Chapter 23: Big Problems
Neo apologized.
"Had I known about it, I would've revived after—"
"I told you it is a misunderstanding!"
Amelia stood up and moved away.
She couldn't decide if she should feel insulted, angry, or embarrassed.
"Your clothes were ruined. I didn't want to leave you looking like that and you were taking too long to revive, so I decide to… to…"
"Sneak a peek?"
"No! As I said, it's a misunderstanding! I wasn't doing anything wrong!"
Amelia's ears turned beet red.
Her reactions were funny.
He wanted to tease her more but he felt windy down there.
Neo looked at his clothes.
Calling them ruined was underplaying it.
After Clara gave him a beating, his clothes had more holes than a pampered kid's wallet.
"I'll take the clothes you prepared," He said. "Thanks."
He changed into the new set of attire prepared by Amelia.
While he was changing, Amelia turned away.
"Uh, so, thank you for helping us," she spoke solemnly.
"Don't mind it. I didn't do it for free."
Silence descended.
Both of them said nothing.
Neo was trying to think of his future plans.
He didn't bother initiating a conversation.
The quietness bothered Amelia and she spoke,
"Are you really Immortal?"
"Yes."
"Is that even possible? We were taught something else at the Academy."
"Hmm?"
Only now did Neo remember Amelia was a 2nd year at Demigod Academy.
In the novel, she left the academy since she had to take over the throne after her mother's death.
"Demigod Academy?"
"Yeah. The professors taught us things about the Great Death God, Hades. He didn't seem to be a god who'd let even his children cheat Death."
Things, huh.
Neo didn't bother asking about details.
He knew exactly how Hades was treated among the demigods and Gods.
They feared his powers, and no one truly respected him.
The only reason Hades was one of the Three Great Gods was due to his overwhelming strength.
"You are awake."
"Mom!"
Elizabeth returned.
She stared at Neo silently.
He returned her gaze.
"Why are you two looking at each other like that?"
Amelia stepped in-between them.
"Nothing," Elizabeth answered. "We should go. I've completed the preparations."
She gave a bag to Amelia.
The three moved down from the hill and went into the direction of the beach.
They travelled through forests by foot to make sure no one found them.
It took them a few hours to reach their destination.
Both Elizabeth and Neo were exhausted by the end.
"Should we rest?" Amelia asked. "We haven't had dinner yet too."
"We can take a break later. Let's eat while we are moving," Neo spoke.
Elizabeth agreed with him.
She whistled after standing at the seashore.
Neo was looking at the sea to find the approaching Azure Dragon when suddenly the clouds parted.
The moonlight fell through the gaps and an Azure Sea Dragon descended from the sky.
It had silver scales and was at least five times larger than the previous dragon Neo met.
The Dragon landed on the beach.
It made a pleasing grunt when it saw Elizabeth and Amelia, and allowed them to caresses its body.
"You can touch him," Amelia told Neo.
Just as Neo was about to place his hand on the silver scales of the dragon, it snorted and an invisible force pushed Neo back.
Neo heard Amelia laughing beside him.
"Gerna, doesn't like anyone besides us touching him," Amelia smirked and rubbed the dragon's belly to brag.
He looked back at the dragon.
For some reason, he could by looking at the Dragon's eyes.
If he tried to touch it again, it would crush him.
"Stop being stubborn, Gerna. We have to leave," Elizabeth said.
The Dragon whimpered, as if complaining, but when it saw Elizabeth wasn't joking, it relented.
Now allowed to touch the dragon, Neo climbed on its back with Elizabeth's help.
She carried Amelia and him with Divine Energy.
"Depart," Elizabeth commanded.
The dragon took off to the skies.
It went above the cloud of seas and flew freely in the air.
The journey was uneventful.
They passed over the clouds and the hurricanes so there wasn't much to see.
After they left the waters area of Mermaid Country, Neo finally relaxed.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"Amelia will return to the Demigod Academy. As for me, I still have to make a decision." Elizabeth answered. "Where should we drop you?"
Neo made a deliberate pause to make it look like he was uncertain.
"I have to go to the Academy too—"
Amelia and Elizabeth didn't appear surprised for some reason.
He continued.
"—But how about we go to the Divine Water cave first. It would help us speed up our recovery."
"Good idea. I'll give you the things you asked in there."
Elizabeth agreed to his suggestion.
"Wait, what…?"
Suddenly, Amelia looked at them wide-eyed.
"What are you going to give him!? I'm not letting you marry him!"
Elizabeth shook her head and spoke with a sorrow voice.
"But that was the deal. How can I, Elizabeth de Beaufort, turn back on my words?"
Despite her expressionless face, Neo could see mischief hidden in her eyes.
He could understand why she was teasing Amelia.
Her reactions were just too cute.
The banters between the mother and the daughter continued until they reached the divine water cave.
Before the Dragon dived into the seawater, Neo's brows furrowed.
He forgot to bring his diving gear.
A smirk appeared on Amelia's face.
"What happened? Can't breathe underwater, Mr. Exalted Demigod?"
Neo shrugged.
He didn't feel bad about tricking her back then.
After all, it was a matter of life and death for him.
"Stay close to me."
Elizabeth created a sphere of air before the dragon dove into the sea.
The air bubble allowed him to breathe.
They floated towards the underwater cave's entrance.
"I'll enter first. Follow behind me," Elizabeth said and changed the shape of the air bubble to cover only Neo.
Just as she swam in-between the coral reefs, a problem appeared.
…Her chest was stuck in the narrow entrance.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone