"I've never seen you two before..." The voice of the merfolk guard was deep, tinged with an inquisitive tone and an unmistakable sense of authority, carrying a subtle threat.
The words struck like a blade, cutting through the defenses in their hearts. Luna frowned slightly. Though her eyes could discern every detail in the dark waters, this sudden question left her feeling uneasy.
Leo reacted swiftly, answering calmly, "Yes, we're visitors from another sea region, hoping to rest here for a few days."
The merfolk guard continued to stare at them, as if weighing every word Leo had spoken. Despite their flawless story, it was clear that passing this test wouldn't be easy. The guard's vigilance only intensified.
"Alright, foreign merfolk, you'll come with me to meet the clan leader," the guard finally decided, his tone resolute, leaving them no chance to escape.
Though doubt filled their minds, Leo and Luna knew they couldn't afford to reveal any signs of abnormality at this moment. They followed the guard, who was large in stature, and the currents stirred by his movements only heightened the unease in their hearts. The surroundings grew more majestic, with the coral reefs and the blue marine creatures matching their pace, as if the entire underwater world were watching their journey.
Soon, they entered an area far more tranquil than anywhere they had been before. The water became calm, and the light from the seabed grew soft. Ahead, a structure made of shimmering coral and enormous seaweed loomed, with the giant Tide Sanctuary Tree at its center. Its branches gently swayed in the water, glittering with silver light. Its roots dug deep into a rift in the ocean floor, as if supporting the life force of the entire sea.
"This is the clan leader's residence," the guard pointed to a stone door ahead and said softly, "Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit hall filled with slender crystal pillars and mysterious carvings. Ancient runes and images of sea beasts adorned the walls, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and authority. Leo and Luna followed the guard inside, the oppressive atmosphere weighing heavily upon them. It felt as though every inch of the air was infused with the enigmatic essence of the deep sea.
At one corner of the hall sat a merfolk woman who appeared to be quite elderly. Her hair was woven from countless shimmering seaweeds, and her eyes were deep and wise, as if she could see through the secrets of the world. Her face, though aged, retained an elegant beauty, and her lips held a faint smile, one that concealed an unspoken authority.
"Leader, these two are outsiders, so I've brought them here," the guard reported in a respectful tone.
The clan leader waved her hand, signaling for the guard to leave. "Thank you. You may go now." Her voice was gentle, yet carried an unmistakable force.
The guard said nothing more. After casting a wary glance at Leo and Luna, he exited the hall. The atmosphere inside grew even tenser as Leo and Luna could feel the immense pressure from the clan leader. Even without speaking, her presence exuded an overwhelming authority, as if she were scrutinizing their very souls.
The leader's eyes slowly turned toward them, her gaze piercing and all-knowing, as if she could see through every hidden detail.
"Did you come here with a purpose?" The clan leader's voice was calm but carried a quiet authority.
"We..." Leo hesitated, but quickly regained his composure, "We just wanted to learn more about the merfolk, and hoped to stay here for a while."
The leader nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised by the response. However, she did not immediately answer. Instead, her eyes closed, entering a meditative state as if establishing a silent connection with the ocean, the Tide Sanctuary Tree, and even the world itself.
Leo and Luna stood silently by, feeling increasingly anxious as time passed. The air grew heavier, and the water seemed almost still.
Finally, the leader opened her eyes, her voice low but clear. "The Tide Sanctuary Tree holds the life and wisdom of our entire clan. It is not only the source of our power but also a mirror to our souls." She paused, then continued, "The Tide Sanctuary Tree will sense and judge whether your hearts are pure."
Leo and Luna exchanged glances. Though they had been prepared for this moment, the pressure they felt was still overwhelming.
The leader slowly swam toward the base of the massive Tide Sanctuary Tree, lifting her head to gaze up at it. In a quiet voice, she prayed, "Tide Sanctuary Tree, please judge their hearts."
After a brief silence, the tree's branches swayed gently, but no sound or significant reaction followed. Leo's heartbeat quickened, and he nervously watched the tree, but there was still no sign of change. As time passed, the atmosphere became even more tense, as if the entire room was waiting for the tree's response.
Just as Leo was about to lose hope, the leaves of the tree began to glow softly. As the light flickered, the entire hall's atmosphere shifted subtly. The glow slowly gathered into a stream of light that spiraled up the tree's trunk, as if responding to the clan leader's prayer.
The leader closed her eyes once more, nodding slightly, as if receiving an answer from the tree. She turned to Leo and Luna, a faint smile gracing her lips. "The Tide Sanctuary Tree has recognized the purity of your hearts. You may move freely here."
Upon hearing this, the heavy weight in Leo and Luna's hearts finally lifted. Though they still felt a slight unease, at least they were safe for now.
"Thank you, Clan Leader," Leo and Luna said in unison, their hearts filled with deep respect for the leader's wisdom and the power of the Tide Sanctuary Tree.
