The otherworldly pixie

Leave

"You think that I am the strongest adventurer?" Philip was puzzled at Fenton's words. Philip had done nothing but faint and lose his powers all the time that Fenton had known him. Yet Fenton believed that Philip was the strongest adventurer alive. 

"Of course I do. It is no small feat to gain a bounty of 5 million Unies in just three years." Fenton exclaimed. 

"I have a bounty of 2 million Unies, not 5 million. There can't be a bounty of 5 million on someone as weak as me." Philip explained. He hadn't even known he had a bounty on him until he met Neroclius. 

Fenton let out a peal of laughter that rang throughout the throne room. "Do you not know yet? I asked the elf to tell you." Fenton turned towards a servant and asked him to bring something. 

I looked at Kane, who seemed paler than usual. Being underwater when he feared the ocean must have been quite an ordeal. He had also been worried for me for the last two days.

Suddenly, Aether spoke in my head, "The elf almost fainted when Fenton brought him to this palace. Be quick with your return. There is still much to happen until you encounter your next enemy."

Even though Kane seemed to be on the verge of death, he explained to Philip, "Apparently, the day you encountered Neroclius, he had already approached the authorities. When Neroclius told them that you had destroyed the Pixie queen's lineage, they had no choice but to increase their bounty. He tried to help us, but the government raised charges against him. He is now on the run."

Philip had become close to Neroclius and could not help but feel pity for Neroclius. Philip heeded Aether's words and told Kane to get ready to leave. Kane hurried out. Just then, Philip remembered something that Kane had said.

"Lord Fenton, I would like to ask who your successor is. Also, I would like to ask you to call him soon, because we must now leave. In my current condition, I can't carry three people across a dimension. We must leave soon." Philip kept his words as polite as possible. He knew that he was no match for a god yet. Till then, he had to gain their favours.

"Hoh! Are you jealous, perhaps? Ha ha ha. No, Of course not. My successor is someone exceptional. And it is not a 'he' but a 'she'. She is the daughter of Poseidon, a general of mine. I take it that he is very famous in the human world. If I were to die, he would become the next God of the oceans. I apologize. I got distracted. I have chosen her because she has followed me for years. Over the past few days, she has taken good care of you, maybe because you remind her of him, The Pharaoh. "Fenton explained. 

Philip was shocked. A Greek princess? She must have been over 2000 years old. Philip imagine an old hag with decrepit skin creased due to time. He imagined her with white hair and dark lifeless eyes, which sunk into her head.

Just then, Kane returned. He seemed raring to leave this underwater nightmare of his. 

"It's time for us to leave. Could you call your successor?" Philip questioned. His envisaged version of the woman had made him doubt whether he wanted her to travel with him. 

"But are you sure you're ever going to continue adventuring? " Spoke a tiny voice in his head.

As he began to think about the question and considered if he could stop, he heard Fenton call out to her. He absent-mindedly turned towards the door. He was considering his future endeavours or lack thereof when a girl stepped through the doors. She looked no older than 23 years old. Her hair flowed gently along the waves. She had a sleek warrior's body. Almost no flab could be seen on her. She held herself like a queen, which she technically was.

Her eyes were clear green and stood out even surrounded by one of the most beautiful places ever. Philip gazed into her eyes and realized that her eyes were deeper than the ocean they were in. He realized he was gaping at the girl and quickly corrected himself. He looked over at Kane, who was still staring at her. Some of the colour had returned to his place face as though he had forgotten he was still underwater.

As she walked past them, Philip looked at Kane, who seemed to have forgotten everything. Suddenly, Philip felt reality turn fluid around him. All the water disappeared instantly, along with everything else. Even Philip's body was swept away by a wave.

He saw a vision of Kane, holding a sword in his hands, standing on rubble as big as a 4-storey building. Philip saw that Kane looked beaten up. He was bleeding from nearly every part of his body. His left hand was torn and had scratches all over it. There was an enormous gash on his back.

Even in that condition, Kane had not lost any of his confidence. The Kane in the vision smirked as he slowly dissolved away, along with Philip's vision.

Philip found himself crouching on the floor, coughing up blood. He was back in the water surrounded by Kane, Fenton and the girl, who had her hand on Philip's back.

Philip looked up, and in a fleeting moment, he saw fear in Fenton's eyes. Philip stood up with the help of Kane, and Kane helped him stay upright.

Fenton's eyes, which were just a moment ago full of fear, now radiated pity.

"You must hurry. Leave now if you can." He spoke.

The girl seemed heartbroken. Philip looked back at her and saw immense worry for himself in her emerald green eyes. 

"Yes, we must away as soon as possible for thee- you." She spoke. Each word more calmer than the previous. Her voice was as sweet and beautiful as the ocean's waves.

Philip realized he could no delay any longer. Still relying on Kane for support, he held out his hand to the girl. Her eyes widened a bit, but she held his hand.

Philip turned to Fenton, who was smiling. A smile, which didn't reach his heterochromatic eyes, still filled with pity. 

"Thank you for everything you have done for me. I would be dead were it not for you. "

Philip said, trying to control his emotions. Even though their time together was short, Philip had looked up to Fenton in awe of his powers. Fenton was the first god Philip had witnessed and learnt about the gods from him.

Fenton smiled, "Beware your future young adventurer. Friends or foes, neither will be able to help you. " Fenton thought to himself.

Fenton knew what Philip's Fate would be. Fenton had never known a human with as much potential as him. 

"Goodbye, Philip P̶r̶i̶n̶c̶e̶. " Fenton whispered...

Philip activated his powers and leapt back to his home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

... Fenton whispered. 

He had known someone with the same name. His crimes had gotten him cured. His very name had been cursed. Fenton knew Philip would go on to live a painful life, condemned by that person