Chương 134: Chapter 130: The Rehms

The pitch and roll of the ship roused Priam. Born by the Atlantic, he had long conquered seasickness. As he opened his eyes, a smile unexpectedly graced Priam's face. It had been ages since he was cradled by the ocean's embrace. Suddenly, memories flooded back. The return to Elysium, Kazuki and Dishnu, the Brood Mother, and this new world. The descendant of Charybdis. He straightened up hurriedly.

"I... Where am I?" Priam murmured, discovering an unfamiliar place. He had been swathed in a blanket and laid in a hammock. Looking around, he found himself in the low cabin of a ship. The decor was modest, with a few fishing nets hung on the walls and shark teeth as trophies. Priam spotted two intriguing items. The first was a kind of world map embedded with luminescent monster cores. His add-on recorded it. The second item was more mundane.

A frame of driftwood adorned a painting depicting two parents and their three children. [Eidetic Memory] activated as it analyzed the faces. The young boy in the painting must have grown, for he bore a striking resemblance to the young man who had saved him. I'm in a bedroom, Priam realized. The only furniture in the room was a low table riveted to the floor and a small wardrobe overflowing with clothes. This room was inhabited by a single person, or possibly a couple.

A large horizontal window ran the length of the room, offering a view of the outside. Priam leaned in, almost tipping the hammock. He steadied himself with a hand on the wall and pressed his nose against the window. Outside, dozens of boats were anchored near an island. His island. If they're treating me this well, I suppose Mirscella must be fine. Damn, I wasn't very kind to her, was I? He could have died at sea and left her stuck in this world for two months...

Footsteps approached, and Priam turned toward the cabin's entrance. A small staircase led to a closed door, which swung open. A teen merfolk - whom he identified as his savior - entered the cabin, smiling at him.

"Slept well?" the merfolk quipped.

"I..." Priam didn't know how to respond. He could understand the strange language his interlocutor had used. Yet, he knew he hadn't known it before he passed out. Can I learn a language while sleeping now? All these thoughts took only a fraction of a second. Priam responded before an awkward silence could settle in.

"Yes," he articulated.

"Thank you very much for your hospitality. I'm in your debt." The foreign language relied heavily on sounds produced using his tongue without his lungs, like clicks. Fortunately for Priam, Micro and his dexterity allowed him to master this new language right away.

"No problem," chuckled the merfolk.

"You must be hungry; we'll be dining soon. Mother's cooking fish, will that do?"

"I love fish!" It was a half-lie, depending on the species of fish. But here, it didn't matter. If his savior's mother had prepared a meal, he certainly wouldn't insult her by being picky.

"My mother's fish is the best. By the way, the Chief wants to speak with you as soon as you wake up, so expect to see him in a few minutes," the merfolk warned.

"Very well. By the way, my name is Priam."

"And I'm Urr. Help yourself with my clothes." With these words, his young savior turned on his heels and left. Priam lowered his gaze and understood Urr's last sentence. He was shirtless. The garment woven by Alberto Boss, the master tailor, hadn't held up in his encounter with the descendant of Charybdis. The enchantments applied had surely given way during the final clash. Pushing aside the blanket, Priam leaped from the hammock and headed for the wardrobe. Inside were dozens of outfits.

In seconds, Priam chose a wide-legged eastern pirate trouser. It was a safe bet that no pirate had ever worn something similar, but it amused Priam to imagine it that way. As for the top, Priam selected a hybrid of a vest and a light white linen shirt. His savior had worn something similar, and he liked the style. Plus, the temperatures were too mild to require anything warmer. While donning the navy blue pants and the shirt, Priam checked his notifications. You have gained the skill: [Rehm Language - Rare].

[Rehm Language] - There aren't many people left in Valaryth who practice this language. Based on the Sea Concept, it can be spoken underwater easily. Handy. With it, you could have wooed Ariel without her losing her voice... Too bad she prefered Princes to Earls. MEM +2 DEXT +1 New Quest: Charybdis' enemy The goddess birthed many children during her war campaigns. Cleanse this world of the offspring that attacked you. Reward: Potential +500. Stolen Concept Fragment.

Difficulty: Legendary Maximum time: 59 Days I wonder if it's fifty-nine days from now or only in this world... The next notification provided more context on how he had learned the Rehm language. Lvl Up: [Priam's System] lvl 8 MEM +2 VIVA +1 [Unconscious duration: 4 hours 46 minutes 13 seconds. Health: Cursed right eye. Slight hunger. Slight stress.] Seeing his add-on level up, Priam understood. He had asked his system to constantly analyze his surroundings for danger.

To check if their intentions were hostile, his system had deciphered the language of his saviors. Satisfied with his skill, Priam had an idea. New command: Monitor my mental state continuously. If my behavior becomes suspicious, then send me an alarm. Use [Eidetic Memory] to define suspicious behavior. The system recorded his command, and Priam smiled before making an amendment.

If I continue to act strangely without providing a logical explanation AND if [He Who Eludes Death] is primed, then use [Kinetic Control] to boil my brain. His add-on validated the command, and Priam felt more secure. He preferred suicide to a mental manipulation he wouldn't realize. His current command had flaws - the notion of suspicious behavior could be fuzzy - but these would gradually be patched by his skill as it gained experience. Once dressed, Priam decided to go up on deck.

