Scauldy

Beneath the vast, sunlit waters of the open ocean, a silver-haired merman sliced through the currents with effortless grace. Lucian swam freely, reveling in the weightless sensation of the sea surrounding him. The cool water brushed against his skin as he weaved through vibrant coral formations, his keen eyes admiring the dazzling array of marine life. Schools of fish darted past him, shimmering like liquid silver under the sunlight that filtered through the surface.

This is freedom.

Lucian spun in the water, exhaling small bubbles as he watched them float toward the surface. It had been a long time since he had felt this unburdened. No expectations. No obligations. Just the sea and its wonders.

But then, something changed.

A deep, guttural roar rippled through the ocean, sending vibrations through the water. The sound was unlike anything he had heard before—wild, pained, and laced with distress.

Lucian's playful swim halted instantly. His instincts flared. Something's wrong.

Curious, he adjusted his course and swam toward the source of the sound, slipping through the water with the precision of a predator. As he neared a rocky outcrop, he finally saw it—a dragon.

A Scauldron.

The massive aquatic dragon thrashed in place, its powerful body struggling against unseen restraints. Its sleek, bluish-green scales gleamed in the dim ocean light, its large, fin-like wings fluttering helplessly. Lucian's gaze trailed down to the beast's tail, trapped beneath a massive rock formation.

The dragon let out another anguished bellow, its piercing yellow eyes filled with desperation.

Lucian's heart pounded. A strange sensation washed over him—an echo of emotions not his own. Restlessness. Fear. Anxiety.

"Is this... the Draconic Empathy skill?" Lucian wondered as he felt his ability reacting.

He reached out with his senses, trying to understand the dragon's turmoil. Why does it feel this way? What's scaring it?

Carefully, he approached. "How'd you get yourself into this mess?"

The dragon immediately tensed, its eyes locking onto him. Then—

WHOOSH!

A powerful jet of boiling water blasted toward him. Lucian barely managed to twist his body to the side, the scalding liquid sizzling through the water where he had just been.

"Whoa, whoa! Easy there, big fella!" Lucian raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his voice calm but firm. He slowly closed the distance, his silver eyes meeting the dragon's fierce gaze. "I mean no harm."

The Scauldron snarled but didn't attack again. Instead, its large head remained still, its sharp crest twitching as if sensing his intent.

Lucian carefully extended a hand. Gentle. Steady.

The dragon let out a low rumble, but something in his demeanor must have reassured it. The beast hesitated, then, with a slow, deliberate movement, it lowered its massive head and pressed it against Lucian's palm.

A small smile tugged at Lucian's lips. "There you go," he whispered. His fingers traced over the dragon's smooth scales, but as he moved toward its head, his expression darkened.

A wound.

A deep gash ran along the side of its head, fresh blood oozing out and staining the water a murky red.

"You've been through a lot, huh?" he murmured. "Don't worry. I'll help you."

Lucian then swam toward the boulder trapping its tail. Planting his hands firmly against the rough surface, he pushed with all his strength.

But underwater, his force wasn't enough. The rock barely budged.

A frustrated sigh escaped him. "Not enough leverage. I need more force."

ROAARR!!

A sudden scream shattered his focus.

Lucian turned sharply, his breath catching.

Sharks.

Five enormous predators circled in the distance, their dark eyes fixed on the wounded Scauldron. Their sleek bodies cut through the water like blades, moving with eerie precision. One lunged forward, its rows of jagged teeth snapping at the dragon's flank.

Bang!!

The Scauldron roared in pain and retaliated, releasing a powerful blast of boiling water at the nearest attacker. The shark recoiled but quickly regrouped, circling back with its pack.

They weren't backing down.

"Tch, this just got more complicated."

Lucian turned back to the rock, pushing it with renewed urgency. "Come on… move!"

Splash!!

A sudden shift in the water sent alarms through his instincts. He whipped around just in time to see one of the sharks charging straight at him.

Lucian reacted instantly. He twisted his body, narrowly dodging as the beast's massive form hurtled past him—and slammed headfirst into the boulder.

