Albion moved through the water with Aqua, following the current as they finally reached the Water Kingdom's palace.
The palace was enormous.
Its walls were made from pale blue crystal and polished stone, with streams of water flowing through the halls like roads. Atlantean soldiers stood guard at the entrances while Liquid Soldiers moved between the different sections of the palace.
Albion barely had time to look around before Aqua laughed.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Albion's eyes rolled slightly as he steadied himself.
"Yeah... I'm fine."
He looked at her.
"What's your dad's name?"
Aqua smiled.
"My father's name is Triton. But his title is Absolute Zero."
Albion froze.
'Absolute Zero?'
His expression changed.
'Wait.'
'The strongest WATER HERO monster?'
He looked at Aqua again.
'So the Water Kingdom's king is literally Absolute Zero.'
Albion's curiosity immediately got the better of him.
He leaned closer.
"Does your father have something that makes him stronger the more subjects he has?"
Aqua opened her mouth.
"Well, he—"
A Liquid Soldier suddenly stepped between them.
"Princess."
Aqua stopped.
The soldier looked at her sternly.
"Please do not reveal royal secrets to outsiders."
Albion raised an eyebrow.
The soldier then glanced toward him.
"Even if that outsider will one day be commanding us in the far future."
Albion's eyes widened.
"...What?"
Aqua blinked.
The Liquid Soldier froze.
Albion slowly turned toward him.
"Excuse me?"
The soldier suddenly looked very interested in the ceiling.
"I said nothing."
"You absolutely said something."
Aqua covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Albion pointed at the Liquid Soldier.
"You just casually told me I'm going to command the Water Kingdom's military someday!"
The soldier cleared his throat.
"I may have misspoken."
"You did!"
Aqua finally started laughing.
The soldier sighed.
"Princess, please."
Albion rubbed his forehead.
'Okay.'
'First I find out there's a Water Kingdom.'
'Then I find out Aqua is a princess.'
'Her father is Absolute Zero.'
'And apparently I'm going to command their military someday.'
He stared at the Liquid Soldier.
'What the hell is happening to my future?'
The soldier looked at Albion.
"Prince Albion."
"Yeah?"
"Please forget that conversation."
Albion stared at him.
"That's not how conversations work."
The soldier sighed.
"...I know."
The group continued through the palace until they reached the inner gates.
Aqua swam ahead of everyone.
Albion followed behind her, still taking in the strange underwater kingdom.
Then the gates opened.
A woman immediately rushed toward Aqua.
"MY BABY GIRL!"
Aqua's eyes widened.
"Mom?!"
The woman wrapped her arms around Aqua and pulled her into a tight hug.
Aqua's face disappeared against her chest.
"Mom, I'm fine!"
"I was worried sick!"
"I'm sorry!"
"You left the palace without telling anyone!"
"I just wanted to explore!"
"I don't care! You could have been hurt!"
Albion stopped swimming.
He stared at the scene.
'So this is Aqua's mother.'
His eyes moved over the woman.
She looked like a beautiful mermaid, with an elegant appearance that reminded him of the Mermail monsters he'd seen before.
Albion's eyes widened.
'Wait.'
He remembered the name.
'Abyssrhine.'
Abyssrhine finally noticed Albion.
She stopped hugging Aqua and looked at him.
Her eyes widened.
"Who is this?"
Aqua turned around.
"Oh! Mom, this is Prince Albion."
Abyssrhine blinked.
"The Dragon Prince?"
Albion raised one hand awkwardly.
"Hi."
Abyssrhine stared at him for a moment.
Then she looked at the Liquid Soldiers surrounding them.
Then back at Albion.
"Why is the Dragon Prince in my daughter's company?"
Aqua smiled.
"I found him."
Albion immediately corrected her.
"Technically, you dragged me underwater with my fishing rod."
Aqua thought about it.
"That's true."
Abyssrhine slowly looked at her daughter.
"You dragged the Dragon Prince underwater?"
Aqua nodded.
"Yes."
Abyssrhine closed her eyes.
"Of course you did."
Albion couldn't help laughing.
Abyssrhine sighed before giving him a polite smile.
"My apologies, Prince Albion. My daughter has always been rather adventurous."
Albion looked at Aqua.
"I noticed."
Aqua puffed her cheeks.
"Hey!"
Abyssrhine smiled.
Then she gently placed a hand on Aqua's head.
"Still, I'm glad you're safe."
Aqua smiled.