Exiting the cabin, he arrived in a narrow corridor. A delightful scent of fish wafted in the air, and his stomach grumbled. At the end of the corridor, three steps led to a half-open sliding panel. Priam opened it fully and blinked, momentarily blinded by the sun. The sky was blue above black and red sails. A few seagulls crossed a cloudless sky, crying out. Priam surveyed his surroundings. He was on a boat about fifteen meters long, its deck covered in ropes.

Urr, the young man whose clothes he currently wore, was sewing a sail. He raised his hand when he saw Priam, and Priam returned the gesture. Joyful children's cries drew his attention. All around Priam, young ones were swimming and diving between the boats. The grown-ups stepped aside, letting them dash about with amused grins on their faces. The merfolks - or were they Rehm? - bore a resemblance to humans, albeit with aquatic attributes.

The main divergence, if one disregarded the gills and scales, was the hue of their hair. Every shade of the sea seemed to be present. As Priam watched a child hop from one boat to another, he couldn't help but appreciate the tribe's atmosphere. There was a certain disorder, but it coexisted harmoniously with a great freedom. His attention was drawn to a girl climbing a mast three boats away. Laughter filled the air as a boy attempted to catch up with her.

It was a heartening sight, for happy, carefree children were a sign of a certain prosperity. When their gazes met, she pointed and let out a shrill cry. With the grace of a swan taking flight, she leaped, vanishing from view. Two heartbeats later, a shadow emerged from beneath a neighboring boat, gliding toward the water's surface before vaulting into the air. Two small hands grasped the railing, and in an instant, the turquoise-haired girl stood before Priam.

"You're a foreigner!" she affirmed. Priam crouched to her level, a smile gracing his face.

"I'm far from home, that's true. My name is Priam. What might yours be?" If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"I'm Coqyi. Do you live on land? Is that why you don't have gills? Does that make us enemies?"

"Whoa, one question at a time, alright? Otherwise, I might forget the first ones," Priam grinned. With his memory, it was unlikely to happen, but if it could stop the flood of questions, he was ready to lie a bit.

"So you have a bad memory, like my grandma. It's because you're old. I'll start again: do you live on land?" she said with exaggerated articulations. The pity in the child's eyes irked Priam.

"I'm twenty-three, you brat. I live on land, but not this one. Well, right now, I'm more of a wanderer..."

"Like us then!" The girl glanced left and right before leaning in.

"We move often to escape space storms," she whispered.

"Can I ask why you're whispering, young Coqyi?" A column of water rose beside the boat before condensing, revealing the owner of the voice. The merfolk who had exchanged blows with Charybdis' descendant leaped onto the boat. Priam acknowledged his savior with a nod. He didn't seem injured but his scarred body proved he was a veteran.

"Go help with the festivities instead of spreading rumors, will you?" the stranger gently chided.

"Yes, Chief!" Coqyi replied, saluting endearingly. She turned on her heels and sprinted to the edge of the boat.

"See you later!" she called before diving.

"She's energetic," the Chief remarked.

"That's an understatement," Priam agreed.

"Thank you for saving me, by the way."

"I hold no love for those creatures." The Chief studied him in silence for a few moments.

"We need to talk, you and I. Have a seat," he said, arranging himself into a cross-legged position. The merfolk was stronger than Priam, had saved him, and seemed to be a respected leader. That was enough for Priam to agree to a discussion. Once both were seated, the old warrior began to speak.

"My name is Titus, and I'm the Chief of this tribe. And you're a foreigner." Titus's last statement had been an assertion rather than a question. Was being a foreigner a bad thing? It hadn't seemed to faze Coqyi.

"Pleasure to meet you, Titus, and thank you for saving my life. I'm Priam, and I come from another world," he confirmed.

"Which one?"

"Elysium." A gleam shone in Titus's eyes.

"From the Universe of the Seven Concepts. They're the ones who destroyed my world." Priam hurried to correct him.

"I come from a different Universe altogether. My civilization was abducted by the Concepts three weeks ago. I have nothing to do with the war that destroyed this world." The last thing Priam wanted was to have to fight - and likely die - against his savior due to a misunderstanding. Titus burst into laughter.

"My great-grandfather wasn't even born when the war ended. I know you have nothing to do with it. Honestly, the animosity toward foreigners died out centuries ago. After all, we're all trapped in this fragment of a world. I even suspect my grandmother to have some alien blood running through her veins."

"That's good to hear," Priam replied.

"However, that still doesn't explain how you got here. Did the Concepts open a passage?" Titus asked. The Chief seemed both concerned and… hopeful?

"I went through a rift," Priam answered.

"Which one?"

"It's on the beach, near the city," Priam said, indicating the correct direction.

"I know that rift," Titus sighed.

"You sound disappointed."

"We don't have your System; there's no passage for us there," Titus shrugged. The merfolk's face held an air of despair. Priam had played enough RPGs to recognize his moment.

"Perhaps I can help?" he offered. Titus looked him straight in the eyes for a moment. Priam felt something touch his Domain before withdrawing.

