Jihoon woke up again while coughing and sneezing out all the salty moisture in his mouth and nose. Then he quickly regathers his bearing much like all the Hunter training prepared him for. How he even managed to stay underwater for that long is beyond him.
Out of the middle of nowhere and based on his surrounding nature, he is in a salt marsh of sorts which mean he isn’t too far from July Estuary, but the exact location is beyond him.
However, he noticed something isn’t right as he looked into the sky and realize that it is already at dawn. And if that’s the case, then any electronic that he carries with him at all is ruined beyond salvage due to overexposure of water.
Then, he found the Doppelganger sat in contemplative silence beside him. And the fact that he isn’t drifted ashore means that it has taken care of him to its best and make sure that he doesn’t get any further complication. And the discarded canisters of oxygen for diving also lay about which he has taken stock in the spatial device that is his silver bracelet.
His silver bracelet was his only grace. There are some constraints with it, but it carries with him all the survival necessary. Which points out that he likely collapsed in fatigue at the end.
The focus, however, is to find that troublemaker of a princess and confront her about her reckless actions. He doesn’t feel particularly safe with someone like her running around. And before he actually wasted any of his time, he also soon found the mermaid princess tied to a tree with the same tether of light that the Doppelganger used on her.
It makes him confused and baffles of how his Doppelganger managed to overpower her at last.
And once he has his complete overview of the situation, Jihoon has a sigh of resignation, again. That somehow, peace will forever be the last thing he will obtain.
He glanced at the tied-up mermaid princess, then at his Doppelganger, and finally at the vast expanse of the salt marsh surrounding them. The situation was far from ideal, but his Hunter training had prepared him for scenarios like this.
“And here I was going to make practical use of them here rather than the Odyssey”. Jihoon muttered to himself, the self-deprecating and ironic humor being his only form of self-encouragement.
He knew that he was going to be here for a while, in the middle of unknown wilderness that no one could tell. With nothing to say or point out the location. And the princess being missing will probably result in a massive search operation carried out. Until then, Jihoon knew that he could only make himself comfortable with his plight.
The Doppelganger looked at him before nodding with his intents. What they will do is to establish a survival campsite. One that is designed by numerous veteran Hunters of his world when extended stay inside a Gate is inevitable. For the case of a salt marsh, a lean-to made by wood of its local forest fauna.
Jihoon activated his spatial bracelet as he drawn out the spiked hand-axe but now with a twist of its own ever since fallen to disuse once he obtained the Judgment of Light.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Adamantium Spiked Hand-axe
Classification: Hand-Axe
Rarity: Mortal
ATK+: 57
A simple hand-axe made with one of the most durable materials existed.
Reforged in the blast furnace of House Magni, its quality is unmatched amongst it peer.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
“Thanks, Rosa”. Jihoon said as he didn’t particularly expected that this request would find its use fast.
With a simple swing, the entire tree that Jihoon chosen is cut down cleanly. The reason that he didn’t use Judgment of Light in place was because at that point, he would blow up the entire tree instead. And the irony of a Mortal grade item being more powerful than his Heroic didn’t go unnoticed. Which further proves that raw statistics aren’t relillable.
With the Doppelganger’s help with processing the wood with machine-like precision, Soon, he got a comfortable lean-to established. It wasn’t meant to be permanent but, he had a bit too much on his mind to sort out with physical labor.
The next matter came water, he doesn’t have the all-element Magic talents that many overpowered main characters have so he still has to do it manually. The salt marsh certainly isn’t the best place to have drinking water in anyone’s mind for sure.
Through a bit of effort, Jihoon has successfully made a bastardized version of a solar still. Using a mug, and another bigger glass mug. Using a piece of wrapping plastic that he brought along for some reason but it enabled the collection process of the still.
Does it work? The instructors in his world said so. But one would prepare himself to clear the Gate fast, not staying indefinitely there.
Although he has his supply for like two weeks on end, he still has to anticipate for worst-case scenarios which really loves to happen to him for some reason. If it can go wrong, it will.
Then the matter of food can be resolved with the salt marsh which he can fish. Although fishing with the Judgment of Light certainly isn’t the best idea in mind. With a sharpened wooden spear crafted, Jihoon lets his Doppelganger do it instead. Sure, he has the dexterity to do so but that is a different kind of tedium that he would rather not experience.
As they worked, Jihoon kept a wary eye on their captive. The mermaid princess, whose name is Aquarius, remained silent and unconscious. He knew they'd have to deal with her eventually, but for now, survival took precedence.
By nightfall, they had a functional camp set up. A small fire crackled nearby, carefully controlled to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Jihoon sat by the fire, roasting some small fishes the Doppelganger had managed to catch.
