The old nurse in an armless ragged gown with a dirty scarf wrapped around her head eventually returned when the cries echoed once more. She looked at Arthur and handed him a mug of something warm.Although he received it, his attention remained on the lady who looked utterly terrified. She seemed deeply frightened, or perhaps simply agitated."Asuka, you need to return to your post. You've already done your part by bringing the boy," the old nurse said to the lady.Asuka nodded and gave Arthur one more glance before rushing out. The aged nurse then looked at Arthur and, for the first time, glared at him."You should take some rest, young one. I'm quite certain you just started working here, so rest while the others take care of the mermaids. This is not the first time they have attacked." The old nurse turned and disappeared into the other room of the infirmary."This is not the first time?" Arthur muttered quietly, but the old nurse still heard him."That's right. Now get some rest w

It became increasingly clear that Asuka truly was not in the infirmary, regardless of how suspicious the grumpy nurse's behaviour had seemed.That alone proved Deff had been genuinely furious with the lady for allowing the mermaid to escape. And... they intended to starve her to death. Arthur could hardly imagine a punishment more merciless than waiting for someone to die one hungry day after another.The thought reminded him of Ysolde. She had been starved for three long years, yet the little witch somehow survived. But Asuka was not a witch. If she had been, Arthur was certain he would have perceived something unusual about her by now.Truthfully, Arthur ought to have been thinking less about Asuka and more about recovering his spellbook from whoever had taken it. As for Deff himself, the old sorcerer was mistaken in many regards.Arthur remained convinced that if he could retrieve a sheet of metal and reclaim his spellbook, he would eventually escape this place. Whatever mystical s

The very next moment, Arthur was being chased along the very path he had taken earlier. When he dared a slight glance over his shoulder, he saw a host of furious maids pursuing him with whatever they could lay their hands on, many of the objects looking more than capable of inflicting genuine harm. It was already a blessing that he had dropped the basket behind. Had he still been carrying it, it would only have slowed his escape.He never took the central entrance guarded by the soldiers. Following that route would have landed him in even greater trouble than he was already courting.Instead, Arthur veered sharply toward a narrow entrance at the extreme edge of the ship. The instant he crossed into it, the floor disappeared beneath him, and he went tumbling violently over a series of uneven objects.As he continued rolling over the jagged surfaces, his body striking wood, barrels and whatever else littered the passage, he could still make out the angry voices of the maids echoing af

The clanks of spoons against trays continued to echo through the meal hall as Arthur remained staring at the hooded figure before him. She should not have been here, at least not under ordinary circumstances."I thought you were a restrained prisoner," Arthur whispered to her.Kara shifted the hood just enough for Arthur to see those blue ocean eyes. Arthur himself could not truly tell whether Ysolde's eyes had been blue or green. The last image he carried of her was that moment she summoned those green frosts, and ever since then the memory of her eyes seemed to borrow that same colour."I am a prisoner," Kara answered, munching on her meal.There was something Arthur noticed in her eyes. She looked matured, like a composed woman who understood how the room operated and exactly how far she could push her luck without drawing attention. Yet the resemblance she bore with Ysolde remained striking enough to unsettle him whenever he looked too long."So, what are you doing here?" Arthur a

"Are you alright, Asuka?" Arthur enquired as the smell of the fish scales reached him.Asuka leaned weakly against the wooden bars while clear liquid streamed down the corner of her mouth. It could have been the sign of unbearable pain... or overwhelming relief. The way she breathed was pitiable, each breath sounding as though it had to force its way through her chest."Are you alright, Asuka?" Arthur asked again."I'm better, Arthur. I can't thank you enough. How do I ever repay your kindness?" Asuka's eyes wandered toward where Arthur stood."What really is wrong with you? I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you are a strange person." Arthur asked sincerely.Asuka laughed softly as she wiped the moisture from her lips. "I am strange, Arthur. I should be. But soon, I will be leaving this prison."Arthur tilted his head. "You will be leaving the prison? Does Deff eventually pardon prisoners who survive starvation like you?"Asuka laughed again. "You've helped me a lot, Arthur. The scales stabi