THE UNDERGROUND LAND OF MERFOLKS

“Finally, I’ve been waiting for days!” Ares said as he was allowed an audience with Athena. “What took so long?” he questioned.

“Nothing, I was just fathering the wisest of decisions.” she said, trying to avoid eye contact.

She still had no idea how not to tell Ares what she learnt from the supreme.

“I've heard from the others you’re frequently visiting the old man.” he said to her.

“Have some respect brother.” Apollo called from the back.

“You!” Ares rushed and grabbed his robe, “you shouldn't be speaking right now, you did nothing at the last battle, but watched our forces be diminished.”

“Easy you two!” Athena got in the middle of them. “It was at my command.” she spoke.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Ares glared at her. She felt a bit of fear tingling at her spine.

“Just because I no longer go to the front lines, doesn't mean I can't issue orders.” she fought back. “I asked him to observe Enyo and the demon boy.”

“Well, that demon boy may very well be our brother in law.” Ares said sarcastically.

“I am well aware.” she remembered the past conversation with the supreme.

“I guess he didn't leave anything out of the report huh?” he turned to face Apollo who was already far away from them.

“I’ve received ample information.” she said,

“Then, have you reported to the old man?” questioned Ares.

“Of course I did.” she replied before starting to walk away.

“Where are you going? We aren't done speaking yet.” he called to her.

“Oh dear brother, worry not, will you.” she said as her body glowed and she disappeared.

“Something’s not right, she’s being too lenient with this.” Ares as he clenched his fist.

Diya, who was still following the lingering magic, was also surprised that the group of orcs were heading the same direction she was. She sat quietly amongst the branches of a tall tree in the Forest of Life, suspecting that they were being controlled or called on by a greater force. This particular group was strong, well over a rank eight demon perhaps, it wasn’t just the orcs, many other creatures were proceeding to the east. She also picked up on an eerie presence in the forest. The Forest of Life was suited for its name, abundant with wildlife and taking up over 60% of the continent. As she concealed herself on the branches, she began to ponder, if Vanir ruled the north, now, Sargon who ruled the center and now claims the north, the humans claimed the west, what was in the east and south? She thought carefully and quietly as she both stalked and prepared to greet what was in the east the closer she got.

“It’s just up this waterfall.” Mesh pointed as Sargon and the gang followed.

It took one week, but they were finally at the base of Claw’s mountain. The path up the mountain was steep, but it was the most sturdy of the three mountains, one had a waterfall, a very huge waterfall at that.

“How is it that there’s a waterfall here?” Sargon asked.

“There’s a spring at the mouth of the mountain.” Mesh answered.

“So, you want us to climb up the waterfall then?” Lia asked, as she looked unmotivated.

“What?”, Mesh laughed, “No, it’s behind the waterfall.”

Alec ran up ahead and waved his hand, the water began to split as a small cave appeared.

“Follow us.” Alec said to them as he disappeared inside.

Sargon and the gang ventured in. Once inside they were greeted by glowing crystals, embedded into the walls.

“These are ores.” Mesh said as he saw them intrigued by the crystals. “They hold the life of the earth.” he spoke.

Soon they emerged from the tunnel into a village. A village inside a mountain. There was light from an opening in the mountain. There were houses made of mud which stuck to the walls, in the middle was a lake, it had a beautiful sky blue shade which sparkled in the sunlight. Alec had already ran ahead. On the lake stood a beautiful shrine. One by one merfolks began emerging, from the mud houses and from the water. They haven’t seen outsiders before. The ones who came out of the water had fins and gills and smelled like fish, Lia tried her best to resist the urge to eat them. Everyone had blueish hair, except the old folks whose hair was greyish white.

“The village elder would like to see you.” Alec said as he led them to the shrine.

Everyone was staring at them, yet kept their distance. After a while they were greeted by an old merfolk, his hair was grey and long, on one hand he held a staff, the old man held onto a young girl around Lia’s age wearing a priestess outfit.

“Please forgive my tardiness,” the man said, “I am the elder here, this is my granddaughter.”, he greeted.

“Pleased to meet your acquaintance, my name is Vive, I may look young but I am the village chef.” she politely spoke.

“She looks delicious.” Lia muttered as Sargon pinched her cheeks.

“I am Sargon, on my right is Lia, and on my left is Wendell, they are my servants.” he said to them.

