"Time to get messy."
Leaping from the branch of a tall ebony tree, Alexia landed softly in the crimson bushes below, her movements as silent as a whisper. She flicked a twig from her hair and narrowed her eyes at the two foreign guards stationed at the cave entrance.
"Well, well… looks like this place isn't as secret as I thought." Her eyes gleamed with mischief—and a hint of frustration. "Should I stab them? Blindside them? Sneak past... or maybe—"
Her grin widened as she noticed the guards' luminous, colored hair. "—burn them? I hear merfolk aren't very fireproof."
The thought lingered.
"Would killing them be too hard? If I don't... how do I get to the Fire Heart Stone?"
She tilted her head, weighing the options. "Can I even kill them? C-rank guards aren't exactly pushovers."
She sighed, fingers drumming against the damp soil.
"At least the map was right. Guards don't protect empty places."
Pulling her black hood lower, she sank further into the shadows, a smirk curving her lips. She licked them, eyes glinting.
"I have just the right plan. The torture chambers were good teachers, after all."
Her fingers brushed the glowing spot on her chest, warmth pulsing beneath the fabric.
"And for a power boost?" she murmured, lips curling wider. "Stealing Marbith's eye might come in handy."
As the last words left her mouth, her ash-black hair shimmered, fading into streaks of violet like ink bleeding into water.
"I just hope Father approves."
***
" Aqua, right? What's your take on the floating kingdom? We've been here for days now. You must have something to say about it all, right?" Bubbles asked, her tone cheerful.
" I have no opinion. Our assignment has kept us stationed here without deviation." His expression didn't change, but he subtly pulled on the metal collar of his armor." However, I have noticed a steady rise in ambient temperature."
" Always so formal. What kind of name is Aqua anyways?" She rolled her purple eyes. The two strands of pink hair framing her face, danced in the night wind.
"Then allow me to extend my apologies—on behalf of both our parents. Miss Bubbles." He remained focused on his surroundings, his demeanor serious and vigilant.
" What do my parents have to do with this?" Bubbles eyes flashed with confusion.
" Our parents possess an equal lack of aptitude in naming ." He shrugged, causing his azure hair to shift slightly.
Bubbles brows furrowed, then she gasped. With a flushed face, she glared at the stoic sharp-featured man before her.
" Bubbles is actually a really cute name—unlike your—"
The bushes rustled—
They stood at attention.
" This isn't finished." Bubbles mummered cheeks puffed.
"Ah! Hello, travelers... or knights. Whichever!"
A young girl with wild purple pigtails burst into view, waving enthusiastically. Her golden eyes gleamed with curiosity, despite the dirt streaking her face and the tears in her gown.
Bubbles' brows knitted together. What the hell was a kid doing in this part of the forest? This was no place for the weak.
Before she could voice her thoughts, the air shifted—fast.
A gust swept Bubbles' hair back.
In the blink of an eye, Aqua was already in front of the girl, spear pressed firmly against her throat.
A single bead of blood rolled down her neck.
The girl blinked. Then, to their absolute disbelief—she smiled.
"Oh, dear. It appears I'm in a bit of trouble," she mused, her voice light, teasing. "Good sir, as you can see, I'm just a weak little E-rank warrior." She let out a dramatic sigh. "My carriage was attacked. Everyone died. Boo-hoo."
Aqua did not flinch.
His spear remained firm, the cold edge biting into her skin.
"Do not assume we will fall for such petty deception." His voice was flat. Unfeeling. Absolute. "By order of Queen Nerissa, all unidentified persons in this land are to be disposed of."
The girl's golden eyes widened. Her lips parted. Trembled.
Then, the tears came. Big. Wet. Pathetic.
"But… but I'm a mermaid!" she whimpered, wrapping her arms around herself as her shredded gown fluttered in the wind. "I just got lost in this hot, strange land…"
Bubbles hesitated. Those tears looked real. Her red-rimmed eyes, the shaking shoulders—even the voice wavered just right.
But that was the problem.
Looks lied.
Aqua's expression remained cold.
He inhaled once.
Then exhaled a single word.
"Ha."
The sound was humorless.
The girl flinched.
Bubbles stiffened.
"No pearls in your tears." Aqua's blue gaze darkened. "No mercy."
His spear shot forward.
At the last second, the girl twisted—just barely escaping as the blade sliced across her shoulder.
Blood blossomed against her tattered gown. Yet, even on her knees, she grinned.
"Tsk. No wonder the sea is so cold. You're all heartless."
Unseen to them, blood dripped unto the blue jewel on her arm.
The jewel greedily drank it.
Shaking slightly, the girl whispered to herself.
" Perfect."
" Perfect?'
Aqua's stoic mask cracked.
What? She should not be standing.
His spear struck again—twice as fast.
She dodged, this time faster. A single breath too slow, and her head would've rolled.
Bubbles' dagger flashed.
It spun toward the girl—poisoned tip glistening ominously.
The girl's smile faltered.
In a split second, she snatched a rock and swatted the dagger mid-air—deflecting it off-course.
It landed harmlessly near Bubbles' feet.
"Thanks, but no thanks," she giggled.
Aqua's spear came for her again—relentless.
She twisted—not fast enough.
The blade grazed her ribs, parting fabric and skin.
A sharp breath. Blood beaded.
But her smile never wavered.
The blue jewel on her arm kept absorbing the rogue drops.
She staggered.
Before throwing herself forward, her foot snapping up in a sharp kick.
Dodging a flying poisonous nail and hitting Aqua across the face.
She hit the ground and rolled, springing back onto her feet.
Her smirk remained, but a single bead of sweat slipped down her temple.
Aqua wiped his mouth. His eyes darkened.
