"Indeed he had it. " The wolf king finally answered Nana, " When the mer-witch tied me with her chain and thrust me inside a celler like space in that structure where brother Jin was, she gave me only twenty breaths worth of time."Nana slowly came walking inside listening to the story deeply." I immediately, selfishly asked him straight away about the Spirit Conjurer the moment he came infront of me. I neither asked him how he was doing nor did I enquire him about how pale he looked. He himself must have been too shocked to see me there, but he only smiled at my question. " The wolf king continued, " He smiled and said ' Oh! So that is why you came here? ' But instead of answering I yet again pushed him with my demand, letting him know how little time i had. My brother wasted no more time in letting me know where he had it hidden in the caves beyond the fountains. Our time was wrapped up no sooner after this. As the mer-witch pulled me witht je chain, Jin hurriedly pressed that pend
Lin darted off towards the Southern Oceans, taking the messanger along with him." There. " Lin placed him on the ground as dust blew with the intensity, " Where did they say they were keeping my Mia? "The man pointed at the ocean bed with trembling hands." There? How did you get there? " Lin asked , wondering how a mortal could stay underwater for such a long time." There's a shrub behind the palace of the mortal king. It one eats adequate doze of it, one can breath under water for quite a long time" the man answered." Really? There is? Take me there immediately. " Lin picked the man up and off they went.Lin made a soft landing behind the palace ." Here? " He asked the man. The man nodded his head and pointes towards a purple orchid like flower." These are the ones. Water Breathers. But... " The man stopped without completing." But what? " Lin asked." Nothing. Nothing important. " the man said after slyly walking off.Lin held his collar from behind and pulled him in, " Wher
Mia had a lot going in her mind.Escaping the harrowing experience at the tower was ignominious enough. To top it up she had the revelation about her mother. It would have been alright if it stopped at that but she had to deal with her new found aunts. While the two were busy engaging with Mia in hope that Mia might have been sent by the new queen to terminate their exile, Mia was lurching from the truth about her birth. She had heard how passionately her father spoke about her mother. It was sure that there was love. But never had Mia fathomed the depth of her mother's sacrifice, may her soul in peace rest. Every word her mother had spoken, every advise she used to give, made more and more sense to her now that they were so out of reach. Mia had been desperate trying to find a way to help Anjana and the mer-boy, ever since she had known about their fate. She, however, had no idea her mother had been living a lost life just for the sake of them. Her mother had given up her empire, her
As the waves circulated around them, Mia could feel Lin's hand slide behind her as he cried inconsolably. Mia had always seen Lin face calamities head on. He was her rock. Even when the initial phases of the curse was evoked, Lin was the one giving Mia some hope. He had seemed like he had the key to every door. But now that the strong wall he had been hiding behind crumbled, Mia could see how vulnerable he was. He had put up a very believe able act of resilience. But it seemed he had been hurting as well. It was far different than what Mia had done to push him away. But how could she. How could she bare. She knew she did it to protect him and their child. She knew she did it to hide what she had to do for them. But seeing Lin like that in front of her, shattered in pain,her heart coiled simply at the thought of how she would every again be able to stay apart from him. At that moment she didn't want to think about pain. Nor the past nor the future, just live in the present. At the mome
After disembarking from the Foam Carriage the queen had sent, Lin stretched his hand out to support Mia. She took it with a smile, though she didn't need it.Together they walked down the passage decorated with neon weeds and squids. The entire ambience had a fluorescent hue. It looked unreal. It looked surreal. They marvelled as they swam. The guards stationed at the intervals opened each pass at a time as they kept proceeding without any hindrance. There were glow fishes patrolling the perimeter as they gave out light. Mia pulled Lin further as he kept lagging behind, admiring his new found." Come on. What do you keep staring at? " Mia asked as she noticed Lin stare at one of the guards.She was as beautiful a mer-witch could get. All of them were. What made them even more attractive were their voluptuous busts. The rear was mesmerizing too as it ended into a tail like end. A thin layer of skin attached between the two legs like duck feet making it easier to paddle. Some wore a tai
" We know you were the one heralding the curse. We also know you entered our territories while being chased by the sinister grudge of the cursed wolf Jin. " The queen filled in for Mia's silence. " However you can be at total ease. These waters are a sanctuary and here you can be at peace. The waters of our Southern sea is deeper than it seems. It harbours all life source of all the territories. Nothing can tress pass without our knowledge or leave.It might pester you anywhere else you might be, but here, surely safe you will be. "Lin had been a prince for quite a long time. He had been an active participant in strategic politics and war. It didn't take him long to figure it out that the queen was headed for a barter. She was offering her end of the deal. Mia had to offer the other." As a mer-princess, you aught to know about our deepest secrets. Secrets that cannot be divulged infront of outsiders. But guessing from the fact that you knew about your mermaid ancestry only recently,
