Chapter 372: Who I am!

As they approached, the number of soldiers increased. Royal Tide Guards occupied every major entrance. Some rode enormous aquatic creatures while others floated near the palace walls.

Jax could sense incredibly powerful defensive formations surrounding the entire structure and he could also sense certain very strong individual mana signatures.

The Merfolk Royal Family clearly did not lack protection, which once again made Jax curious as to how they'd leave Seraphina so defenseless when she got kidnapped by the Church.

Still though, if Jax intended to establish relations between the Demon Kingdom and the Merfolk Kingdom, this was going to be interesting.

Seraphina's return alone would likely change everything.

They reached the palace entrance, with two enormous doors made from polished pearl and blue crystal stood before them.

The guards positioned outside immediately noticed the captain.

"Captain."

Vaelor nodded, "Open the gates."

One of the guards looked toward Jax, not recognizing him, "Who is this?"

"An honored guest," The guard looked surprised, "Captain?"

Vaelor glanced toward Jax's pendant and the guard's eyes widened as he saw it, "Oh."

That single word somehow contained an entire conversation. The doors opened slowly before them, and massive currents of mana flowed outward.

Jax entered, looking around as the interior was even more impressive than the exterior somehow.

The palace had been designed as an active part of the ocean. There was no artificial attempt to make it resemble a land-based castle.

Water flowed freely throughout every hall. Massive fish moved through open channels incorporated directly into the architecture.

Crystal chandeliers floated near the ceilings, with long corridors curved gracefully. Ancient murals covered the walls.

Jax recognized Meridia in several of them, but other murals depicted things such as great wars, merfolk kings and queens, deep sea leviathans and more.

Jax slowed before one particular mural.

Vaelor noticed, "Something interesting?"

Jax looked toward it.

The mural depicted a young Merfolk woman surrounded by guards. A crown rested above her. Several sea creatures knelt before her.

"Who is that?"

Vaelor followed his gaze, "Queen Althaea."

"The current Queen?"

"Yes."

Jax nodded.

"And the man beside her?"

"King Thalorien."

Jax studied them.

The mural was clearly old. The two rulers had ruled for a considerable period. He could feel it from the magical construction.

Jax looked back toward Vaelor, "Seraphina looks like her mother?"

The captain stopped as he heard that, his head snapping towards Jax, "What did you say?"

The guards around them had also stopped. Their expressions changed as Vaelor stared at him, "What did you just say?"

Jax looked at the mural again, "The Princess."

The captain's grip tightened around his spear.

"What about Princess Seraphina?"

Jax's expression became serious.

"Let's continue to the King and Queen."

Vaelor didn't move.

Jax looked toward him.

"I'd rather tell them together."

The captain's eyes widened, his mana fluctuated.

Jax could immediately tell what the man was thinking.

Vaelor's breathing changed, "You, how do you know the Princess?"

Jax's answer was calm.

"Like I said."

His golden eyes met Vaelor's.

"I'd rather tell her parents."

For several long seconds, the captain didn't speak and then he suddenly turned, "Move."

The guards moved immediately.

Vaelor's pace accelerated.

"Captain?"

"Bring him to the Royal Court."

"Now?"

Vaelor looked back.

"NOW."

The palace immediately changed as the guards began moving faster and Jax casually followed, he could practically feel the growing tension.

The Royal Court was located deep within the palace. Jax passed through several enormous halls. Each possessed increasingly powerful magical defenses.

The final doors were guarded by twelve Royal Tide Guards. Vaelor stopped before them and Jax looked toward the doors, "These are impressive."

Vaelor faced the guards.

"His Majesty and Her Majesty, "One guard stepped forward.

"They are currently in session."

"I need them."

The guard frowned, "Captain,"

"It concerns Princess Seraphina."

Everything stopped when Vaelor said that, and the guard's expression immediately changed, "...What?"

Vaelor looked toward Jax.

"He has information."

Jax smiled faintly.

"That's one way of saying it."

The guard stared at him and then toward the pendant and finally then back toward Vaelor, making a decision was made.

"Open the doors."

The enormous doors moved. Jax heard the sound of stone and crystal shifting. Then, the Royal Court was revealed.

It was enormous. An immense circular chamber stretched before him. The ceiling rose hundreds of meters upward.

Crystal formations filled the upper sections. Blue light descended through them.

A massive throne platform stood at the far end, two thrones rested upon it. One slightly larger, but both were constructed from white crystal and deep blue coral.

