15. Sea King

Ocean Kingdom.

That is the kingdom that is in the deepest sea, the place where the siren race lives and lives under the leadership of the sea king. The sea king used to lead the mermaid race and overthrow the siren race leader. Then, he combined the two races with the same characteristics into one and became known as the siren race.

King Triton. He is the king of the Oceana Kingdom. Back in his heyday, he was well known for having valiantly conquered the siren race. However, after hundreds of years, King Triton was already aging. Now, he was already a grandfather and would soon step down from his position as king to be succeeded by his son.

"Grandpa!"

King Triton who was once a dashing man, is now truant from his duty as king to visit his sweet and very innocent little grandson. Triton smiled lovingly as he watched his 10-year-old grandson waggle his tail excitedly.

Triton is now in a cave that is in the restricted area of ​​the Oceana Kingdom. The cave is so dark and the smell of rancid blood is so thick. The dark magic energy was even felt in the interior of the cave, making Triton's wrinkled face smile wryly.

Triton lowered his head when he felt a head lying on his tail. Triton's hand stroked the bright blue mane that contrasted sharply with the dark cave. "You are very excited, Antares. What do you want to tell me this time?"

Antares looked up at his grandfather with eyes sparkling with pleasure. As long as he had been on the plains every night since he was 6 years old, just the night he had a few hours ago was precious. He met humans! Such a beautiful human and even knows his name!

Antares was so happy that he wanted to tell his grandfather about Ursilla. Antares's soft pink lips slowly parted and asked a question that made Triton's body freeze.

"Grandfather, are there any good humans?" The question slid so smoothly from Antares's small mouth. The Merman then realized the changes that had occurred to his grandfather.

Triton's dark blue eyes gleamed sharply in the darkness of the cave, watching Antares warily. Antares blinked, instantly he distanced himself from Triton who had a sinister aura.

Antares gulped nervously under Triton's tremendous pressure making Antares feel suffocated. The two gills under the ears are closed, as if they don't want to open again to help Antares breathe in the water. Antares was having trouble breathing.

At night, the nature of Antares as a human who cannot breathe for long in water makes his gills weak. So, Antares had to go to the plains to breathe air. However, in the morning like now, Antares's gills are strong again, and it can be said that his characteristics as a merman are unquestionable.

Antares's gills are closed and open slowly making him squirm in the water. This hurts! His heart was even beating fast with a burning heat.

Antares's eyes were red and teary looking at his grandfather who was sitting stiffly on the rocks in the cave. "G-Grandpa, ... d-did I do something wrong?"

Antares groaned in pain with his back against the rough cave wall. "It hurts, Grandpa. My chest hurts, and I'm having a hard time breathing."

Usually the symptoms of shortness experienced by Antares will come when the day is approaching night. However, now the night has passed and Antares is feeling suffocated by the pressure of the ruler of the sea.

"Antares Ocean, my grandson, how many times have I told you that no human in this world is perfect! Don't be fooled by them so easily! Are you listening to me?" Triton's deep voice made Antares's body tremble in fear.

Tears welled up in Antares's eyes, he was so tormented that he decided to nod his head in response to Triton's question. Antares then felt the surrounding pressure slowly decrease, and he was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief again.

Triton waved his hand signaling Antares to come closer. However, there was no movement from Antares who didn't seem to want to get close to him. Triton smiled coldly, his dark blue eyes shining brightly and looking intimidating for Antares.

"Come closer, Antares!"

Antares's body was shaking. He hesitantly approached his furious grandfather. It was rare for Triton to be so angry like now. This let Antares know that bringing up the topic of humans first would make Triton's mood worse.

Triton placed his large hand on Antares's head, and stroked Antares's hair in a light motion. "My good grandson. Listen carefully to what I have to say. Don't ever trust humans! Think of everything they say as nonsense that you don't need to care about!"

Antares bit the inside of his cheek. He was really confused as to why his grandfather hated humans so much and said that they were bad people.

The head of Antares suddenly thought of Ursilla who smiled sweetly at him. Is Ursilla also an evil human being? Can Antares at least reject Triton's idea of ​​calling all humans evil because Ursilla doesn't look like that?

"Why... why did Grandpa say that humans are evil?" Antares ventured to ask in a low, barely audible voice.

However, Triton has a keen sense of hearing that he will not hesitate to say that everything that happens in the ocean, he can hear and know everything except in restricted areas. So, Antares's voice could still be heard by him.

Triton's hand turned to squeeze Antares's shoulder firmly, but it wouldn't break the little merman's bones. Triton chuckled coldly. "You want proof, Antares? All right, I'll tell you the truth."

Antares could only frown feeling the pain in his shoulder. One of Triton's hands was no longer on Antares's shoulder, and was stretched out to the side with his index finger pointing at the object in the dark interior of the cave.

"Over there... You must have known who was there, Antares..." Triton's voice was so cold it froze the nerves in Antares's body.

Antares nodded his head in a stiff motion. His head turned to the side following Triton's index finger. Antares's sapphire blue eyes flashed sadly. He knew very well who was in the deepest part of the cave that was in the restricted area.

"I know, Grandpa. Mother is there." Antares's shoulders drooped weakly, the enthusiasm that previously filled his heart had dissolved after getting angry from his grandfather.

Triton squeaked with his eyes fixed on Antares who was looking down sadly. "Yes, she is your mother! She is proof that humans can't be trusted! Your mother was blinded by her feelings that were impossible to manifest! She fell in love with a human. She was even willing to lose something precious to her to meet the human she loves on land."

Triton let out a muffled growl at the memory of the past that had thrown the siren race into chaos. Not only that, even then there was a war between humans and the siren race. It was a hundred years old, but still fresh in Triton's memory. If he thinks back to the dark past, it can always make his blood boil.

Antares still faithfully listens to his grandfather's story about his mother who he doesn't really know about his life in the past. "T-then, what happened to Mother?"

Triton lifted his head and burst out laughing. His laughter boomed throughout the cave and produced an echo that sent chills down Antares's body. Scary. Right now the person in front of Antares was not his grandfather, but the King of the Oceana Kingdom.

"Why do you ask, Antares? You know it clearly, don't you? She didn't get any recompense for what she did stupid! That human was with the others not with your mother! Your mother was crying asking to be returned to her life as a mermaid. But, my grandson dearest. What has been sacrificed cannot be returned."

Triton grinned widely, his dark blue eyes shining evilly. "Your mother was very angry about this. So..."

Triton brought his mouth close to Antares's ear. A devilish grin crossed his face. "She killed the human she loved."