(POV Aileen)
I keep listening to Dorcha… but what he's telling me is so absurd I can barely process it.
"You're joking, right? There's no way I believed I was the daughter of the Siren rulers."
A shadow crosses his face.
Did I say something wrong?
"Not just that," he says quietly. "You were also in love with a triton named Anam… you were about to marry him."
What?
"Dorcha, that's impossible! How could I marry someone else? I love only you!"
The words leave my mouth before I can even think.
(POV Dorcha)
Only… me.
I want to cry.
My throat tightens.
I could shout with joy.
Before I even realize what I'm doing, I pull her into my arms and hold her tight.
Then I force myself to let go.
"Listen… we need to free Grogher and the others and get out of here. But first, you have to become Alisea again."
"Do it," she says, suddenly serious.
I move my hand.
A small spark spirals around her legs.
Alisea stands before me once more.
But this time… she knows she's Aileen.
Good enough.
I take her hand and lead her toward the exit.
We slip behind a large boulder and I lean out, checking the area.
No guards.
No traps.
Then I shout—
"Grogher?! Hercules, old friend! Sidae! Raertha!"
They're all here.
Right in front of me.
Thin. Exhausted. But alive.
Relief floods their faces.
Aileen hears the names and rushes over beside me.
I wish she'd stayed back. We're not alone.
Behind them stand King Nèilos, two twin princesses, four Siren sovereigns I've never seen before… and—
Is that a blue seahorse on a leash held by another attendant?
Wait.
Is that the entire royal family of the Sirens?
One of the kings steps forward.
My hand moves instinctively to the hilt of my sword.
I'm ready.
Though… he looks more embarrassed than threatening.
"Princess Aileen. Prince Dorcha," he says with a respectful bow. "Please accept my deepest apologies for the abhorrent actions of our daughter… and her disgraceful consort."
A queen—perhaps his wife—steps beside him and gestures toward us.
"You no longer need these disguises."
With a single motion—
The magic dissolves.
We're ourselves again.
Gods… what a relief.
So it really is over.
"As for our Secret…" the king continues, his voice uneasy. "It seems our daughter transformed it into someone called Prince Anam. Do you know where he is?"
Gone.
Vanished.
"We have already secured it, Your Majesties," I reply calmly. "Assuming you are willing to grant it to us."
"Of course, Prince. For the salvation of the Great Kingdom, losing it is a small price to pay. Safe travels. And should you ever need assistance, do not hesitate to call upon us."
Aileen, Grogher, and I nod.
The queen studies us closely.
"If I understand correctly… your next destination should be the Kingdom of the Magic Wings. Am I right?"
"Yes," we answer together.
"Then… good luck."
The two rulers inhale deeply.
And blow.
A powerful gust bursts around us—
And suddenly they vanish.
The world spins.
Air rushes past us as we begin to whirl through the sky.
(POV Queen Silèna)
I meet my husband's gaze.
It's time.
"We restore balance to this kingdom today," I say firmly. "It is long overdue."
We depart immediately.
Escorted by the royal guard in full ceremonial formation—and led by the official Ambassador—we descend into the great square below the castle.
King Nèilos comes with us.
He looks lost.
So be it.
The Ambassador of the Sea People raises an ocarina to his lips, using its magic to amplify his voice across the waters.
"Hear this! Hear this!" he proclaims.
"His Majesty King Nèilos and the Sovereigns of the Lake Realm bring an important announcement!"
Within minutes, the entire People of the Abyss gathers around us.
They buzz with whispers.
Curious.
Suspicious.
Good.
I wait until the last of them arrive.
Then I take the ocarina and speak.
"People of the Sea. This assembly has been called because my consort, King Niùt, and I wish today to become a great and unforgettable day… a day of peace, joy, and prosperity.
From this moment forward, the Dark Abyss and the Oceanic Realm shall unite as one kingdom: the Oceanic Abyss.
And in this new kingdom—freedom shall reign."
The crowd murmurs.
Skepticism ripples through the sea.
Some voices grow louder.
I wait.
Let them speak.
Then I continue.
"I decree that every one of you will reclaim the role and position you held before the senseless war unleashed by my daughter, Selìna."
The reaction is explosive.
Shock.
Anger.
Hope.
"Is this real?"
"What kind of trick is this?"
"Can we trust her?"
"Another lie! What comes next?!"
Of course they doubt me.
After so much suffering, how could they not?
I raise my hand.
Slowly, the voices fall silent.
"I can only imagine the pain you have endured these past years. For the suffering caused by my daughter's madness… for my failure to restrain her… for allowing her to rule over you in tyranny…
I offer my deepest apology."
It is the least I can do.
I bow.
My husband and King Nèilos step forward and bow beside me.
A stunned silence fills the square.
No one moves.
No one speaks.
They wait for us to rise.
Now.
We straighten and meet their eyes.
I must earn their trust.
They deserve nothing less.
"It is understandable that you doubt me," I say. "But from today onward, everything will be different."
I gesture for my daughter Stella and her consort to come forward.
They step beside me.
Then I present them to the crowd.
