro asked, noticing her skin texture roughening.
At first, it had been soft and slightly slippery, but now it was drying and hardening.
"Yes..... I need to go back to the sea...." Alana said in a slightly dazed voice.
She had almost forgotten.
They were from two different species.
Humans and mermaids.
Seeing her mood worsen, Lioro touched his nose before summoning his water spirit, Nokk.
Space flickered as a Water Horse suddenly appeared beside him.
"What?"
Both Alana and Cid stared at the spirit in curiosity.
Meanwhile, Nokk snorted in dissatisfaction at its owner.
'You finally remembered me, huh?'
The corner of Lioro's mouth twitched.
Ignoring its displeasure, Lioro gave the spirit a command.
Though unwilling, Nokk nodded.
As Alana watched in curiosity, Nokk suddenly transformed into a stream of water and leapt at her.
"Wha—?"
Alana shouted in confusion before being enveloped in a ball of water.
Then, under Lioro and Cid's watchful eyes, the water receded, spreading around Alana like a suit of armor.
Leaving her face exposed, everything else was covered in water, even forming a pair of legs.
"It's kind of like a slime suit," Cid commented.
"Nokk is a water spirit. She can take any form water can, and there's no leaking issue either."
Since the water was Nokk's body, it could control itself perfectly, ensuring there was no spreading water with each step.
----
Ps: check out my other fic, stranger things: silver knight, it cannot use some reviews!