"Destan! You certainly have a good taste in women like Kai does!" Morgan's voice rang out, laced with teasing mirth.

"Well, my taste is impeccable," Kai replied with a sly grin.

"Kai!" Morgan's cackle followed.

"Shut your mouth, Morgan," a familiar voice muttered.

"Hey! Don't be so cruel to Morgan!" someone else chimed in, their tone playful but firm.

A groan escaped from Ace as she sat up, clutching her head as a sharp throb pulsed through her skull. "What the heck is going on?" she grumbled, squinting against the bright glare of the sun.

"I was hoping you could tell me that," a male voice answered, his tone laced with curiosity.

"What?" she said, blinking rapidly to clear her vision.

Her gaze landed on a man clinging to the edge of the boat. His long, wet white hair clung to his broad shoulders. Beside him, another man with crimson-red hair that reminded her of blood hovered with ease. To her left, a man with dark hair and piercing emerald-green eyes studied her. At first glance, they all appeared normal—except for the other two figures clinging to the boat's edge.

The first was a woman with hair as black as night and stormy gray eyes that seemed to churn like turbulent seas. But it wasn't her eyes that caught Ace's attention—it was the scales framing her temples and the faint shimmer of more scales across her shoulders. Beside the woman floated a peculiar man with strands of seaweed tangled in his hair and eyes that resembled those of a cat—vertical pupils set against golden irises.

"Hey there," the cat-eyed man said with a crooked grin.

"Hi," Ace squeaked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What's your name?" the woman's tone was gentle, her stormy eyes watching Ace with interest.

"Aceso Valentine," she muttered. "But people call me Ace."

"Hello, Ace. Do you know what's happened in the last few hours?" the woman's gaze softened as she leaned in.

Ace's eyes darted to the white-haired man, and her anger flared. "That asshole kidnapped me," she snapped, pointing an accusatory finger.

The man's brows drew together in confusion. "Asshole?"

"It's a term for someone who's being extremely irritating," the woman explained with a smirk.

"I am not irritating," the white-haired man muttered, his tone indignant.

Ace's eyes rolled skyward. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that, buddy. Look, I'd really like to go home now."

The man with emerald eyes stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. "I'm sorry, but we can't let you do that."

Her heart dropped into her stomach. "What do you mean you can't let me?" Her voice grew louder, panic rising in her chest.

The woman's gaze was full of sympathy, but her words cut deep. "You've seen too much. You've seen Ren's and Morgan's true forms. We can't allow you to leave knowing what you've seen."

"No!" Ace's voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes. "I have to go back! My family—they'll be looking for me. Please, I swear I won't tell anyone."

"I'm sorry," the emerald-eyed man said with quiet finality. "But that's not a risk we can take."

Her fists clenched as raw anger surged through her. "How dare you! You don't know what it's like to be ripped away from everything you love!" Her muscles tensed, ready to lash out.

"I wouldn't try that," the red-haired man said, his spear now raised in warning.

"Oh? He can't fight his own battles?" Ace sneered, her eyes flicking toward the green-eyed man.

"He can," the woman interjected. With a fluid motion, she pulled herself into the boat, revealing a long, glistening tail in place of legs.

Ace's jaw dropped. "Holy... you're a mermaid."

The woman's brows arched. "You're just now realizing that?"

Ace's lips pressed into a line. "Well, I knew that guy had weird... posture," she said, nodding toward the white-haired man.

"Destan?" the redhead snorted. "His posture's fine."

The cat-eyed man's grin widened as he nudged the redhead. "Atlantis, you're so naive sometimes."

Atlantis's face turned bright red. "I— I didn't mean it like that!"

Ace's laughter burst out unbidden, but it was short-lived. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed.

"Enough!" she barked, her voice cracking. "I just want to go home!"

The white-haired man—Destan, apparently—sighed. "Demanding, aren't you?"

"We'll take you to the island," the green-eyed man said, his tone firm. He and the others dove beneath the waves, pulling the lifeboat along with them. Only the woman with the emerald-green tail remained beside her.

"My name is Ren," she said, offering Ace a small smile.

"Ace," she replied quietly, hugging her knees to her chest as tears rolled down her face.

Ren's hands cupped Ace's cheeks, wiping away her tears with her thumbs. "Don't cry. They're not as bad as they seem. They're kind."

"How would you know?" Ace's eyes narrowed as she pulled away. "You're not human. You've never had to leave everything behind."

A shadow of sadness passed over Ren's face. "No. I suppose not."

---

Cassio darted through the corals, his light flickering in sync with his humming. "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard," he sang softly. He paused, frowning. "What's a milkshake, anyway?" He shrugged. "I'll ask Ren later."

His humming resumed. "Damn right, it's better than yours—" He froze, his eyes locking onto a shadowy figure ahead.

Curious, he followed, weaving through the Blue Coral and into a desolate undersea valley. Shadows danced on the cavern walls as he moved. The glow from his body dimmed, his instincts warning him of the shift in atmosphere.

The figure slipped into a cave. Cassio pressed his ear to the rocky wall, straining to hear the voices within.

"The Emerald King's marriage plans are in motion," said a smooth, venomous voice.

"A minor setback," another voice replied. "Proceed to phase two."

"Yes, my lord," the figure answered. As it swam away, Cassio's eyes locked onto its retreating form. It left behind a trail of black ink, its tail's shape familiar—too familiar.

Cassio's glow flickered wildly. He had to warn his master. Now.