"Enough games."
He straightened, grip tightening on his spear. The air thickened—final.
The girl exhaled, rolling her shoulders.
For the first time, her mask faltered.
"Oh? Did I hit a nerve, good sir?"
Aqua didn't answer.
His spear pulsed with power.
Bubbles let out a low whistle. "Damn, Aqua. I think she likes you."
Her tone was teasing. But her movements weren't.
She bent, plucked her dagger from the dirt, and flipped it effortlessly in her hand. The blade caught the moonlight.
Then, slowly, deliberately, she shifted.
Cutting off the girl's escape.
A chill rolled through the air.
A faint blue glow shimmered over Bubbles' ebony skin as her armor materialized, piece by piece.
The girl's golden eyes flickered between them.
Her smirk lingered—but something in her gaze dimmed.
For the first time since the fight began—
She hesitated.
"Calm down. Give up. Don't resist."
Bubbles' voice curled through the air—soft. Hypnotic. Unavoidable.
The weight hit instantly.
Her limbs dragged. Sluggish. Thoughts sharp, body unresponsive.
Too slow.
Aqua's spear struck.
The girl forced her body sideways, barely avoiding a fatal wound—but not the full hit.
A sharp slash to her thigh.
Her knee buckled.
She choked back a curse, but her voice wavered.
More wounds. More blood.
Her arms. Her legs. Her face. Crimson stained the dirt beneath her.
"Yes… you cannot fight it," Bubbles murmured.
Her voice drifted, sweet as a song.
"Surrender. Don't resist. Mindless. Tired."
The girl swayed—
Then collapsed.
Her golden eyes, once sharp with mischief, now stared blankly—glassy, distant.
Aqua stepped forward, raising his spear without hesitation.' I'll have to clean up properly after this.'
"Wait!"
Bubbles stepped in front of the girl, blocking Aqua's path.
His blue eyes narrowed dangerously, locking onto her.
A cold weight settled in her chest. A shiver crawled down her spine.
She gulped. "Sh-shouldn't we… k-keep… interro—interrogate her?"
Aqua didn't look at her. Not at first. His gaze lingered on the helpless girl sprawled on the ground, his fist clenching around his spear.
"Kill." His voice was slow. Inevitable.
Bubbles frantically nodded. "Yes! Yes, you can kill her—after I'm done. You can even join me!"
Aqua moved.
Before she could react, his grip was on her shoulder, pulling her close. His touch wasn't rough, but it wasn't gentle either—it was controlled.
Holding her trembling frame, his breath ghosted against her ear as he whispered, "Don't deceive me."
His grip tightened, just slightly.
"The result wouldn't be as pleasant as before."
Aqua slowly stepped back, his expression settling into its usual unreadable mask. He watched as Bubbles gave a quick nod, her movements stiff.
"Mm. Smart." His tone was indifferent, as if she'd only just managed to avoid a worse fate.
Then, with casual ease, he reached out and ruffled her pink hair.
Bubbles exhaled sharply, her breath catching. She blinked up at him, her cheeks warming. 'The last time all you did was bite me on the lips. Dangerous softie'.
Clearing her throat, she dropped into a squat beside him, mimicking his stance.
The girl on the ground was still, her golden eyes dull and unfocused.
Bubbles studied her carefully. Was she already too far gone?
A blue light caught her eye and her breath hitched.
"Marbith's ey—"
Then, in a flash, the girl jerked upright, a wicked glint in her eyes.
Before either of them could react, she blew a fine red powder from her palm. The dust scattered into their faces like ashes on the wind.
Aqua's body tensed instantly. His vision blurred, a strange heat creeping through his limbs.
Beside him, Bubbles gasped, swaying as her fingers went limp. Her dagger slipped from her grasp, landing with a dull thud.
Through ragged breaths, the girl pressed the cloth on her neck to her nose, staggering to her feet. Her wounded body shook, but her smirk remained.
"Ha! A little mind trick? Cute, but nah. Seen this, done that. Try harder."
Blood dripped from her chin, but her playful grin never wavered.
Aqua's eyes burned crimson, his pupils shrinking to slits. A low, guttural growl rumbled from his chest, deep and inhuman. The bloodlust in the air was so thick it weighed down on the forest, suffocating.
Bubbles' darkened eyes gleamed, her lips curling into a twisted grin. Her nails dug into her own skin, clawing at her face as her body trembled violently—as if something inside her was trying to break free.
"Passion flowers." The girl's voice was sickly sweet, her golden eyes alight with amusement. She tilted her head, watching them like a child watching insects squirm.
"You have no choice but to succumb to your deepest, most hidden desire… Didn't expect someone like me to have something this powerful, did you?"
She giggled. The sound was wrong—mocking, delighted, cruel.
Bubbles' body jerked unnaturally. Slowly, she rose to her feet, like a marionette on tangled strings. Her head lolled to the side, that unnerving grin stretching wider, her breathing uneven.
Aqua snarled. His fingers elongated into razor-sharp claws, puncturing through steel as if it were paper. His spear slipped from his grip, clattering to the ground. He didn't even seem to notice.
The world seemed to shrink around them, consumed by the suffocating weight of something primal. Something uncontrollable.
And the girl just smiled.
" Well I have other matters to attend to. Toodles."
Although her back was drenched in cold sweat, the girl kept smiling, moving back. She ignored the pain and feeling of weakness in her body, her mind still disoriented.
" If the gods are still alive. Please I hope I didn't just shoot myself in the foot."
' Thinking about it, why did royal brother leave this close to my bedside?' Her thoughts were interrupted by a cackle and sonic blast.
The girl braced herself for the attack. She waited but nothing happened. She opened her eyes to see a pink armored back Infront of her.