III. Prince Went Too Far

The warm light of the sun's rays caressed the face of the water nymph which helped her regain her consciousness. She slowly opens her eyes and finds herself in an unfamiliar place.

Wooden floor, wooden walls beautified with flower paintings, and huge beams above. Sunshine enters the hall through the big circular windows. The last thing she remembers is that she is submerging herself in that lonely river alone at night. It's already daytime and it makes the nymph wonder, "How long was I asleep?" Judging from the light that the sun gives, it's probably already sunset.

She tried harder to remember how exactly did she come here. That night, she wanted a time for herself to think about the things she has to deal with personally, and perhaps to take a little break from the pressure. The pressure that her own home gives to her. In her earliest memories, she's already carrying the burden of their entire clan. It's quite heavy for this young woman. Just as when she finally gives herself time to slowly think things over, a couple of men from the shadows ambushed her.

"Oh. You're already awake."

The nymph looks in the direction where the voice came from. It's a man about the same age but he doesn't look familiar at all. In fact, it seems this man isn't from the Water Kingdom in the very first place! She's quite sure that this man is a complete stranger to her because this nymph didn't dare to trespass other kingdom's territories, unlike this man. This being given, the nymph can't guess what motive he has. Whether it is a personal matter or something involving the whole Water Kingdom, she isn't certain.

Judging from his looks, it seems this man is rather pampered and didn't undergo some intense training. Like an unpolished gem... too unscathed. Other than that, his pair of sword-like eyebrows are a little thicker which gives him the masculine look. No matter how good-looking he is, this nymph couldn't forget how shameless and coward this man is to attack from behind. Yes, she saw Prince Ling's face.

She thinks, maybe this man knows that he can't win against her one on one so he ended up using underhanded tricks. Attacking from the dark, teaming up with another, and using some kind of sorcery to make her fall unconscious.

The nymph was about to speak but couldn't. Only by then did she realize that her mouth is sealed with a piece of fabric. Her hands are also bound together with a rope against her back. The nymph also tried to use her powers to break free but it seems the flow of powers is... interrupted in some ways.

"There's no use resisting. I set up an array of spell in my entire residential hall so neither of us can use our powers." Ling said in a collected tone. Even so, the nymph rises to a sitting position and tried to struggle but because of the array, everyone in the hall is now as weak as a human being. The nymph managed to transform his lower body into a pair of feet before she lost consciousness but she still couldn't make use of it for they are also tied up together.

Watching her trying to free herself only to get her efforts into waste, Prince Ling raised his eyebrows and speaks once again. "Are you even listening? I said it's pointless. Hah, whatever. Tire yourself up, that would make it easier for us."

Ling shifted his attention to his attendant and ordered him. "Yang, let's begin the ceremony."

"Uh... are we really..." Yang hesitated for a second but gave up eventually. "Yes, your highness."

Your highness? The nymph thought, "Just who is this person? No matter. Whoever he is, he isn't acting like a noble but a coward."

Despite what the crown prince just told her, she didn't stop struggling. Her top priority is to free herself, find an escape route, and get back at him later for his vengeance.

Yang, on the other hand, prepared a golden chalice of wine made up of the finest grapes in the kingdom, put it in the center of the hall, and kneeled before it. Meanwhile, Ling stood up, dragged the poor nymph along closer to the chalice, and made it kneel before kneeling as well.

"..." The water nymph paused for a while. She realized that this ritual is quite familiar to her. Just watching the chalice in between them gave her the idea of what they're trying to do.

Her assumptions got confirmed when Prince Ling took a sharp dagger and cuts his hand. Crimson red blood drips out from his palm down to the wine.

Her eyes subconsciously bulged. By instinct, she tried to crawl away but the prince's subordinate is quick to hold her in her place. You might be asking why her reaction to this is running away, it's because this ritual is the same as the ritual they practice in the Water Kingdom.

The Fire Kingdom, The Wind Kingdom, The Earth Kingdom, and the Water Kingdom are quite different. They are divided mainly because of their attributes, way of living, beliefs, and principles. However, there are things that these four kingdoms have in common.

For example, their architecture. All four palaces are made up of separate buildings united by a tall wall.

Another example is the ritual of praying for blessings to the almighty creator of all creatures in the shapeshifters' realm, the Reverend Master himself. This ceremony can only be done if two people are committed to staying by each other's side until the very end. In other words, this is a ritual where they ask the Reverend Master's blessing to marry each other.

To make this done, a chalice of wine needs to be prepared. Next, the couple needs to put a drop of their own blood in the wine. If it gives a faint glow, that means, the Reverend Master does not object to the marriage. If nothing happens, it means the lovers aren't meant to be together and aren't allowed to proceed to the next step, the wedding ceremony.

The wine only gives a faint light to someone once in a lifetime. If the Reverend Master has given his blessings to the couple, it means, their fate will be entangled with each other and they can't get away from it. There's simply no turning back.

"Hmmmph!" The water nymph did her best to resist, making it hard for Yang to hold her to her place. She thought to herself, the fate of a woman like her should not be bound with this coward's fate! She despises him for the way he approached her to accomplish his personal intentions. And besides, they do not know each other yet. How could he decide to do such a thing with a complete stranger? Or maybe he knows her real identity? That's it!... Or so she thought. His Highness the crown prince of the Earth Kingdom doesn't know who she really is. If he does, he would most probably choose not to get involved with her.

She continued to make assumptions in her head, "Such an animal! He knows who am I so he isn't hesitant to bind his fate with mine! But the feeling isn't mutual."

Although there's a big chance that the Reverend Master will not permit this, she can't simply risk it. Better be careful than sorry.

"Please stay still, young lady! This will be done soon! Rest assured that you'll get whatever you want after you marry his highness."

Prince or not, she doesn't have the intention to marry him. She doesn't even know from what kingdom he comes from! And based on her first impression, she doesn't like him even a bit. All she has for him is contempt.

"Alright. Stop resisting now. It wouldn't take too long." Prince Ling said as he reaches for her hand. "I bet you'll be grateful to me later on."

The sharp blade of the dagger on his highness' hand shines as the sunlight reflects on it.

To this water nymph, the world seemed to have slowed down as the blade cuts a shallow wound on her beautiful palm. Unlike Prince Ling's blood, hers isn't warm but rather cold. The chalice of wine underneath awaits for this blood to drip and be mixed with the drink.