Alex stayed not just one more day with her sister, but two full days, enjoying the hospitality of Moonglow and her bandits. After getting to know them a little better, she discovered that the bandits weren’t as bad as they pretended to be, aside from the fact that they had tried to kill them, of course.
With the promise of reuniting, the group led by the princess left the mountains and headed toward the Underwater Resource Business Federation, the kingdom beneath the waters. It was a two-day journey, provided they didn’t rest, and that was only until they reached the immense lakes that served as the kingdom’s entrance.
The entire Underwater Resource Business Federation was located beneath the waters of those lakes, interconnected hundreds of meters deep by a vast network of underwater tunnels. Paradoxically, its economy depended on fishery exports. Despite being a technologically advanced kingdom, with highly efficient technology underwater but almost useless on land, they needed a currency for trade with other nations. That was where Alex’s father had stepped in, laying the foundations of their alliance in exchange for marine wealth.
When they finally arrived at the only surface settlement of the Underwater Resource Business Federation, a group of heavily armed Sharkfolk was waiting for them. A massive submarine was docked as close to the shore as possible.
—News travels fast —Alex said, stopping her entourage by raising a fist.
—Do you think it’s a trap? —Bianchi asked.
—No. Look who’s come to welcome us —Alex replied, pointing to the centre of the waiting Sharkfolk forces.
There, a Sharkfolk was playing a string instrument. She was tall and voluptuous, but her smile, more terrifying than the rest of her kind, was revealing a killer instinct, a voracious hunger few possessed, though she wielded it in politics. She was Rucheel, the advisor of the Underwater Federation.
—Welcome, Princess Sansta of the Light Palace —Rucheel greeted, waving her dorsal fin. Her voice was musical, harmonious, and slightly shrill.
—I appreciate the warm welcome, Rucheel. Will you honor us with your company during our stay? —Alex asked, making sure to be as polite as possible. Hachisuka had warned her that negotiations with the Sharkfolk would be more complicated than expected due to the eclipse.
—I… do you hear that? —Rucheel said, tilting her head—. It’s… that song… it’s so catchy…
Alex strained her ears but heard nothing. She turned to Bianchi, but he didn’t hear anything either. Not even the automatons picked up any sound with their robotic systems.
—I’m sorry, Rucheel. My hearing isn’t as sharp as yours —Alex said, trying to change the subject—. Would it be possible to arrange a meeting with the Supreme Council of the Underwater Resource Business Federation?
—I don’t know. Let’s descend to the capital and discuss it there —Rucheel replied, swaying as she headed toward the submarine.
—Let’s go —Alex ordered.
—No! Just you —Rucheel corrected. Then, eyeing Bianchi from head to toe, she added—: And your handsome companion. Are you single, foxie boy?
Bianchi raised his hands and took a step back at Rucheel’s expression. She licked her lips, laughing in amusement.
—Come on, “handsome” —Alex said, pushing Bianchi toward the submarine.
—Hey, I didn’t say anything! —he protested, trying to defend himself.
But Alex shot him a glare that could have melted steel.
The submarine descent was a spectacular experience. Watching as they moved from dark waters into the bioluminescence of the depths was breathtaking. Unfortunately, the journey was rather quick. In less than twenty minutes, they arrived at the capital: a luxurious underwater city built within a dome to allow surface visitors to breathe. And there were many: the city was quite cosmopolitan, with Sharkfolk and humans living in complete harmony. Furthermore, its transportation and architecture were of the highest quality, befitting one of the most advanced places in all of Protopaterpolis.
Rucheel led them to one of the chambers in the main building, a room bordering the water, using the dome as one of its walls, where the council was assembled. It consisted of four Sharkfolk of different ages and genders, with no clear distinctions. Rucheel was the voice of discord: if the council failed to reach a consensus in voting, she had the deciding vote, though she could not vote under normal circumstances.
—Honorable members of the council —Alex said after the proper introductions—. I am Alex Sansta, heir princess of the Light Palace. I have come as my own sole representative, in the name of peace. I seek to prevent the war looming over us.
One of the council members made a dismissive gesture with her hand, a detail that did not go unnoticed by Alex. This was going to be much more complicated than she had expected.
—Why should we believe you, Princess Sansta, when it is your mother who has declared war on us? —asked a Sharkfolk councilwoman.
—I… —Alex tried to respond, but another councilor interrupted her.
—And on top of that, she’s the one who darkened the sky with her wicked witchcraft! —exclaimed the Sharkfolk councilor.
—My mother is not a witch —Alex retorted, but no one listened.
—This world has already had its time of witches, and we fought them as one fights a plague —with fire! —declared another councilwoman.
Alex cleared her throat and raised her voice to make herself heard.
—Witches are not a concern we should be focusing on right now. We know they still exist —Alex said, thinking of Lucie and Lyka but not naming them—, but they are no longer our enemies.
—That is exactly what your father said, princess, the last time we saw him: that the witches were no longer our enemy. Tell me, why should we believe you when we did not believe him? —one of the councilors asked.
—My father was the only one who managed to end the Witch War —Alex replied. Bianchi looked at her with concern. She knew, too, that the conversation was straying from its purpose.
—He did so by allowing the most powerful of all witches to access the Sacred Ruins! Helen, of all people! —exclaimed another councilwoman.
—And with that, peace was achieved —Rucheel interjected. Everyone was taken aback; they had not expected her to speak. Rucheel encouraged Alex to continue and flashed a lascivious smile at Bianchi.
The princess did not let the opportunity slip away. Those few seconds of silence were the most valuable thing she would get down there.
—Councilors, I have not come here today to speak of the past, but of the future. I implore your forgiveness for any grievances my family has committed, which will be duly compensated in due time. But right now, I need you to listen to me: my mother is preparing an all-out war to devastate all of Protopaterpolis. However, she has promised not to start it if I can once again secure peace with our two neighboring kingdoms, the first of which I visit, out of respect, is yours —Alex explained.