"Not exactly five-star accommodations," Jihoon mused to his Doppelganger, "but it'll do for now." He glanced at Aquarius, still bound to the tree. "Tomorrow, we'll need to figure out what to do with our... guest. And maybe find a way to signal for help without getting arrested in the process."
As the stars began to appear in the darkening sky, Jihoon couldn't help but wonder how this unexpected detour would affect his plans. The Odyssey, Alvorna's upcoming Rite of Ascension, the mystery of the Grand Mural fragments. All of it seemed so distant now in the moment right now.
The Doppelganger has no need for rest. But it felt wrong to keep abusing himself like this. But just as before he could dispel his double, Aquarius woke up and she immediately tried to choose violence. Well, tried…
She was so utterly exhausted from all the swimming before that she couldn’t muster her true strength even if she wished. Swam so far that by the time she reached the shore, exhaustion has completely overtaken her. The Doppelganger then tied her up while she is unconscious, and the victory goes toward it effortlessly by the virtue of being the last man standing.
Now that she is awake, fury and frustration compelled her as she yelled her hate toward him.
“Release me at once, you insolent land-dweller!” She demanded, her voice remained hoarse from lingering exhaustion.
Do you have any idea who I am? I'll have you thrown into the deepest trench for this!"
Jihoon remain unfazed by her threats, simply raised an eyebrow. "You mean like that massive water construct you summoned on the ferry that is your strongest Advanced-class Water Magic? The same one I part in half?" he replied calmly. "I think we're well past the point of threats, Your Highness."
The mermaid princess's face fell as the memory of her defeat came rushing back. Her bravado crumbled, replaced by a sullen silence.
Seeing this change, Jihoon decided to take a different approach. He moved closer, careful to maintain a respectful distance.
"Look," he began, his tone softening, "I don't believe for a second that all this chaos was just about you wanting to sneak off somewhere forbidden or restricted. There's way more to this story, isn't there?"
And since she is completely at his mercy either way. She has no choice but to be truthful on her account. Even if he couldn’t lay his hand on her meaningfully, she definitely won’t last very long in the wilderness that she is in.
Aquarius remained silent for a moment, but Jihoon can tell the conflict in her eyes. Then, he made his press carefully.
"The way you reacted to those guards... it wasn't just about evading them. There's some kind of conflict between you and your parents, isn't there? Seeing that they are following an order to their utmost, and I can only imagine that the king of his domain would have authority over them"
At this, Aquarius's head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. Jihoon knew he had struck a chord.
"How... how did you know?" she whispered, her defiance giving way to vulnerability.
He approached this conclusion through simple deduction. She is a figure in a position of authority, one that is easily both of a power and imposed weight. The only one who really have much greater authority than her can only be the king himself, in other word, her father. The rest of the logic path comes naturally.
Jihoon shrugged. "I've seen my fair share of family drama. Plus, running away from home is a pretty universal sign of trouble in paradise. Regardless of origin from lowliest common to royalty. It proves that things are so bad that one is willing to part from their own home when it becomes a prison instead"
Aquarius sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping. Then her reluctance admittance of the truth comes rather cleanly on its own.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“You’re right… I’m not sneaking out if that is even what I managed to do.”
Jihoon then started to slowly piece the disparate information together. Jihoon noticed that something is still missing from the story so far... He looked at her [Observant] status panel again and noticed the one Skill that struck his notice…
[Everlasting Youth], the innate racial ability of the merfolk. How their beauty is ever preserved through their life without ever succumbing to decay. He knew how many cultures of his world obsessed with their beauty and seeing one up close seem to validify that statement.
And then, the Doppelganger spoke to him through the mental connection conjured by Light Magic. It is telling him to examine the locket that the princess is wearing.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Mother’s Locket
Classification: Accessory
Rarity: Mortal
Effect:
-Everlasting [Item can’t be worn out]
A delicate shell locket, its iridescent surface
etched with intricate patterns of waves and coral.
Inside, a miniature portrait of a regal mermaid with
kind eyes and a gentle smile.
The locket radiates a faint, comforting warmth, as if
imbued with cherished memories and enduring love.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Jihoon's eyes focused on the locket hanging around Aquarius's neck with his [Observant]. It seemed to hold a special significance beyond mere jewelry. He decided to inquire about it.
"That locket you're wearing," Jihoon began gently as much as his demeanor could, "it looks important to you. Can you tell me about it?"
Aquarius's hand instinctively moved to touch the locket, her fingers tracing its contours with a tenderness that spoke volumes. Her eyes misted over as she replied, "It... it was my mother's."
Jihoon didn’t fail to notice the past tense and quickly latch onto it. A decade since Gate Outbreak curbed all of his empathy but he did the best he could with his sense of compassion.
"Was?" he prompted softly.
The princess's composure cracked, and tears began to well in her eyes. "My mother... she passed away two years ago. This locket is all I have left of her."
