Chapter 20: Fuck formalities!
Tristan was astonished by his luck. He had been able to get the Eye of Heat back without actually running into any danger, and he was now back in the clearing with the other participants. He couldn't help but feel smugly pleased as they all turned to look at him with a mixture of envy and respect.
'I knew you could do it!' Neriah thought as she stared at the pearl in her hands.
The Eye of Heat was unlike anything Selkie had ever seen before. It was a bright crimson, almost glowing in the light, and it seemed to pulsate with otherworldly energy. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the sight of it.
Neriah noticed her daughter's expression, fixated on the pearl, and chuckled softly. "It is quite something, isn't it?" Neriah said, her voice low and husky. "Legend has it that this pearl possesses incredible powers, capable of granting its wielder immense strength and magical abilities once the true desire is met."
Selkie nodded slowly, her mind still reeling from the sight of the pearl. "Do you believe the legends are true?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Neriah grinned cryptically. She asked, turning to face Tristan, "who knows? Perhaps we will learn someday."
"H... How did you-" Tristan interrupted Selkie mid-sentence and added, "you said we should retrieve the pearl, there you go. In the care of Neriah. Aren't we all relieved that nobody died?" He deadpanned.
Tristan's casual manner of addressing Neriah caused the other group members to all take a step back in disbelief and turn their attention back to her. They feared that he might be in trouble for doing so.
Nothing!
At this time, one of the other participants raised his hand and spoke, his voice wavering just a little. He started by asking Neriah, "Your Imperial Highness, shouldn't he be addressing you with proper honorifics?"
At the participant, who Tristan could remember was the fifth, he let out a mocking snort. "Oh, please," he muttered, dismissively waving his hand. "Aren't we all in this together? Formalities are unnecessary if a legitimate reason is available. How about attempting the same if you want to try? Neriah probably wouldn't object, I just know it."
[Name: Lance]
Lance straightened up again a little later and made an awkward throat clearing. He paused for a while to reflect on what Tristan had said before saying, "Your imperial Highness... Neriah, how is it that-"
As she glared at Lance, Neriah's expression turned chilly. Her gaze focused on him as if he were doubting her authority.
'Too easy!' with disappointment, Tristan shook his head.
An overwhelming sense of secondhand embarrassment caused Selkie to droop her head. With Lance referring to her mother by her name, it was awkward enough for her to listen to someone who wasn't from their tribe or nobility. It became clear that there was yet another unintelligent person unaccustomed to dealing with nobles when they overheard someone else refer to her mother by her name.
Lance anxiously swallowed before instantly bowing deeply. "Please accept my sincere apologies, Your Imperial Highness."
As she glared at Lance, Neriah's expression turned cold. She asked, "how would you like your last moments to be?"
"Huh?" Lance asked in bewilderment. The others in the clearing also audibly gasped. Tristan too briefly flinched when he experienced an icy chill down his spine.
Everyone gasped in terror as Neriah extended her hand, drawing Lance in with a powerful pull. She quickly grabbed Lance by the throat and effortlessly raised him above her head. Lance initially appeared helpless as Neriah raised him higher, then moved him closer to her line of sight and her lips. Without rapid release from Neriah, he would die in a matter of seconds because there was not even room between her nails and his neck for air to get through. That was presuming everyone watching thought Neriah was going to murder him straight regardless since none of them wanted to take the chance of being the next after seeing Milo's end for themselves.
Neriah immediately stopped moving after that, allowing Lance to fall hard to the ground. Blood sprayed everywhere, including Neriah herself, as Lance fell, with many gashes extending diagonally across his entire neck.
'What in the world are you doing, woman?! You're ruining my chance here because we can't easily kill as you can! C'mon, give them to me!' As he watched the event take place in front of his eyes, Tristan screamed inside. His rage quickly increased as he observed Neriah standing over Lance and expressing complete satisfaction with her actions.
[For concluding the first task–Your secondary water ability is ice. When a liquid turns to a solid, ice naturally forms; however, some substances need special conditions (such as temperature) to transform into pure crystalline structures known as ice crystals or hailstones. Using nothing more than your natural resolve, you can immediately freeze items. However, freezing something requires significantly more time than melting it. In addition, keep in mind that because of friction with surfaces, frozen objects lose durability faster even though they absorb less damage per strike. Last but not least, keep in mind that while this skill functions best when combined with water manipulation skills, it can also be used on its own. Your emotions boost its potency.]
