Chapter 87: The Embrace of Human and rmaid
"Thank you for telling how your magic works," Rhine said with a smile.
In this fantasy world, where fairy tales intertwined with epic legends, supernatural battles often played out in this very manner—so many powerful mages and mystical creatures derived their strength from just a few special chanisms. And once those chanisms were unraveled, defeating them beca all too easy.
"Go ahead—show what else you’ve got."
The Old Witch was gripped with terror. Desperately, she reached for the preparations she had made beforehand, intent on escaping with the full-length mirror where Prince Eric was sealed.
"I haven’t lost yet! As long as I still have a hostage, as long as His Majesty and the court mages’ resources are still at my disposal—I can’t lose!"
"Even if Prince Eric has started to recall his past, as long as he doesn’t return to the Western Kingdom to testify, there will be no concrete evidence against !"
"If he mysteriously disappears, I’ll simply pin his vanishing on these ddleso fools!"
"And as for the princess and the wedding guests who witnessed this chaotic scene… His Majesty will take care of them."
Countless thoughts raced through her mind.
Her gaze locked onto the full-length mirror in the corner. She stretched out her hand, ready to activate the enchantnt that would transfer it elsewhere—
"Don’t think you’ve won yet! Watch as I—"
But Rhine had anticipated this. He raised his hand, preparing to intervene.
BOOM!
A deafening crash erupted as the warehouse wall collapsed.
A massive sea creature, resembling a giant sea serpent, burst through the wall. And perched upon its neck, singing a song of breathtaking beauty, was none other than the rmaid princess—Ariel.
The impact sent the full-length mirror flying.
CRASH!
The mirror shattered into countless shards.
"Thank you, Pika!"
Ariel finished her song, dismounted the sea serpent, and gently patted its enormous head.
The sea serpent, as if it were a loyal pet, affectionately flicked out its tongue, licking the rmaid princess’s hand before reluctantly retreating back into the ocean.
—After all, this colossal sea beast could not fully leave the water. Even when it had launched its powerful charge, its tail had remained subrged.
"Damn it!"
The Old Witch watched in horror as the shattered mirror released its captives—
A bewildered temple priest, a panicked musician, nobles still perplexed as to why they had been summoned to this hasty wedding—
And, of course, a young princess clad in a gossar wedding gown.
And beside her—
Prince Eric, his lower half no longer that of a human, but a shimring rmaid’s tail.
"Eric!"
Ariel rushed forward, throwing her arms around the transford prince.
Master and princess, human and rmaid—once again, they embraced.
The last ti they had held each other like this, one had been human, the other a rmaid. It had been in the midst of a life-threatening storm, in a night filled with danger and uncertainty. Ȓå𐌽ò𝐁ËṠ
And now, on another perilous night, amidst an even greater "storm," they embraced again—only this ti, their roles were reversed.
Draped in her wedding gown, the princess gazed at the tightly embracing Eric and Ariel. She rembered the words Eric had once spoken, and her heart filled with conflicting emotions.
As for the others who had been freed, they were utterly disoriented.
They saw the familiar Old Witch—
And then they saw the unfamiliar faces of Ariel, Rhine, Aurora, and the enormous magical dogs.
They took in the scene—the rubble, the shattered mirror fragnts.
"Where… are we?"
"Weren’t we just in the temple?"
"What in the world is going on? Soone, explain!"
—
Rhine pointed at the Old Witch and declared:
"It was her. This court witch sealed you inside the mirror because she feared that Prince Eric of the Western Kingdom would expose her cris!"
As his words settled, he and Aurora stepped forward, pressing in on the Old Witch.
"Damn it, damn it all!"
The Old Witch gritted her teeth so hard it seed as if she might spit fire from the gaps.
With a snap of her fingers, she activated another pre-set spell.
A dense cloud of black smoke exploded into the air, obscuring everyone's vision.
And in that instant, the Old Witch flung her cloak around herself—
And transford into a raven, taking off through the shattered wall and into the starlit sky above the sea.
Rhine wasted no ti. He, too, transford—
A majestic eagle shot into the air, giving chase.
"Fool! Go ahead, chase ! Chase all you want! This is Enderland’s royal capital—I have countless allies here!"
The Old Witch seethed as she flew, her mind racing through possible outcos.
"Don’t think you’ve won, Sage of the Rose Kingdom."
"His Majesty will send reinforcents for . The other court mages will assist, too."
"This is the heart of Enderland—there are many super warriors and powerful magicians here."
"As long as I prevent Prince Eric from returning ho to testify against , there’s still a chance to turn this around!"
"Just you wait. Once the Emperor’s forces arrive, neither you nor Prince Eric will leave this city alive!"
—
Ariel watched as Rhine and the Old Witch vanished into the night sky, locked in pursuit.
Turning to Aurora, she asked, "Aren’t you going to help him?"
"No need," Aurora replied confidently. "I trust my teacher."
She then turned toward Ariel and Prince Eric, his lower half still that of a rmaid.
"I’ll take you back—back to the Western Kingdom’s flower ship!"
Prince Eric nodded.
"Yes. Right now, our priority is returning ho and exposing this conspiracy before my father!
"This so-called wedding, this so-called alliance—there are too many hidden sches behind it!"
He glanced down at himself, at his shimring rmaid tail.
"But… I can’t exactly walk like this."
"That’s okay! Pika will help us," Ariel said with a radiant smile.
She turned to the ocean and beckoned.
Once more, she began to sing—a lody so beautiful, so powerful, that it resonated with every living creature in the sea.
Obediently, the massive sea serpent raised itself halfway out of the water, lowering its body like a willing steed.
The three of them climbed onto the serpent’s back, traveling across the water toward Enderland’s royal harbor.
The sea was tranquil, bathed in the silvery glow of the moon. The moonlight shimred on the waves, forming a path of silver leading into the distance.
A cool sea breeze brushed against them. Seagulls called softly in the distance.
On the sea serpent’s back, Ariel and Prince Eric held each other close. The girl’s voice rose again, weaving a lody of unparalleled beauty—her song drifting along the wind, carrying out to the horizon.
—
anwhile, above the city, the chase continued.
Rhine pursued the Old Witch relentlessly, like a shadow that would not be shaken.
They soared from the skies to the sea, then from the sea to the land—shifting forms as they battled in their high-speed pursuit.
One mont, they were an eagle and a raven.
The next, a dolphin and a tuna.
Then, a cat and a mouse.
No matter what form the Old Witch took—no matter what tricks she employed—she could not shake the relentless hunter on her tail.
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