“Pleasure to meet you, Alec briefly told us your names, I humbly thank you for bringing my little brother back to us.” Vive said to them.

They were shocked to know that the once imprisoned merfolk was the relative of the tribe’s chef.

“I heard from Mesh that you all are being hunted.” Sargon spoke.

“I regret to inform you that that is indeed correct.” Vive answered, “however, we simply cannot allow outsiders into our tribe’s matters.” ‘Wow, she has a very polite manner of speech,’ Sargon thought. “Is that so? I promised that I'd save you all since I’ll be moving into the fortress next door after all.” he said as he got off the chair. Vive and the elder froze.

“Moving in? You mean you killed demon lord Vanir?” she probed.

“And ate him too.” Alec butted in.

“Mesh! Alec!” the elder shouted, “you two brought demons into our abode?”

“Grandfather, please calm down.” Vive tried to stop him.

“Wait elder!” Mesh knelt on the ground and raised his hands up, “It’s not what you think, he’s a good demon.” Mesh pleaded.

“There is no such thing as good demons!” the elder roared. He raised his staff to hit him when Sargon grabbed it.

“I was going to peacefully observe, but for a leader to foolishly lash out without listening, demands a change of power.” he tossed the staff aside. And with a commanding voice he spoke,

“Listen everyone!” he shouted. “That's right, I killed the demon lord of the north, this mountain is mine, you have two options, you either become food for my minions or become my subjects.” as Sargon said that, part of his army emerged from his shadow. He looked at everyone. “The decision is yours, make it quick, my minions are hungry.”

“Y-you mean you can save us?” someone in the crowd spoke.

“That’s right, you will even watch your child grow up.” the villagers began to murmur, the elder felt embarrassed, as for Vive, she fell in love with Sargon’s patriotism.

“Forgive me, I don't deserve to be an elder.” the old man spoke. “Will you help us? In return we will swear allegiance to you.” he got on his knees, as did Vive, Mesh, Alec and everyone else.

“I plan to.”, Sargon replied.

The elder explained that after sunset, the hunters would come from the opening space on the wall. As the three of them studied the structure of the cave, they knew just what to do.

“Leave it to us.” he assured them. The sounds of flapping wings got closer and closer until the silhouette of three harpies came through the space. They flew around shrieking, one dove into the water and fished out a little one. They were so busy terrorizing the villagers they failed to notice the opening being sealed off. After each of them grabbed away their prey, they began to fly back up to the opening. It was then one of them crashed into an invisible wall, they realized something was wrong.

“What’s going on?!” one of them shouted.

“Stop playing around, hurry and go through!” said the other.

“I can't,” he screamed back.

“What’s wrong? Can’t get to the other side?” Lia mocked as she emerged from the shadows, “But there’s nothing there? Oh that's right! I put a barrier there, too bad.”

“A beastmen?” one of them said,

“But something’s wrong, she’s a weird colour.” another one commented.

“That's because I'm not a beastmen anymore. I’m a demon.” she grinned as they were greeted by demons falling from the cave’s ceiling on top of them. One dodged, while the other two were caught by Wendell’s shadow manipulation. He got them to release the captured merfolks. The other one struggling to look for a way out received a strong blow behind his head. Sargon quickly grabbed the merchild away and threw him towards Wendell who caught him perfectly. Sargon then snapped his fingers and all of his demons hidden in the cave emerged.

“You guys, here’s some dessert.” he said as the demons lavished the birds.

Lia placed a barrier around the village and fortified it.

“Now, no more harpies will be coming, if they do I'll know the minute they try to break the barrier, my platoon will be here immediately.” she reassured the village. “As well as, only who I allow may enter, so you all are pretty much safe for the rest of your lives.” The elder held her hands and couldn't thank her enough, she however continued to resist the urge not to eat them.

“Oh? a strong barrier, well done.” he placed his hand on her head, she was happy.

“Lord of the north, it’s time to keep our promise.” the elder said to him, “we hereby pledge to serve under you.”

‘I welcome you all under my wing.” he said in answer to their pledge.

The villagers began to cheer and dance as Sargon’s party sat under the shrine, Vive’s grandfather was speaking to her and Alec.

“Now my lord,” Wendell spoke, “you look pleased.”

“Of course I am, the merfolks can manipulate the very essence of water, be it plants, animals, humans, and I’m sure if I make them drink my blood, they would soon be able to master the arts of manipulating blood.” he grinned.

