22 part 22

A simple morning follows in Atlas. The kindom was bustling with life and energy from the news of the kings first date with his fiance. However not all is as it should be. Unlike what rumors say of the new couple, Titan felt he and her had taken a few steps back in the relationship. Zui returned to her room with her father leaving Titan as curious and confused as before.

In her room with the door locked and curtains closed, Zui speaks to her father in their language of the eastern golfs. Titan hovers outside the door wishing he could understand them.

Zui-

[He was there! The one I told you of! I couldn't believe it!]

Taizao-

[So he is human? Heheh. Well that's quite an unorthodoxed twist.]

Zui-

[No. I'm not sure right now though. I know he's not human but I feel like he's been that way for a long time.]

Taizao-

[... I don't think I understand. He is not human but, he has been...?]

Zui-

[I think he has some special power. Like king Titan.]

Taizao-

[Ah. That would make more sense then. So? What will you do about Titan?]

Zui-

[Of course I'm not going through with this ridiculous marriage! I came here for a continental proposal, not that! Hopefully he will listen to proper logic rather than follow what his subjects cconstant pestering about mating.]

Taizao-

[Pffft! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Is that right!? Well I wish you the best my child. One day I would like to meet this man that has captivated you so much.]

Zui-

One of these days, father.

Taizao leaves the room. When he closes the door, he is startled by Titan waiting by the wall.

Titan-

What were you laughing about just now?

Taizao-

Whoa! Great Neptune! What are doing scaring me like that!? My daughter has something to speak to you about later about the supposed marriage arrangement. So I think you should brace yourself for what you may hear later.

Titan-

Wait a minute. What do you mean by that?

Taizao-

Ask her. All you need to do is listen.

Titan looks to Zui's door in wonder and confusion.

Titan-

Maybe another time. She will tell me when she is ready to, yes?

Taizao-

Of course.

On the island, Conch wakes to a new day and heads to the balcony and leans on the railing to watch the sun rise over the horizon. He began to get a sense of longing for the waters. The pool coral had made for him didn't fully satisfy his earge to dive deep in the water.

Coral stood in the dressing room thinking to himself about Conch's current situation with the princesses. One concerning him was the eastern princess, Zui, Titan's fiance. The fact that she was betrothed already was worrisome enough but for her to be a mermaid was unbecoming and frightful to him, making him worry more for his friends situation. Coral goes out and tries to not let it get to him when he sees Conch gazing out to the sea with a sad expression.

Coral-

Conch?

Conch-

Hm? Morning, Coral. Hope you slept well.

Coral-

That I did actually. Sort of... When do you start work?

Conch-

Tomorrow. Tom needed to get my new uniform ready since they didn't have anything my size yet.

Coral-

Wow. Really? Alright... *Sigh* Maybe I should join you. It's really all we know anyway and we don't have to worry about who's were at the moment.

Conch-

... Really? I would have thought you'd ask to work at your new girlfriend's eatery.

Coral-

... That actually doesn't sound like a bad idea. But its family owned so I don't know if they'll be willing to hire.

Conch-

Ah. True. Well, start looking while we go get breakfast at the market.

Coral-

Right... Are you alright?

Conch-

...Why do you ask?

Coral-

You look a little distant.

Conch-

... Ah... I'm still getting over it. That's all.

Conch heads to the dressing room to change.

Conch-

Once I start work, I'll probably be okay

again.

Coral-

... Probably. I'll wait for you down stairs.

Coral heads down to the living room to sit in his chair when the pearl room starts to pulse oddly rhythmically. Curious, Coral goes to the room and sees the pearl reflecting something but he couldn't make out what It was. It was strange seeing it react that way. Coral goes to touch it and it closes up as soon as he was too close for its liking. This startles him and makes him more curious when Conch calls him from the stairs and throws off his attention.

Conch-

Coral? What's wrong?

Coral-

Eh!? Ah... Your pearl was acting weird just now.

Conch-

Hm?

