Chapter 33: What if I refuse?

Neriah lead Tristan into the most sacred part of her palace, a hidden chamber veiled by cascades of sapphire waterfalls, and bioluminescent coral that lit the path in a soft, mesmerizing glow. The chamber was filled with relics of old, some faded and forgotten, but the most prominent amongst them was a golden box, encrusted with rare sea jewels. It was placed upon a pearl pedestal and gleamed under the dim, shimmering light of the chamber.

With a flourish of her hand, Selkie, who had been sulking in the shadows, stepped forward. She carried herself with a graceful, defiant saunter, and with a reluctant hand, she lifted the lid of the golden box, revealing the grand treasure of their tribe.

It was a teardrop-shaped artifact, resplendent and luminescent as a droplet of starlight. It pulsed gently with an ethereal radiance that was soothing yet powerful, woven intricately from an unknown substance. Its brilliance was not blinding, but rather inviting, a magnet to the eyes that whispered a tale of ancient might and wisdom. In its core, an electrical spark danced about restlessly, in a rhythm that echoed the heartbeat of the sea.

Before Tristan could extend his hand to touch the artifact, Selkie slammed the lid shut, the wicked smirk never leaving her lips. Tristan shot her a quizzical look, which only made her smirk widen.

'Such a sneaky bitch,' Tristan thought to himself as he turned his attention back to Neriah.

However, Neriah, who had been observing the scene silently, gave a stern nod to Selkie, signaling her to open the box.

With a huff of defeat, Selkie lifted the lid again, this time standing back, letting Tristan approach the artifact.

As Tristan touched the artifact, a rush of energy surged through him. It was as if his senses were amplified, the smell of the sea more potent, the sound of the waves more pronounced, his sight clearer than ever before. A sudden influx of electricity coursed through his veins, raw and untamed. And then, a voice, clear and concise, resonated in his mind.

[For bonding with Aeluin, the Teardrop of the Abyss, you possess another primary ability: electricity...]

Aeluin, the artifact's name, was ancient, originating from the old siren tongue, translating roughly to 'starlight of the sea.'

The translucent display in front of him explained its potential to Tristan in a series of visuals. It would help augment his physical construction, enhancing his strength, speed, and durability. Additionally, it allowed him to manipulate electricity, an extension of his own will. It also showed Tristan the past bearers of Aeluin, all of them great heroes and warriors of the Siren tribe.

Tristan was awestruck by the treasure, now a part of him. He looked towards Neriah, and for the first time, he was not just looking at her, but truly seeing her. He felt a pull, an unexplainable connection, not just towards Neriah but also towards the entire Siren tribe.

'Get your thoughts together, there was a reason for me being here.' He reminded himself of the immediate danger he was in, and that now, he was better equipped to face whatever came his way.

He had gained something from this ordeal, not just in terms of power, but also a better understanding of the sirens, of Neriah and her tribe.

Time was ticking away, and Tristan knew he had to act fast. His boosted senses were already alerting him to the subtle shifts in the surrounding energy. A storm was brewing, and Tristan was right at the heart of it.

"Do you like it? Do you want it?" Neriah asked him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Tristan nodded slowly, still trying to process what had happened so far.

"Then you can have it," Neriah said, extending her hand toward him.

'Obviously, it was promised to the winner of the tournament...' Tristan thought to himself.

"I'm sorry," Neriah apologized, "I forgot to mention that you can't leave me or my Kingdom, not after knowing how valuable you are to us."

'As expected, she's even more clingy than Selkie.' Tristan thought with a smirk as he watched the Aeluin get absorbed into his body.

The lightning-like sparks that were emanating from the artifact began to fade as the last remnants of the energy were absorbed into Tristan's body.

As the energy settled, Tristan raised his head and locked eyes with Neriah, "What if I refuse? What if I go with choosing my path instead?"

'What if I just kill you and see if it debugs the shit task? I've been itching for some bloodshed lately.' Tristan thought to himself as he stared into those beautiful blue orbs which were filled with unfathomable love.

"You won't, charming one" Neriah replied confidently, "you're mine."

Tristan smiled slightly, thinking that perhaps she was just as delusional as the ladies he's been with.

"What do you think I'll go with, Neriah?" Tristan asked, "I mean, I know you're going to try and convince me otherwise, but I need to hear it from you."

'I need you to seal your fate.' He completed in his thoughts.

Neriah paused for a moment before answering, "You're staying here with me forever. You're mine now... for all eternity."

Tristan couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Do I look like a fucking toy to you?" He asked incredulously.

Selkie stepped forward, ready to defend her mother from the perceived insult, but Neriah held up her hand, stopping her.

"No, Selkie, let him speak," Neriah said calmly.

Tristan had intended to say something, but a smug expression crept across his face when he sensed familiar auras approaching the door behind him. He was well aware of what was coming next.

*****

A/N

Thank you for the GTs [Chance_Riggs_2115]

¶ What do you think would be Neriah's answer?

A hearty welcome to those who didn't drop this book, it feels great to finally pick this up again.

1000 summoning pens= 1 bonus chapter.

I would really appreciate your comments and support of this novel with your power stones. Your active comments would motivate me to write more chapters.