Asahi kept his eyes on the horizon, watchful for signs of large fins or tails in the water… not like there had been any in the past couple of hours….
…Or that he’d even see fin or tail of those disgusting fish people anymore! After their first couple of catches, those damned things had been more careful. They’d nearly managed a huge haul not too long ago, but apparently they underestimated those undersea cretins.
They used a powerful earth spell to flip the boat and those in it were attacked by sharks. The few survivors from that boat were questioned and sent back out to the waters to continue their searches, since they failed to bring back a single monster…
He closed his eyes and frowned, why was his Lord so enamored at finding monsters and freakish creatures as opponents, as it wasn’t for the satisfaction of making those freaks leave this plane of existence. If he really wanted a true opponent, they had the powerful Scions of the Seventh Dawn in their prison cells on the boat. If he really wanted a challenge, he could simply use them to entertain him…
Or you know, maybe spar with him sometime… in the bedroom.
But before he could indulge in a fantasy of crossing swords with his Prince, he heard something odd…
Voices. Beautiful voices.
Asahi opened up his map and looked at his compass, the sound seemed to be coming from a well known ship graveyard…
Those stupid fish freaks were leading him right to them!
“Get us closer to the voices!” He commanded, pointing in the direction he wanted them to go.
“But sir…” The soldier protested.
Asahi pulled his blade free of it’s sheathe and held it to the throat of the person in heavy, black armor, “There. Now.”
“Y-yes sir!” The soldier sputtered before adjusting the motor and sending them flying towards the sounds.
Asahi certainly felt as if he were soaring as they closed the distance, he could see wrecked ships, covered in seaweed and the wood worn from the waves and rocks jutting out from the waters.
“COME TO ME YOU WILY TEMPTRESSES OF THE SEA!!” He shouted eagerly as they finally entered the graveyard.
“Temptresses?” A low voice purred as two female faces peered from behind a large chunk of rock before two women carefully walked around it and looked at the ship with broad smiles on their faces, “Hmm… I kind of like that.” The taller of the two women said, an elezen woman now that he got a good look at her. Her mismatched eyes gleaming with dark pleasures and her smile alluring as she licked her lips. He struggled to keep a straight face at the sight of her. She seemed like one of those kinds of people who could seduce anyone with just a low purr and a mere moment of skin contact.
Forget Sirens, he’d probably just found a Succubus.
“I prefer Sorceress.” The smaller, pink woman said, her voice sweet to the point where Asahi felt his stomach churning. He never liked sweets and this girl looked as if she was sugary sweet innocence personified, a surprising contrast to her companion, who was more spice and sex appeal…
And at the mention of sorcery, he finally realized that the two were armed. He held out his blade, his eyes narrowed, “Are you Sirens planning an ambush?”
“Sirens?” the sultry one repeated, her expression slipping from false surprise to amusement, “Well, I suppose we are good singers, but as you can see, we are not half bird.”
“…What?” Asahi said, lowering his weapon a bit.
“Sirens are half bird, half human.” The pink one piped up, “People get them confused with mermaids often, so we can understand the confusion.”
“… So you are Mermaids?” He asked, holding his sword back at the ready again as the dark haired Succubus smiled and walked towards them and turned around, “Do you see fins or a tail?” she asked, her laugh warm and probably what others would see as a relaxing sound, the experience seeming to be like a warm mug of mead on a cold night if his soldiers’ reactions were anything to go by.
The smaller one followed suit, giggling along with her friend, the sound melodic and cheerful, “No gills either!” she assured them with a smile.
Ugh, Asahi could hear his armored boat mates melting into putty by these two women and they weren’t even in the boat. His succubus theory was getting stronger by the moment.
Asahi didn’t lower his weapon as he asked, “What brings you two here? And why were you singing?”
“Oh, our boat suddenly flipped over last night while we were sleeping.” The pink one said, “It certainly gave us a fright! luckily we hadn’t fallen asleep yet and managed to some how get here…” she looked around, “Wherever this is?”
He narrowed his eyes at her and pointed to the bag over her shoulder, “And you managed to hold onto your bag?”
“It wasn’t a large boat.” ‘Rammy’ replied, “It was a bit smaller than yours. Lolzy here used magic to help us travel quicker and we thought it best to keep our things with us in case someone came to try to rob us.”
“And who would rob you?” He asked.
The two shrugged, “But it worked out, so it wasn’t a bad idea.” 'Lolzy’ said simply.
Asahi nearly face palmed.
“So…” 'Rammy’ said, “Would you all be dears and take us to shore?”
“Please?” 'Lolzy pleaded, “We need to make it to the Southern Holy Isles before my cousin has her baby!"
Asahi rose a brow, the southern holy isles were rumored to have fish people who gave magical crystals from deep under the crystal filled caves in exchange for offerings. He looked at the women’s accessories and weapons. Both girls wore jewels that looked exactly as if they had come from those caves and their weapons were endowed with large crystals that practically radiated magical power.
So even if they weren’t what he was looking for, they may know plenty about their prey and maybe his beloved Prince would be happy at the newest opponents after they got the information they needed from him.
He gave his best apologetic smile as he walked forward and offered his hand up to the dark haired Succubus, "But of course, what kind of person would I be to leave you two ladies stranded out here?"
She reached out to take it, only for him to pull it back, "But before I do, could you two answer just one more question?”
“Of course.” The sultry one replied.
“Why were you two singing here of all places?” he asked.
“We were bored and playing 'I spy’ got old really quick.” the cutesy one informed him.
His eye twitched a bit before letting them into the boat and leading them to a few spare seats in the back, catching a whiff of something as the pink one passed him.
And it was not just the smell of the ocean. Oh no, this was the scent of fish… and not just any fish.
He grabbed at her pink hair, making her yelp as he took a deep sniff.
“What are you doing?” 'Rammy’ cried, pulling out her own blade
“Are you smelling me?” Lolzy asked as she squirmed in his grip, her expression filled with disgust, which tightened as a creepy smile curled up his cheeks.
He found one. He’d found a fish person, oh sure, she had legs, but those things also had magic, it’s possible that they used a spell to transform themselves into succubi to lure those trying to pull in their people to their deaths! The other probably was one too, he’d need to smell her too to be sure.
“Eel.” He chuckled as he pulled her closer so her face was right under his, “You smell like eel."
”… What?“ she said, not expecting that reply.
"You smell like eel.” He repeated, “Eels are only in fresh water, not salt water.”
“Uh, eels can be salt water and fresh water.” she said.
“No…” he said, pulling on her hair a bit harder.
“Yeah…” She argued, wincing a bit before covering her mouth, “And also, I fell in the ocean and swam Gods know how far to get here, wouldn’t it make sense if I smelled like the ocean?”
“You don’t SMELL like the ocean, you SMELL like eel.” He insisted.
“And why would you know what that smells like?” She asked, a bit disturbed.
“Because I’m from the East! I know what an eel smells like.” he snapped, annoyed that she kept trying to wiggle her way out of this.
But it was also fitting for an eel.
“Uh, Lolz and I were just in the East and no one we saw there were standing around smelling random fish…” the other girl pointed out.
“ENOUGH!” he shouted, yanking harder on her hair, “YOU SMELL LIKE EEL AND YOU COME FROM THE SOUTHERN ISLES, YOU EITHER ARE A FISH SCENTED FREAK OR…” Asahi suddenly felt a sharp pain down below and he let her go, falling to his knees as he gasped for breath, noticing the staff had been angled to hit him in a sensitive area. The pink haired one wobbling a bit as she hurried over to her friend, who she thanked through coughs for the save by kicking her staff. She then turned around, her staff at the ready before a bright flash blinded him and he felt himself get launched backwards.
