Tom and the others paused beside a vibrant coral reef to rest. Swimming long distances without magical assistance required frequent breaks. Tom didn't mind the leisurely pace; rushing would only mean missing the beautiful scenery. His journey to the Snow Kingdom had at least taught him that much.
Eric, however, was clearly struggling the most. "Phew… Ariel… I finally understand...even with legs, you'll still be a mermaid, in the end."
Catching his breath, Eric watched Harry and Malfoy playfully dueling with an envious eye. "But what about them? I'm in my prime, and they're just children!"
Ariel patted him sympathetically on the shoulder. "Give it up, Eric. Some things you just can't compete with."
Eric understood. Harry and Malfoy were wizards; they possessed magic that granted them extraordinary abilities, and their enhanced physical stamina was merely one of the more mundane advantages.
"…Hoo~" A stream of bubbles escaped Eric's lips as he sighed.
He rallied, determined not to wallow. He was a Grand Ocean Ranger, after all! He wouldn't let something so trivial defeat him! Even if his physical abilities weren't on par with theirs – yet – He would continue to improve himself, proving himself worthy of his title!
Seeing his partner's renewed resolve, Ariel smiled. He was about to offer words of encouragement when a frantic voice cut through the water.
"Your Highness…Your Highness, disaster has struck!"
A merman guard, clad in armor and mounted on a giant stingray, sped towards them.
"A rebellion has erupted in the kingdom! Atlantis has fallen!"
Ariel paled, disbelief etched across his features. He recognized the guard; he was one of the Royal Palace guards, and a trusted member of his father's personal detail. Ariel encountered him whenever he left the palace, and he believed the guard implicitly, yet the words sounded absurd.
"What?!" Ariel stammered, hardly daring to believe his own ears. "What did you just say?!"
The guard, just as shocked, stared back. "Your Highness, your voice..."
"That's not important! What did you just say?!" Ariel's face darkened with worry.
The guard's expression turned serious. "Atlantis…has been seized by rebels." His tone was laced with grief.
He was, after all, a loyal soldier of the Sea King. He had worked hard to achieve his position, enjoying a manageable workload, decent pay, and status above ninety percent of the merfolk. All of that was now gone. Who could he complain to? His sadness was genuine, born of heartbreak.
"Impossible! The soldiers of Atlantis, the warriors of the sea, are brave, skilled, and tactically astute! Atlantis is heavily fortified! Even in defeat, they wouldn't fall so quickly!" Ariel still couldn't comprehend it. They had been gone only a few hours! And now he was hearing that their home was gone – and so swiftly?
He grabbed the guard. "My father and brother are still in the kingdom! My brother is second only to me in martial prowess! My father wields the Trident! He is invincible! Tell me, how could they lose?!"
"It was the eldest prince's rebellion."
"..."
Oh. That made sense then.
Tactics and formations would be useless; his brother had been in control of all defensive strategies. The Sea King, for all his bluster, was soft-hearted and would never harm his eldest son.
"Hiss…This is indeed a bit difficult." Ariel awkwardly released the guard.
Eric swam over and clapped Ariel on the back reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll help you."
Grateful, Ariel nodded emphatically. "I won't give up! I will return to save my kingdom, my people, and my father!"
"…"
Tom observed from the sidelines. Ariel, not wanting to impose, had omitted them from his calculations. Tom remained silent.
Perhaps he would stay behind; he already had the item for his quest. Or perhaps curiosity would get the better of him.
It was the same impulse that had led him to give the starfish to Ariel – simply acting on his own inclination. It wasn't pity, nor obligation...and even if Tom were inclined to offer compensation, this wasn't even his fault; he stole the sea witch's things, not Ariel's.
He simply had a favorable impression of Ariel and had offered a small gift.
Now, he wanted to hear the full story, and if it piqued his interest, he might even pay a visit.
"Ha...this is really troublesome." Eric laughed wryly. Defeating an entire nation's enemy? That's quite something.
"Eric, stop shaking, or you'll launch yourself into the ocean." Ariel covered his face and patted his stubborn partner helplessly.
He turned to the guard, his expression hardening. "How many are they?"
The guard's face fell. "The eldest prince led his co-conspirators into Atlantis. They defeated the royal guard and absorbed the remaining soldiers... Six thousand strong, at least."
"I see." Ariel frowned. "And how many are we?"
"..."
The guard's silence filled Ariel with dread. "Besides us, who else is there?"
"..."
The continued silence heightened Ariel's anxiety. He hesitated to speak, afraid of what he might hear.
Finally, the guard pursed his lips and stammered after a long pause. "Guess?"
"I guess you...! None of them?!" Ariel was on the verge of tears.
"Ahem…Your Highness, I was trying to lighten the mood." The guard scratched his head awkwardly. In a tense situation like this, pressure could affect their performance.
Although, even without the pressure, they probably wouldn't win.
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