"Me too."
Albion watched the two of them for a moment.
'Okay.'
'This makes sense.'
Aqua was energetic, curious, and apparently had a habit of wandering off.
Her mother looked like the type of person who had spent years dealing with exactly that.
Albion quietly nodded to himself.
'Definitely her daughter.'
They continued walking through the palace.
Albion was unusually quiet.
His mind kept returning to what the Liquid Soldier had said.
"Even if that outsider will be commanding us in the far future."
Albion frowned.
'Wait.'
He suddenly remembered something.
The six Elemental Kingdoms.
They weren't independent nations in the same way as the seven major Nations. They were smaller kingdoms within the Dragon Nation, each built around one of the major elements.
And his father was their king.
Well, technically, King Albion was the King of the entire Albaz Nation.
The Elemental Kings still ruled their own kingdoms, but they answered to him.
Albion's eyes widened.
'Oh.'
He remembered a conversation he'd had with his father years ago.
King Albion had explained it quite simply.
"The Elemental Kings govern their own people, but they ultimately answer to me."
Albion had barely thought about it at the time.
He'd been more interested in sword training.
Now, however, the Liquid Soldier's words suddenly made perfect sense.
'So if Dad is King of the Albaz Nation...'
'And the Water Kingdom is part of the Albaz Nation...'
'Then the Water Kingdom's military is technically under Dad's authority.'
Albion looked toward the Liquid Soldiers marching through the palace.
'And if I eventually inherit the throne...'
He slowly put the pieces together.
'I'd inherit that authority too.'
Albion rubbed his forehead.
"Okay."
Aqua looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
Albion shook his head.
"Nothing."
He paused.
"Actually, I just remembered something important."
"What?"
Albion looked around the massive Water Kingdom.
"I forgot that my family rules this place."
Aqua blinked.
"Yes."
Albion stared at her.
"You knew that?"
"Everyone knows that."
"Right."
He sighed.
'Apparently, I'm the only person who forgot.'
Aqua giggled.
"You really are strange for a prince."
Albion gave her a tired look.
"Thanks."
She smiled.
"You're welcome."
Abyssrhine looked at Albion with a warm smile.
"Now, come with us. My husband will be happy to meet you."
Albion nodded.
"Sure."
They continued through the palace, with Aqua swimming beside them and the Liquid Soldiers following behind.
After passing through several large corridors, they finally reached the royal chamber.
The doors opened.
Albion immediately stopped.
Standing inside was an enormous white-armored warrior.
His armor was covered in sharp, icy plates, and cold mist drifted around his body. His green eyes glowed beneath his helmet.
Albion recognized him immediately.
'Absolute Zero.'
'So this is King Triton.'
In the Water Kingdom, the title Absolute Zero wasn't simply a name.
It was the title used by the kingdom's ruler.
King Triton was currently speaking to someone through a magical scroll.
"Yes, I see. Your search makes sense."
He looked over the information written across the scroll.
"You should continue investigating the northern waters. If you find anything unusual, report it to me immediately."
The voice on the other end replied.
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Triton closed the scroll.
"Honey, there seems to be a small problem. The Dragon Prince was dragged into our territory and—"
He stopped.
His eyes landed on Albion.
Silence.
Albion awkwardly raised a hand.
"Hi."
Triton stared at him.
Abyssrhine smiled.
"Aqua found him while she was exploring."
Triton's expression remained completely still.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"The Dragon Prince?"
Albion nodded.
"Albion."
Triton slowly reached for the scroll again.
He opened it.
Then looked at Albion.
Then at the scroll.
Then back at Albion.
He apparently remembered the description he had been given.
White hair.
Dragon wings.
Royal clothing.
The Dragon Prince.
Triton looked at the scroll again.
"About that..."
The magical communication was still active.
The person on the other side spoke.
"Your Majesty?"
Triton stared at Albion for another few seconds.
"Change of plans."
A pause.
"I believe we've found him."
Albion blinked.
'Why does everyone keep talking about me like I'm some missing artifact?'
Aqua quietly giggled beside him.
Triton finally closed the scroll.
He approached Albion.
Despite his intimidating appearance, his voice was calm.
"Prince Albion."
Albion straightened.
"King Triton."
Triton nodded.
"Welcome to the Water Kingdom."
Albion glanced at Aqua.
"Sorry about the whole fishing hook situation."
Aqua immediately pointed at herself.
"Hey, you were the one who caught me!"
