The coastline in the distance gradually became clear,
a bustling city named "Coral Port" stood by the sea.
This city is an important trade hub at the intersection of the Dawn Land and the Sea Kingdom.
Though managed by the Sea Kingdom, it also blends the characteristics of both regions.
The architectural style of Coral Port is unique, with houses of varying heights resembling layers of shells, their exteriors painted in soft shades of powder blue.
The streets are wide and neat, with coral trees planted on both sides, exuding the essence of the ocean.
In the center of the city stands a giant shell-shaped fountain, with clear water spouting continuously,
forming rainbows under the sunlight.
The port dock is bustling with activity, with various types of ships docked.
Mermaids, humans, and merchants of other races come and go, selling an array of peculiar seafood and rare goods.
The air is filled with a mix of seawater and fishy scents, intertwined with the aroma of various spices.
As the ships slowly approach the shore, Pearl turned to the nearby fishman and asked:
"Has the extraordinary team sent by Manju Academy arrived?"
The fishman respectfully replied:
"Miss, they have already arrived. We can meet with them now. They are waiting in the Coral Pearl Hotel's sea view lobby."
Pearl nodded, and the group began to move towards the hotel.
They passed through the bustling streets, with passersby occasionally glancing curiously at this special team.
The Coral Pearl Hotel is located in the city center; it is a massive spiral-shaped building, its exterior made of countless pieces of mother-of-pearl, shimmering softly in the sunlight.
Upon entering the hotel, they proceeded directly to the sea view lobby.
In the spacious lobby, three girls dressed in Manju Academy uniforms were already waiting there.
Pearl led the way towards them, shaking hands with the girl standing in the middle.
"Hello, I am Pearl, the envoy of the Sea Kingdom. I am pleased to cooperate with Manju Academy."
Pearl said in a gentle tone, her eyes shimmering with curiosity.
The girl in the middle smiled slightly and responded:
"Hello, Miss Pearl. I am Laurel, the captain of Manju Academy's extraordinary team. These two are my junior sisters, Hiyakura and Jasmine."
As she spoke, Laurel pointed to the two girls beside her.
At that moment, while Pearl and Laurel were conversing, Hiyakura's gaze had already fallen on the two people standing not far behind Pearl.
One of them was wrapped in a white robe, wearing a white hood that covered most of her face.
What was even more striking was that her upper face was adorned with an exquisite fox mask, revealing only her chin and lips.
The mask was decorated with intricate patterns, shimmering faintly under the light, giving an air of mystery and nobility.
At this moment, the girl standing next to the white-robed person leaned closer to her ear and whispered:
"Mom, that's Hiyakura's mother. Should we acknowledge her?"
The white-robed person gently shook her head, replying softly:
"Forget-Me-Not, Hiyakura's path is different from ours."
Forget-Me-Not nodded thoughtfully. "Got it, I understand what to do."
The whispers between the two were very soft.
But Hiyakura still sensed something amiss,
Her gaze darted between the white-robed person and Forget-Me-Not, with hints of confusion and curiosity in her eyes.
Hiyakura found herself involuntarily drawn to the mysterious white-robed figure.
She felt a wave of inexplicable familiarity wash over her, as if behind the mask and robe, she could sense the other's presence.
The feeling was so intense that she almost ignored everything around her, her entire focus on that person.
Her heart began to race uncontrollably, a multitude of questions flashing through her mind:
Why do I feel this way?
Do I know her?
Who is she?
Where does this familiarity come from?
Hiyakura struggled to recall, trying to find clues in her memory,
But the more she thought, the more confused she felt.
Although Pearl was engaged in conversation with Laurel, she keenly noticed Hiyakura's unusual reaction.
As an experienced diplomat, she was accustomed to observing the subtle changes in everyone's expressions.
Hiyakura's concentrated and puzzled gaze, along with her slightly furrowed brows,
That concentrated look did not escape Pearl's notice.
Pearl gently cleared her throat, interrupting her conversation with Laurel.
She smiled and turned to everyone, elegantly saying:
"Ah, I just realized that I have not fully introduced everyone."