Tristan could see the icy mist evaporating from his palms as the information needed to use the ice manipulation was being uploaded to his memory. He slipped his hands into his pockets to hide what was happening and made an effort to breathe as quietly as he could.
However, after some time had gone, he discovered that none of the participants had been paying any attention to him at all because of their internal conflicts over what Neriah intended to do with them.
"Please, my darlings, don't compare yourselves to one another. Sometimes my tribe isn't the most understanding creatures in the realm, but we do know how to entertain our guests." Neriah said with an eye-shut smile. She smiled sheepishly and opened her eyelids once more, clapping her hands.
Selkie stepped forward and read the outcomes of the first task while holding a shimmering, clam-shaped book. "Hegan–one point, Reed–one point, Milo–nil, Shanks–one point, Lance–nil, Damian–one point, Tristan–five points."
Before anyone could object to the manner of awarding points, Selkie added, "for every task passed, there will be one winner amongst all others with the cumulative points of the participants given as the points achieved..."
'As a result, none of us will be willing to kill the other even when it is necessary out of the dread of losing points if we want to advance and win the grand prize, except me, of course.' Tristan debated in his mind.
"However, those who successfully completed each assignment will be awarded points based on the task's serial number. There will be one point awarded for each person counted because this is the "first" task." Selkie concluded and looked to her mother for further instruction.
Tristan grinned, knowing that if things went his way, he would have no trouble rising through the ranks. She had also made it simple for him to assign each participant's name correctly because it matched how he had evaluated each participant using a specific number.
"Is there anything else anyone would like to mention before we move forward?" Neriah questioned with a twisted grin, anticipating some type of unprecedented unseen level of ignorance. "None? Not even–"
"Ahem... When will I receive my reward for successfully finishing the task? If you wouldn't mind, please." Although he was feeling a little uneasy, Tristan interrupted, attempting to sound carefree. Since nobody appeared to be giving away freebies in that manner, it seemed unlikely that anyone would without asking. However, based on how the other participants have responded thus far, perhaps asking was worthwhile. Particularly in light of the length of time previously spent anticipating whatever followed.
'There is not much time left!' With just one hundred and forty-one hours, forty-two minutes left to complete the primary goal for the level, his mind was in a state of desperation as he watched the timer countdown.
Neriah grinned in response and said, "well, seeing as how you've successfully completed the challenge, I suppose I shouldn't deny you your reward." She encouraged her daughter to approach him with a flair of her fingers.
"How about I assist you to clean up and get laid up for the next day?" Selkie's hands probed around inside his shirt as she spoke. "You can expect certain exclusive benefits and treatments from me because I'm a royal."
Without waiting for Tristan to respond, she pulled him, like she had done when they first met, but this time she led him into a furnished chamber before slamming the door behind them.
Tristan was unable to see what was happening in the clearing from within the chamber, but little did he realize that his interactions could be observed through the one-way glass window outside the chamber, which was designed so that only the participants could see through it.
Selkie easily pushed Tristan backward onto the cushioned bed, which caused the other participants' eyes to enlarge. She then removed his clothing till most of his body was exposed and only his underwear was left. The only part of his body that was covered was the place where Selkie's hands were placed firmly on his chest and Tristan's hands caressed her thighs.
Their mouths were gaping open in oozing jealousy as they watched closely what was happening behind closed doors.
"You may choose any of the four ladies you like," Neriah gestured to the others and snapped her fingers. "The purpose of this place is for you to experience pleasure and amuse all interested spectators of our tribe."
Neriah vanished from her throne with the words, "they don't take no for an answer. While you still have the chance, try to live in the moment," echoed throughout the clearing.
Four sirens stepped out of the water, their wet hair trailing behind them as they took on human forms. Their nipples and pelvic areas were covered only by their hair, leaving the rest of their bodies naked. The women displayed their toned bodies while standing tall and proud in nothing more than superficial scales that resembled tattoos around their waists. Their breasts protrude outward with pride, supported by skin that was both firm and supple.
Each siren had long, wavy hair that fell beyond their shoulders. One of these ladies made her way toward Hegan while beaming brightly at him. Her hair, which was dark green and freely flowed along her shoulder blades, matched her skin's subtle blue-green radiance wonderfully.
She grasped hold of his arm, as did the other ladies to their selected partners, and they said joyfully, "I'm all yours!"
*****
A/N
¶ Sigh I feel this book isn't getting any attention and I'm just writing for myself (although to a degree I am, but still... a little boost in confidence goes a long way.)
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