Chapter 11

A few minutes earlier

Aine and Lorsan swam to their post to prepare for the upcoming disasters.

"Once this is over, what do you plan to do?" Aine asked. "I don't know.. I think I'll visit my family.. spend a few weeks with them.. then I'd probably travel the nine nations" Lorsan replied. "So you like travelling?" Aine followed. "I guess you could say that.." Lorsan replied, looking up at the bright surface.. "When was the last time you've seen your family?.." Aine asked. "Years.. I think.." Loran replied, unsure..

They chatted for a while more, making their way back to their post.

Suddenly, Aine was aggressively pulled into an alleyway.. Lorsan froze in shock before quickly swimming into the alleyway. "Aine!-" Lorsan froze at the sight of the King holding a knife to Aine's throat.. "You brats think you're so smart huh?.. You brats are giving me a hard time.." The King exhaled, extremely annoyed.. "You're the one trying to trick travelers to become your permanent slaves!" Lorsan exclaimed. "Ahah! Don't think I'll stop there!" The King said smugly. "What do you mean by that.." Aine asked carefully.. "Soon, all the nine realms of Eldpoisle will be mine to control!!" The King replied.

Aine quickly shrunk in size and swam out of his grasp. She turned back to her normal size, took Lorsan by his arm, and started swimming quickly. "I didn't know I would have a chance of dying on this journey!!" Aine yelled, swimming as fast as she could. "Did your ally's not warn you?? You might need new ally's then!!" Lorsan yelled.

It didn't take long for The King to catch up to them. A blue chain then appeared around Lorsan's neck, tugging him back the opposite direction. Aine froze and turned back, turning to Lorsan in horror. Lorsan's eyes widened at the realization.. "I signed to contract.. I..." Lorsan couldn't finish his sentence.. He had completely forgotten.. He was legally Aexetan.. He is forced to obey any rules and commands The King gives him.. Aine rushed to the chain and started to tug on it.. "Just leave me!.. I'm dead weight!.." Lorsan said. "You must be really stupid if you think I'll leave you by yourself to suffer!.." Aine said, struggling to keep a grip on the chain. Lorsan was stunned.. "We're friends now! You're stuck with me whether you like it or not!!" Aine exclaimed.

The King was swimming to them fast.. Aine kept pulling on the chain. "A little help would be nice!!" Aine yelled. "I can't physically touch it!" Lorsan tried grabbing the chain, but his hands just went right through. The King lifted his sword and lunged at Aine. She quickly took her dagger out and countered the sword. "You insolent urchins are making this more difficult than it has to be." The King said, extremely peeved. Aine shifted into a smaller size and swam behind The King, shifting back into her normal form and lifting her dagger above her head.. The King pulled on the chain, positioning Lorsan between them. Aine froze and swam back. "I wouldn't do anything rash if I were you.." The King said, smirking. Aine glared at The King.. "You have so much potential! But its locked away deep inside you... If you work under me, you could become the most powerful soldier we have." The King said before extending his hand.

"You think I'm strong?.." Aine asked. "Very! With my help, you can make the nine realms grovel at your feet!!" The king said. Aine thought for a moment, going silent.. Lorsan was shaking his head desperately.. "Alright! I'll do it, just get rid of Lorsan. Throw him away, kill him or something." Aine said, putting her dagger away. Lorsan was in disbelief.. The King shrugged before he summoned Lorsan's contract and tearing it up. The chain around Lorsan's neck disappeared, but he was too stunned to even move a fin.. The King then summoned another contract and the special quill.. Aine took the quill and moved forward to sign the contract. Lorsan grabbed her wrist before the quill could touch the paper. "Hey-" "I won't let you throw away your life just like that! You didn't even read it!!" Lorsan interrupted. Aine kicked him out of the way before signing the contract. The King grinned wickedly.. "Wonderful.. Guards! Take that other one away! Do what you please with him" The King said before two guards swam forward and grabbed Lorsan by his arms.

Aine suddenly threw her dagger at one of the guards.. everyone froze, stunned.. including Aine.. "Oh my Gods.. I just stabbed someone.." Aine mumbled in disbelief.. "What do you think you're doing???" The King yelled, shocked.. "Well.. Did you really think I would betray my friends like that? You must be joking" Aine joked. Lorsan got into a fist fight with the other guard, constantly throwing punches. "I command you to kill him!!" The King yelled. "Yeah, if you look closer at the contract, I didn't actually sign it but I scribbled on it instead" Aine pointed out.

The King's face scrunched up.. Aine could feel his fury.. She quickly tried to swim to her dagger, but the King had held her foot and pulled her in with his sword above his head. "Aine!" Lorsan yelled. He grabbed her dagger and threw it back to her. She quickly grabbed the dagger and slashed The Kings hand holding her foot. The Kings hand retracted, allowing Aine to escape. Lorsan took a sword from one of the beat-up guards and swam next to Aine. She noticed Lorsan's fin starting to split into legs.. "Lorsan.." "Don't worry, I know. Since the contract was ripped, my siren-self will be reverting back.. I don't have much time.." Lorsan pointed out. The King lunged at them with his sword, slashing the sword in their direction. Lorsan countered the attacks with his sword, while Aine dodged his attacks by constantly shifting sizes, occasionally countering The Kings attacks with her dagger. But it wasn't full proof.. They both sustained a number of injuries..