27- Weren't you an enemy?

The little one trembled in his hands. Zhaelor could feel his rapid breathing and couldn’t stop a surprised murmur from escaping his lips:

— A star.

— W-what?! — Nexha stammered, still trying to keep the broken spear tip pointed at him.

Krahs, wounded and gasping, tried to move forward, but his body wouldn’t obey. His gaze burned like embers, filled with confusion and indignation, locked onto the cachalot. But Zhaelor seemed completely uninterested in the shark. His focus was entirely on the child he held.

He lifted his gigantic hand, making Nexha look minuscule—like a tiny fish in front of a whale.

Seeing the cachalot's approach, the little one reacted immediately. His heart pounded, and, trembling, he kept the broken spear tip aimed to keep Zhaelor at bay.

The massive triton blinked, surprised.

— Look at that, he’s trying to stab me! How brave!

With a single movement of his finger, Zhaelor effortlessly deflected the spear, as if brushing aside a leaf in the ocean. Then, without the slightest ceremony, he poked Nexha’s cheeks.

— My new master is so cute!

Nexha froze. Krahs froze. Silence reigned for a second.

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That immense being, who minutes ago had seemed like an unstoppable war machine, was now wagging his tail like a happy fish and poking the child as if he were a toy.

— W...what...? — Nexha muttered, unable to process what was happening.

— You’re smaller than my fin! — Zhaelor exclaimed, delighted. — I just want to squeeze you!

Krahs opened his mouth to protest, but all that came out was an indignant noise. He was still trying to understand how the fierce battle had turned into… this.

Zhaelor, on the other hand, seemed completely unbothered. He kept wagging his tail and poking Nexha again, as if he had just gotten a new pet.

— Ah, yes… this is going to be fun!

Krahs was still trying to piece together his sanity as he watched the bizarre spectacle in front of him. He blinked several times, hoping that when he opened his eyes again, everything would make sense. It didn’t.

— This can’t be happening… — he muttered, rubbing his forehead to check if he had hit it during the fight.

Meanwhile, Nexha, red with indignation, was fuming as the giant cachalot continued poking his cheeks. He tried to pull away, but Zhaelor simply pulled him back with a single finger, as if handling a runaway baby octopus.

— Stop that! I am not cute! — Nexha growled, baring his teeth.

Zhaelor tilted his head, pretending to be surprised.

— You’re not?! — He let out a small laugh and gave Nexha’s forehead a light tap. — You look more like a little pufferfish trying to scare someone!

Furious, Nexha did the only thing he could: he opened his mouth and bit Zhaelor’s finger with all his strength.

…

Nothing happened.

The triton looked at his own finger, then at Nexha, who still had his jaw clenched, eyes filled with determination. For a second, silence filled the ocean.

— … Aaah, my goodness! — Zhaelor suddenly shouted. — My master is so brave!!

Nexha’s eyes widened, and he immediately let go of the finger, outraged.

— I am NOT your master!!

Zhaelor completely ignored the protest and slapped his tail excitedly.

— Little star master, I, the great and fearsome Zhaelor, declare my eternal loyalty to you! From this day forward, I shall be your elder, your guardian, your shield against any danger!!

Nexha choked on seawater.

— What?!

Krahs finally snapped out of his trance and grabbed his own head.

— This cannot be happening… Nexha, a star?!

But it was. And now, he would have to deal with it.