"The smell… decent. The appearance… acceptable. But what about the taste?"
The rhetorical questions slipped from the sweet lips of a merman thoroughly entertained by his own creation. It had taken days of careful preparation, as a single misstep could ruin his product, and unless he found a way to teleport, tracking down a new harvest would be terribly difficult.
Convincing Sofia to help with that project was a stroke of genius, and now that it was bearing "fruit," it was hard not to pat himself on the back. Aguiar had promised he would find a way to resolve the tense atmosphere between the two lovebirds, and if there was any wisdom to be passed down in his family, it lay in the words of his older brother.
The solution to all of young people's problems is…
Alcohol.
Scooping up a small sample with a tiny glass cup—crafted by the group's illustrious inventor, his rival, Giovanni—Aguiar brought the vibrant red liquid to his lips and let the splendid flavor completely take over his mind!
At least, that had been his expectation. But just like everything else, reality was rather disappointing: instead of satisfaction, the young man felt only… disgust.
A bitter smile crept onto the corner of his lips, a rare sight for him. This wasn't exclusive to the drink, either, since everything he had consumed recently yielded similar results.
Retching, nausea, and a lack of appetite.
His confident expression withered into total indifference, his thoughts drifting far away.
'A trail of bodies, isn't it?' The image of his companions, slaughtered like cattle, staining the pale silk sea, reaped one by one by the seamstress's needle, watched like insects by the wooden face. His gaze landed on the cauldron where the drink was stored. His flawless reflection stared back from the red liquid.
The fruits were sweet, but they tasted metallic on his tongue.
An annoying noise seemed to persist in the back of his ear, and the crimson light outside seemed to darken, just a little.
"Hey! Are you listening to me? Aguiar! Earth to Aguiar!" The male, yet surprisingly gentle voice of another young man snapped the merman out of his stupor. Turning around, he flashed a grin from ear to ear and leaned lazily against the cauldron.
"The process of tasting takes time, darling. Why such an insistence on ruining my art, hah!" He teased Giovanni, who stood with his hands on his hips, demanding answers about something Aguiar, slippery as he is, had made a point of avoiding for the past few days.
"Very well, I believe that in this state, my surprise is ripe enough! So allow me to let the cat out of the bag, baby!" Throwing his arms open dramatically, he shouted melodically, "The very first punch of the Dream Realm!"
Immediate silence followed, with Aguiar looking on expectantly while Giovanni quietly analyzed him.
"So… anything to say?"
Giovanni furrowed his brows. He didn't look angry; on the contrary, he just looked confused.
"What in the world is a punch?"
***
"This… this is illegal. Only adults can drink." With a brief, somewhat exasperated explanation from Aguiar—who couldn't fathom how Giovanni didn't know what a damn punch was—the delicate boy's realization was instant.
The merman crossed his arms, scanned the surroundings, and feigned looking for something. "Darling, do you see any police officers by any chance? Are you a government mole? Who cares if it's illegal! There are no laws here; we are in a free land where we dictate the rules, and guess what? Being able to drink punch is one of them."
He was right, but that didn't make the idea any less irresponsible. This was the Dream Realm, the place where civilizations crumbled, monsters ruled, and absolutely everything wanted to slaughter them. For heaven's sake, their neighbor was literally the abyss itself! There were few places in the world where getting drunk would be a worse idea.
"Even so, we need to stay focused! We don't know how long this will last, and every second is…" Aguiar shoved a hand into his face, pushing him aside, and shouted loudly so that Sofia, the young girl passing by in the hallway, could hear. "Are you listening to this guy? He wants our treasure to go to waste! What do you think about that, little snake?"
The young girl, covered in bruises and with a bit of dried blood under her nose, jumped, startled by the sudden confrontation. "W-Why are you dragging me into this?!"
"Oh, come on! You could never fool the eyes of a professional like me. The idea tempts you just as much!"
"Stop talking nonsense, you idiot! Do you really think So… fia, uh… Sofi?"
Giovanni was ready to defend his friend's honor, but her nervous expression and the brief lapse in their telepathic connection made him change his mind instantly. It couldn't be. No, that had to be a lie!
"You're in on this too?!" The boy's question made Sofia shrink back a bit more, forcing her to answer in a relatively low tone. For some reason, she was wearing a grumpy pout.
"I've never had a drink because my parents wouldn't let me, so, kind of like, you know, it was just… a great opportunity." She considered the idea of apologizing and agreeing, but her flaw immediately made her tilt her nose up and flip her hair back.