“Capture them!” He shouted as the boat and the people in it got smaller and smaller before he eventually felt his body crash against the waves and his body sink into the water.
He felt a smile curl up his lips all the same, he’d found one. He’d FOUND ONE! And if this attack was any indication, his Prince would enjoy carving these two into sashimi!
Zenos tapped his finger against the arm of his chair, bored.
This was always the worst part… the waiting. He had to wait until his soldiers came back with new beasts to battle. If they did come with new fiends to battle.
He sighed and glanced at the clock again, his patience waning.
If they didn’t find any new opponents today, he would need to pull out one of those Scions to fight today. The other merpeople they’d pulled were either not fighters and a waste of time to send to his father for their researchers to study later or not good enough opponents.
Surely there was some beast out there that could challenge him?
The doors flung open and Fordola stepped forward with her head held high and her eyes focused and steady, she stopped a good bit away from him and kneeled, “My Lord, Asahi’s party has returned with two guests, one of whom he claims to be a transformed mermaid and the other to be a transformed a succubus.”
“Hmm?” He asked, thoughtful, “And what exactly is his evidence?”
“One of them claims to be from the Southern Holy Isles and…” she seemed to hesitate for a moment before saying, “And she smells like eel.”
“He smelled her?” He asked, his interest peaking a bit at the strangeness of the statement.
“Yes, apparently she launched him out of the boat with a spell for that.” She reported, “After Asahi insisted to arrest them both and they rescued him, she said that her friend didn’t deserve to be in chains, since she did nothing wrong. Asahi refused. So the other one flung him back into the sea with the back of her sword. Apparently she said, 'There, now I have a reason to be in chains.’ Afterwards.”
Zenos laughed. These two showed promise. Even if Asahi was incorrect in his assumption, he may still find a use for them, “Bring them to me. I would like to see these creatures for myself.”
“Yes, My Lord!” Fordola said before getting back onto her feet and leaving the room to him and his thoughts.
After what felt like an eternity, Asahi pushed open the doors and rushed to his feet, “My Lord! I have brought to you creatures of the deep disguised as an elezen and a hyur!” He then paused, then glared at the door before hissing at someone in the hall to bring the prisoners in.
The two women that were brought in were chained with their hands behind them, their crude weapons held by a soldier behind the ones who held their chains.
He looked at them with a smile, he had a good feeling about these two.
“Hey Rammy.” Lolz whispered as their boat pulled up along side a huge wall of a strange black stone, “Are you getting the feeling that something is off with this group?”
“You mean besides the fact that most of them are dressed up like giant black lobsters?” Ramora replied dryily as she struggled to free herself from her restraints, the eel mer had passed her a long shell they often used to break into old locks, but it seemed to be useless to them right now, these locks were far more advanced than the others they’d dealt with.
“… Well, now that you mention it, yeah, that too. But I mean, I don’t sense any kind of magic from the lobsters. Like at all.”
“What?” She said, shocked, “Are you sure?”
“Positive. The annoying one has some intense dark magic around him, but he never used it to stop my spell, so I think it may be an artifact of some sort.” Lolz confirmed.
“Hmm…” Ramora hummed thoughtfully before the creatures in black armor began covering the boat with chains, “Uh… what are they doing?”
“I dunno. Maybe it’s some weird lobster thing.” her friend said with a shrug.
Before Ramora could comment, the boat suddenly was lifted out of the water and they were being pulled up the black rock, the two crashed onto the floor of the boat with loud cries, Ramora felt her body ache as the little annoying one smirked down at them, “Going up.” He snickered.
“Up where?” she demanded darkly.
“To the Prince of Garlemald, Zenos yae Galvus!” The irksome creature cackled with delight, “You two are going to be his very special guests tonight!”
Ramora looked to Lolz, “Does that sound sexual to you? That sounds sexual to me.”
“Everything sounds sexual to you.” Lolz replied, “But yeah, it sounded sexual. And really creepy.”