She gestured towards the white-robed person and the girl beside her,
"These two are our esteemed guests from the Sea Kingdom, renowned Fairy Hunters, Forget-Me-Not and Tao Yao. They are here at my invitation to assist."
Upon hearing the name "Tao Yao," Hiyakura felt a wave of disappointment wash over her.
She had harbored a glimmer of hope that the person in front of her might be the Tao Yao she had always been searching for.
But now, that hope shattered like a bubble.
She lowered her head, trying to hide her disappointment.
However, at that moment, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
Forget-Me-Not?
Why does this name sound so familiar?
Hiyakura abruptly raised her head, her gaze fixed on the person introduced as Forget-Me-Not.
Her eyes filled with surprise and confusion, as if she were looking at an apparition.
Noticing Hiyakura's reaction, Forget-Me-Not took a gentle step forward.
Her voice was soft and friendly, carrying an almost imperceptible sense of familiarity:
"Hiyakura, we meet again."
Pearl looked at the two in surprise, her eyebrows slightly raised:
"Huh? Did you two know each other before?"
Forget-Me-Not nodded slightly, explaining:
"Yes, we briefly crossed paths while searching for traces of fairies in the Dawn Land. Though our encounter was fleeting, it left a deep impression on me."
Upon hearing this explanation, a bright smile blossomed on Pearl's face.
She clapped her hands, excitedly saying:
"This is wonderful! Since you already know each other, our cooperation will surely be smoother. Familiar partners always lead to better synergy, right?"
She looked around and continued:
"Esteemed guests, the Coral Pearl Hotel is a property of our Sea Kingdom. As the hostess, I am honored to provide you with the best hospitality."
Pearl turned to a guard beside her, instructing gently yet authoritatively:
"Please go arrange the guest rooms. Prepare the best sea view suites for our guests, ensuring every detail is perfect."
The guard respectfully nodded and quickly left the lobby.
Pearl turned back to everyone, smiling as she said:
"Cleaning and preparing the rooms may take some time. In the meantime, why don't we sit down, enjoy some refreshments, and discuss the upcoming expedition? After all, we still have many details to finalize."
During the waiting process, Hiyakura's mind grew increasingly chaotic.
Her gaze kept drifting to Tao Yao and Forget-Me-Not, who were sitting on a sofa not far away.
The fairy hunter referred to as "Tao Yao" gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Rationality told her that it was impossible for this to be Tao Yao.
But deep down, a voice kept questioning that judgement.
What confused her even more was the existence of Forget-Me-Not.
Through the old flower language, Hiyakura recognized that little Forget-Me-Not.
But this adult Forget-Me-Not before her was both familiar yet strange.
What connection was there between them?
Was this Forget-Me-Not the same little girl she met in the old flower language?
If so, how did she grow up?
If not, why does she have the same name?
These questions swirled in Hiyakura's mind, leaving her dizzy.
She tried to calm her emotions, but each time she looked at that mysterious duo, ripples would rise in her heart.
At that moment, Jasmine noticed Hiyakura's unusual demeanor.
She quietly approached Hiyakura and softly asked:
"What's wrong, Hiyakura? You look like something's bothering you."
Hiyakura hesitated for a moment but ultimately whispered her suspicion:
"That person... she gives me a very strong feeling, like she is Tao Yao..."
Jasmine followed Hiyakura's gaze, scrutinizing the mysterious figure referred to as "Tao Yao."
She frowned and said skeptically:
"That's impossible, right? Didn't Miss Pearl say she's called Tao Yao? And if it were really Tao Yao, why would she hide her identity?"
At that moment,
the Abyss Dragon, who had been perched on Hiyakura's shoulder, also let out a call.
"Are you thinking the same thing?"
Hiyakura spoke softly,
Her conviction about her guess strengthening.
She decided she could not just sit and wait; she had to uncover the truth.
So, before Jasmine could react, Hiyakura had already stood up.
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and walked toward the direction of Tao Yao and Forget-Me-Not.
No matter what, she must confirm the identity of this Tao Yao!