This was unacceptable. Sofia might have been influenced by Aguiar, but the other two would surely see…
"Is it actually alcohol? I'm in." Shelly peeked into the kitchen, making up her mind the moment the fragrant scent filled the air.
For the first time since the argument started, Giovanni was speechless. Aguiar didn't let the opportunity slip away; he pulled Sofia and the boy into a triple hug, speaking in a soothing, ironic tone.
"Well, democracy has spoken. That's just how society works, isn't it? It is necessary to enforce rules, after all."
Weren't you preaching anarchy just a few seconds ago, you rascal?!
"IT's decided then! Tonight we host the dream party, one like never seen before!"
The ensuing chaos completely swallowed the kitchen. Giovanni was trying to reason with Shelly, who was cleaning earwax out of her ear while pretending to deeply appreciate the wall.
Sofia tried to escape the situation but was dragged back as the floor itself split open at the delicate boy's command. Aguiar kept smiling, but there was something dark and unrecognizable in his eyes. His fingernails dug into his skin, superficially drawing a little blood.
Patience was necessary.
***
To make one thing perfectly clear, he was completely against this. A shambles, truly. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, the majority's will was absolute, and now they were going to have this "party," as Aguiar had so fondly dubbed it.
But… the situation wasn't entirely bad. The last five days had been exclusively dedicated to practice, and even though some interesting breakthroughs and discoveries had been made, he had to admit the slow progress was frustrating him. In the start, most things had been relatively simple to learn just by trial and error.
He had been completely inept at the start, so the basics were achieved through pure repetition. But now, it felt like a true puzzle. Trying dozens of mindsets and methods, only to receive a pitiful reward. Why did all of his abilities have to be so convoluted?
'Not that I was going to stop training. In this case, I'm being forced! So it's completely justified.'
Standing in front of the large mirror in his room, Giovanni looked wonderfully presentable. A good bath and nice clothes were all a boy needed, Omar always said!
'Though Margaret did say he was terrible with women…'
Regardless, what truly mattered to him was the perfect opportunity this presented. The conversation with Sofia, which he had been avoiding as if he owed her money.
"Deep breath. You can do this. You're the man." He muttered repeatedly, trying to summon a non-existent courage. Downstairs, he could feel the constant vibrations of Aguiar finishing the final preparations.
The last few hours had boiled down to the group hunting for anything remotely edible among the nightmare creatures of the surroundings, which ended up being basically anything floating through the region's liquid air. The land creatures, for the most part, were unfortunately almost always completely infected by the black sludge, and no one there wanted to put that in their mouth.
With no more time to stall, Giovanni raised his arm and pointed toward the bed, where a compact, earthy sphere rested. For a few seconds, nothing happened; then, the air seemed to shimmer in a controlled manner, closing in inch by inch.
In the end, the result was the same. A failure.
'Tch…'
Brushing the matter aside, Giovanni opened the door, immediately running into the person waiting for him outside. Eric was looking out one of the many windows lining the hallway, equipped in his usual armor from head to toe. He didn't object to the party, but he had no intention of participating either.
"You're late," the giant commented, staring out at the horizon. The crater never ceased to be a breathtaking sight, even if the group had slowly grown used to it. Knowing the history behind it, on the other hand, only made it more fascinating.
Giovanni and Sofia could hardly wait to tell Professor Julius all about it. He was going to lose his mind!
"It's not like we have a clock to set a specific time…" Giovanni retorted, stepping up beside his companion. Strangely, Eric was holding his black helm under his arm, something he rarely summoned except in moments of dire need.
"Are you sure you don't want to join? I'm sure it'll be at least a little bit fun. Aguiar said he's a great singer, and I even made some board games to mix things up." Since it was going to be a game night, Giovanni had taken the initiative to fast-track a project he had thought of a few days ago. Was he not an exemplary transmuter?
"I have never liked parties, much to my family's dismay." Eric didn't sound offended or bothered by the offer. Giovanni could even swear there was a trace of nostalgia in his voice.
"I will stand guard in case of an emergency." Without further ado, the large youth turned and left first, making his intentions clear. If that was his wish, Giovanni wasn't going to pry. The rest were waiting for him downstairs.
"May God forgive me…" the boy grumbled, a little excited, heading down not far behind.
