Chapter 374: A Reunion Across the Sea!

Queen Althaea's fingers slowly tightened around her husband's hand as she heard what Jax said, and Thalorien looked toward her.

The two had ruled the Merfolk Kingdom together for centuries. They had endured wars, political conspiracies, attacks from deep-sea leviathans, disputes between ancient clans, and crises that would have broken lesser rulers.

Yet now, neither seemed capable of immediately deciding what to do, because they were no longer simply a King and Queen, they were parents who had spent months believing that their daughter might never return home.

The King took a deep breath and spoke to Jax, "Let's go,"

Jax smiled, "Good."

Then his golden mana began spreading. The moment Jax released his mana, the Royal Court reacted. Ancient formations carved throughout the chamber immediately illuminated.

Several defensive spells activated automatically.

Royal Tide Guards instinctively raised their weapons.

The immense ocean surrounding the palace trembled.

~BOOOOOOOOOOM!~

Golden mana erupted beneath Jax's feet. It wasn't hostile, but it was overwhelming. The Merfolk Kingdom had seen powerful beings before.

The rulers of the deep. Ancient leviathans. Legendary warriors. High-ranking sea mages capable of manipulating entire underwater currents.

The King and Queen themselves possessed power that ordinary Merfolk could scarcely comprehend.

Yet, Jax's mana felt different. It didn't simply possess power. It possessed an almost incomprehensible sense of control. Every strand of golden mana moved exactly where Jax intended.

The enormous magical formations surrounding the Royal Court continued reacting. Jax looked around, "...Relax."

~SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!~

Space folded all around them as Jax's golden mana rose in intensity, and the Merfolk Kingdom around them disappeared.

For one brief instant, there was nothing. The King and Queen felt an unfamiliar sensation spread throughout their bodies.

Space itself bent around them. The enormous distance between the Merfolk Kingdom and the Demon Kingdom collapsed.

Then...

~FWOOM!~

Reality returned. Queen Althaea opened her eyes. Her expression froze, as the first thing she noticed was the air.

The Queen instinctively took a breath and her lungs expanded. Thalorien slowly looked around.

The environment had changed completely. They stood high above an enormous city. Crimson and violet skies stretched endlessly overhead.

Great towers rose throughout the distant capital. Massive walls surrounded entire districts. Dragons flew through the sky.

The distant sound of thousands upon thousands of people reached them. The scent of enchanted metals, food, flowers and burning mana filled the air.

Queen Althaea stared in awe at the Demon Kingdom that was much different to her expectations, far more advanced than she could've thought.

"..."

King Thalorien remained completely silent.

Jax stood beside them.

"Welcome."

Queen Althaea looked toward the ocean, or rather toward where she instinctively expected the ocean to be.

There was none, only an enormous mountain range in the distance. The Queen looked back at Jax, her expression had become serious, "Where is Seraphina?"

Jax's smile faded slightly. He looked toward the enormous city below, "The Royal Guest District."

With that, the three immediately descended towards that district. The arrival of the Merfolk King and Queen into Aeternum Noctis was remarkably quiet.

Jax had deliberately chosen not to announce their arrival. Only those very close to him knew what was going on.

Jax led them through several quiet streets, various demons bowing as they spotted their King walking throughout the city.

Thalorien and Althaea naturally attracted attention. It was difficult not to notice them. The King and Queen possessed a presence that made them stand apart from ordinary people.

Their clothing alone marked them as royalty. More importantly, they were Merfolk.

The King and Queen were well adjusted to attention, so they mostly didn't mind. Though the Queen's eyes constantly moved throughout the city.

She saw the different races living together. Dragons walking beside Beastkin. Dark Elves operating stores. Vampires speaking with merchants. Fallen Angels moving through the streets.

Demonic children running around while their parents called after them. It was vastly different from what she expected.

Queen Althaea had heard stories about the Demon Kingdom, almost everyone had. For generations, it was place feared by foreign civilizations. A Kingdom associated with powerful Demons, Wars, Dark Magic and mass destruction.

Yet, he city before her didn't look like some monstrous realm of eternal suffering. It looked alive and thriving.

Queen Althaea's eyes slowly moved toward Jax and the Demon King noticed, "What?"

She looked forward again, "Nothing."

Jax raised an eyebrow, "That's rarely true."

Althaea smiled faintly, "I was simply thinking."

"About?" Jax asked.

She hesitated, "The Demon Kingdom."

Jax nodded, "What about it?"

The Queen looked around, "It's different from what I expected."

Jax smiled.

"Most things are."

Thalorien walked silently beside them. Eventually, he spoke, "The Church claims that Demons are incapable of peaceful civilization."

Jax's expression became amused, "Does it?"

The King looked toward him, "Yes."

Jax pointed toward a nearby bakery.

A Succubus stood behind the counter while arguing with an elderly Dark Elf customer, "I don't know."

The Succubus crossed her arms, the Dark Elf pointed toward a loaf of bread and the two continued arguing.

Jax looked toward Thalorien, "Seems pretty civilized to me."

