The main hall of the fish-men palace seemed even larger now that we were inside it. The circular walls rose as if they were trying to reach the entire ocean above us, and the crystals embedded within them pulsed with a soft light that changed in intensity according to the flow of the water around us. I could constantly feel the presence of that place, as if the environment itself were silently watching us.
The fish-men king remained standing before us, with a posture that was imposing yet calm at the same time. He did not seem threatening, but he did not convey fragility either. He was the kind of authority built not only through power, but through survival in an environment where everything could kill you within seconds. Behind him, guards remained motionless, while advisers observed every detail of our presence.
The girls beside me were attentive. Lyannis analyzed everything with a firm gaze, as if she were already creating mental maps of the place. Liriel maintained a serene expression, but I knew she was absorbing every magical detail of the palace. Rai'kanna observed the king with curiosity, as if trying to understand the political structure of that submerged kingdom. Scarlet kept her hand near her weapon, even without showing hostility. Eara seemed impressed by the grandeur of the surroundings. Liriel's assistant remained a little farther behind, clearly trying not to show her nervousness.
The king then took a few steps forward.
His voice echoed through the hall with deep calmness.
He thanked us for coming and explained that this moment was important for the future of his people. He said that the demons' attacks had been intensifying in the deeper regions of the ocean, striking supply routes, destroying marine cultivation fields, and corrupting entire areas with dark energy. His tone was not one of desperation, but of genuine concern, like someone who had been dealing with this for far too long.
As he spoke, I observed the details of the hall. There were ancient inscriptions on the columns around us, symbols that seemed to tell stories of past wars. This was not the first time that kingdom had faced something like this. That much was clear simply by looking at the defensive architecture of the palace.
The king then continued, explaining that his people were isolated by nature. It was not easy for them to ask the surface for help, and even less so to trust outsiders. But the situation had reached a point where there was no longer any choice. The demonic forces were not merely attacking; they were expanding their territory.
It was then that he looked directly at me.
"Hero of the surface... we heard about you even before your arrival. A human who fights against the Demon King and his forces. Now you stand before our kingdom."
I simply kept my gaze firm.
"If you are being attacked, then this is also part of the same war."
The girls looked at me for a moment, but no one said anything. The king seemed pleased with the answer.
He then made a gesture with his hand.
"Before we discuss strategies, there is someone who would like to meet you."
The atmosphere changed slightly. One of the side corridors opened, and a figure began to approach. The attention of the entire hall turned in that direction.
And then she appeared.
The fish-men princess.
Unlike the king, her presence was lighter, but no less striking. She walked carefully, as if she were still getting used to the weight of so many people watching her. Her hair had reddish shades reminiscent of coral illuminated by natural light, and her eyes carried obvious curiosity mixed with a certain shyness.
She stopped a few steps in front of the throne and gave the king a slight bow before turning her gaze toward us.
For a moment, she seemed to focus on me.
It was not anything intense, but it was enough to create a brief, strange silence in the room.
Scarlet noticed immediately and let out a quiet sigh, crossing her arms. Rai'kanna gave a small sideways smile, as if she found it interesting. Liriel watched in silence without showing any clear reaction. Lyannis simply analyzed the situation as a whole. Eara seemed slightly curious.
The king then spoke again.
"This is my daughter. The princess of the fish-men kingdom."
She made a small gesture of greeting, still somewhat shy.
I also slightly inclined my head.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
She seemed surprised for a moment, as if she had not expected such a direct response, but soon nodded.
The king then spoke again, now with a more serious tone.
"Our kingdom is at war. But not merely an ordinary war. The demons attacking our waters are not simple soldiers. They are organized, they use advanced magic, and most concerning of all, they are managing to remain here for long periods."
He paused before continuing.
"This has never happened before."
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
I realized that this changed everything. If the demons were adapted to the underwater environment, then this was not merely an invasion; it was a strategy.
The king then continued.
"We want your help to eliminate this threat. But also... we want to understand why this is happening now."
He looked at me again.
"And we believe you may be the key to that."
The girls beside me exchanged quick glances. It was clear that the situation had become more serious than it initially seemed.
Scarlet murmured quietly.
"So this isn't just a cleanup mission..."
Rai'kanna replied in the same tone.
"Looks like we're getting into something bigger."
I simply kept my gaze on the king.
"If they're moving here, then it's because something bigger is happening somewhere above or below this."
The king slowly nodded.
"Exactly."
It was then that the princess took a small step forward.
"If you agree to help us... we will show you everything we know about the deep ocean."
Her voice was soft, but there was firmness in it.
For a moment, the hall seemed even quieter.
I looked at her and then at the king.
There was no reason to refuse.
"Then let's put an end to this."
The king closed his eyes for a second, as if he could finally breathe more easily.
But at that moment, even inside that protected palace, I felt something strange.
As if the entire ocean were hiding something even deeper than the war we had just learned about.