The bottom of the ocean seemed to come to life as we advanced along the main path of the fish-men city. After leaving the magical submarine, the adaptation spell remained active, allowing me to breathe normally, even surrounded by tons of water around us. Even so, the sensation was completely different from anything I had ever experienced. The air had no weight, but the ocean did, and that changed everything.
The city opened before us like a living organism. It was not merely a construction, but a fusion between nature and magic. Golden coral structures intertwined with gigantic stones polished by time, creating wide streets that looked like rivers of underwater architecture. Natural lights came from crystals scattered everywhere, illuminating everything with a soft glow that varied between blue, green, and gold. It was like walking inside a gigantic jewel at the bottom of the world.
The girls walked beside me, each reacting differently. Lyannis observed everything with analytical attention, as if trying to understand the logic behind the construction of that city. Liriel seemed silently enchanted, absorbing every magical detail present in the atmosphere. Eara walked a little farther behind, looking around with constant curiosity, while Rai'kanna wore a slight smile, clearly interested in the culture of those people. Scarlet maintained her firm posture, always attentive to the surroundings, as if expecting any sign of an attack at any moment. Liriel's assistant seemed caught between admiration and surprise, as if she were seeing something she had never imagined could exist outside books.
The inhabitants of the city watched us as we passed. Fish-men of different shapes and sizes moved through the streets, some with shining scales, others with more human features. Children swam in small schools between the structures, playing with currents of water controlled by magic. Merchants displayed strange goods, glowing algae, rare shells, and even small crystals that pulsed with magical energy.
Everything there seemed to function in harmony with the ocean. There was no haste, no chaos. It was a constant flow of life adapted to the most hostile environment possible.
As we walked, I noticed that the city was organized in layers. The upper part was busier, filled with commerce and people moving around. The deeper areas, on the other hand, seemed more residential and quieter. Some structures floated slowly inside magical bubbles, like islands suspended in the middle of the water. Others were directly carved into natural formations on the seafloor.
I could not stop observing every detail. It was different from any capital on the surface. There were no ordinary stone streets or simple buildings. Everything seemed to have been designed to coexist with the ocean, not against it.
We continued through a large corridor formed by two natural walls of golden coral. There, the light was more intense, reflecting off the surfaces as if the environment itself were illuminated from within. Fish-men guards patrolled the sides attentively, watching our passage but showing no hostility. On the contrary, there was curiosity in their eyes.
At a certain point, an enormous structure began to appear ahead. It was impossible not to notice. The center of the city rose like a mountain built inside the ocean. A gigantic palace made of white stone, golden coral, and crystals that glowed softly. It did not merely look built; it seemed to have been born there.
The main entrance was surrounded by enormous pillars that extended upward, disappearing into the blue darkness of the ocean. Ancient symbols were engraved on the surfaces, pulsing with a faint energy, as if they were still alive. The closer we got, the more I felt the weight of that place's presence.
The group stopped for a moment in front of the entrance. The fish-man mage who was guiding us made a gesture, and the guards cleared the way. He led us inside calmly, as if this were simply another normal step.
As soon as we crossed the entrance, the environment changed completely. The interior of the palace was even more impressive than the exterior. Great halls opened in several directions, connected by corridors that looked like rivers of magically controlled water. Light crystals were embedded in the ceiling and walls, creating constant illumination that did not depend on any external source.
The sound there was different. There was neither absolute silence nor ordinary noise. It was an environment filled with a constant vibration, as if the structure itself were alive.
We were guided through a central corridor until we reached a large circular room. In its center was an open space surrounded by golden columns and ancient symbols. Guards were positioned around it, and advisers watched our arrival attentively.
It was then that I saw him.
The king of the fish-men was sitting on a raised throne, but upon seeing us, he immediately stood up. His presence was imposing. Part human, part sea creature, with scales that reflected the light like ancient metal. His eyes carried experience and authority, but there was no hostility. Only expectation.
He welcomed us with a calm but firm voice. He said that he already knew of our deeds on the surface and that our arrival was something that could change the course of the war taking place at the bottom of the ocean. He spoke about constant attacks, the difficulty of defending themselves, and how his people were being pressured by demonic forces that were becoming increasingly organized.
As he spoke, I observed the room. The girls' reactions were different. Liriel analyzed every magical detail of the environment. Rai'kanna seemed interested in the politics behind the situation. Scarlet watched the guards as if she were already calculating strategies. Lyannis paid attention to every word of the king. Eara seemed more focused on the structure of the place than on the conversation itself.
It was then that something interrupted the king's speech.
A new presence entered the room.
When I turned around, I saw a young fish-woman approaching. Or rather, a princess.
She walked lightly, but there was something different about her. A presence that did not need words to be noticed. Her hair had shades reminiscent of reddish coral, and her eyes observed everything with a mixture of curiosity and shyness. When she noticed our group, she hesitated for a moment, as if she were not accustomed to seeing humans there.
The king then smiled slightly and introduced her.
The fish-men princess.
For a moment, the hall fell silent. I simply observed her as she kept a slight distance, as if she were still deciding how she should react to our presence. She then made a small polite gesture, trying to maintain her composure, but it was clear that there was something different there. A mixture of curiosity and caution.
And at that moment, inside that submerged palace, I realized that our presence in that kingdom was not merely a visit. It was the beginning of something far greater than a simple mission at the bottom of the ocean.