I follow my master as he shifts into a beam of sky-blue light and rockets off the treasure island. We head to the Celestial Palace through the Sea of Clouds, zipping through the celestial highway.
He shifts back to his human guise, and like a butterfly, his hair and silk robe billow as he gently lands on the ground.
I try to do the same but like a tumbling boulder, I plummet to the floor.
CRACK! The newly patched floor cracks beneath me.
I sigh. "Seems like I have to patch up the floor again."
A gardener throws his hands up in exasperation at the sight of my entrance.
We step into the Royal Chamber.
The Crown Prince is sitting at his desk, head buried in his hands.
Long Fei steps forward and clears his throat.
"Your Highness, I've brought Ling Yue back for you, as requested."
The Crown Prince lifts his head, looks at me, and grins, his eyes weary.
"I have a task for you. I'm assuming you didn't look at your quest list."
I pull out my quest list, and sure enough, one bold quest is flashing. I groan, rolling my eyes.
"Your Highness, do I really have to do this quest? I was trying to find other ways to pay you back."
"Well, have you been able to find anything to pay me back with yet?"
I raise my hand to retort and open my mouth, but pause when I realize that the treasure I thought I had actually belonged to my master.
"No."
"Then you have to do this quest. This is a matter of diplomacy now. You have to royal sit the Prince of Merfolk."
What does he mean by royal sit?! That doesn't sound fun at all, given my history with the Ocean Realm.
I shudder at the thought of the Queen of Merfolk smacking me with her water tendril.
"Are you sure you want me for that task? Is this the Queen's idea for torture? I was on her Most Complained About list. I made history for it."
The Crown Prince shifts his gaze between his friend, who gives him a nod, then back at me, slowly nodding.
"You will watch over the Prince, while Long Fei discusses important matters with them."
"Why me?"
"Well, no one else is available to do it."
"What do you mean no one else is available to do it? Don't they have servants or staff?"
"I think this is a good chance for you to see what a three-year-old royal pain—" He clears his throat. "I mean, royal child — can be like. It'll be a good learning experience."
I drag a hand down my face.
"You're just getting me back for what I did to you when I was 3 years old, huh?"
He smirks, not even denying it.
Long Fei clears his throat, gives a departing bow to his royal friend, then turns on his heel and exits the royal chamber. I follow suit.
An ethereal light engulfs him as his body shimmers, transforming into his majestic dragon form. His enormous wings unfurl with a mighty snap, each scale a pearlescent white tinged with silver, shimmering in gradients of sky blue. He puffs out a breath, gesturing for me to get on. I jump onto his back, clinging to his shoulders as he flies off.
Other immortals stop, gaping at the sight of my master's splendor. Then he dives down, spinning through the air as he catches the wind. We soar through the air with the wind beneath his wings, and my silver-blue hair billows in the rushing breeze.
We fly past mountains shrouded in mist disappearing into the clouds, a clear sky stretching endlessly, and the glistening ocean sprawling beneath us. He circles over the entrance to the Ocean Realm before diving into the deep blue.
As the water washes over me, I float off him.
My arms stretch into fins, my legs fuse into a tail, and my body expands into my whale form. Ah, this feels so much better.
Water rushes through every crevice of my enormous body as I groan loudly. Finally, I can show everyone I'm no longer a tiny runt.
This is the first time the Merfolk have seen me in my full-grown humpback whale form.
As we swim past the town, I deliberately lower my swim so my massive shadow looms over the streets below. The Merfolk stop and gape. Yes, that's right. Look at me. I am awesome.
I proudly swim to the palace, elegantly swishing my tail through the ocean past schools of fish, pods of dolphins, and brightly colored coral.
As we reach the entrance, a bright light radiates from us as we shift back to our human guise and land on the sand. Finally, an elegant landing from me... No cracks to patch up this time.
We make our way to the throne room.
Merfolk guards bow to us as we pass. More like they bow to my master. I'm not exactly popular with them.
In the throne room, the King and Queen wait patiently for us. She coos to her chubby, three-year-old merchild with blonde curly locks, then holds him out to me. I hesitate before reaching for him. She gently places him in my arms, ensuring I carry him properly. Then, with a satisfied brush of her hands, she links her arm through the King's.
The prince looks up at me as a bubble pops from his nose. I look down at him, smiling nervously. He scrunches his nose, and the water around him stirs, rippling my hair back.
He waves his arms, wriggling as if trying to break free.
Then, the royal gremlin bites my hand. I want to wring this little gremlin's neck, but since this is a diplomacy quest, I refrain. I purse my lips, taking a deep breath.
I glance at everyone, brows furrowing, eyes pleading for help.
"Uh... what exactly am I supposed to do with this?"
Before I know it, my master summons the air in the water to whisk both me and the prince out of the throne room.
The door slams shut behind us, and I can hear muffled voices coming from inside.
I press my ear to the door, but the guards clear their throats, pointing their spears at me to warn me to step back.
I sigh, reluctantly taking a step away.
And then, as if on cue...
The royal gremlin bites me again.
I grit my teeth. "You're lucky I don't eat royal merfolk."