Hello, Drinor here. I'm happy to publish a new Chapter of A Nundu for A Pet.
If you want to Read 12 More Chapters Right Now. Search 'Drinor Patreon' in Google and Click the First LINK
Chapter 33 (Echoes from the Deep), Chapter 34 (Crystal's Song of Ice), Chapter 35 (Song of Ice and Water), Chapter 36 (The Wardstone's Song), Chapter 37 (The Boy Who Saved), Chapter 38 (A Ball and A Veela), Chapter 39 (Teacups and Homecomings), Chapter 40 (Golden Eyes in the Darkness), Chapter 41 (The Twelfth Summer), Chapter 42 (A Warning from An Elf), Chapter 43 (Potter Talismans, Severed Ties, and an Idiot), and Chapter 44 (Luna Lovegood and A Nundu) are already available for Patrons.
Harry woke to a gentle tapping against his bubble-head charm. A tiny luminara had drifted too close, its tendrils creating ripples of light where they touched the magical barrier. The creature seemed fascinated by him, which was strange—most sea life avoided surface dwellers.
"They like you," came a familiar pattern-voice from his chamber entrance. Crystal-Harmony hovered there, her unique form silhouetted against the corridor's bioluminescence. Unlike the pure RSH form of her people, her human-like upper body with scales and face made her stand out dramatically. Her long golden hair drifted in the current like living silk, and her scales caught the morning light in mesmerizing patterns. Her cheeks and lips were the only part of her upper body that held no scales like the other Royal Sea Horses.
Harry sat up, careful not to startle the luminara. "Good morning, Your Highness." He wasn't sure of the proper protocol—should he bow underwater? Stand? Swim?
Her patterns flickered with amusement. She moved into the chamber with that peculiar grace that somehow combined RSH fluidity with human gestures. "I thought you might like to see how we actually live, beyond all the formal diplomatic tours."
"I'd like that," Harry said, genuinely interested. "Though won't Madam Lefebvre need to translate?"
Crystal-Harmony's patterns showed mischief. "Officially, yes. But since we both know you can understand me directly..." She grinned, an expression that looked perfectly natural despite being unusual for RSH. "I may have arranged for her to spend the morning consulting with our diplomatic scholars about proper translation protocols. Very important work. Could take hours."
Harry couldn't help grinning back. Her enthusiasm was infectious. "Won't we get in trouble?"
"For a cultural exchange between two young creatures? Hardly. Besides," she did a playful twirl in the water, "I'm the princess. Showing honored guests our way of life is practically my duty."
As they left the diplomatic quarters, Harry noticed how other RSH reacted to Crystal-Harmony—respectful bows and pattern-greetings, but also subtle double-takes at her appearance. She handled it with practiced grace, but Harry caught hints of old pain in her patterns.
"So," she said brightly, leading him toward what appeared to be a main thoroughfare, "what would you like to see first? We have the learning spheres where our young ones study, the current-markets where everyone shops, the artisans' district..." She paused, noticing his wide-eyed expression as they emerged into a massive open space filled with swirling magical currents.
The sight took Harry's breath away. Hundreds of RSH moved through what looked like rivers of light suspended in the water, each current flowing at a different speed and temperature. Some carried goods—fresh food, crafted items, even what appeared to be living coral sculptures. Others transported RSH themselves, like underwater versions of London's busy streets.
"This is the Heart of Currents," Crystal-Harmony explained, clearly pleased by his reaction. "The center of city life. Each flow serves a different purpose." She pointed to a particularly bright stream. "That one leads to the learning spheres. Shall we?"
Harry nodded, then watched in amazement as she gracefully entered the current. She turned back, holding out her hand—so human-like yet scaled in patterns that caught the light. "Don't worry, it's perfectly safe. Just let the magic guide you."
Taking her hand, Harry felt himself drawn into the flow. It was like being carried by a gentle river, but one that moved in three dimensions. They passed other RSH who gave them curious looks—clearly, surface dwellers didn't usually travel this way.
"Watch this," Crystal-Harmony said, concentrating hard. She held out her free hand, attempting to manipulate the water around them. After several seconds of intense focus, she managed to create a small eddy that spun them in a gentle circle. "Ta-da!"
"That's amazing!" Harry said honestly. "I've never seen magic like that before."
