I returned to the mansion still with the feeling of the meeting at the castle lingering in my mind. The Fish-Men's request was not something simple, nor did it seem like just another ordinary mission. There was weight in those words, as if the ocean itself were beginning to change under the pressure of something greater. When I entered through the gates, the atmosphere of the mansion seemed far too normal for what I had just heard. The contrast made me realize just how serious the situation was.
As soon as I walked through the main corridor, the voices of the group could already be heard. Elara was the first to notice me, standing near the staircase and immediately studying my face carefully. Lyannis was sitting on one of the sofas, as if she were already expecting something important to have happened. Vespera was leaning her arm against the wall in silence, while Scarlett and Rai'kanna were near the indoor training area. Liriel's assistant was in the inner garden, but soon appeared after sensing my stronger presence within the mansion.
Elara got straight to the point.
"You came back from the castle more serious than when you left."
I took a deep breath before answering.
"We have a mission."
Lyannis tilted her head slightly.
"Guild mission?"
"No."
The word immediately changed the atmosphere.
Scarlett approached.
"Then it's something from the king?"
"Yes."
Vespera slowly opened her eyes.
"And what is the situation?"
I looked at everyone before speaking.
"Oceans."
For a second, no one reacted.
Then Rai'kanna frowned.
"The ocean?"
I nodded.
Silence settled for a few seconds until I began explaining everything that had happened at the castle. I told them about the Fish-Men, the underwater kingdom, the demonic attacks that were happening beneath the waters, and the request for help. As I spoke, I noticed their expressions gradually changing. Curiosity, surprise, and, in some cases, concern.
Elara crossed her arms.
"I've never heard of a people living completely at the bottom of the sea."
"Neither have I."
Lyannis replied.
"This is... fascinating."
Scarlett gave a faint smile.
"So we're going to fight underwater this time?"
"Looks like it."
Rai'kanna let out an excited sigh.
"This is going to be interesting."
Liriel's assistant, who had only been observing until then, stepped a little closer.
"And how are we going to breathe down there?"
That was the most important question.
"A spell."
I replied.
"Liriel and the Fish-Man mage will take care of that."
Vespera tilted her head.
"And the pressure of the ocean?"
"Apparently the spell will take care of that too."
Elara looked at me for a few seconds.
"And you trust that?"
I paused for a moment before answering.
"We don't have much of a choice."
That made the atmosphere quiet again.
The weight of the situation began to settle in.
This was not an ordinary mission.
It was a completely new environment, with different rules, different enemies, and a battlefield that no one there was truly accustomed to.
Lyannis stood up.
"Then we need to prepare properly."
Scarlett agreed.
"Combat training in confined spaces could help."
Rai'kanna slightly rolled her shoulders.
"And speed will also be important if movement is more difficult down there."
I nodded.
"Exactly."
Liriel's assistant looked at me.
"Can I go with you?"
I looked at her for a moment.
"If Liriel allows it."
She nodded enthusiastically.
At that moment, Liriel appeared in the side corridor, as if she had sensed the conversation approaching an important point. Her gaze swept across the group before settling on me.
"You've already decided to go."
"Yes."
I replied.
She closed her eyes for a second.
"As expected."
Elara looked at her.
"You already knew about this?"
"I sensed a change in the flow of mana around the ocean."
That caught everyone's attention.
Liriel continued.
"Something down there is interfering with the natural currents."
Vespera crossed her arms.
"Demons?"
"Probably."
Liriel answered simply.
Silence returned for a few seconds.
Then she opened her eyes again.
"If we're going into the ocean, we need proper preparation."
I looked at her.
"Can you guarantee that?"
"Yes."
Her answer was direct.
"But it will require time and cooperation."
I took a deep breath.
"We leave tomorrow."
She nodded without hesitation.
"Then I'll start now."
The activity in the mansion began immediately after that.
The peaceful atmosphere was replaced by constant activity. Equipment was organized, weapons were checked, and strategies began being discussed in small groups. Scarlett and Rai'kanna went to the training area, simulating more restricted combat, focusing on quick movements and short strikes. Lyannis and Elara began reviewing maps and possible routes, even without knowing exactly how the underwater environment would affect navigation.
Vespera remained more isolated, silently observing everything, as if she were analyzing not only the mission but also the hidden risks behind it. Liriel's assistant helped prepare magical materials, organizing crystals and components that would be used for the adaptation spell.
Amid all that preparation, I found myself alone for a moment in the mansion's garden.
The sky was calm.
Too calm.
And that bothered me.
The demons had been silent for far too long.
Now I understood why.
They had not stopped.
They were simply changing territories.
And while the surface breathed a sigh of relief, the ocean was probably already in flames.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds.
The image of that underwater kingdom returned to my mind.
An entire civilization fighting alone against something that was spreading.
And now, we were being pulled into it.
I opened my eyes again.
The decision had already been made.
Now all that remained was to see it through.
When I returned inside the mansion, everyone was already in motion.
And for the first time since I received that call, I realized clearly.
This would not be just another mission.
It would be the beginning of something much greater.