For a merfolk to pass away, it must have been very sudden because of their [Everlasting Youth]. When one day, they just ceased entirely, this makes clear that it isn’t immortality after all.
And suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place for Jihoon.
"I see… And your father... is he planning to remarry?" His voice filled with understanding.
Aquarius then nodded, a mix of grief and anger crossing her face as vitriol mixed into her tone. "Yes. He says the kingdom needs a queen, that it's for the best. But how can he just... replace her like that?!"
The full picture became clear to Jihoon, and that it is about a daughter clinging desperately to her cherished memories of her mother. So much so that she is unable to accept the inevitable change in both of her family and the kingdom.
It is awfully similar to the old patriarch of that dwarven conglomerate, it is similar to his plight before. People who dwelled in the past at the cost of their future even if they themselves knew deep down. It took immense force of will to even acknowledge that something was wrong with themselves and even more to reach said acceptance.
For someone who is in great emotional turmoil like her, such inner peace can’t be obtained with a few peptalks or even heart-to-heart.
“I see… I understand what truly plagued you right now”. Jihoon said as he gave his nod of understanding toward her. “I’ve been in this low point too. Clinging onto what was and afraid of moving on. Realizing that everything that I did was meaningless and without purpose toward some ephemeral goal that held no substance. It’s a terrible place”.
As he spoke, Jihoon couldn't help but reflect on his own journey, how he had struggled to let go of his past nostalgia as a musician, how he had nearly lost himself to despair before finding a new path by his lonesome self. He recognized in Aquarius the same pain, the same fear of change.
"Princess," he said gently, "I know it's hard, but sometimes we have to find a way to honor our past while still moving forward. Your mother will always be a part of you, locket or no locket."
Aquarius looked at him, her eyes searching his face. "How... how do you let go without forgetting?"
Jihoon smiled sadly. “Don’t forget, that’s all it really is. You honor their memory by living the life they would have wanted for you. Your mother's love for you, that's what the locket really represents. And that love will always be with you, no matter what changes come."
She knew already yet she was too afraid to confront the consequence of her actions the same. In silence that the mermaid princess remained, in quiet contemplation and remorse, tears still overflowing. Under the stars of that unfamiliar sky, a connection formed between them.
When the night was supposed to just pass swiftly, Jihoon felt something uneasy about the fact that her father remarrying in his mind. The Hunter’s intuition told him to never look past any information no matter how innocuous they might be for it might hold critical connection that can be the determinant of life and death itself.
“Hey, about your father’s remarry ceremony, is it during the commence of the Odyssey”. Jihoon made his wild guess, not expecting any meaningful response in mind.
Sometimes, he just wishes that his precognition doesn’t work all the time.
To his surprise and growing concern, Aquarius's eyes widened in shock. "How... how did you know?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
And so, his heart sank when the implication settles in. But he has no control over the reality so he had no choice but bravely march toward uncertainty.
"I didn't. It was just a guess, but... you're saying it's true?" Jihoon made his admittance clear.
Aquarius nodded slowly, her eyes distant. "The ceremony is scheduled to coincide with the opening day of the Odyssey. Father said it would be a grand celebration for all of Calphennis to be seen."
As the princess spoke, Jihoon's mind raced. The remaining unseen pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, forming a grand picture he didn't like one bit. The Odyssey, the victor's wish, the timing of the remarriage of his...
"The victor's wish," Jihoon muttered, more to himself than to Aquarius. "They get to ask for anything within reason, don't they?"
She knew… And promptly answer the burning question in his mind.
“An arranged marriage with the princess of Calphennis, certainly within the reason for a victorious hero at the very end.” The mermaid princess made the statement of her reality cleanly. And that was the final straw that made her tried to runaway and her rash actions that endanger anyone else. Although the reason was valid, the guilt remains on her.
Even if she had said it right when they first met at the ferry, she would have come off as being irrational than anything she wished to be seen as.
"He says it's for the good of the kingdom," she said, her voice a mixture of frustration and sadness. "To forge new alliances, to bring fresh blood into the royal line. But it feels like he's trading me away for political gain."
As Jihoon absorbed this information, he couldn't help but analyze the situation from a different perspective. Someone who had lived such a sheltered lifestyle, someone as emotionally volatile as Aquarius, didn't show great signs of self-control or discipline. Her rash actions that endangered others on the ferry were testament to that.
He found himself reluctantly understanding her father's position. How could he safely let his own daughter be independent when her actions today only further solidified concerns about her judgment?
"I can see why you felt the need to run," Jihoon said carefully, "but surely you realize now that endangering innocent people wasn't the right way to handle this?"
Aquarius lowered her gaze, shame coloring her cheeks. "I... I know. I wasn't thinking clearly. I just felt so trapped, so desperate."
Jihoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I understand that feeling, believe me. But actions have consequences, especially for someone in your position. Your father's decision, while it feels unfair to you, might be coming from a place of concern for both you and the kingdom."
The princess looked up at him, a mixture of defiance and uncertainty in her eyes. ‘So you're saying I should just accept it? Give up my freedom?’ That’s what her gaze alone conveys her thought to him which he had become adept at reading the language of expression during his stay in this world.
"No," Jihoon replied, shaking his head. "I'm saying we need to find a better way to address this. One that doesn't involve running away or putting others at risk. If we're going to change things, we need to do it the right way."
Her expression turned grim, telling of how she doesn’t wanted to do what Jihoon is suggesting. She couldn’t imagine herself being forgiven or willingly return to the glided cage that once her home. Her expression turned sorrowful as if surpassing the verge of emotional breakdown multiple time already.
Jihoon mentally sighed in resignation because he really pity her father who has to deal with her behavior like this. While not forgiving for disregarding his daughter’s will, he could see him getting tired constantly with babysitting his volatile undersea mine.
As Jihoon observed Aquarius's sorrowful expression, supposedly crossing the edge of an emotional breakdown multiple time already, a flicker of recognition sparked within him.
Her state of apathy, the disregard for herself and others. It all felt hauntingly familiar. It reminded him of his own dark days before he discovered the power of Song Magic through the little goddess, when he felt trapped in a world that had left him behind.
The memory of those days brought with it a sudden inspiration. Jihoon's eyes lit up as he recalled the very first Song Magic that had turned his life around: the Forgotten Melody.
"Aquarius," Jihoon said softly, his tone gentle but carrying a note of hope, "I know you're hurting right now. I've been there too. But I want to show you something that might help. First, though, can I ask? What instrument do you play?"
Jihoon's instinct proved correct once again. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he nodded. "Perfect. I want to teach you a special melody. It's called the Forgotten Melody, and it helped me when I was at my lowest point."
He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the details of the song:
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Forgotten Melody
Classification: Song Magic
Rank: Intermediate
Effect (MAG 30):
-Immunity to all negative mental status effects
-+500% EXP gain.
'A music piece composed of a nostalgic past that can't ever be returned to. The harmonic of the Goddess's harp bring peace to the tortured souls but since long forgotten for eternity.'
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Opening his eyes, Jihoon began to hum the melody softly, his voice carrying the bittersweet notes of the forgotten melody. As he did so, he gestured for Aquarius to listen closely.
"This melody," he explained between phrases, "it's about acknowledging the past we can't return to, but finding peace in the present. It won't solve all your problems, but it might help you find some clarity."
With his INT 10, Jihoon could further analyze the Forgotten Melody in greater detail than before. Key signature is D minor, time signature is common 4/4. Its design is simple to the point that one could mistakenly think to have heard it somewhere before even if it is their first time.
|D~~~| E F A+~ | G F E~ | D C F~ |
|G C+~~| B+ A+ G~ | D~~~| A+~~~|
|A+~~~|
Slowly, carefully, Jihoon began to teach Aquarius the notes of the Forgotten Melody. Her fingers, though bound, twitched slightly as if plucking invisible harp strings. As she began to hum along, matching Jihoon's notes with his battered acoustic, a subtle change came over her. The tension in her shoulders began to ease, and the wild desperation in her eyes softened.
As they kept practicing the melody together, the ‘Forgotten Melody’ wove through the air, its haunting beauty seeming to calm not just Aquarius, but the very world around them. Jihoon watched as Aquarius's expression gradually shifted from sorrow to something resembling peace.
He knew the melody wouldn't solve all her problems or instantly mature her, but it was a start. It was a tool to help her find calm in the storm of her emotions, a first step towards facing her challenges with a clearer mind.
As the last notes of the Forgotten Melody faded into the darkest of night, Jihoon saw a glimmer of something new in Aquarius's eyes - a spark of hope, perhaps, or the first flicker of understanding in this mishappened connection.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, be it the Odyssey or the complex politics of her royal life, Jihoon felt that Aquarius now had a chance to face them with a bit more grace and resilience.
As the all the turbulent emotion fades away, Aquarius falls into a peaceful slumber unlike that of her physical exhaustion from before. This is different and that he too is on the same page as her.
If the royal family has decided that Aquarius must have someone to reel her worst behavior in, someone whose fortitude allowed to withstand the Odyssey’s challenges themselves, the likelihood of the result having been rigged already stood apparent.
He had come to Calphennis seeking adventure and answers about the Grand Mural fragments. Instead, he found himself embroiled in a royal conspiracy that threatened not just his plans, but the future of an entire kingdom.
“Rest well, princess”. Jihoon said as he too wanted to find his moment of rest yet the words that she said about the Odyssey’s final reward lingers in his mind. But even thinking become too exhausting as he falls into his unconscious without notice.