The leader nodded. "Since the tree has accepted you, I trust you will follow our rules. During your stay, you must live in harmony with the rest of the clan and avoid any actions that might provoke them."
Leo responded earnestly, "We will respect the rules."
The leader smiled faintly. "Good. You are free to move about, but remember, the world outside poses many threats to us. I hope you understand the caution of our people."
The two of them bowed again in gratitude and, following the leader's guidance, left her residence.
After leaving the leader's quarters, Leo and Luna were finally able to observe the legendary silver Tide Sanctuary Tree up close. The tree towered over them, standing like a natural lighthouse in the vast, blue sea, radiating a soft silver-blue glow. However, as they examined it more closely, they realized that this symbol of the merfolk's power and wisdom was no longer perfect.
A third of the tree's branches had lost their original luster, the silver leaves that once pulsed with sacred energy now dried and blackened, as though some illness was slowly draining the tree's vitality. This sight made Leo's heart tighten, and he quickly sensed that the tree's deteriorating state was likely connected to the changes within the merfolk clan itself.
Just then, Leo suddenly remembered the purpose of their trip—looking for clues about Dan. This name had been appearing constantly since they entered the Windfall City, and it seemed the merfolk were reluctant to speak of him. Leo took a deep breath and immediately returned to the matriarch's residence, asking her:
"Matriarch, do you know a merfolk named Dan?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the matriarch's expression instantly turned cold, even showing a hint of disdain. She narrowed her eyes slightly, the corner of her mouth curling into a cold smile: "Dan? That weakling was banished long ago, he's not even worth mentioning."
Leo noticed the matriarch's gaze sharpen, clearly becoming suspicious of their question: "Do you know him?"
Realizing he might have been too direct, Leo quickly waved his hand: "No, I don't know him. I just... saw his name on a wanted poster."
The matriarch stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly trying to find any inconsistency in his eyes. In the end, she didn't press further, instead giving a cold snort and gesturing for them to leave.
Leo and Luna exchanged a glance before bidding the matriarch farewell and swimming away swiftly.
Once the matriarch's wary gaze was no longer on them, Leo and Luna were finally free to explore the merfolk city. Despite being located deep under the sea, the city's prosperity rivaled that of human towns. On both sides of the streets, vibrant coral reefs had been shaped into various unique buildings. There were shops, plazas, training grounds, and even a market-like area where the merfolk traded various oceanic products and magical tools.
However, what amazed Leo and Luna the most wasn't the bustling cityscape, but the merfolk warriors.
Whether male or female, all of the merfolk had robust physiques, their well-defined muscles demonstrating incredible strength in the water. Not only were they adept in magic, but they also excelled in hand-to-hand combat. Many merfolk carried specially crafted tidal spears or sharkbone daggers, showcasing a high level of martial skill.
Witnessing this, Luna couldn't help but comment: "These merfolk are not only capable of using magic, but physical combat seems to be an essential part of their daily training."
She turned to Leo, a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "By the way, Leo, you've never used magic, have you? Can you use it?"
Leo was momentarily taken aback, as he had never really thought about it. He slowly shook his head: "I'm not sure… At least, since I lost my memory, I haven't used any magic. I wonder if I could use it before?"
Luna nodded thoughtfully, not pressing further.
The next morning, Leo and Luna woke up and took the merfolk transformation potion again to continue their investigation. They swam through the merfolk city, heading towards the deep sea regions far from the town, in search of more clues about Dan. However, as they swam out of the city, they witnessed a shocking sight.
A large merfolk warrior was dragging several nearly dead humans towards the merfolk city. The humans were covered in wounds, their limbs dangling lifelessly at their sides, clearly on the verge of death. Their eyes were filled with terror, yet they had no strength left to resist.
Seeing this, Leo's brow furrowed sharply, and anger flared within him. He whispered, "We have to save those people!"
Luna took a deep breath and quickly formulated a plan, then softly murmured an incantation. In an instant, a ghostly blue light shot from her fingertips, rapidly spreading in front of the merfolk warrior—Blindness spell!
The merfolk warrior, caught off guard, let out a scream, releasing his grip and shutting his eyes tightly. He began to thrash wildly in the water, clearly losing all sense of sight.
Seizing the opportunity, Leo swiftly swam forward, his broken sword lacking any murderous intent, but he used the hilt to strike the merfolk warrior's back of the head with force.
"Bang—"
The merfolk warrior's vision went black, and his body lost balance, slowly collapsing and sinking to the ocean floor.
Leo and Luna immediately sprang into action, propping up the nearly dead humans to ensure they could still breathe. However, just as they were preparing to retreat, a cold voice suddenly came from behind them:
"Doing this will lead to a manhunt by the merfolk."
The two turned sharply and saw a mysterious, masked merfolk floating behind them. His figure was hidden in the shadows, only his sharp eyes visible, intensely staring at them.
Leo tightened his grip on his broken sword and warily asked, "Who are you?"