He scowled at them as he let the blanket he’d been shivering in since they both flung him into the sea fall off his shoulders as he stood in the boat. Jumping a bit when they finally seemed to reach their destination.
The two glanced around, wide eyed as they were jerked around the strange structure, confused and disoriented.
The obnoxious one stopped in front of a female surface dweller by a really big door and began demanding an audience with 'His Lord’. She argued with him for a moment before walking over to them, squinting at them before looking back to the annoying one, then to them.
“If you want to launch him off the boat, you can borrow our weapons if you want.” Ramora offered. Lolz nodded eagerly and the girl bit back a smile before walking away and out of sight.
He smiled broadly at them, his eyes alight with impish glee.
“I wish we still had our weapons…” Lolz murmured.
“Now hang on, maybe I can use my new feet to hurt him more.” The shark mer suggested.
“Hey! what are you two whispering about?” He snapped as he got in their faces. Ramora gagged and looked to Lolz, “And he said YOU smelled!”
“Your mouth smells horrible!” Ramora cried, “It smells like rotting corpses! No wonder poor Lolzy had to cover her nose and mouth!”
“Well, he was also spraying water out of his mouth and it stank just as bad.” Lolz told her.
“Ugh!” She gagged before scowling at the evil imp who frowned and breathed into his hands and blanched before he looked panicked.
“I can’t breathe the same air as my Lord with breath as bad as this.”
“Can’t you just stop then?” Lolz asked.
“Breathing.” Ramora said flatly.
He scowled at them again and told several passing lobsters to watch them and quickly dashed off into the unknown, shoving their weapons into one’s hands.
“I don’t suppose we can have those back?” Ramora asked.
“Sorry, but orders are orders.” One of the lobsters replied.
She gave them an understanding nod and the group stood in silence for a bit before Lolz asked, “So if we’re going to be here a while, can we take these restraints off, it’s not like we really have anywhere to go.”
But before the lobsters could answer, the girl returned, looking a bit confused as she glanced around.
“He went to deal with his bad breath.” Ramora told her, “We asked if he could stop breathing, but he wouldn’t go for it.
She smiled at them, "At least you tried. In the meantime, I’ll bring you two inside without him.”
“Fine by us!” Lolz exclaimed.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” A voice demanded.
The two mers groaned as their captor stomped over and glared at the woman before motioning for the lobsters to follow him as he walked through the door with a broad smile, the lobsters motioning for them to move in front of them, seeming a bit nervous as they did so.
“Can you use your feet to hurt him now?” Lolz mumbled.
“Maybe… wait, why can’t you do it?” Ramora asked her.
“Mine aren’t as long.” The eel mer reminded her.
“I doubt it makes them less effective,” She argued.
“Who knows with these things!” she grumbled back, “You seem to have better control of yours than I do.”
Before Ramora could counter her point, the male came back, shouting and motioning them to go inside.
The two carefully walked into the massive room, surprised to find it empty for the most part… except for the massive surface dweller sitting in the back of the room.
Ramora took him in from her spot. Long hair, huge, pretty face, lots of muscle…
“-Me!” Lolz hissed, “Rammy!”
“Hmm?” she hummed, her eyes not leaving the magnificent creature before her.
“Don’t even think about it.” her friend whispered, her tone firm, “this guy seems to be some sort of authority figure here and if that’s the case, he’s the one capturing the others!”
She let out another hum and continued to stare.
"You don’t know where that thing has been!” she pointed out.
“I don’t mind as long as I’m on top.” she murmured, her eyes still glued to the man on the fancy chair.
“Ughh…” her friend groaned, “Fine, but if you DO sleep with him, see if you can steal his keys or something. His weapons, anything that can help us rescue the others, destroy the nets and get out of here, okay?”
Ramora let out another hum and Lolz looked up at the ceiling, “We’re so fucked…” she whispered.
“I certainly hope so.” Ramora purred as her friend sighed.
This whole netters thing had just gotten a lot more interesting~
