Born as half demon, Prince Rathbone only has one purpose in life. Stopping his father, the Demon King from destroying the world
Charlie's life purpose is clear. She must contact the Guardians and ask their help to defeat the Demon King once again...
They kept traveling until they reach sea shore. Some kind of gate in the water. Half of them are underwater.
The manta Ray swims toward them.
Undine orders, "Purify my shrine, priestess. This is the reason you got born."
Gaia warns, "Undine, she's just a child..."
"You're too soft, Gaia. We sacrificed a lot. It's time they repaid us for a thousand years of peace."
Charlie says, "I will do it."
"Good girl," praise Undine.
Luc warns, "Be careful."
Charlie nods.
She walks toward the gate. The water reaches her hip. She begins to sing praises for Undine. Her mother taught her many songs to praise guardians. Never understand why. Until now.
The gate shines brightly.
The manta Ray suddenly morphs into a beautiful mermaid. Her long dark blue hair is covered with small and big pearls. Her upper body is covered in colorful pretty sea shells. She looks dazzling.
Charlie collapses. Luc quickly lifts her up from water. She has fainted. He carries her to dry land.
Luc orders, "Claudia, change her wet clothes. Don't let her catch a cold. Dante, go hunting. I'll set a campfire."
The others comply to his orders.
Luc stares the guardians angrily. He asks, "What's going on? Why she fainted?"
Gaia is going to reply but Undine is quicker.
She says, "No big deal. She just used too many power as usual. Just let her rest. She'll be okay."
Gaia is silent. Undine is glaring toward him. Ordering him to say nothing more.
Undine says, "Let her rest for few days. She's young. She would pull it through. When the time comes, I will take all of you to Ifrit's island."
Luc has left to check up on Charlie's condition.
Gaia asks, "Undine, shouldn't we tell..."
"No. Just kept your trap shut. The humans owed us too much. This is just small payback."
They spent a fortnight in that place before Charlie felt better to travel again.
Undine kept her promise.
A boat made from ice floated to the shore the day of their departure.
It's freezing to sit on a huge ice block. They sit cuddling so they wouldn't freeze to death.
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Luc asks, "Is that a huge waterfall beneath us?"
Undine replies, "Yes."
No more answer.
Gaia explains, "When the couple parted, she made it clear never meet him again. This waterfall is the monument of their break up."
"Unnecessary info, moron. You're too friendly with these mortals. In the end, you would get betrayed," warns the water Guardian.
Gaia replies, "Even if I got betrayed, I couldn't stop trusting humans."
"That's why we called you a moron."
No one says anything anymore.
Claudia whispers, "The Guardians aren't friendly to each others. Do you think that's why they never win against the Demon Lord?"
"Probably," answers Luc.
Charlie is pouting. She knows they are fiancees. To be married in the future. Still couldn't stop feeling jealous.
Claudia is a pretty lady with good manners. Totally opposite from tomboy Charlie. She is also a good fighter. She could guard Luc's back. Aiding him in battle.
(I'm useless. The more I compared myself to her, the more I felt like a total loser. Mom was right. I should be more girlish. Mom, I miss you...)
Her eyes are reddened. She must have made some noises in her grief.
Luc asks, "Are you cold?"
"A little," answers Charlie weakly.
He wraps his dark cape around her. Before he hugs her.
Luc whispers, "Might felt awkward. Just bear with it. You just got better. Don't want to get sick again."
Charlie's heart is thumping so wildly. She kept fearing Luc would hear it. She buries her head to his chest. So he couldn't notice her reddened face.
Luc's heart is thumping wildly too. He isn't as calm as he seems.
She's glad she isn't the only one who got affected by their sitting position. They are sitting so close. She is almost sitting on his lap.
Gaia says, "Just bear it a little longer, humans. I could feel him. Ifrit is close."
Charlie wishes the island is far, faraway. So she has a good reason to stay in his arms like this. Luc probably felt nothing to her. Like a sister, he once said.
Alas!
She loves him as a man. Not as a brother.
When Luc's hugging her like this, she could pretend they were lovers and they love each others.
Claudia looks another way. They have been engaged forever. Luc never hugs her like that. He always treats her politely, just like other ladies at home.
To be honest, Luc never paid any attention to any other lady. He spent most of his times to practice his fighting skills. He knew sooner or later, he had to face his father, the mighty Demon.
Dante's belly made loud grumbling noise. He must be hungry. Again..
Kira says, "Hungry and sleepy. This coldness made me numb. What is this cold thing?"
Claudia asks, "You never see ice before?"
"No. Don't think I like ice. Made me felt weak."
"Don't worry, K. We almost there. Gaia said so."
"Good. Let's eat when we reach shore, D."
"Sure thing."
Claudia sighs. Two handsome men on boat. No one seems to have romantic feelings for her.
Undine seems to know how she's feeling. The Manta Ray is swimming in the ocean. She says, "Men. They could only annoyed us."
"Agreed," says Claudia.
A mortal and immortal. They seem to feel the same thing about men.
Beautiful and elegant. With no man wanting them. Sometimes life felt unfair. Ladies like them should have owned a line of worshippers. Or fanclubs.
Undine stares to Gaia's tiny back, trying to read his thoughts. Never succeeded.
It's always a mystery why he always fond of humans. Feeble, fragile selfish immortal. ---------------------------------------------- If you enjoyed the story, please vote and comment:)
The photo is real, not made with Photoshop. The underwater waterfall photo is taken in Mauritius.
