The Broken Prince

"Where is he?" I looked back at Kaval who was panting, his hand on the palm tree for support. Behind him was Dianne still in her dress, also panting. I stayed silent for a while as I stared at the sea with my heart still beating fast. It was a good thing that the only source of faint light was the moon or else the blush on my face would be evident. The waves on the sea started to go calm as a part of it was glowing far from the horizon.

"Uh, Apollo?" I heard Dianne ask again. I looked at back at her looking very dazed. The both of them looked at me with a questioning look so I answered them right away because they might pry even further.

"He's at home." I said with a smile. They looked at me before they looked at the sea. Their faces went those of worry and then to a sad, sympathetic smile. We all started to walk slowly towards the shore where the waves crashed.. I sighed as I sat on the sand, not minding one bit if I ever got wet. The place was silent and very solemn. Only the breeze of the wind and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore was the only thing that could be heard. Both Kaval and Dianne sat on the sand with me in silence. Not one of us said a word for a while. Despite the silence of the place, I think none of us did feel the need to sleep. I figured that it was already deep in the night as the moon was already close to meeting the sea.

"Look!" Dianne said with an amazed gasp. We looked at to where she pointed and saw a group of dolphins jumping. I looked at the sight amazed as this only happen very rarely. The shadows of the sea creatures met the moon whose half of the body looked like it was submerged underwater. We kept looking at the sight until a foreign figure emerged from the water and jumped like the dolphins. We immediately stood up as we saw the creature. My body felt a surge of electric wave ran down my body as my hair rose from the chill I felt. The sight was beyond magnificent to behold.

"I-It's him. It's Alex." Kaval said between gasps. We looked at him in awe as he continued to jump along the dolphins. I felt my heartbeat going faster at the moment.

"He looks so happy there." I only nodded in agreement with Diane. Alexander indeed looked happy from afar. To where he truly belongs, at the world where problems don't chase him and where everyone admires him.

It was my first time seeing a merperson as I never got the chance to see one, but now, I guess the time spent waiting so one paid off as the merman that I am looking at now is not that of an ordinary one but the next king of the sea. I smiled at the sight of him looking very free and away from worries. I wish that I could give the same thing to him, here at the land but fate here seems to have it's own agenda.

"It'd be best if we head back to our rooms now. Let's just leave him for now. He needs it more than any of us. He's going to be put through a lot inside that dome so it's good that he's taking his frustration out now so that he can focus on training in the next coming days." Kava; said in a serious tone.

"Indeed, and he has yet to confront his teammates tomorrow about his real situation. I just wish that they'd understand and find a way to make their team work." I answered.

"He doesn't need to worry about your pair but I am worried about mine. I mean, I alone wouldn't hurt him but Hade is on another page. I could only try and persuade him to let Alexander slip past his net but if he doesn't, then I do not know what I could do any further. He doesn't listen and always goes his own way. I am worried not just for Alexander but also for Hade because what if he ends up killing him? This world would loose two heirs and that could possibly ignite a war between both kingdom." Dianne spoke with worry very much so evident on her voice.

"Let us hope not. We've known Hade for a long time now but he wouldn't act like that. He might go with his own ways but he is not reckless-"

"But this time it's different. We are talking about Hade and the heir of the person that killed his mother. We also know how bad he wants to take revenge for that. We won't know the things that could happen. When it comes to family he would sacrifice himself and that thing could possibly happen when both Alex and him are put in the same arena." Dianne added cutting me off.

"Is there a way that we could cancel this? What if we proposed an idea of what could happen between Alexander and Hade in consideration of their past?" Kaval suggested.

We were now walking back towards our respective rooms and as we went our way, we kept on discussing as to how could we help Alexander or better yet, cancel the clash which is mostly unlikely to happen as everyone, not just the students of the academia are looking forward to but also everyone in this world. That would cause a surge of questions not only from the people but from the reporters as well.

We eventually decided to speak about the topic further on the next day as we needed to rest at this point. When I got into my room, I stripped all of my clothes and only left my undergarment. I walked towards my terrace and looked at the sea one more time before going to bed.

"We'll do everything we can, Alex. Just to save you." I said before closing my eyes.

__________________

I swam deeper into the ocean to where the sea creatures weren't able to follow me anymore. I swam faster in frustration, not caring where the current would take me. I stopped when I felt like the light was no longer seen. I was alone and cold at the bottom of the pitch black part of the ocean. I was about to swim back up when I felt a presence went past me from behind. I immediately started to swim faster as I was starting to get scared. I also remembered that some parts of the ocean were home to some dangerous creatures and the worst I creature that I can deal right now is an abyss mage. I swam faster and faster and was almost relieved when I saw the light nearing me but then something grabbed my arms. I screamed and flipped my tail with all that I had but the force that captured me was too strong that I wasn't able to do nothing but get dragged to the bottom of what I presume was one of the few abyss cracks. My heart was beating really fast at this point as I don't know what could happen. I saw some glowing red giant jelly fish that gave light to the home of an abyss mage. I looked at whoever was behind me to see that it was the abyss mage itself that has held me captive. I remained silent as I looked at the surrounding. It looked like the mage was alone here which was quite suspicious as every abyss mage at least has a cluster of corrupted merpeople.

The abyss mage released me from its grasp. I swam quickly away before I turned around and faced him. It was wearing a cloak and had a wooden trident that was glowing bright violet. It took off its cloak and looked at me with a stoic expression. I stayed silent as I slowly moved back. It didn't move towards but instead it removed its cloak and revealed its tail that was tinted with black streaks.

"What do you want?" I said my voice shaking.

It didn't answer instead it went to a vent pipe and took some hot water. The mage was making tea for drinking. Usually mages are known to be aggressive and would dive immediately for the kill but this one was different. He was different. Mages would also usually looked very bad and would have very creepy faces but this one didn't. He placed the cup on the table and sat on the chair. He looked at me with raised eyebrows before motioning me to take a seat. I contemplated for a while but then obliged eventually as my interest peaked at it's finest as to why was this mage acting so different from their nature.

"It is not what I need from you dear prince. It is what you need from me and what I can give, to you." He said as he sipped from his cup of tea.