Boom!!

His eyes widened. It moved.

A reckless idea took shape in his mind.

Lucian smirked. "Well… looks like I gotta do this the risky way."

He shot forward, weaving through the water at breakneck speed. With practiced movements, he drew the sharks' attention, provoking them with sudden dashes and feints. The predators turned their focus onto him, their predatory instincts flaring.

Good. Follow me.

Lucian led them in a tight spiral, pulling them into a deadly chase. He angled toward the trapped Scauldron, swimming dangerously close to the boulder.

The sharks followed, moving as one.

Then, at the last second, Lucian shot upward, evading their charge. The sharks, unable to react in time, slammed full force into the rock.

BANG!

The impact sent a tremor through the seabed. The boulder shifted—then tumbled free.

The Scauldron was loose.

With a triumphant roar, the dragon unleashed another scalding blast at the remaining sharks, forcing them to scatter.

Lucian turned, breathing heavily, only to find the Scauldron moving toward him.

Before he could react, the beast lowered its head and hooked its horns beneath his arms.

"Wait—! Hey—!"

In an instant, the Scauldron launched forward, surging through the water at an incredible speed.

Lucian barely had time to grab onto its horns as the ocean blurred around him.

"Whoaaaaa! This is fast!" he shouted, gripping tightly to avoid being flung off.

The Scauldron let out a triumphant cry as it raced through the ocean, no longer bound by its wounds or fear.

And Lucian?

He laughed.

_____

"Alright, boy, I think I'm gonna need to give you a name," Lucian mused as he rode on the dragon's back.

"How about Scauldy, huh?"

The dragon roared in agreement.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm bad at naming. But it's kinda fitting, don't you think?" He chuckled, rubbing the dragon's head.

Then he frowned. "Alright… where are we?"

The Scauldron seemed to understand and suddenly surged toward the surface. As they broke through the waves, Lucian saw only a vast blue ocean stretching endlessly in every direction.

"Huh… I think I'm lost."

The sun cast golden streaks across the water, and the salty breeze ruffled his silver hair. Despite the breathtaking view, a single thought echoed in his mind.

"Da, da-da! I'm dead!" he muttered with a sigh.

A shadow passed overhead, snapping him from his thoughts. He looked up to see a bird circling above. "A seagull?" he mused. Before he could dwell on it, Scauldy let out a low rumble, then a full-bodied roar, sending vibrations through the water.

Lucian turned to the dragon, following its gaze below. His sharp eyes caught movement beneath the waves—a fish, no, not just a fish. A silhouette of a human-like figure flickered beneath the surface.

"A mermaid?" he murmured, intrigued.

Guiding Scauldy downward, they closed the distance, the water parting smoothly around them. As they neared, the figures came into focus—a vibrant yellow-and-blue fish flitting nervously around a red-haired mermaid.

[Ding! You have met a special character: Flounder.]

[You have obtained an uncommon Blind Box.]

Lucian blinked at the notification before glancing at the fish. "Flounder? Isn't he the one who's always with Ariel in the movie?" he thought. Even though he was an assassin in his past life, he had enjoyed watching movies for entertainment. Now, in this world, his memories were sharper than ever, allowing him to recall details with startling clarity.

He exhaled, deciding it was best to ask for directions. With a small pat on Scauldy's head, they approached the mermaid.

Ariel turned, her bright blue eyes widening as she took in the approaching merman and the imposing dragon behind him. Her mouth opened slightly as if she wanted to speak, but no words came out.

Lucian gave her a casual wave. "Hey there. Sorry to bother you, but I think I might be a little lost. Do you happen to know the way to Berk?"

The mermaid blinked at him, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to respond. Instead, a soft pink hue dusted her cheeks, and she hesitated, suddenly flustered.

"Uh—um—well—uh—" Ariel stammered, her tail flicking in the water as she struggled for words.

Lucian tilted his head. "Are you okay?"

Ariel quickly snapped out of it and straightened, clearing her throat. "Oh! Uh, yes! You're looking for Berk, right? I… I don't know exactly where that is, but—" She suddenly pointed toward the sky. "Scuttle might!"

