Chương 1502: [1411] – Y06.311 – The Heart VI

"Protect His Majesty!" the mermen guards exclaimed, readying their tridents. The Aswadian soldiers nearby gripped their blades tighter, though looked towards the Faro, for this was not a simple matter.

'He's definitely a dragon,' the soldiers thought, for who else would dare to try and harm a member of a royal family, especially a merman. Adam's eyes remained glued to Bael, who held out his hand, and it was then he noticed just how pale the half dragon was, especially after blasting the Prince with his lightning. Yet, even then, Bael stood tall and proud, and though he was pale, he was more than ready to deal with the dozen or so mermen guards, each at least Experts, many Grandmasters.

'What the hell are you doing?' Adam thought, his eyes wide.

'That's a Prince of the Sea!' Kizwolima's mouth formed a tiny circle, fairly certain Bael wasn't allowed to blast lightning at a Prince of the Sea. He wasn't allowed to blast lightning at anybody, probably, but especially not a Prince of the Sea.

'Uh oh!' As a merman guard stepped forward, the sea shifted, and the large form of the Prince blurred from the blue in front of them, splattering water everywhere as he landed, half knelt, panting for air. He was obviously wounded, his skin peeled from the lightning, his haggard appearance only spurring the mermen guards forward in rage.

"Fall back!" Merza exclaimed, gathering as much strength as he could for his voice.

"Fall back at once!" The mermen fell still, still shaking, ready to fight, but they dared not defy their Prince's order.

"I will be sure…" Merza began, through a pained breath, "to return her to her family." Bael held the Prince's gaze for a long moment, glaring at him, and for a moment, the thought to take at least an arm from him crossed his mind.

"If Adam informs me you have not kept your promise, I will hunt you down before the end of the decade." Merza wanted to mention he was a Prince of the Sea, and that he was descended from Emperor Moto, but he kept his mouth shut, since without a shadow of a doubt, Bael would be willing to kill him if he dared to mention it.

"I-," Bael held up a finger and placed it over his lips, telling the Prince to remain silent, for it was not his right to speak before him. Adam stared at Bael in disbelief, for it was one thing to think about being a crazy bastard, but it was another thing to be a crazy bastard.

'Holy shit.' It was only then Adam recalled their first meeting, how they had fought, and then how Bael wished to have fought Starsword, a being that defied logic. Even though Bael was about as strong as Adam, that was to say, among the strongest across the mortal world, he was that kind of crazy to pick fights with monsters that should remain within nightmares. Merza bowed his head, and with that, he motioned a hand, and his guards stepped back.

Within this world, there were few who could disrespect him so, even the likes of Lady Urkina could not, but then there were those who could disrespect Lady Urkina. Though Bael was not so strong he could not disrespect her, since he was the descendant of that man, the mermen and the dragon turtle could not dare to defy him if he was being so… reasonable? Adam cleared his throat, making to speak, only to remain fixated on Bael.

'Since he's afraid of Bael, I guess I shouldn't bully him too much either.' Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"…"

"…" Moments continued to pass.

'Oh, right.' Adam cleared his throat once more.

"Uh, I just wanted to thank you, Prince Merza, for coming all this way to assist us. I'm relieved it was who you accepted to come here, as Prince Morkarai's friend, I'm certain I can entrust you with Kizwolima." Adam was certain threatening the Prince was going to lead to something bad, so decided against it. He reached into his cloak and brought out a second silver token, a familiar token to all those around, for it was the same token he had gifted Kizwolima.

"This is a silver token of the United Kindom. Should you require assistance, or would like a Greater Enhanced weapon, you may bring it to the business to exchange it." Merza nodded, motioning a hand to one of his guards, who stepped forward to receive it. He wasn't sure if he was allowed to speak yet, so decided against it, just in case speaking would set Bael off. The only thing they could do was retreat if he decided to assault them.

"Please send your sisters my regards," Adam said, still tense from the scene. Merza narrowed his eyes.

'What?' Adam raised a brow in confusion.

"Oh, right, give Prince Morkarai my regards too."

'Oh,' Merza thought, having thought the fool was trying to pick a fight when he couldn't defend himself, but Adam was also that earnest. Merza made to speak, pausing for a moment.

"My condolences… to you and your family, Brother Adam." Everyone could see Bael had raised a finger, but hearing the words, he had decided against embarrassing the Prince further, instead, the half dragon, who was certainly a dragon, crossed his arms. Adam bowed his head, dropping to a knee once more, holding onto Kizwolima's shoulders.

"I'll be sure to send word now and again, alright?"

"Okay!" Kizwolima smiled, though she was nervous, since didn't they just fight?

'Should I just go with her?' Adam pulled her in close, finally hugging her.

"Don't worry! You're going to be safe since Prince Merza, he's actually a good guy. He's my friend's friend, so you can trust him! Even though we did fight a little, that was a long time ago, and we're friends now too! So you can definitely trust him, okay?"

"Okay!" Kizwolima flushed slightly, hugging the half elf back.

"You have to stay safe too, mister Adam."

"I'll try," Adam promised.

'Should I have brought the Prince with me?' Merza thought. He had offered Morkarai to come along, but he refused, for he was unsure if he could see the half elf at the time. Kizwolima stepped into the carriage, turning back to look at the group, waving at them, and Adam waved back smiling as his eyes burned, but what else could he do but give her back to her family?

'Kizwolima, if something happens to you, I'll slaughter him properly!' Adam thought, and perhaps for the second time in his life, he actually meant it. Jurot placed a hand on Adam's shoulder.

"It will be fine."

"If something happens to her…"

"Bael has threatened them well enough."

"You should have at least taken an arm or something," Adam grumbled, feeling the tears in his eyes, for how could he leave a child in the care of a royal? He had gifted a lamb to the wolves!

"Then you may go with Bael and spend a year in the Undersea Kingdom, and we will bury the story," Jurot said. Adam turned, his eyes meeting Jurot's, no longer letting the tears slip, since he was more frightened than sad.

"It's fine, he won't do anything, and if he does… I'll apologise to Prince Morkarai."

"If the Prince wishes to stop you, I will hold him at bay," Jurot promised.

"Yeah, I guess if it's you, you can definitely keep him at bay," Adam said, thinking about the number of guards Merza had.

"Kitool, Chosen, and Tanagek, you guys can handle the bodyguards, right? I'll deal with the-,""Excuse me," the Faro finally called out, saving Adam's life.

"Ah, Faro," Adam said, wiping his eyes.

'I can't believe I let a royal almost see me cry.'

"May I suggest not plotting sedition upon my docks within earshot?"

"I suppose we'll continue on the ship then," Adam replied as a joke, only to see the Faro's eyes widen in sheer disbelief.

"Prince Merza is a friend of a friend, no, I said he's my friend, so he's my friend, and I don't kill my friends so easily." The Faro was certain someone would kill the Prince if something happened to the girl.

"I must apologise, but I have to-,""Young Lady," called a voice, glaring at the Faro, perhaps the only figure who could do so.

"Do not involve yourself within my business with the Undersea Empire." Sabreen held Bael's gaze for a long moment.

"I apologise, Lord Bael."

"If you wish to inform the Emperor of my plot, you may do so," Bael said, smiling wide.

"Make sure to inform him that I, Bael, send my regards." The Faro decided it would be best to bury the matter here, so she bowed her head, wished them fortune on their journey, and swiftly left with her soldiers. The nearby captain of the ship blinked, having just finished with tying down all the wagons. His eyes then fell to the panther, who he had argued against, not realising the panther wasn't a problem at all.

'What kind of group did I accept?'