***
As he stepped down into the hall, Giovanni was assaulted by the aroma of seasoned meat and the sweet drink, which somehow still smelled fresh. It was impressive that the two of them had managed to find mutant fruits that didn't simply kill you upon the first bite.
'Sofi's ability is seriously a cheat code. I'm so jealous!'
Giovanni's eyes swept across the hall until they found a stone stage, clearly built for performances long forgotten by time.
The only one on it was Aguiar, holding a fake microphone made of rocks. Technology was a very clear limitation for Giovanni, so that was the best he could manage. He could have lent him the memory he had gained, but it was better for everyone to keep their hearing intact.
When Aguiar noticed the arrival of the final participant, he did a short vocal exercise, clearing his throat before starting to spout his nonsense.
"A very good morning, good afternoon, or good night! Depending on how you interpret that dreadful light outside. As you all know, this is a very special moment for me. Each of you represents a very… singular part of my heart. Even Eric, who unfortunately could not be with us. Taken from us so young."
Wait, wait, since when is he dead?
"First, you, Shelly. Your sailor's mouth, as filthy as the alleyway behind my house, has brought me so many laughs!"
From the furthest corner of the table, Shelly began to pepper Aguiar with obscene gestures, seemingly holding a special fondness for her middle finger. This was followed by boos, also originating entirely from her.
"Get off the stage, fucker! Nobody wants you here!" The insults only made the merman act even more flattered. A tear actually rolled down his face. Seriously.
"Ah, what a wonderful friendship, isn't it? As for you, Sofia, my most reliable provider. Few people would be capable of finding hard drugs and alcohol in the middle of this hell, and somehow, you have both. It's like they say, it's always the quiet, saintly ones…"
Objects began to fly from the audience, forcing Aguiar to dodge a constant barrage of attacks while maintaining flawless diction.
"And you, ah, Giovanni. When I first saw you, I never imagined we would reach this point. Your heart is so pure, so beautiful… it makes me sick! Have you never thought about being a worse person? Committing an infraction, stealing a piece of candy, gossiping about someone behind their back? Get a grip, my sweet, live life a little!
Giovanni was going to kill that guy.
"That being said, let the party begin! I have prepared a collection of wonderful songs that survived the dark times!"
He had to give credit where credit was due.
Aguiar could really sing. It wasn't that Giovanni doubted his friend, but that megalomaniac didn't seem like someone who would waste time on music, considering his obsession with strength. Then again, looking at it from another perspective, his vanity probably reached that exact threshold.
Singing while massacring your opponents—it's just so charming.
There was no instrumental, unfortunately. If Giovanni were even minimally competent with the ability he received as part of being a siren, maybe he could have done something, but well, that was life.
Each of the three guests chose their priority almost immediately. Shelly attacked the snack table like a ravenous wolf. Spending the entire expedition eating the same gray, slimy meat packed with salt was probably a terrible experience for her stomach.
Sofia, meanwhile, wasted no time heading straight for the large punch bowl as if it were the Holy Grail. She filled her cup to the brim and looked around, seemingly searching for something. The moment the young girl's gray eyes met his green pair, a shiver ran down his spine.
There were still marks from the wounds left by her combat sessions with Eric, but now, cleaner and more dressed up than ever, Giovanni couldn't stop his heart from fluttering. The way her clothes were both elegant and lovely, her hair perfectly combed…
'The drink! Even the smell is affecting me!' Feeling like he was falling into some treacherous hypnosis, the boy focused and began walking toward his companion. Sofia hesitated for a moment but quickly seemed to reach a resolution.
Instantly, she slammed the entire cup down in a single gulp.
Wow, impressive.
She ended up choking and coughing, but the intention was good, at least. After wiping her mouth, she also began to approach, the two of them stopping just inches apart. Both spoke at the same time.
"S-So…"
"L-Look!"
"Sor… you go ahead!"
"No, you… uh, first!"
After a few seconds of back-and-forth with no results, the two lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. Smooth move, Giovanni.
Wanting to redeem himself from this embarrassment, the boy didn't give up and held out his hand in an invitation.
"C-Could I have your hand for a dance?" Managing to formulate those words felt like a massive weight being lifted from his heart. Sofia looked from side to side, weighing many things in a strange panic. She chose to be honest.
"I… don't know how to dance." Giovanni forced a confident smile, suppressing the urge to say something like 'me neither!', which would have been the biggest shot in the foot in history. Training with Beako wasn't dancing, but learning to fight as peacefully as possible involved an enviable level of body control.