Lucian followed her gesture and saw the same seagull from before, now circling lazily above them. "The seagull?"

"Yes! He knows all sorts of things," Ariel said enthusiastically.

Lucian chuckled. "Alright, then. Would you mind helping me talk to him?"

Ariel beamed. "Of course! Oh, I'm Ariel, by the way!"

Lucian nodded, offering a small smile. "Lucian. And this big guy here is Scauldy."

The dragon let out a low, contented rumble at the introduction.

"And I'm Flounder," the little fish piped up, though his round eyes were filled with confusion as he observed Lucian closely, studying him intently. There was hesitation, a flicker of suspicion.

"Wait a minute…" Flounder muttered, his voice cautious. "How did you become a merman?"

Lucian quirked an eyebrow. "What makes you think I wasn't always one?"

Flounder hesitated before speaking. "Because… when your ship was wrecked, Ariel was the one who pulled you to shore."

Lucian, pretending not to know, turned his gaze back to the red-haired mermaid. "You... saved me?"

Ariel's blush deepened, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well… you were unconscious… and the storm was really strong… I couldn't just leave you there."

Lucian exhaled, a soft chuckle escaping him. "Then I owe you one. Thanks, Ariel. I really appreciate it."

Ariel's lips curled into a shy smile, but before she could respond, a new voice cut through the water.

"Ariel! There you are!"

A sleek mermaid with short, dark hair swam toward them at a rapid pace. "Father's been looking for you everywhere—" she paused mid-sentence, her gaze locking onto Lucian. A slow smirk stretched across her lips.

"Oh my, oh my," she teased, circling around Ariel. "And who is this handsome merman keeping you company? Could it be… the lucky one who captured the heart of our youngest sister?"

Ariel's face turned as red as her hair. "Andrina! Stop!" she whined.

Andrina giggled. "What? It's not every day I catch you stuttering over your words, little sister. And let's be honest, he is cute."

Lucian chuckled at the sisterly banter. "I assure you, it's purely coincidental."

"Oh sure, sure," Andrina winked. "That's what they all say."

Ariel huffed, crossing her arms. "Can we just go find Scuttle?"

With Scuttle leading the way, they swam together through the open ocean, exchanging conversations along the way. Ariel excitedly spoke about sunken ships and human treasures she had collected, while Andrina kept sneaking in playful remarks about her younger sister's "new friend." Even Flounder, though still wary, began engaging in the conversation.

As the jagged peaks of Berk came into view, Scuttle flapped his wings excitedly. "Alright, kid! Here we are! Berk's just up ahead!"

Lucian turned to the group, offering a grateful nod. "Thanks, Scuttle. And thank you, Ariel, Andrina, and Flounder."

Ariel opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, her fingers fidgeting. Andrina, ever the mischief-maker, smirked. "Hey, are you free tomorrow? Or the next day? Or the day after that?"

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Andrina grinned. "Well, we want to give you a tour of our kingdom."

Lucian thought for a moment before recalling his upcoming dragon training. "Maybe in four days. I've got a few things I need to take care of first."

"Okie dokie! It's a promise, then!" Andrina chimed, already swimming away. "Bye-bye, mystery merman!"

Ariel turned back to Lucian, a warm smile gracing her features. "Goodbye, Lucian. See you soon."

He watched as the two mermaids disappeared beneath the waves, their silhouettes fading into the ocean's depths.

Lucian exhaled, shaking his head with a small smile. "Well, looks like it's just you and me again, big guy."

Scauldy let out a low rumble in agreement. Now that the mermaids were gone, Lucian concentrated, feeling the shift in his body. His tail shimmered before morphing back into his human legs. He pulled himself onto the rocky shore, drying off before slipping into his clothes.

Kneeling beside the dragon, he pressed his forehead against its scaled snout. "Visit me sometimes, big fella."

Scauldy let out a deep, rumbling roar before diving into the ocean, disappearing beneath the waves.

Lucian stood, watching the sea, before turning toward Berk.

It was time to get back to work.