Chapter 190 – Pearl
"How long is this stupid thing going to take? You'd think capturing the cannibal, we'd get quick VIP access or something"
"Heh, patience Ikarus. If it's too hard to wait, just imagine me naked for a bit"
"That… *sighhh*, stupid Petra, of course that freaking helps"
"Heh, patience orange one. They'll let you in shortly"
After the situation with Beelzebub and reluctantly deciding to spare him, beastkin guards flocked to our location shocked at the sight of the destroyed building and the burnt demon. Thankfully, the wyvern king was around to smooth things over and explain the situation best he could, we're now on standby sitting around doing nothing. Ria and Zeki are the only two not here currently, he needs a clean and by the sound of it, the dryad wanted to help him with it? Help, torment, basically the same thing.
As for the wait, we're currently in a waiting room while the wyvern king speaks privately to the leader of this place, hopefully selling our accomplishments high for some kind of decent reward. It's not like we really need anything monetary but not going to turn anything down if offered.
Ah, should also mention the fact I quickly snapped off the captured demon's horn and drunk the burnt tasting blood from it. Tasted foul as sin but no more worrying if my level has raised or not, we're at nine-zero-nine now.
"Uh, so then Ariza… how have you been? Wellness wise I mean; you haven't been in pain or anything like that!?"
"Uh, I've been okay for the most part Prince, what about you?"
"I've been okay as well! Was getting bored helping father this trip, but seeing you has really made it worth it!"
'Hehe, Ariza can't help blushing and facepalming from the puppy like wyvern kid. It's way too cute because it's obvious she likes him as well'
A little time passes with the wyvern kid still happily chirping along to his love about stupid things when eventually, his father comes out of the door we're waitng to enter. By the looks of things, he seems slightly relieved? Maybe the terms of his deal with this city have been renegotiated then? Couldn't care if it has either way though.
"She's ready to see you now... come on then boy, we're going home"
"Uh, really father!? Can't I stay here and speak to Ariza for a bit longer!?"
"It's up to you my boy if you want to stay longer but know, you're probably just annoying her now"
The prince's face looks like an abused puppy after hearing that, I've never seen someone that dejected just from words along. Thankfully, it doesn't look like Ariza's being annoyed but it could just be her being nice.
"He's not annoying me though, honest! It's just… erm, I'm not really sure what to say. I'm happy just listening to him talk about anything really"
"You like hearing me talk!? So do I! You, I mean Ariza, it would be weird liking the sound of your own voice, right?"
'Oh my freaking God, this kid is priceless. It's nice Ariza seems to like him as well, maybe they can stay together for a bit longer…'
All of a sudden, a brilliant idea comes to mind from the love guru Ikarus! I'm sorry but it's not meddling when it's a good idea, alright? I've tried my best to stay out of this but, a little push every now and then isn't the worst idea.
"Here's an idea. While we're dealing with the leader of this place, why don't you two go on a da-, I mean, go out to a café or something like that? There's no reason for us all to meet the leader"
"Really!? Can we father? Only if you want to as well Ariza!"
"Uh… I guess that'll be alright"
"You don't need my permission boy, I'll be at the inn if needed"
And so, love is about to blossom! Nearly slipped up saying date there because for someone as innocent as Ariza, that word may be a little much. Just going out alone to a café with a friend who's madly in love with you is definitely not a date, right? It's a good thing she refuses to read minds most of the time because Ariza would be blushing like hell knowing how much I'm wanting to ship them and, what's the bet that wyvern kid is wanting to hug the life out of her?
Just before those two go off to have their 'date', I really just can't help myself. Maybe it'll help ease any tensions but I'm only doing this because pent up Ikarus sometimes has to come out, unfortunately…
"Remember Ariza, he does anything you don't like, kick him as hard as you can, right in the groin. It's the only way to assert your dominance"
That makes both Ariza and the Prince blush as well as getting a deserved chuckle from everyone else, even his father finds it funny. I'm only partially kidding though; it would be pretty bad to make him infertile. It won't matter too much if those two get together, phoenixes don't make kids but if the Prince ends up going down a concubine route, then that kick is needed! How dare anyone not be one hundred percent loyal to Ariza!?
"Uh huh, I think it'll be fine Ikarus… I'll see you later then…"
"I'm going to head off as well so later queens… I should warn you though, the leader of Atlantis may not be what you expect…"
"Heh, thinking about it, there's no reason for me to be here as well, so see you phoenixes later… was there a brothel on the third or fourth street? Should've remembered that…"
All of a sudden, everyone except us lovebirds leave, even Asmodeus making me feel uneasy on whether this meeting really matters or not. It's either that or something big is about to happen and him leaving is for preparation again like with Zeki. I'm going to kick him if we end up ambushed in there…
Anyways, now just us two for the moment, we walk into the room and find… a swimming pool? This palace is as fancy as any other in this world, just desert themed so nothing tends to stand out all that much, but waiting outside a fancy pool room seems odd. Unless…
'Of freaking course, the leader of the desert city Atlantis is a fish. I really should've seen this twist coming'
Slowly climbing out the pool, a creature of legend with a head full of golden curls, smiling at us pleasantly while getting her body and teal-coloured tail out of the pool. A mermaid or a siren must be the leader of this place, it's either that or some stupid joke we're not understanding.
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https://i.ibb.co/K254krd/Pearl.jpg
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"Welcome, queens of Lesbos Islands. My name is Pearl and I oversee this city, it's a pleasure to meet you both. Please, take a seat by the side, I would join you but lacking legs unfortunately"
She honestly has a beautiful smile but I'm more focused on just seeing her numbers, I'm not getting much off her other than a friendly aura really.
'Can't believe that name is sticking… she also seems pretty weak considering, status'
[Name: Pearl | Species: Siren | Level: 156]
[Health 4,400/4,400]
[Stamina 8,271/9,000]
[Magicka 9,000/9,000]
'Guess I was right, at least compared to most of the people we come across nowadays'
"Heh, a mermaid running a city in the desert full of beastkin? No offence but, is this a joke?"
Before I even get a chance to satisfy my curiosity and ask some questions of my own, Petra beats me to the stupid question asking it as bluntly as I would. I really am becoming a bad influence of her.
Thankfully, she takes it in a nice way just continuing to smile, can't believe Petra actually just asked that exactly how I would as well.
"Hehe, nothing of the sorts. Us sirens have always been affiliated to these lands, even when the desert was nothing but an ocean bed. This city in particular was once completely submersed underwater and even owned by my kind thousands of years ago. The water levels were obviously very different back then though"
At least that confirms the legendary city of Atlantis in this world was once underwater, making the name make a bit more sense.
"Heh, fair enough. Presumably, the wyvern king just told you who we are? Or has our reputation spread this far as well?"
Honestly, I'm not sure why Petra asks that, other than to maybe to just get a read on the mermaid? I seriously don't think it's needed since she seems alright, for the most part at least.
"There isn't a single person round here who hasn't heard of the two legendary queens, loved by man or mer and have a shared beauty words cannot describe. Anyone says otherwise, they're lying to you…"
Whether she's just trying to compliment us or those are the rumours, all it's doing is making me want to hide and cringe. Praise like that but don't be involving me in it as well! I'm the freaking mad queen, that's the rumour that was supposed to spread!
"…Your islands as well have built up a bit of a reputation, all good of course! Although, I've never had the pleasure of visiting them myself, I have been to the nearby ocean before and found exceptional goodies all around"
Everyone knows by this point we have a reputation, even this far in the desert apparently, but something that was just said brings up an unpleasant memory. This mermaid has been to our ocean and maybe, a very specific area we'd never be able to swim down too…
"Say… what did you happen to find over there?"
"Directly to the north, out at sea, was a destroyed pirate fleet carrying huge quantities of golden ore. At the time, I was more a scout and upon discovering what was found, it started my rise into politics. Mermaids have always been in close contact with the council but never outright in control, at least while this place has been on land"
'I fucking knew it! All that gold lost at sea ended up in the hands of this fishy woman, I'm actually pissed!'
I couldn't care less if that sat on the ocean floor never being touched, a small price to pay for my nuke, but the fact someone else actually benefitted from our work!? It's not right, damn it!
Just before I'm about to reveal the fact these fishy bastards stole from us, I get a slight pull on my skirt from the wife who seems to find this situation chuckle worthy.
"Heh, best just let it go Ikarus. Does it really matter that much?"
Of course it freaking matters! All those miners and blacksmiths who worked hard for this haul, then bandits took it and then I nuked said bandits. Just because we never would've been able to recover, at least with this worlds current technology, doesn't mean it's still not ours! Sighhh, should probably just ignore this blatant thievery.
"*Sighhh*… let's go back on topic before I start whining, what are you going to do with the blind cannibal then? And do we get anything for actually showing up here today?"
An irritated Ikarus equals a blunt Ikarus, tis a tale as old as time…
"He'll be hung, drawn and quartered in a timely fashion, presented to all the victims and their families he's destroyed. An execution fitting of the crime… as for a reward, how does a dozen ships, filled with sand sound?"
Understandably, me and Petra just show faces of mild discomfort to the news, it's definitely a fitting end for his crimes but something like this would be better off not made public. I'll never have a problem with killing but executions made to draw crowds in always strikes me the wrong way, as if it defeats the entire point.
This reward also sounds shitty as well, ships full of sand? It's like we've exchanged freaking gold ore for sand if you look at it a very special way.
