Chapter 60: A Simple Request "It really is Lord Schrodinger!" Elysia’s eyes shone with excitement. "It’s been a while. I thought that I would never see you again."
The way she spoke made it seem like they hadn’t seen each other for centuries, though it had only been a day.
Xin was concerned about the Dragon Turtle. He was afraid that it might notice him and the [Engage] button would be triggered.
Before he could voice his concern, however, Elysia was already in front of him, her beautiful face close, while her always-wet hair danced with the wind as her blue eyes stared at him intently.
"You don’t have to worry about Turtly," she said with a playful smile as if reading his concern.
"Turtly?" Xin echoed, glancing past her.
"Yes, Turtly is what I call him," Elysia explained. "He is the guardian of these waters, but he can be a bit grumpy at times. He’s also one of my pets."
Just how many pets did she have? Xin wondered.
Behind Elysia was the massive, ancient-looking Dragon Turtle, who seemed to pay him the barest glance before its sleepy eyes closed again as if it couldn’t care less about his existence.
Elysia giggled softly, her melodious laughter echoing in the air. "Oh, Turtly can be quite lazy at times. But don’t let that fool you. He’s the gentlest giant you’ll ever meet."
"He won’t attack me?" Xin asked, still cautious.
Elysia shook her head. "Not at all. Turtly knows you mean no harm. He’s been a guardian of these waters for centuries, and he can sense the intentions of those who come here."
Xin and Lucy exchanged silent glances. They both knew that they came here to defeat the Dragon Turtle.
But maybe this was an opportunity to finish the quest without engaging in a gruesome battle.
"Then does he listen to you?" Xin asked.
Elysia nodded. "Indeed, he does. But he could also be a bit uncooperative. Don’t worry, though. He only becomes aggressive when he senses a threat to these waters."
"Then can you tell him to stop destroying the reefs? Seagull’s Nest is in trouble because of the rising sea level because of it."
Elysia’s soft expression disappeared, and her face turned serious. "The truth is, I ordered Turtly to destroy the reefs and make more rogue waves hit Seagull’s Nest in order to erode its built-up coastal areas."
Xin was surprised at the sudden information, but he should have expected that, considering Turtly was her pet.
"Why would you do that?" Xin asked, feeling conflicted.
Elysia sighed, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Seagull’s Nest has been encroaching on these waters for years, and its construction has been disrupting the natural balance of the ecosystem. The reefs and the creatures that depend on them are suffering because of it."
Xin understood her concern for the environment, but causing harm to the town and its people seemed extreme.
"Is there no other way to resolve this?" Xin asked.
Elysia looked down, her hands gently stroking Turtly’s rough scales. "I have tried to reason with the people of Seagull’s Nest, but they refuse to listen. They see these waters as merely a resource to exploit for their own gain. Turtly’s actions are my last resort to protect this fragile ecosystem."
"They’re dangerous if left unchecked. They pollute the waters and kill every living creature they see without regard for the consequences. They must be stopped before it’s too late," Elysia insisted, her face serious and determined.
Xin could see the sincerity in her eyes, and it seemed that there was no negotiating with her when it came to protecting the waters she cared for.
While he understood her concern for the environment, Xin couldn’t help but feel conflicted about the situation.
On the one hand, he wanted to complete the quest, but on the other hand, he sympathized with Elysia’s desire to preserve the delicate ecosystem.
While Xin was conflicting what to do, Elysia’s expression softened, and she reached out to place a hand on his shoulder.
"But if you ask me to stop, I’ll stop . . . for now, at least. I will give Seagull’s Nest a second chance only because it was you who asked," she said, her eyes sparkling.
"Really?" Xin felt a mixture of relief and uncertainty.
Elysia nodded. "Yes. But only if you do one thing for me."
". . ." Xin braced himself, ready to fulfill whatever request she had, as long as it didn’t involve marriages.
Elysia giggled mischievously as if she had read Xin’s thoughts. "Don’t worry; I’m not going to force you to marry me."
Xin was thankful for that.
"I just want a thank you kiss," she chortled.
". . ." That seemed . . . reasonable enough. Xin thought.
𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 Elysia laughed a little and waved her hand. "I’m just jo––"
Before she could say anything else, Xin gently grabbed her hand and placed a soft kiss on the back of her palm.
His silver eyes intently on her as he uttered seriously, "Will this do?"
Elysia’s face turned bright red, and she was momentarily at a loss for words. Lord Schrodinger was undeniably handsome, but there was something magnetic about him when his usually lethargic eyes turned serious.
But having her pride as the powerful sea elf, Elysia composed herself and restricted her smile not to become as more apparent as she would like it to be. "Ah . . . this is more than enough."
She cleared her throat while rubbing her hands affectionately. Though she was expecting something else, a kiss on the hand was also okay.
On the other hand, Xin felt relieved. If he could finish the quest and obtain those rare items by simply kissing Elysia’s hand, it was the best possible outcome he could have hoped for.
"Alright, Turtly, time to come home with me. Your job here is done," Elysia declared to the Dragon Turtle.
The Dragon Turtle regarded Xin for a moment before emitting a low, rumbling sound, much like the contented sigh it had made earlier. It then dove into the bottom of the lagoon and disappeared from sight.
Xin felt a surge of relief, knowing that he would complete that quest after all.
Elysia smiled, addressing Lord Schrodinger next. "You have a unique gift, Lord Schrodinger."
Was she talking about his infinite CHA?
"Turtly has acknowledged your intentions, and he knows that you mean no harm. From now on, you will find that these waters hold no threat for you or Seagull’s Nest. At least . . . as long as you’re still on the island."
"Thank you," Xin said sincerely. "I am grateful for your help."
Elysia’s smile widened. "It was my pleasure, Lord Schrodinger. You are always welcome in these waters. Now, I must return to the depths, but remember, just call my name underwater and I will come to you."
Xin nodded.
"I’m serious. Call me whenever you have the chance if every minute is a hassle."
". . ."
With those words, she dissolved back into the water, and disappeared from sight.
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A/N
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