"You're too weak," Titus declared.

"Come back when you can defeat one of Charybdis' descendants, and we'll talk."

"One of the descendants? This monster isn't alone?" Priam had just received a quest to rid the world of this creature and was eager for information.

"This monster has six other unfortunate sisters. You were unlucky enough to encounter one; they usually haunt the depths. The megalodon's blood you spilled must have attracted it," Titus explained.

"It's a rare delicacy for them." The information surprised Priam. Given the creature's strength, it should have had no trouble dispatching a megalodon. Titus noticed his surprise.

"The Dragon protects these creatures." Priam felt his heart race. A Dragon?!

"Don't worry," Titus smiled.

"The Dragon ensures the balance of the oceans. You're a Tier 0, so as long as you don't wipe out an entire species, you have nothing to fear."

"That's good to know." Priam sniffed the air as a delicious smell of fish reached him.

"Hurya must have finished her stew. I'll leave you to enjoy it, Priam," Titus said, rising. Surprised, Priam stood as well.

"Is that all? Don't you have more questions?"

"Not really. I assume you'll eventually return to where you came from, won't you?" Priam nodded.

"Then just try not to overstay your welcome with Hurya. She's too kind to kick you out, but I'll take care of it if necessary. Feel free to trade with us, and don't cause any trouble." With those words, Titus walked to the edge of the boat and leaped. His dive caused neither a splash nor a ripple as his body merged with the water. Priam watched his departure in silence. He would have liked to identify Titus, but he knew the merfolk would sense it, and he didn't want to be impolite.

As he watched the other merfolk go about their lives, Priam wondered about his power level. Was he strong? According to the System, the world fragment was Tier 1, Earl rank. That was the level of Charybdis' descendant. Was it the maximum level? A sound pulled him from his thoughts. The panel leading to the boat slid open, and two women emerged. The one who was undoubtedly Urr's mother, carrying a heavy pot. Behind her, arms laden with dishes, was Mirscella.

"Dinner's served!"

"This is delicious!" Priam declared.

"I'm glad you enjoy my cooking," Hurya replied.

"I have confidence in my fish stew, but I can't be sure it will please foreigners."

"Good. Yes," confirmed Mirscella. She hadn't quite managed to grasp the Rehm language yet.

"Do you eat fish back where you come from?" Urr inquired.

"It happens," Priam replied, helping himself to another serving.

"But it's expensive when you live far from the sea." His response sent shivers down Urr and Hurya's spines. For both merfolk, living on land would sound like heresy.

"In any case, the sauce is exquisite," Priam added. Hurya smiled.

"It's a secret recipe. You have to add crushed kalaka. It's a seaweed that grew near a vanished coral massif." Upon hearing that, Priam froze. He had helped himself four times because the pot was enormous, without considering it might be a rare and expensive recipe.

"I'm sorry, I'm eating like a glutton."

"No, no, I'm glad. It's a celebratory dish! I've never seen a foreigner before. Besides, it'll go bad if we don't finish it." Priam smiled.

"It's very kind of you to host us like this. I'd like to thank you. Are you certain this seaweed is gone? I could go take a look." Hurya shook her head.

"The coral massif was swallowed by the void ten years ago."

"Swallowed by the void?" Urr raised his head from his bowl.

"It's bad luck to talk about it."

"Oh, I apologize," Priam said.

"It's alright," Hurya replied.

"You couldn't have known. What will you do next?" Priam accepted the change of subject.

"We're going… home. We weren't supposed to be away for long. But I'll definitely come back to train here now and then. I want to reach a depth of a thousand meters. I think there's an interesting reward for that."

"Oh!" Urr set down his bowl and looked at Priam with excitement.

"You want to join Atlantis? That's where my brother and sister are. Could you pass them a message from me?"

"Urr!" Hurya exclaimed.

"But Mom, he's not a Rehm! He can come back with a message." Hurya seemed to hesitate.

"You've welcomed me and given me food. I'm even wearing your son's clothes. If I can deliver a message, it's the least I can do to thank you," added Priam. Just as he held grudges against his enemies, Priam wanted to thank those who had helped him. It was a code of conduct he found honorable.

"The laws of this world fragment reward you for certain actions," explained Hurya. Priam nodded, recalling the five hundred-meter milestone. In addition to the Title granted by the System, he had been rewarded by the ocean.

"If you descend beyond a thousand meters... Come see me, and I'll take you to speak with our scholar. Since you're not from our tribe, he'll be the one to decide if you can access Atlantis." Priam smiled. It sounded like a proper quest.

Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0) PHYSICAL: Strength 357 Constitution 604 Agility 383 Vitality 508 Perception 566 MENTAL: Vivacity 313 (+1) Dexterity 384 (+1) Memory 120 (+4) Willpower 599 Charisma 418 META: Meta-affinity 295 Meta-focus 225 Meta-endurance 173 Meta-perception 84 Meta-chance 216 Meta-authority 12 Potential: 683 (+4) Tier 0 [He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED. [Tribulation]: Three Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until: Time: 177 days 5 hours 15 minutes 52 seconds.