Sana gasped, staggering back a step. Her face turned pale. "How did you find it? You didn't even touch ?!"
"I knew the mont you winked at like a fish trying to seduce a shark," Kent said dryly. "Your foundation is collapsing. If I weren't who I am, you'd be crippled in a few years."
Tears brimd at the corners of her eyes, but she forced a grin. "Then… na your price, Human healer. Mana pearls? Sacred shells? Loon family's water cannon inscriptions?"
"Spirit stones? Technique scrolls?"
"Do I look like a rchant?" Kent asked, walking past her and sitting on the bench again.
Her voice dropped, sultry now, desperate. "Then… a night with . Just one. I'm still beautiful..."
Kent burst out laughing, his voice echoing off the coral walls.
"You truly don't know sha, do you?" he said, still chuckling. "You think I'd touch soone who doesn't even respect herself enough to co with dignity? I wouldn't take you even if you offered your entire family wealth!"
She fell to her knees, finally dropping all pretense. Her voice cracked, no longer flirtatious but trembling.
"Please... I'll do anything. Just don't let beco a cripple."
Kent watched her for a long mont, the laughter gone from his face.
"Then prove you're serious," he said finally.
Sana looked up. "How?"
He stood, and with a flick of his fingers, a bright golden glow surged from his storage ring.
Snap!
A thundering burst of light erupted.
Dozens—no, more than fifty magical beasts erged from the portal one after another. Glimring wings, armored scales, frosted furs, ethereal tails—each one majestic, evolved, and far from ordinary. So nuzzled Kent's arm like playful puppies, others roared and sniffed the salt air. One with a mane of fire licked Sana's cheek curiously, making her fall backward in shock.
Tony, the one eyed badger, began inspecting Sana for glowing things. But after a sniff, it ran away with a frightened look.
"et my family," Kent said smugly. "And they're very hungry."
"You want to… feed them?" she asked, stunned.
"No," Kent said. "I want you to cook for them. Personally. With spirit herbs, essence roots, sea gems—don't skimp. If they're happy, I'll consider your treatnt."
Sana blinked. "But… cooking for over fifty—?! I'm the daughter of the Loon family!"
Kent stretched with a yawn. "Then take help of your cook. If the food is bad, you can forget my help."
Sana stood up slowly, dusting off her robes and pressing her lips tight. "Fine. Co to my Loon family's Pearl Cave by tomorrow evening. My kitchen will be open."
Kent grinned, already tossing one beast a slice of spirit fruit. "If you don't impress them… well, I hope you like being called Auntie Rotten for the rest of your life."
Sana glared at him, but couldn't hold back a laugh of her own. "You're a devil, Kent."
"And you're finally learning to ask like a mortal," he said, waving her off. "Now go. Don't let my pets starve."
She turned to leave, veil back on, but the fire beast still followed her with hungry eyes.
Kent pulled it back.
And under the rising sun, the veiled lady vanished down the corridor, for the first ti in years—excited to enter her own kitchen.
-
Sea Ancestral Temple… Royal Palace…
The throne hall of the Naga Clan's royal palace was carved from a single, sea beast bone. Seated on a throne with a golden trident, was the Naga Patriarch—Lord Vasu.
His serpent tail, thick and coiled beside his throne, pulsed with quiet power. The aura of a Mid-Heaven Magus pressed upon the hall like a dense tide ready to drown dissent.
Princess Nyara entered, dressed in her ceremonial robe of sea-glass silk. Her face, though calm, bore the tension of resolve. Behind her followed two spirit guards, who halted at the entrance and bowed low.
"You asked for a private audience, my daughter," Patriarch Vasu said, his voice deep like the ocean's trench. "I hope it's not about your little human guest again."
Nyara stepped forward and dropped to one knee, her eyes looking straight up at her father's solemn face. "It is, Father. It's about Kent."
The Patriarch's brows furrowed. "The one who healed Neela?"
"Yes. And more than that… he is the one fated to awaken the Dormant Ancestor God—our last chance to revive the legacy of the Sea God."
Vasu's eyes narrowed like twin whirlpools. "Fated? That's a heavy word, Nyara. You once believed your sister was fated to lead the revival of our clan—and look where that led. Years of slumber and suffering."
Nyara's voice didn't waver. "Because we misjudged. Neela was strong, but she was born with Extre Yin, a gift that beca a curse. But Kent—he possesses the scaled body and human blood as spoken by the prophecy."
The Patriarch straightened on his throne. "Impossible. That scaled body constitution was said to have vanished from the mortal realms over ten thousand years ago."
Nyara nodded. "And yet he has it. He can turn himself into a draconic form and has golden scales. Also, blood rain fell on the 7 Hill Sea yesterday as spoken by the prophecy. It is an indication for the fated person. What more do you need to believe Kent?"
A heavy silence followed. The Patriarch's fingers tightened on the armrest.
"You say he can awaken the Ancestor God," he said slowly. "But what if he fails? What if he dies, or worse—awakens sothing we cannot control?"
Nyara lowered her head. "That's why I do not suggest sending him directly. Let him be tested first."
Vasu leaned forward, intrigued. "Tested where?"
"The Sea Beast Lair," Nyara replied, her voice grave. "Where the soul fragnts of our honored ancestors still drift. The place where even the tides hold their breath. If he can withstand that, if he can bring back proof—he is the one. If not…"
The Patriarch finished for her, "Then he dies, and we lose nothing but a troubleso outsider."
Nyara didn't respond.
The hall fell into quiet for several long breaths, broken only by the soft-chi of enchanted pearls swaying in the current.
"Do you trust him?" the Patriarch finally asked with a stern-look.
Nyara paused for a second as she rembered the handso face of Kent.
Reviews
All reviews (0)