“You’ve really thought this through.” Lia said as she poured him some more wine.

The elder and Vive approached them. “Once again, i’d like to express our gratitude for saving us,” the elder spoke,

“sure, now then.” he said as Vive got up, “Will you marry me.” she interrupted.

A moment of shock passed through the three of them as they stood frozen.

“A-aren't you the chief?” Sargon asked her as he sat back down.

“To be honest, girls can’t become the chief, I am only in this position because my brother is not of age, I however would become the water priestess of the tribe, as for the sons, they become the chief.” “I see.” he said as he drank some more wine.

“So, to show our gratitude, I am offering myself to you as your wife.” she said as she bowed to him.

“Hmmm, no thanks.” he smiled.

“Now that we’re engaged, let's talk about the-HUH?” she shouted in surprise.

“I’m sorry, I already have a wife.” he continued to smile.

“Then, make me your mistress.” she continued to propose.

“Again, no thanks. It’d be a hassle, and I wouldn't show you any affection let alone look at you.” he spoke coldly. She stared at him, then to Lia.

“There’s no way she’s your wife, she doesn't have the presence.” ‘Huh? Where’s that humble and polite woman from before?’ Sargon thought to himself

“You’re right, Lia isn't my wife, my wife is someone much more alluring and in some cases, she sparkles. Lia however is my property.”

“Then, make me your property.” she demanded. He glanced at her then drank some wine and stood up towering over her.

“You’d become a demon just to be by my side? Can you honestly throw your life away?” he glared. She was afraid, very afraid.

“I cannot.”, she finally spoke ;looking down in shame. He sighed then rubbed his head.

“I will not make you my mistress, however I can offer you a seat at the high table.” she spoke,

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’ll become his aside and serve him, just as Lia and myself.” Wendell spoke.

“By swearing allegiance?” she asked him.

“Exactly.” he replied.

She looked at Sargon, then got on one knee, “I Vivian, priestess of the merfolks, hereby pledge to serve Sargon, the demon lord of Claw’s mountain for the rest of eternity.” he grinned, bit his finger and had a few drops of his blood fall into the glass.

“Prove to me that you are committed.” he spoke to her. “Drink this.” he handed her the glass with his blood. She was hesitant, but drank it nonetheless. She felt a burning sensation down her throat as his blood began to resonate within her body. Red markings began to appear on her body as she threw herself on the ground and rolled. Her skin turned purple indicating she was a rank seven among the demons. Wendell whistled.

“She’s really strong right off the bat.” he commented,

“Yeah, and she’s right below Lia at that.” Sargon added. Vivian gasped for air, she felt her senses heightened at the sudden changes to her body.

“Stand up.” Sargon spoke, she felt every fiber in her body unable to resist his words and found herself standing up straight. “Nice to have you, Vivian.” he smiled.

The villagers prepared dishes for them, Lia unable to resist any longer, helped herself to the tasty treats, she ate five plates filled, yet she still eyed the merfolks.

“Now then, bring it.” Sargon instructed Wendell as he disappeared and later came in with some demons carrying barrels. The barrels contained wine. This was from the pork’s mansion. Sargon added a few drops of his blood into the wine.

“Wait.” Vive stopped him, “wouldn't that turn them into demons.”

“No, only if ingested directly.” he proceeded and the village drank it all up. As he sat back down at the table, he asked about Claws mountain.

“I heard that Vanir used his powers and built an upside down castle on the third mountain.”

“Upside down?” they looked at her.

“That would be correct, my lord.” Wendell spoke. “The castle is on top of the third mountain, to get to it, you must first climb the second mountain. there is then a drawbridge from the top of the second mountain connecting to the third mountain. that's where the fortress is located. while beneath it there's a place where he kept his demons and everyone else. It felt most like a prison cell. He also has a forge where he kept the dwarves and other demons to work for him. Half the mountain is a waste land, there’s no vegetation, it’s only dried up trees and dirt, it’s almost sad.” he spoke.

“How long will it take us to get there?” Sargon asked him.

“Half a day or so.” came the quick reply from Wendell.

“Then, get some rest, we set out at dawn.” he commanded as he got up and teleported away.

The village had roughly eight hundred merfolk, all of which became part of his army. The total number of his army is now six thousand, four hundred and sixty seven.