It was a city.
A city of high-rising spires, their sharp tips piercing up higher into the lighter area of the ocean.
Even from far outside the entrance gate, Ryuk could already see various sea creatures roaming around.
Zooming his gaze further, it settled upon the building at the center of the underwater kingdom, a massive structure made of glinting purple stones.
From within its depths, he could sense Zaffre’s aura.
While he felt the urge to simply give the Come command and have her instantly appear at his side, his curiosity caught the better of him.
’I wonder just what she is up to?’
Entering through the gate without being noticed was simple enough.
He merely took a step forward, crossing with such speed that the guardians around him couldn’t even register his presence.
Three more steps and he stood atop the tip of the purple building.
Silently, he slipped through a slightly opened window, vanishing inside.
_____________
"High Water Zaffree, there has been a note from the Association of Waterial, about the sudden change of the water’s colour."
The voice came from an aquatic man with fish-like fins running across his face, neck, and arms.
He kneeled on one knee in the wide throne room of purple stone, at whose far end sat a humanoid figure on a throne.
It was a feminine figure, though eye-catching not for her beauty alone, but for the various tentacles trailing from her back, sprawling across the throne’s surface.
This was none other than Zaffree herself.
"What’s the report?" she asked.
"The water’s colour has been reverting with speed, approximately 30 minutes ago, with about 40% of Waterial already back to normal."
"The Association is still trying to discover if there were any further damages that might have ensued from the change, but the procession is still ongoing."
"Have they gotten a report about what caused the change?" she asked.
The finned man shook his head.
"No, High Water Zaffree. That is also in procession."
"Let them know I, like the other High Waters, am equally interested in learning what may have led to the colour shift," she said.
The man bowed, rose, and exited the throne room.
The golden door opened once more, and another messenger entered—a female.
"High Water Zaffree."
"State your report."
"The Ariel Association has sent an update on the evacuation above surface." The messenger reported.
"According to sources, the threat has been ridden off, and the people are resuming their lives on Ammamora."
"While there has been a seven-day peace week, business procedures and daily livelihood are expected to resume very soon."
’The same goes for our currently dormant business procedures with Above Surface organizations."
Zaffree hummed deeply before asking,
"Has there been any report on what caused the evacuation in the first place?"
"No, High Water Zaffree. There has been nothing on that."
"Report back to the Ariel Association to dig deeper into the cause of the abnormality and have me informed as soon as possible," she commanded.
The finned lady bowed and departed.
"Asdol," Zaffree called.
From the empty space stepped a pitch-black, robed creature, its crimson eyes fixed silently upon her.
"Shut the palace gates. I’ve taken enough reports for the day."
"Gryyy... gryyuum..."
An unexplainable noise rumbled from the robed creature before it disappeared.
Dark runic lines materialized upon the massive purple gates, shutting them with a snap.
The moment the snap echoed, Zaffree exhaled deeply and slumped onto her throne.
One of her tentacles rose, her fingers twirling idly around it as she sighed, staring blankly to the side of the chamber.
"Someone seems worried..."
The voice echoed out suddenly in the empty throne, and...it wasn’t from her.
Zaffree snapped upright, eyes wide.
That voice... so familiar.
Her gaze darted across the throne room, but she found nothing.
Then her other two eyes opened, allowing her to pick up on a deeper wave of reality sensory, and immediately she sensed the anomaly.
Her gaze snapped toward the ceiling, only to find a pair of shimmering purple eyes, dusted with star-like dots of pink light, staring into her eyes.
It was Ryuk, hanging upside down, and with a gentle push, he flipped upright and landed softly on his feet.
"You’re finally up..." Zaffree said, her voice a squeal of excitement.
Unconsciously, she leaned forward on her throne, drawn toward him. Realizing her own over-excitement, she quickly pulled back in embarrassment—only for her face to flush scarlet when his arms wrapped around her in an embrace.
"Why fight it?" the voice whispered into her ear.
Zafree froze in perplexity for a moment, then her lips curved into a sweet smile.
She closed her eyes and hugged him tightly.
’How much she had missed him,’
They parted after some time, and all of a sudden, she watched as Ryuk bent to one knee.
With an expression of mock flattery, he declared,
"High Water Zaffree, my Lord."
His dignified tone only made her face flush red like a tomato.
"Stop teasing me!" she protested, her tentacles lashing around him, hoisting him into the air upside down.
"Okay, fine, fine!"
She huffed, releasing him, and he crashed headfirst onto the ground.
"You look quite different..." she said, stepping down from her throne and walking closer.
"Different?" Ryuk asked, picking himself off the ground, and watching her narrowed eyes look around him suspiciously.
One of her tentacles reached forward, tilting his hair.
"Your hair colour... it changed. Half pink, half white."
"It did!?" Ryuk’s voice was genuinely surprised.
He hadn’t even had the chance to check a mirror.
"Your skin looks different, too," she added, holding out his arm.
"It’s so smooth..." She whispered silently to herself while muttering out loud.
"Tougher somehow..."
Her scales brushed against his skin as her brows knitted.
His flesh felt like an impenetrable white ore, yet paradoxically, soft to the touch, giving the illusion that a single pinch might pierce it.
But when she pressed harder, it did nothing at all.
"And you’ve grown taller, too. You were about 2.4 meters before... now you’re a full 3."
"That’s quite the changes."
"But... knowing you, I’m guessing that’s just the tip," she said, giving him a ’I know you’ look.
Ryuk only grinned.
"Maybe just a couple more changes..."