Conch looks into the pearl room, but nothing seemed off other than the normal pulsing light.

Conch-

Looks fine to me. Come on. Lets go before the streets get crowded.

Coral-

Uh... Yeah, sure.

They leave for town.

On their way they meet with Taro, Conch's new crewmate. He was dressed in a strange skintight suit made of a special type of spandex. Conch only looked at him in worry while Coral seemed extra exited to see it but also very nervous to speak to Taro.

Conch-

Taro, what is that?

Taro-

What's it look like? It's my diving suit. I'm a reef diver, so I collect a lot of small fry for the crew to snack on while they fish from the boat. You get one too, just so you know.

Conch-

Please tell me your joking. That's my suit?

Taro-

Well yours is a bit different so it has to be custome made cuz of what you are, so we only made you the top.

Conch-

Well then...

Coral-

W-what's it for exactly?

Taro-

Hm? Skin protection mostly. In case you get swept off by a current and hit something it won't tear easy. So you won't bleed and attract sharks and such.

Conch-

Oddly convenient for a bodysuit.

Taro-

I didn't think it made any sense either till I tried it. Works pretty well. Yours is about done so you can go and get it whenever. What you up to right now anyway?

Conch-

Grocery shopping at the moment. Need to get some stuff to make the next week's meals.

Taro-

Ah~ good on you. I was on my way to get something to eat before heading back to work, so mind if I join you two?

Conch-

...uh...

Conch looks to Coral and notices his uneasy expression.

Coral-

... I guess I don't see the harm in it.

Conch-

*sigh* alright. Why not?

Taro-

Sweet!

Taro joins them on their stroll through the market place for a while until Coral sees Megan handling a customer. He was large like Conch but seemed more rough around the edges. The man hadn't smiled once but only had a scowl to express. He saw this frightened Megan a bit but she was doing her best for ends meet. Coral ignores the man and heads over to greet her anyway without Conch noticing.

Coral-

Hello, Megan! Your working quite hard aren't you?

Megan-

Ah! Mr. Coral!? Where did you come from!?

Coral-

Oh. I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to say good morning.

Megan-

Well, good morning. Your lucky we're never that busy in the mornings else I'd have no time to talk to you.

Coral-

Ouch. So harsh suddenly. Is something wrong?

Megan-

... I'm sorry. You see that man? He is the Royal admiral, Bartabus Lotus. He was transferred from the head sector of the city to here a few months before you arrived and has been coming here once a month for a heavy drink and a large breakfast meal. I have no idea why but he always asks for my services even though I messed up the first three times he's been here. Hes a very harsh man and it sort of frightens me that he alway glares at me. I can't tell what he's thinking at all.

Coral-

Wow... Sounds like your having a rough day with just one customer. Would you like some help with anything later today? I was just on my way to get some food for the week with my brother. Maybe I can come by again to help out to help you ease up?

Megan-

Wha...!? Really!!? No! No Wait! We can't. We don't have anyway to pay you off!!

Coral-

Don't worry about it!! I'm job hunting later anyway, so it's fine. I'm not expecting anything but a date with you whenever your free. That's all.

Megan-

WHAT!!? Uh... Ah~... Um... I-i-i have no words! What!?

Coral-

Hahaha!! Just think it over. I have all the time in the world. Anyway I only came to say hi so I'll leave you be. Bye bye.

Coral leaves megan in her bewildered state and leaves the eatery. Bartubis watches him leave then looks to Megan and sees her face is as dark as the tomatoes on his plate.

Meanwhile, Conch shops around the market with Taro as Taro talked nonstop about the many tips and tricks he learned on the island. It took up until the fifteenth shop for him to notice Coral had disappeared somewhere else.

Conch-

... Coral? Did you see where Coral went?

Taro-

No. Why? ... Wait. where'd he go!?

Conch-

Oh, god all... There he is! Coral!

Coral stood facing the man Megan served before. He had followed him out of the eatery and stopped him. They seemed to be arguing about something. This got Conch worried immediately.