Mia was sleeping sound like a baby in Lin's arms. He too had been asleep for how long was beyond his grasp. There was no way of telling time in the mer-world. Only those in tuned with the aqua sphere were able to tell the day from the night and the dusk from the dawn. But it wasn't the time that was bothering Lin.He sat up scratching his throat as his windpipe started swelling. Was the effect of the flower wearing off already? Was he drowning. He hectically searched the puch he used to carry the flowers around. He gobbled one piece and then looked around. But nothing changed. There wasn't even any improvement." What are you doing Lin? " Mia was already sitting up staring at the struggling Lin, " What's wrong? "She hurried in his direction and sat beside him, patting his back." Lin, what happened? " She kept repeating but he was already out of words. The waters were gushing down his systems and the pain was profound.Mia yelled for help but every second was precious. She tried pres
"Are you sure you are going to be ok? "Lin as as unsure about leaving Mia behind in the mer-world as he was leaving her outside the barrier of the Fox Empire." This is the safest place. Some how it's out of his bound. I need to stay here till we work out something else. " Mia pressed him reassuring." But like you said, they do give me a strange vibe, " Lin had that something pressing against his chest, rendering him unable to leave." That's why you need to go. See how thing are happening in the outer world.And do come to check on me, once in awhile. " Mia tucked the Water Breather in his hands, " They whither away in about a couple of weeks. Be sure to get a fresh stock before you run out of supply. "" You mean get it delivered from your doorstep, madam, " Lin winked at her teasingly. He then went over and hugged her from the back, holding her baby bump in between his wrists. " You better behave yourself little one. Don't you dare give your mother anymore unrest. "A moments sile
Fast forwarding a few years:Merindale tried to tuck her hair back with her muddy hand, painting her cheeks with mud in the process. Akata rolled over on the other side of the field as he saw her. She had not noticed that he was coming. “ What's so funny? ” she pouted. “ Nothing. I just saw the cutest flower amongst all the flowers in this field. ”Merindale instantly melted. How many times would her man make her fall for him, over and over again. She knew she was blessed and she cherished him. “ Now come on, you worked enough. Wash your hands and come and get some breakfast. I made some fresh pancakes. ”Merindale jumped up at the mention of pancakes. According to herhe made the best pancakes in the world. “ I'm coming, ” she literally jumped over the bushes, trying to hurry up when a certain whoosh of the air made her fall back. She rolled her eyes. The triplets were there again. They never left the two of them alone, barging in their peaceful mortal life, away from the hust
Akata's brows furrowed as the God in front of him pulled out what looked like a luminescent moon from his pocket. The moon swam around Akata, finally coming to rest in front of him, floating in the air. With one swing of the God's hand, Akata saw movements inside the orb. “ Father… ” Akata flew towards it, grabbing it with both hands. He could see Lin, inside the orb, fighting for his life in the midst of those Night Crawlers. He were all over him, in the count of thousands. “ Father… father… you are alive? ” Akata grabbed the orb and shook it violently, smiling through his tear. “ Father, I am coming. Don't worry. I will save you. ” His head swing at the God beside him. “ How do I go to this place? Tell me! ” He demanded. The God smiled at Akata. “ There will be no need for that. I can bring your father completely unharmed over here. Right now. But it will depend on your decision. ”Akata looked at him with suspicion. “ What decision are you talking about?”He asked . “ You
Merindale felt a little nudge at her feet when she looked down she saw a very familiar face. But she wasn't expecting to see that face in this realm. “ You! You are that ghost from my school. What are you doing here? Am I dead? What happened to aunt Mia? “ She paused momentary but didn't wait for the girl to reply. “ Shit! Don't tell me. Are we in the Celestial Realm? ” She looked around amazed, finally realising the heavenly beauty around that place. “ But you are a ghost right? Did they kidnap you as well? ” Merindale quickly turned back to her. The little girl shool her head and for the first time she spoke. “ I am Arawan. I am daughter to Mia and Lin, Akata's sister. ”Merindale’s eyes were about to pop out. “ Akata has a sister? ”“ I was in my mother's womb when the Celestial Beings brought us here. They kept my mother in her Soul form ever since. I was born as a Celestial Creature, devoid of a physical body, just like all the other beings born in this realm. ”Merindale c