"Allow me to introduce your rightful rulers: Queen Stella and King Neptunes, restored to the throne that has always been theirs by right.
May this mark the beginning of a prosperous and joyful era.
And to all of you—may happiness and peace return to your lives."
For a moment, silence remains.
But it is no longer hostile.
Only cautious.
Waiting.
Watching.
Then suddenly—
Understanding spreads through them.
Sirens. Tritons. Fish. Whales. Octopi. Creatures of every kind burst into motion.
They spin. Leap. Dance through the water in wild celebration.
And then a chant rises, powerful and united:
"Long live Queen Silèna!
Long live King Niùt!
Long live our new rulers!
Long live King Neptunes!
Long live Queen Stella!"
I smile.
For the first time in years—
I feel truly happy.
(POV Nèilos)
I have never seen my people like this.
Joyful. Grateful.
Free.
I turn and look at my wife, still trapped inside that little cage, her body transformed into a seahorse.
And yet… her eyes are the same.
She feels it too. I can see it.
The weight lifting.
Stepping down from the throne is strange.
But, in truth… it is also a relief.
Queen Silèna approaches me and gently removes the crown from my head.
A moment later King Niùt summons a throne into existence at the center of the square. There, before the entire crowd, he crowns King Neptunes and Queen Stella.
The applause that erupts is thunderous.
When the ceremony ends, Silèna turns toward me—and toward Selìna.
"It is time to return to the Lake," she says. "You will come with us. Let us go."
"Yes," I reply simply.
As we leave the square under the escort of the guards, the new rulers begin preparations for a grand celebration.
War prisoners are freed.
And little by little, everyone begins reclaiming the identities we denied them for far too long.
I walk away with a lighter heart.
Today, at last… our mistakes have found their redemption.
(POV Aileen)
We land.
Our feet sink into an endless stretch of soft snow.
The cold bites sharply, but the sunlight brushing the snow-capped mountains carries a warmth that feels almost gentle.
Gods…
The air filling my lungs.
I didn't realize how much I missed it.
I turn slowly, taking everything in—as if I haven't seen the world above for centuries.
This place is breathtaking.
(POV Grogher)
I crrrouch down and plunge my hands into the snow.
Then I grab a big handful and eat it.
Magnificent!
Airrr.
No more water.
No more torturrre.
No more prrrison.
Just air.
Clean, cold, wonderrrful air!
(POV Dorcha)
I feel reborn.
Truly.
I breathe deeply, filling my lungs.
Gods… it smells incredible.
I had forgotten how good fresh air could be.
Even the colors look brighter.
Suddenly—
A spray of snow hits my face.
I turn, startled.
Hercules stands there, eyes gleaming with challenge.
He wants to play.
I scoop up a snowball and throw it at him.
He dodges with a joyful leap!
Then he goes racing off again with Sidae and Raertha.
I glance at Aileen and Grogher. They're looking at me too.
And suddenly—
We're all laughing.
Then crying.
Then laughing again.
"Free!" we shout. "We're free again!"
"I still can't believe it! I'm so happy!" Grogher exclaims, wrapping both Aileen and me in his enormous warm arms. "Come herrre and let me hug you some more!!!"
Dear Grog… how much I missed you.
Aileen laughs.
"Easy, Grogher! Easy! You're going to crush us!"
"He's right, Grog, that's enough!" I say.
We tumble onto the frozen snow, wrestling and teasing each other until we collapse.
Exhausted.
Flat on our backs.
Staring up at the daylight.
What a sight.
(POV Aileen)
I turn toward Dorcha.
Wait…
His eyes.
They were black.
Now they're gray.
And now… pale green?
How is that even possible?
Dorcha sits cross-legged in the snow and looks at us.
"So," he says calmly, "what do you know about the Kingdom of the Magic Wings?"
Oh, come on…
"You really want us to get back to work immediately?" I ask.
He pulls a ridiculous face, clearly teasing me.
"Actually… no," he says.
Oh thank goodness.
"It's already getting late. We could set up camp, make a plan… and leave tomorrow. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a grrreat idea," Grogher agrees.
"Works for me," I add quickly.
Yes. That's perfect.
"Good. Then I'll go find something edible. You two take care of the camp."
Food!
I'm starving.
I jump to my feet.
"Approved!" I declare.
Grogher stands as well. While he sets up a warm, comfortable tent, I get a fire going.
The flames crackle pleasantly.
Much needed in this cold.
While we wait for Dorcha to return, I sit near the fire, warming my hands.
It's strange to think that only a few months have passed since Clouderland was turned to stone.
And yet…
It feels like we've lived years since then.
Mom. Dad…
I wish you were here.
Will I really manage to save you?
Will we ever be able to hold each other again?
And Fayrin…
Where is my fairy-sitter now? Is she safe?
At least she stopped working for us shortly before the accident.
Maybe…
Maybe when we enter the Kingdom of the Magic Wings I'll find her.
Maybe she'll be the one to guide us to the Secret of the Fairies.
Wait.
Of course.
If not her… then who?
I need to tell the others.