Taking a few steps back and forth was nothing compared to that.
"The fun part is learning, isn't it?" The invitation stood, and this time, though insecure, Sofia accepted his hand, allowing her partner to lower his other hand to her waist.
To the sound of some pop song being sung in the most irritating voice Aguiar could possibly muster, the two of them, at a slow pace, began their rhythmic movement. Sofia wasn't even half as bad as she believed herself to be, since just like him, her daily training had yielded similar benefits.
The world seemed to blur, and as the two moved together through the forgotten hall, the sensation of a door opening in his mind arrived, accompanied by dozens of conflicting feelings and thoughts. The bond Sofia had kept suppressed for so long had finally returned to normal.
'I really like you.' Immediately, a thought directed from the young girl reached Giovanni's mind. They were simple words that had seemed impossible to formulate just days ago. Her fingers tightened around the boy's with renewed firmness.
'Me too.' Out of all the various ways he had prepared to start that conversation, none of the ones he drafted beforehand actually worked in practice, so he was left with only the single thing crossing his mind.
The two spun in sync, letting the fine fabric of the tunic and dress float in the couple's wake. Now, reconnected once more, everything felt so clear. He could feel the pain radiating from her body, which was still recovering from the constant stress of training, the fear of conflict, and the uncertainty of the outcomes.
Both were afraid of taking the same step. Giovanni opened his mouth, expressing himself aloud.
"I thought a lot about what I wanted to do. The right way to do this… because I only felt a bitter taste, you know?" The stuttering seemed to finally vanish, allowing each word to flow smoothly. "It would be impossible to pretend to feel anything different… but I can't accept things as they currently are."
His expression turned a bit more serious, decisive. Sofia looked him up and down, appreciating the way the boy spoke.
"Neither can I, but what option do we have left?" The question wasn't a refutation, but rather a way to prompt her partner to give the answer. She trusted that Giovanni wouldn't settle for anything less than a perfect result. His actions that day in front of the fountain already said enough.
"I'm going to give back what belongs to you, Sofi. Her eco—Lady Ophelia's eco—trusted me, even knowing everything we would have to face. So when we get out of here, you're going to have the power to choose again. Could you wait… for me?"
Their proximity reached a limit, bringing a feverish warmth to both of their minds. He just needed that one answer.
"You better think of a better confession in the meantime, you hear me? I'm going to want something classic and incredibly sappy to make up for this." Before Giovanni could say a word, she pulled him into a timid kiss.
Whistles and applause echoed from the stage, and even a certain glutton paused to take a shameless look. Normally, Giovanni would be burning up with embarrassment doing that in front of other people.
But damn it, this was the best moment of his life!
***
Outside, far from the lively singing of a merman and the romantic resolution of two young, radiant souls, a muscular, pathetic figure walked along the exterior of the mansion. His world had taken on a purple hue thanks to the black helm he wore, allowing his mind, once again, to fully isolate itself from the burden generated by his flaw.
Something out of the ordinary, however, was the giant's muttered humming.
"Put your head on my shoulder…" When was the last time he had heard music? It was hard to remember, but that specific melody never escaped his mind. It had been a surprise to hear about the group's plans, but Eric had few reasons to oppose them. After the news of what lay on their path back home, it was natural for people to want to escape reality, if only a little.
He could be inside with them, but in the end, only one choice could be made. His mission, his legacy—neither allowed for slip-ups, let alone failures. Eric had already failed more than enough, and he had no interest in making it a habit.
Shrouded by the low grass, the world seemed quiet. The song of the abyss, silenced by Giovanni's new gift, was an immeasurable relief to his mind.
But then…
Plip.
A solitary drop fell from the distant sky, striking the metallic surface of his reinforced gauntlet. Surprised, Eric raised his head, seeing nothing but the complete darkness created ever since the stars were smothered by the abyss.
There was only a brief moment of uncertainty before the youth brought his tongue to the droplet.
The taste was of salt water. A second drop fell, then a third.
For the first time in millennia, perhaps even longer…
It was raining in Thalorim.
The giant's eyes widened in surprise, understanding the revelation behind that otherwise harmless phenomenon.
The barrier erected over the entire crater—the cradle from which their civilization originated, and the last thing that had remained intact even after the collapse of the kingdom and its guardians—was giving way.
Soon, that kingdom would…
Crumble.