Albion stared at her.
"You grabbed my fishing line!"
"You came into my kingdom!"
"You were underwater!"
"You were fishing in our river!"
Triton slowly looked between the two children.
Abyssrhine covered her mouth.
She was trying very hard not to laugh.
Triton sighed.
"...I see."
He looked at Abyssrhine.
"Our daughter found the Dragon Prince while fishing."
Abyssrhine nodded.
"Essentially."
Triton rubbed his forehead.
"Of course she did."
Albion smiled awkwardly.
"Honestly, I've had stranger days."
Triton looked at him.
"That statement concerns me more than it should."
Albion's smile disappeared.
'Fair.'
A few minutes later, the doors to the royal chamber opened again.
King Albion entered first, followed by Trishula, Dharc, and Asterion.
Trishula's enormous true form barely fit through the entrance. His three heads looked around the chamber, while a thin layer of frost formed beneath his claws.
Asterion immediately spotted Albion.
He stared at him.
Then he looked at Aqua.
Then at the Water Kingdom's royal family.
Then back at Albion.
Asterion sighed.
"How does this keep happening?"
Albion raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Asterion pointed at him.
"Every time you disappear, you come back with something completely ridiculous."
Albion crossed his arms.
"What's ridiculous about this?"
Asterion gestured around the room.
"You went fishing."
"Yes."
"You got dragged underwater."
"Yes."
"You found an entire kingdom."
"Yes."
"You met their princess."
"Yes."
"And now we're standing in front of her parents."
Albion paused.
"...When you put it like that, it sounds weird."
Dharc adjusted his glasses.
"It is weird."
Albion looked at him.
"Nobody asked you."
Dharc shrugged.
"I'm just stating facts."
King Albion walked over and placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"I believe we should be more concerned about why the Water Kingdom's princess was the one who dragged you here."
Aqua raised her hand.
"That was an accident!"
Everyone looked at her.
Aqua lowered her hand.
"...Mostly."
Abyssrhine sighed.
"Triton and I have already heard the story."
King Albion looked toward Triton.
"King Triton."
Triton stood and gave a respectful nod.
"King Albion."
The two kings looked at each other.
Then King Albion glanced toward his son.
"Apparently, our children have already met."
Triton looked at Aqua.
"Apparently."
Aqua smiled.
Albion quietly muttered.
"Technically, she caught me."
Aqua immediately protested.
"You caught me first!"
"I was fishing!"
"You were fishing for me!"
"I didn't know you were there!"
Triton closed his eyes.
Abyssrhine smiled.
Trishula's three heads slowly turned toward one another.
Dharc whispered to Asterion.
"They're going to get along."
Asterion nodded.
"Unfortunately."
King Albion sighed.
"Albion."
Albion stopped arguing.
"Yes, Dad?"
"Please don't accidentally start a diplomatic incident while fishing."
Albion looked offended.
"I wasn't trying to."
King Albion gave him a long look.
"I know."
A pause.
"That's what worries me."
After a while, everyone finally returned to the castle.
The group gathered in the courtyard, with Albion standing in the middle of them.
Everyone just stared at him.
Albion looked around.
"...What?"
Eria crossed her arms.
"How does this keep happening?"
Albion shrugged.
"I don't know."
Dharc adjusted his glasses.
"You went fishing."
"Yes."
"You disappeared underwater."
"Yes."
"You somehow entered the Water Kingdom."
"Yes."
"You met their princess."
"Yes."
"And then your father had to bring Trishula to find you."
Albion nodded.
"When you say it like that, it does sound complicated."
Eria put a hand over her face.
"Because it is!"
Asterion sighed.
"I said the same thing."
Meanwhile, Wynn wasn't paying attention to any of this.
She was holding the Cat Shark that Albion had caught earlier.
The little creature happily rested in her arms, its tail swishing back and forth.
Wynn smiled.
"I'll name you Blade."
Albion blinked.
"Blade?"
Wynn nodded.
"Blade."
The Cat Shark let out a tiny:
"Meow."
Everyone went quiet.
Albion stared at the shark.
Then at Wynn.
"...I think it likes the name."
Wynn hugged Blade closer.
"Of course it does."
The Cat Shark purred.
Albion smiled.
'At least one thing from today's fishing trip worked out.'
Then he remembered Aqua.
'Although now I apparently know a Water Princess.'
He sighed.
'Yeah. My life isn't normal anymore.'
To be continue
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