And seated upon them were the rulers of the Merfolk Kingdom. Jax's eyes immediately settled upon the Queen.

Meridia's mural had been accurate.

Queen Althaea possessed long silver-blue hair flowing gracefully through the water. A delicate crown rested above her head. Her eyes were a deep sapphire.

Her clothing shimmered with elegant blue and white scales.

Even from across the chamber, Jax could see her resemblance to Seraphina.

The mother-daughter duo had the exact same eyes, the same facial features and the same softness and elegance beneath the royal composure.

Beside her was King Thalorien sat upon the second throne.

The King was imposing, broad-shouldered with long dark blue hair rested behind him. A crown formed from black coral and crystal rested upon his head.

His eyes were sharp. Unlike the Queen, Jax immediately understood where Seraphina had inherited a certain stubbornness.

The Royal Court was filled with ministers, military commanders and much more.

Everyone turned when the doors opened and Vaelor immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty."

Jax casually followed and the King looked toward Vaelor, "Captain."

His voice was deep, "You interrupted the Royal Session."

Vaelor remained bowed, "My apologies, Your Majesty."

"Then explain."

The captain straightened slightly and Jax noticed his hesitation.

Finally, the Captain spoke, "I encountered this individual at the outer boundary."

The entire court looked toward Jax.

The King frowned,"An outsider breached the defensive formation?"

"No, Your Majesty."

Vaelor gestured toward the pendant.

"The formation permitted his entry."

Several ministers immediately whispered.

The Queen's eyes narrowed.

Jax could practically hear the thoughts moving through the court.

The King spoke again, "Why?"

Vaelor answered, "He carries the direct blessing of the Primordial Goddess."

Silence. This silence was even greater than the previous one. Jax slowly looked around.

Several people had actually gone completely motionless. A minister near the front stared at his pendant. One of the military commanders whispered.

"Meridia?"

Another looked horrified.

"Impossible."

Jax sighed.

"I've heard that word a lot lately."

The King ignored him.

His eyes settled upon the pendant. For the first time, Jax saw his expression change.

The Queen leaned forward, "May we see it?"

Jax nodded, "Of course."

He reached beneath his coat.

The pendant emerged and immediately, blue mana spread throughout the court. A gentle current flowed from the orb.

The room's magical formations reacted. Several ancient symbols carved into the walls illuminated.

The Queen's eyes widened and the King slowly stood as he saw all this, while Jax just looked at him, "Is that enough proof?"

Thalorien stared at the pendant.

Then toward Jax.

"Where did you obtain this?"

Jax looked toward Vaelor.

The captain sighed internally.

He had asked that question already.

Jax smiled.

"Meridia gave it to me."

The Royal Court exploded into noise.

"What?!"

"That is impossible!"

"Silence!"

The King raised his voice and mana exploded outward. The entire court immediately quieted.

Jax raised an eyebrow. The King was quite strong.

Not close to Jax, but impressive in his own right and worthy as a King of such a beautiful Kingdom.

Thalorien descended from the throne platform. He approached. Several guards immediately moved with him.

Jax remained completely still. The King stopped before him. They were nearly the same height. Jax's golden eyes met the ruler's sapphire ones.

"You met the Primordial Goddess."

"Yes."

"Recently?"

"Yes,"

A nearby minister almost choked. The King continued staring.

"Why?"

Jax smiled faintly.

"That's a long story."

"Then we have time."

The Queen suddenly spoke.

"Jax."

He turned toward her.

She had heard his name from Vaelor.

Her expression was different from her husband's.

Calmer.

But Jax noticed something else.

Hope.

Very faint.

Almost desperately hidden.

She was looking at him.

Then at the pendant.

Then back at him.

And Jax understood.

She knew something was coming.

Her voice remained controlled.

"What information do you have regarding our daughter?"

The entire court froze.

Jax became silent.

The King immediately turned.

"Althaea."

But the Queen's eyes remained on Jax.

Jax slowly looked toward Vaelor.

The captain had apparently told them enough, or perhaps, the Queen had simply understood.

Jax looked back, then smiled softly.

"I was wondering how long it would take."

The Queen's expression tightened.

Jax's tone changed,"I know where Princess Seraphina is."

The words traveled across the Royal Court and the King appeared directly before Jax. The movement was so fast that several nearby currents exploded outward.

"Where?"

His voice had changed.

Jax looked at him.

"She's safe."