Chapitre 7: The Abyssal Sanctuary
"Correct. The reason one part of the divided relic was entrusted to the merfolk was precisely because the depths of the Icewind Strait are unfathomable. Besides merfolk, no one else could descend into such an abyss to steal the relic—unless they had help from a merfolk member," Grayson surmised confidently.
"If we find the traitor, we can uncover who took the relic," Katheren said, clapping her hands lightly with excitement.
"That's the plan. So, I hope you won't mind us visiting the merfolk sanctuary, Miss Seraphine?" Grayson turned to Seraphine with the inquiry.
Taking a moment to recover from her shock, Seraphine nodded eagerly. "Of course, I'll take you there immediately to investigate!"
"Do we have to go to the wet bottom of the sea? I hate getting my feathers wet!" complained Elyra, still perched on Grayson's head.
"If that's the case, I wouldn't mind leaving you in the village tavern. The plump chef there would likely agree to look after you. You could have a pleasant sleep next to his chopping board, and when we return..."
Grayson didn't finish his sentence before Elyra interrupted: "No, I detest the stench of kitchens! I'll go with you. Maybe I'll get some fish to eat!"
"Then it's settled, delightfully so!" Grayson declared, heading north out of the village, only to be stopped by Seraphine pointing toward the western coast. "Where are you going? The sanctuary is that way!"
"No rush, mermaid miss. If we're visiting your sanctuary, we ought to dress appropriately. Look at my sleeve, and Miss Katheren could use a change of clothes, too. We'll need a good tailor and some tobacco replenishment. I have a feeling our journey is just beginning."
...
Dressed anew, Grayson and Katheren reappeared on the silvery beach alongside Seraphine and Elyra. Wrapped in a deep blue cloak, Grayson donned a new hat, blending into the night like a ghostly shadow. Katheren, in a shining silver outfit with a golden ponytail trailing down her back, moved like a sprite across the sands.
"I noticed you left something on the tailor's table. Was it silver coins?" Katheren whispered to Grayson on the way to the shore.
Grayson nodded approvingly. "Very observant. Yes, indeed."
"You seem quite wealthy," Katheren remarked with curiosity.
"Not at all, I'm quite the pauper. Fortunately, the good village head was 'charitable.' Although I'm sure the knight will see it as yet another crime to add to my charges!" Grayson winked at her playfully, leaving Katheren with an admiring smile but puzzled as to when he managed the sleight of hand.
"Dawn is near, and we merfolk cannot endure long under the sun. If you're ready, let's set off for the seabed."
Reaching the shore, Seraphine looked back at Grayson, Katheren, and Elyra for confirmation. Grayson nodded, and she turned to face the rousing sea. With her staff, she cast two beams of white light onto the water, conjuring a portal of swirling waves. She gestured for them to enter, and Grayson stepped through first.
Surrounded by the sound of surging tides, they reemerged beneath the waves. Seraphine, now in mermaid form, swam ahead, while Grayson and Katheren were encased in transparent bubbles that kept the water at bay, enabling them to breathe and speak as if on land.
Walking forward, Grayson found himself dry and unhindered. He marveled at the marine life—corals, crabs carrying sea anemones, and jellyfish drifting by—conjuring an aura of tranquility.
Guided by Seraphine along a seashell-lined path and encountering inquisitive merfolk soldiers, they soon reached the grand gates of the merfolk sanctuary.
A formidable underwater temple stood before them, flanked by six towering pillars and a long staircase leading down to its doors, adorned with a trident-bearing sea god and twin mermaids cradling harps.
At the gates, five high-ranking mermaid priestesses greeted them. Seeing Seraphine, they swished their tails in the merfolk's customary welcome.
"The Guardian has returned. What have you found?" asked a blue-patterned mermaid, eyeing Grayson and the owl with respectful curiosity.
"We've found some clues, but not the relic. I've brought friends to help in the search," Seraphine introduced Grayson and explained her mission to her guardians.
"Ceresia, open the temple's gates. Mr. Grayson and I need to examine the crime scene," Seraphine instructed.
Ceresia hesitated, reminding her of the elders' decree against outsiders in the temple. Seraphine silenced her with a stern retort: "Nothing is more important than the relic's recovery!"
Obediently, Ceresia led the guardians in opening the doors. As they entered, they passed statues of elders and murals of sea gods. Guards were everywhere, but Grayson showed no reaction.
Stopping before a small chamber, Seraphine tapped her staff, and the door swung open, revealing an empty shell where the relic once rested.
"This is the crime scene, untouched. Please, see if you can find anything," Seraphine beckoned Grayson inside.
He stepped in, asking, "Do you mind if I light a cigar here?"
"Not at all," Seraphine allowed.
Grayson lit up, inquiring, "Is it always unguarded like today?"
"No, the guardians you met are on a regular rotation. Two at the temple gate, two at the relic chamber, and one patrolling with a guardian beast."
"Guardian beast?" Grayson looked back in curiosity.
"Yes. Each has a powerful guardian beast. Arinelle has a jellyfish, Avrielle a stingray, Alyssia a squid, Charlotte a bull shark, and Ceresia a sea cucumber."
"A sea cucumber?" Grayson asked incredulously.
Seraphine affirmed, "Yes, Ceresia's beast is a two-meter-long sea cucumber capable of swallowing enemies whole."
"So, it could easily ingest the relic, too?" Grayson mused, his smile carrying significant implication.
At this, Seraphine's complexion shifted, her voice alarmed. "You're suggesting Ceresia is the traitor?"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone