Axel has spent his entire life trapped by the rules that govern his species, taught to fear humans and avoid them at all costs. His father has strived his entire life to keep him within the walls of their Kingdom where he is safe. But Axel's curiosi...
"It's not possible!" King Elias exclaims, clutching his hands across his chest as the room falls silent.
Axel always hated being forced to attend these stupid council meetings, but he had to admit that it felt nice having his father's ire directed at others for a change. He sat silently beside Clara to the right of his father at the large, round stone slab fashioned into a table.
"But, Sire, the jell-"
"Silence!" King Elias bellows, and the room falls quiet. "I will not sit here and listen to these absurd theories!"
"Father," Clara attempted, "we cannot simply ignore the facts."
"I can too!" The King exclaims, eyeing his daughter with a cautionary glare.
"At least allow the information to be presented before fruitlessly dismissing their claims."
Clara spoke firmly and their eyes locked onto each other as the King shot daggers in her direction. Clara, however, was unwavering in her determination, and to the surprise of everyone in the room - Axel included - the King sighed and slumped back into his seat.
"Proceed," he muttered out solemnly.
The room was quiet for a moment as everyone evaluated their next step. Surprisingly, it was Chief Naltross, of the Gralie tribe, who broke the silence. He caught the room off guard as the collected man had barely ever addressed the council in the past.
"Your majesty," he addressed, "our farmers in the eastern fields have reported multiple sightings of jellyfish among the crops."
"My scouts along the western plains have also advised that jellyfish have been spotted in the nearby cliffs," Chief Janielle, of the Drasden tribe, continued.
"There are no other logical explanations, Sire," Hallman, King Elias's head advisor interjected, "it has to be her."
"Her?" Axel queried, having drifted in and out of the meeting and now lost on the subject.
"The sea witch!" Hallman exclaimed, bringing the chatter in the room to a complete halt. Even the seaweed swaying nearby seemed to stand still.
"That's enough!" King Elias slammed his fist against the stone slab, "she is dead!"
"Your majesty," Chief Janielle proceeded cautiously, "there is no other explanation. We all know these waters are enchanted against jellyfish for this very reason."
"Precisely!" Hallman exclaimed, "we must prepare for war!"
"I think that's a bit much too soon, Hallman," Clara chided at the old man. "However, these reports must be investigated to ensure the safety of the Kingdom."
"I concur," Chief Naltross provides, bowing his head to Clara.
"I too," Chief Janielle continues.
"Axel, what say you?" Clara asks, putting him on the spot and in a position he had never held before.
"I don't think I'm qualified to opine on this matter as I am unfamiliar with it."
Axel had heard of the sea witch before, but they had defeated her before he was old enough to understand what was happening. It was the battle that had claimed his mother's life.
"Nonsense," Hallman insisted. "You are a member of the royal family. It is your sworn duty to protect and defend Latistan from all threats. So what do you believe we must do?"
Axel contemplated the situation, remembering his teachings on the sea witch growing up. How she had turned the souls of those who failed to meet their end of their deals into mindless jellyfish forced to follow her around for eternity. If the jellyfish had truly returned to Latistan, they could not risk being surprised.
As he contemplated, he glanced at his father, catching the distraught expression coating his features. This was hitting a sore spot, him having been the one to kill her in avenging his wife. If she were alive this entire time, he couldn't imagine what that would do to his father.
"I believe we must investigate the sightings," Axel finally spoke, catching them all off guard, his father leaning forward in his seat, "if we find them to be wrong, then we will have peace of mind. If we find them to be true..."
"We can prepare," Hallman concluded his thoughts as Axel wavered in his response.
He felt Clara's hand reach out and clasp his under the table. She gave a firm squeeze and he could see her shoot him a smile from the corner of his eye as he stared down at their interlocked fingers. They are drawn back to the situation at hand as their father straightens in his seat.
"Very well," King Elias sighs, sounding weak and defeated. "You may lead an investigation, Hallman. But do not bother me with this matter any further unless there is something of substance to report, understood?"
"Yes, your majesty," the old man bowed.
"Meeting adjourned," The King spoke, a grave tone to his voice as he stood abruptly, clasping the scepter tight, and sped from the room.
🐚 🐚 🐚
Axel scanned the field for shells to pass the time. He had considered going back to the cave to see Paxton, but decided against it as it would raise suspicion for him to continue disappearing. His sister was already concerned he was getting into trouble somehow.
He used to love searching for shells with his mother when he was younger, and ever since the meeting this morning, he hadn't been able to get her out of his mind. He may have only been five years old when she died, but he could still remember her face, her voice. The lullaby she sang to him as a child echoed every night in his head, a warm reminder she was with him.
Shells had been her preferred items. She knew how to balance her strength with her beauty, crafting an example for Clara to follow. Axel loved searching for shells when he was younger to bring back for her collection as gifts. Thinking back, she had no use for them, but she always looked so happy when he did.
He understood why his father had opposed the investigation into the jellyfish at the meeting. Knowing that there was even the possibility that the sea witch hadn't died at his hands was enough to make Axel's blood boil in anger. He could only imagine what his father went through at that moment.
That woman... that witch had taken the most important thing from him, from them all. She had assassinated the Queen. He remembered how his father suffered, how Clara comforted both of them in the aftermath at her tender age of nine. How his father struggled to take on the mantle of regent in her absence, unwilling to bear the scepter.
"Axel!" Finn's voice emerged from behind him in the distance.
He turned to find her speeding towards him, her long blonde hair flowing behind her and he met her dead set gaze, her brown eyes staring straight through him.
"How could you?" She asked as she came to a stiff halt beside him, causing him to flinch backwards at her speed.
"What are you talking about?" Axel returned, confused as to her outburst and unaware of its meaning.
"You-you..." she flustered, "you saved a human?"
Axel felt his blood run cold as they stared at each other in silence.
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