Merindale's eyelids fluttered, battling the weight of slumber, as her mind groggily began to piece together the fragmented memories.Her thoughts spiraled in a dizzying whirlwind, voices echoing in her mind. "Where... am I” She murmured as she gradually awakened, her senses swimming hazily. She tried to touch her head because it hurt badly. But her hands weighed down with the weight of the shackles that seemed to be made with light. Merindale tugged at them realizing that she was a captive. But with every tug, those fragile looking shackles became heavier by the seconds. Merindale immediately gave up because she understood that she was making it worse. Her predatory senses kicked in and her eyes began to search for a way out. It took some time for her to adjust her gaze to the overwhelming light condition in the Celestial Realm. She shifted her weight and tried to sit up but she could only position herself on her knees. Her body felt exceptionally lightweight. She could almost
The Wolf Queen stood in the front, looking down at the flame leaping with its vicious tongue towards them. “ Can we believe this woman? ” Roe asked her brother. Xie placed a hand over Roe's shoulder and said, “ I can see something is different about her.I am no saint. Let us give her a benefit of doubt. There is no other knowledge that we can implement at the moment. Let's see if her method works.” “ But what if she tries to manipulate us again? What if we lose more … ”Xie pressed her hand, “ Watch… ”.They saw their mother slit her wrist and then she made a drop of that blood fall in the furnace.The fire reached the height of the heavens. It's color turned the darkest crimson and then it dropped down to its normal height. The fire changed its color a couple of times, matching Lin's changing eye color. And then something miraculous happened. The fire split from the middle, creating a way for them and everyone looked at each other in surprise. “ How did you do that? ” Roe aske
Akata and the old wolf queen helped Xie inside the Bird Tribe. He looked devastated. And the birds scattered here and there at his arrival. Roe rushed to the site and was shocked to find her mother and brother together. “ What brings you here mother? ” Roe lunged at her but she held up her hand. “ I know you don't trust me but I had nothing to do with this. It's about Merindale… They took her as well. ” she spurred. Roe had no time to gasp as they hurried inside with Xie who was almost on the verge of exhaustion. His eyes fell on Lin who was hurdled in the corner. Xie freed himself from everyone's grip and literally ran at his feet. “ Forgive me! ” he began to sob uncontrollably. “ Merindale was right. I never tried giving you my best. I always thought about the safety of my family and my kingdom first but look at the cruel twist of fate. I have neither a kingdom nor a daughter. ”He turned at his mother, “ Turns out I took after you,mother… Is it true that you cheated on m
The soldiers flew on either side, startled as Merindale swung the door to her father's chamber open with a loud kick. Her eyes were blazing with fury as she stormed in, her cloak billowed behind her like a tempestuous wind."Father," she spat, her voice was a mixture of anger and betrayal. "Why did you do this? Since when did you become a coward?” she huffed. “Merindale? ” Xie and Ruby were in their bed. They sat up as she entered. “My dear girl…where are you coming from? What happened?” Ruby tried to ask.“ Don't try to act like you have been doing over the years. I know everything. I saw uncle Lin and what you did to him.”Ruby opened her mouth but Xie raised a hand. “ I acted for your well-being. You cannot fathom the dangers lurking beyond our realm. I know what I did might not have been the best thing to do but that was all I could think of at the moment and as the Wolf King and your father, I am entitled to my decision." He concluded. "Enough!" Her fists clenched as she pac
Boshu was sobbing profusely as he saw Lin's motionless body. He held his hand and cried like someone who had lost everything. “ Forgive me! ” he could barely utter through his whimpers. “ Forgive me for not being able to be with you when you were suffering at the lands of your own people. Forgive me for being so engrossed in my own life that I… that I… ” he was almost on the verge of vomiting because he was crying and drooling so much. “ Papa! Take it easy. Your friend can't hear you. Let him come around first. ” one of the triplets patted his back. He had been guilt ridden for living in ignorance for so long. Besides he had never seen Lin in such a vulnerable state, be it any battle. Akata walked in at that moment. Boshu immediately wiped his tears at his arrival. “Don't worry. He will be up and running any moment, young man. ” Akata watched his father from a distance, smiled at his uncle and then left. Everything about his present situation was overwhelming. It was too much
“ What's going on? Is he not Akata? How the hell did your brother banish him? Why does he call himself Leo? ” Boshu poured his heart out but Roe stayed quiet. “ We need to go back. Let's take Akata to the Wolf territories. We don't have a proper facility to give him the required care. I need to talk with my brother as well. Things don't seem right at the moment. You stay back and take care of the kids, I will leave with him immediately.”*****At the Wolf Kingdom -Roe might have left her lands for love but her land never stopped loving her. Every leaf she stepped on rustled in greeting. Dust danced in the air, and every stone she trod upon seemed to echo a silent welcome.There was a stir amongst the guards as she walked through the gates, with Akata in her arms, going straight towards the palace. The soldiers standing tall and vigilant, softened at her arrival, acknowledging her with a respectful nod. It was as though the very essence of the kingdom recognized her, embracing he