Tales of Pristinia: The Six Sacred Gems

Stealthy Swimming

                 The party continued their journey across Pacifica, visiting settlements one after the other. They rarely stayed in the settlements during the night. They would usually camp outside or find a safe place for them to stay. During their travel, they would encounter creatures of decay. Some of these creatures they faced and defeated, while some of these creatures they fled from because of the difficulty of fighting underwater.

                 After entering the Fuchsea region three days ago, they were finally leaving it on the morrow. They still haven’t earned any money, but all of their needs were provided by the sea. As much as possible they wanted to gather less attention from the merpeople so they have avoided the large and populous cities.

                 The three stayed inside a giant coral reef where they thought of their next move. Next to the Fuchsea region was the Minusea region, the smallest yet most populous region. Minusea was converted to a militarized region after the merpeople declared war on humans. It is crawling with knights and mages who could easily determine their true identities. They could take a detour around Minusea, but it will make them get close to Athania which is the most heavily guarded city in Pacifica. A longer detour would take a very long time for them.

                 Between the two, Minusea was easier to go through because aside from being the shorter route, its security does not compare to the capital city’s security. With their route decided, the party prepared for the worst thing to happen. The rest of the party’s abilities were reduced because they were underwater and even with Selena’s songs they were not boosted. The party then rested so they could cross the region early in the morning.

                 The next day, they rose early and prepared for their entry to Minusea. Under the cloak of dawn’s darkness, they entered Minusea. Not long after their entry, they started to see knights who carried tridents, mages who wielded wands and bards who carried harps. It was still dawn yet there so many soldiers already awake. They made their way past around them using the blind spots and the outgrowth of seaweeds which has abundant in the area.

                 They found themselves at the edge of a military training camp. Suddenly, the bards in the camp started to sing a very upbeat song. The song woke up every soldier in the camp. One particular knight saw them on the outskirts of the camp but they were able to hide on time and the knight forgot about it.

                 Breakfast was then served in the camp. The party saw it as a chance to sneak past the camp continuing westward. The knights, mages, and bards gathered at the opposite side of the camp which gave the party the chance to move westward. They moved towards and hid behind the corals in the camp, moving carefully and slowly so that they would not get caught.

                 Suddenly, a mage who just woke up felt Viethra’s intense magical power. The mage moved towards the coral where they hid. Slowly, the mage moved towards the coral. They were going to be seen! Mae wanted to launch a surprise attack on the mage and knock it unconscious but the rest of the party stopped her because it will only attract more attention. The mage was then very close to them, but then out of a stroke of luck, a bard called on the mage inviting her to breakfast which made saved them from being seen.

                 With the coast being clear, the party continued moving across the camp and after a few suspenseful movements, they got across the camp only to find themselves at the edge of another camp. They moved as quickly and as stealthy as they could. However, breakfast already ended with them in the middle of the camp. Thankfully, Selena noticed that only knights were in the camp. She bade the rest of the party to act as if real merpeople in an attempt to fool them.

                 Soon after, they were in contact with the knights in the camp where they received so much attention because they all had golden tails. The knights thought it strange for them to carry swords but they ignored it. They made it past the camp and like what occurred they found themselves at the edge of another camp. This time, however, they were all in trouble as the camp housed the most powerful mages in Pacifica.

                 They still have not entered the camp but mages were already drawn to Viethra’s strong magical power. When they got in the camp, all of the mages became alert as they also sensed the presence of an angel, a vampire, and a human. The party tried as they could to be not found by the mages, but they were too late.

                 The chief mage in the camp has already pinpointed their position. They were finally seen and surrounded. With no other choice, the party fought the mages in the camp. However, before they could exchange blows with them, Mae, Myles, and Viethra were already bound with water magic. They were caught and apprehended. For the first time in the history of the principality, a mermaid betrayed her kind by aiding outsiders to enter the nation, these were the thoughts of the soldiers who caught them.

                 Powerful water magic incapacitated them. For days, they were rendered disabled and immobile. They were not locked inside a cage nor shackled but they were not able to move nor escape from their captors.

                 When the general in charge of Minusea learned of the news of the outsiders caught in the region, she quickly headed towards the camp where the party was held captive. She recognized Selena as she was once a soldier who led the pursuit of her. Without saying further hesitation, she ordered the prisoners to be sent to the capital, Athania.

                 What the party feared most was happening to them. They tried to break free from the spells that bound them but they were too strong for them. Even Viethra’s immense magic power was rendered futile in the face of the ocean’s strength.

                 Athania was unlike any city that they have seen before. It was bright, brilliant, and busy but security was denser than gold. Knights and mages were patrolling every inch of the city, even the nooks, and crannies. They entered the majestic city where they were received with sheer cold glares and hate.

                 Selena was hurt the most as she was branded a traitor by the nation. Though that was the case, love for her country remains in her heart as she still hopes that merpeople and humans may find peace.

                 They were presented in front of the princess and her court and were released from the spells that kept them from making a move. The princess was unlike any mermaid they have met before. She was like a mermaid goddess with a bright golden tail. She wore an outfit that shone in seven colors and wielded a five-pronged trident.

                 The governor-general of Minusea presented them, telling the princess of the situation and their true identities. She also told the princess of Selena who was the noble impostor that they have been searching for a long time. The princess spoke with a clear voice declaring that they were to be executed by sunrise on the morrow.

                 With their fate sealed, they were sealed in the dungeon to never again see the light of day.