"Sand? We would we even want sand?"
"The sand in this desert Queen Ikarus is well known for being extremely fine and expensive to transport large quantities of it across the world. Most cities are able to make glass already but extremely fine sand is rare... If your workers can't use most of it up, you could always just create a fancy beach for tourists. We can give you loads of chests, full of golden coins and treasure if you'd rather something else?"
I mean, I really want to say no to the sand option but I can imagine how the gnome might get if I do. Although I've seen literally nothing on how the blacksmiths do it, I know they also are involved making windows so I really can't say no to this. I guess a small beach could be fun as well as we only have shitty rocky beaches on our islands, it's not like we even need more money so might as well just accept this.
"No no, you've sold me on the idea, ships full of fine sand will do. Petra, you happy with this or do you want anything extra?"
"Heh, sure Ikarus but, I do have a question about something else, unrelated to this but based on genetics. Is it possible to become a mermaid or are you born into it?"
Hmm, what an odd but interesting question my wife asks. Not really what use it will serve us to know but hey, she's the curious one today.
"You're born into it I'm afraid, like how you two are phoenixes or beasts are born beasts…"
'Heh, she's slightly wrong on the phoenix thing, not many know how we come into existence so I'll let her off slightly'
"…May I ask why you're curious on this? If you're looking for a way to turn into one, there probably is some lost magic or potion out there. Be warned, it's either legs or a tail, mermaids struggle to survive on land for more than several minutes"
While saying that, the siren drops into the pool, then crosses her arms on the edge still talking to us. Obviously, she needs that quick water fix, wonder if she would've started suffocating if she didn't go back under for a second? Eh, I really don't care enough to ask.
"Heh, just imagining how Ikarus would look with a tail really, that's all. Pay it no mind if it's impossible"
…
That gets a quick silence and a facepalm out of me, she seriously needed to ask that? Turns out, cute looking costumes aren't enough for my wife, I really need to grow a tail to please her next.
"Well, I wouldn't say it's impossible, some of the beastkin around here use prosthetics for aquatic shows and the like. I'm pretty sure one of the maids in the palace cleans the costumes for some extra coins on the side, maybe she has one spare you can purchase?"
"Heh, can I request you call for her then? And can we use your pool for a little bit?"
'Sighhh… even in front of a leader, someone we're supposed to be appearing strong and equal to, Petra can never help herself'
"Certainty! Just call the guard by the door to fetch Danika, he'll know who she is…"
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"Look, if we're seriously going to do this stupid shit, I'm not the only one getting a tail. You're definitely wearing one as well Petra"
Now waiting around in the pool room alongside the mermaid Pearl after speaking to the guard and a maid, we're both sipping a cocktail or two on the deck chairs inside this room. Didn't think this was how the rest of our day was going to go but guess Ikarus the mermaid fanfic is finally happening.
"Heh, if you insist Ikarus. It's guaranteed you'll wear it better though, my personal cute little mermaid"
'I jus-, I don't care anymore. She wants a flustered reaction Ikarus, any response will just make her worse so I best just play it up'
While I'm trying not to facepalm, then reluctantly giving a quick kiss to the idiot alongside me, the mermaid just continues to cross her arms smiling at us constantly. She seems surprisingly sweet considering she's supposed to be a politician, and is planning to order a vicious form of execution on the demon who deserves it.
"Hehe… you know, you two are exactly how I expected you to be. At least going off the stories and reports"
"So… you expected us to be a bunch of goofballs and idiots?"
"Hehe, nothing like that. It's just obvious the rumours of your love are understated; I was told you were deeply in love but it's definitely stronger than just that. It's been too long since I've seen two people so perfect for each other, almost as if it's fate"
'The mermaid is right, but also very wrong, at least in this current moment in time. Petra is just being a pain in the arse and I don't believe it that fated lover crap… even if prophecies exist in this world'
"Eh, love is a strong word… let's go for mutual friendship rathe-… ouch!"
That gets an undeserved flick on the nose from Petra, I admit I love her all the freaking time and the one time I don't, I get beaten!? I mean, the ouch was more sarcastic and even delayed, only doing it for the sake of doing it but still! Evil woman I'm married to, jeez…
"Heh, I'll flick you again if you don't admit to it Ikarus. Not everyone understands you being purposely reluctant and moaning just for the sake of moaning"
"Fineee… us idiots are madly in love, you happy now or is that going to turn into a punch next?"
"Heh, love you two Ikarus and no. The only thing that'll cheer me up is seeing you with a tail"
'At first, I thought it was me dumbing Petra down but hell no! It's just love in general that makes her like this…'
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https://i.ibb.co/Qn0Y0M4/Ikarus-Petra-Mermaid.jpg
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