The King actually smiled.

Finally, after a while of walking, they passed a residence designed around a miniature volcanic environment.

Then another containing an enormous forest. Finally, they approached the northern section.

Jax slowed and Queen Althaea noticed immediately, her breathing changed and Thalorien's hand moved toward hers.

The Queen grasped it.

Jax looked toward the residence ahead. White stone walls, blue crystals and enchanted streams. An environment designed specifically to remind its resident of home.

"There."

Queen Althaea stopped. Her eyes settled upon the residence, "...Seraphina."

Jax looked toward her, "She's inside."

Althaea's fingers tightened. For a moment, she couldn't move.

Jax didn't rush her and Thalorien didn't rush her.

The Queen simply stared and hen she began walking slowly, one step after another with Jax and Thalorien following.

They approached the entrance. Jax raised his hand, before he could knock, the door opened. One of the Elder Merfolk stood inside.

The elderly woman immediately looked toward Jax. Then, her eyes moved toward the King and Queen.

She froze, her mouth opened but no sound emerged. Jax raised an eyebrow. "Good morning."

The Elder Merfolk continued staring.

Then she screamed, "YOUR MAJESTIES?!"

The entire residence exploded into activity.

Several Elder Merfolk immediately rushed toward the entrance. They stopped and then froze. One covered his mouth. Another immediately dropped to one knee.

"Your Majesty!"

Queen Althaea barely seemed to notice them. Her eyes moved past the gathered Merfolk, deeper into the residence.

Her voice trembled, "Where..."

Nobody answered and the Queen swallowed, "Where is my daughter?"

One of the Elder Merfolk slowly pointed toward the interior, "The garden."

Queen Althaea moved and before she knew it.

"Mother?"

Everything stopped as Seraphina's voice was heard.

Queen Althaea froze. Jax looked toward the garden and Seraphina stood there. The young Princess had apparently been spending time near the enchanted water channels.

She stood several meters away, her long hair drifted gently around her. For a moment, nobody moved.

Seraphina's eyes moved from Jax to her mother who stared back.

Seraphina slowly looked toward King Thalorien. Her eyes widened, "...Father?"

Thalorien stopped breathing. The world seemed to become silent. The distant sounds of the capital disappeared. The flowing enchanted water became almost impossible to hear.

Jax quietly stepped away as this moment didn't belong to him. Seraphina remained completely motionless.

Queen Althaea's eyes filled with tears again, "Seraphina."

The Princess's lips parted. Her body trembled. For a single heartbeat, nobody moved and then Seraphina ran.

"Mother!"

Queen Althaea moved at exactly the same moment.

"Seraphina!"

They collided. The Princess practically threw herself into her mother's arms and Queen Althaea caught her. Then immediately wrapped both arms around her daughter.

"You're alive!"

Her voice broke completely.

"You're alive!"

Seraphina clung to her mother.

Tears immediately began falling from her eyes.

"Mother!"

Althaea held her tighter.

As though she was afraid that letting go would somehow cause her daughter to disappear.

"I thought..."

The Queen couldn't finish.

Her entire body trembled.

"I thought I lost you."

Seraphina shook her head against her mother's shoulder.

"I'm here."

Althaea cried harder.

"I'm here, Mother."

The Queen held her.

"Don't ever..."

Her voice cracked.

"Don't ever leave me like that again."

Seraphina began crying harder.

"I didn't want to!"

"I know."

Althaea immediately pulled back.

Her hands moved toward Seraphina's face.

She examined her, every part of her, from hair to her eyes and cheeks.

Seraphina laughed weakly through her tears.

"Mother."

Queen Althaea shook her head.

"I need to see you."

"I'm right here."

The Queen touched her face again.

"You're really here."

Seraphina smiled through her tears.

"Yes."

Queen Althaea suddenly pulled her back into another embrace.

The Princess laughed.

"Mother!"

"I don't care."

Althaea held her even tighter.

"I don't care if you're annoyed."

Seraphina's eyes closed.

"I'm not annoyed."

Several Elder Merfolk turned away.

Some were crying openly.

Jax quietly watched from a distance.

Then Seraphina suddenly looked up.

Her eyes moved beyond her mother.

She froze.

King Thalorien remained standing several meters away.

The powerful ruler hadn't moved.

He simply watched his daughter.

His expression was almost impossible to read.

Seraphina slowly stepped away from her mother.

Her eyes never left him.

"...Father."

Thalorien's jaw tightened. Then, "Come here."

That was all he said and Seraphina ran again.

This time, she threw herself directly into her father's arms. Thalorien caught her.

For several seconds, he remained completely motionless. Then his arms slowly wrapped around her. His eyes closed.

Seraphina began sobbing, "Father..."

Thalorien held her.

His voice was quiet.

"You're here."

The Princess clung to him.

"I'm sorry."

The King immediately opened his eyes.

His expression changed.

"Don't."

Seraphina sniffled.

"But..."

"Don't apologize."

She looked up at him.

Thalorien's eyes were intense.

"You did nothing wrong."