28. Playful Whale

Nexha was more confused than ever. He blinked a few times, trying to find some logic in this absurd situation, then decided to pretend to be just a curious little pup and asked:

— W-why would I be your master?

Zhaelor gave him a big smile, as if the answer were the most obvious thing in the world.

— Isn't it obvious, my little master? You are a star! And every star needs an elder to protect it!

— Okay, but then… why did you attack us?! — Nexha retorted, crossing his arms.

The cachalot hesitated for a second, swishing his tail from side to side.

— Eerr… well… first of all, I didn't know the shark was also my master's servant and… I ended up hurting him… slightly.

Krahs, who was still lying on the sand, unable to get up, widened his eyes.

— Slightly?! You almost broke my tail! I can’t even swim properly!

Zhaelor made a dismissive gesture.

— But I didn’t break it, so it was light! Besides, the paralysis spell will wear off soon, don’t worry. In a little while, you’ll be able to swim again, happily floating around!

— S-spell?! I thought you were just a fighter?!

— Oh, no, no, no, young master! I am truly a fighter, but every elder knows a spell or two to protect their stars. Safety first!

— There you go again with this star thing… — Nexha sighed, rubbing his temples. — Okay, but what exactly is a star? And why did you call me that?!

Zhaelor leaned in a bit, as if he were about to share a very important secret.

— Ah, young master, you are definitely a star! A star is someone of a unique lineage, someone destined to change the seas!

Nexha froze.

Even without showing the system to that crazy cachalot, he seemed to sense that Nexha truly was someone who could change the world.

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— Besides… young master is so smart! And looks so adorable when he thinks, like that, with his little hands on his chin!

Nexha stiffened.

There he was, just a baby, spending the last few minutes being treated like a plush toy by a warrior cachalot who, until a short while ago, was a deadly threat. And now… now that monster was calling him master as if he were a happy puppy wagging its tail!

Without thinking twice, Nexha forced a nervous smile.

— H-hehe… I… want to go home.

— GREAT IDEA! — Zhaelor shouted, clapping his fins excitedly. — Let's go home, little master!

While Nexha grew paler by the second, Krahs finally managed to move again and started swimming, still resentful but now maintaining a respectful posture before the cachalot.

After all, an elder was an elder. Krahs understood this much better than young Nexha.

Seeing his chance, Nexha tried to escape.

He swam toward the moray-seaweed wall, but the very next second, he felt something grabbing his fin.

— Master… where are you going so fast? Don’t you think you should go slower so you don’t hurt yourself in the seaweed?

The little one turned slowly, and there was Zhaelor, holding his fin with two fingers, as if stopping a tiny goldfish from running away.

— Does he think I'm made of glass?! — Nexha thought, outraged.

He huffed and tried another approach: hiding.

He swam in zigzags, dove into the seaweed, tried to blend in with the moray-seaweed, even spread his fins to look less suspicious.

But Zhaelor completely misunderstood.

— AHA! Found you, master! If the master wants to play, I can count so you can hide!

Nexha froze.

That cachalot had an infallible radar for finding desperate little pups!

After the sixth failed attempt, Nexha was exhausted. Meanwhile, Krahs watched from afar, still confused and clearly suspicious of Zhaelor.

— Does young master wish to play more? Or would you like to take a break?

— Go to hell! — Nexha shouted, panting.

Krahs sighed and shook his head.

— Looks like your fate is bigger than you realize, pup.

Hearing that, Nexha froze.

He didn’t want to accept anything! But when he looked at Zhaelor, he realized something…

The cachalot didn’t seem to have bad intentions. He was just… so excited to have found him that he didn’t even notice how much of a gigantic nuisance he was being.

Sighing, Nexha finally raised his hands in surrender.

— Fine, fine! I give up! But if I’m your master, then… as my first command… I want you to stop treating me like a child and actually listen to me!

Zhaelor blinked a few times, processing.

Then, suddenly, he broke into a wide grin.

— Young master, of course, I will listen to you!

Nexha raised an eyebrow.

— Exactly! And since I’m your master, you have to obey!

The cachalot stayed silent for a long moment… then clapped his fins excitedly.

— Looks like young master finally understands! I’m so happy! My master is so clever!

Nexha sighed, relieved.

For now, he had gotten rid of it…

But he knew this wasn’t going to end so easily.

The three finally started swimming back to the nest. But when Zhaelor, with his massive size, passed through the moray-seaweed wall…

He simply opened up a giant hole right in the middle of the path.

Nexha closed his eyes and sighed again.

— This is going to be such a headache later…