The councilors remained silent. Alex began to sweat. They were a far less receptive audience than she was accustomed to. After an entire minute of uncomfortable stares and absolute silence, a councilwoman stood up and spoke.
—Young lady, we trusted your father, and it did not turn out well. Now you ask us to trust your mother. We will not fall into the same trap twice. We are done here —she declared.
—But…! —Alex tried to protest.
At that moment, Rucheel took out her instrument and began to play. The music was dissonant, unsettling, and carried a dark undertone. Alex started to feel dizzy. But it was nothing compared to what happened to the councilors. The one who had just spoken lost strength in her legs and collapsed to the floor, blood spilling from her mouth. Another councilor let his head fall back and began clawing at his chest, scratching himself deep with his nails. The remaining two covered their ears, writhing in pain.
—Not again! Rucheel! Stop! —one of them shouted. But Rucheel did not hear; she swayed to the rhythm of her own music.
—Ah, the song! It’s so beautiful! So marvelous! —exclaimed the Sharkfolk, never ceasing to play her instrument.
The water beyond the glass wall stirred. A massive eye, the size of Alex’s head, suddenly opened in the darkness. It was yellow, with a dilated pupil. An endless row of teeth appeared, revealing a terrifying bifid tongue. It was a sea monster.
The creature struck the glass, making everything tremble. It was as large as the submarine, too large to be contained by force.
—Bianchi! We have to do something! —Alex said, holding her head, still dizzy.
Bianchi was on the ground, crying and mumbling. The only one in relatively good condition was Alex herself. On her chest, the Jhrelth amulet shone brightly.
"I am protecting you, human" said a voice in her head.
"Are you... Thir'ahmh?" Alex responded in thought.
"You know my name? That makes things easier" Thir'ahmh said from the depths of her mind.
The sea monster outside struck the dome's glass again, trying to reach them. It kept licking its lips. The glass cracked. It would withstand a couple more impacts before succumbing to the pressure.
"How do I stop the monster?" Alex asked.
"You can't, but I can. Let me out" Thir'ahmh said.
"But... I can't do that" Alex replied.
"Then die here, human. I will survive inside the gem, as I have for so long!" Thir'ahmh said.
Alex looked around. There had to be a better way to stop the monster.
Then she realized: the creature had appeared to the sound of Rucheel's song. That was no coincidence—it was the music that was drawing it in.
—Rucheel! Stop playing! —Alex said, stumbling toward the Sharkfolk.
—Hahaha! No! I must continue! It's the song! Don't you hear it? It's beautiful! —Rucheel said. She was possessed.
Alex understood what was happening. It was the eclipse. It was driving Rucheel mad. She lunged at her, ready to snatch the instrument away by force. But the Sharkfolk was much stronger than she was and kicked her in the side of the head, knocking her down. Alex rolled across the floor. She wasn't unconscious, though she had taken the hit head-on.
—You're not going to let me die, are you, Thir'ahmh? You would die too if my body perishes! What do you say to that? —Alex said, getting up and charging at Rucheel again.
Deep in her mind, the Hound of Eternity growled. Alex had struck a nerve. She placed her left hand on the gem and invoked Thir'ahmh's power, but only for her left arm. The monster's organic tissue grew through Alex's skin, causing her sharp, searing pain, but it was enough to match the Sharkfolk's strength. With one powerful yank, she snatched the instrument away and, locking eyes with the sea monster beyond the dome, smashed it against the floor, shattering it into a thousand pieces.
—The concert is over —she said before falling unconscious.
The first thing Alex saw when she woke up was the sky, darkened by the eclipse. She was outside the capital, in one of the trucks. The rumbling of the engine rocked her slightly, though the vehicle was not moving.
—Where are we? What happened? And Rucheel? —Alex asked, stumbling over her words.
—You saved us all —Bianchi said—. It was incredible.
—But... what...? I don’t remember anything—. she said.
—Destroying the musical instrument freed Rucheel from her possession. It was the eclipse that had taken over her mind, making her hear a song no one else could. As a reward for your heroism and for saving the council members’ lives, they gave us this —Bianchi said, handing her a scroll sealed with the emblem of the Underwater Resource Business Federation. It was a peace treaty. Signed—. They said they couldn’t trust either your father or your mother, but they chose to trust you. You could have fled, but you stayed and saved the council members’ lives, and, to a great extent, the kingdom. You are a hero, Alex!
—It was... luck —she said—. Why does my left arm hurt so much?
When she looked at it, her veins were visible, a much darker shade than normal.
—You shouldn’t use Thir'ahmh’s power unless necessary, Alex —Bianchi said. Something in his tone made Alex hesitate; she knew him well.
—What aren’t you telling me? —she asked.
The truck door opened, and an automaton entered. Now that she could see their surroundings, Alex knew where they were: the Dark Forest of Amonsulle, at its edge.
—How long have I been asleep? —Alex asked.
—Four days, princess —the automaton said—. Bianchi hasn’t left your side for a single moment.
Alex looked at Bianchi and shook her head. “He’s an idiot, but I love him for it,” she thought. Bianchi had taken them to Amonsulle, the second kingdom they needed to visit. Four days was a long time, but she had to continue her mission: peace was closer than ever.
—We are already guests of the forest dwellers, Alex —Bianchi said—. I’ve met the Rijons, a very interesting group. I think you’ll like them because they resemble Wu Xiaohu.
Alex raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t a big fan of Wu Xiaohu, but any help they could get would be useful.
—Let’s go, then. We have a second peace treaty to sign. What did you say your new friends are called? —Alex said, standing up.