Her patterns dimmed slightly. "That's... actually pretty basic. Most RSH children can do much more by age five." She shrugged, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I'm not very good at water magic. Another way I'm different, I suppose."
Before Harry could respond, the current deposited them near a cluster of enormous spheres that seemed to be made of living crystal. Young RSH moved between them, their patterns bright with concentration and excitement.
"The learning spheres," Crystal-Harmony explained, leading him closer. "Each one contains a different subject. See that golden one? That's for history—the patterns inside tell our stories through living light."
They watched as a group of young RSH—about Harry's age, he guessed—practiced creating basic water shapes. Their teacher, a dignified RSH with elaborate pattern-markings, demonstrated how to form the water into geometric figures.
"That's Master Flow-Shaper," Crystal-Harmony whispered. "He tried to teach me water magic when I was younger." She attempted to form a simple cube of solid water, but it wobbled and dissolved. "As you can see, it didn't go very well."
"At least you can do something," Harry offered. "I can't manipulate water at all."
She brightened slightly. "True. And I suppose being different isn't all bad. Watch this."
To Harry's surprise, she swam right up to the learning sphere. The young RSH inside immediately noticed her, their patterns showing excitement and curiosity. Crystal-Harmony pressed her hand against the crystal surface and began communicating in a fascinating blend of RSH patterns and surface gestures.
"I can talk to them both ways," she explained to Harry as he swam nearer. The other RSHs gave him odd looks, especially the teacher, who didn't seem very happy with Harry's presence. Sometimes, it helps them learn surface customs while they study." She turned back to the students. Would you like to meet my friend? He's from the surface."
The young RSH's patterns practically exploded with enthusiasm. The teacher, looking irritated, adjusted the sphere's barrier to allow Harry and Crystal-Harmony to enter.
"These are our first-year students," Crystal-Harmony introduced them. "They're learning basic water manipulation and pattern-speech."
One particularly bold student swam forward, their patterns forming careful words: "Welcome... surface... friend?" They looked to their teacher for confirmation that they'd got it right.
"Very good, Pearl-Seeker," Master Flow-Shaper's patterns showed approval. "Though perhaps we should let the princess translate, as our guest likely cannot—"
"Thank you," Harry responded directly in pattern speech, earning gasps of amazement from the students and a raised eyebrow from the teacher. It's an honor to visit your learning sphere."
"Earth Walker! You can speak our tongue!" Master Flow-Shaper's patterns showed genuine shock, his sea horse-like face registering surprise as his eyes widened. The formal distance in his manner cracked slightly. "How is this possible?"
Before Harry could respond, the students swarmed around him, their patterns a jumble of excited questions:
"Can all surface people speak patterns?" asked a small RSH with particularly bright spots.
"Do you have water magic too?"
"Why do you need that bubble around your head?"
"Is it true surface dwellers walk on solid ground?"
Crystal-Harmony laughed, her patterns dancing with amusement. "One at a time! Pearl-Seeker, since you were brave enough to speak first, why don't you ask your question properly?"
The bold young RSH who had first greeted them concentrated hard, forming careful pattern-words: "How... did you learn... our speech?"
Harry noticed how the other students watched intently, clearly using this as an impromptu language lesson. "I have a... gift for understanding magical creatures," he explained, trying to match the formal pattern-structure they were learning. "But your way of speaking is very different from anything I've encountered before."
"Show him the water-shapes!" called out another student, practically vibrating with excitement. "Can surface people do water-shapes?"
Master Flow-Shaper's patterns showed resigned amusement as his lesson plan was thoroughly derailed. "Perhaps a demonstration is in order. Wave-Dancer, would you show our guest the basic forms?"
A young RSH with graceful movements came forward, clearly pleased to be chosen. With careful concentration, they formed the water into a perfect sphere, then transformed it into a cube, then a pyramid.
"These are the first shapes we learn," Crystal-Harmony explained to Harry. "Though some of us," her patterns showed self-deprecating humor, "take longer than others to master them."
"Can you try?" Wave-Dancer asked Harry eagerly. "Maybe surface magic works differently!"
"I don't think I can," Harry admitted. "But it's fascinating to watch. How do you tell the water what shape to take?"
This launched an enthusiastic explanation from several students at once, their patterns overlapping:
"You have to feel the water's memory—"
"No, no, you have to *ask* it—"
"Master Flow-Shaper says we guide it—"
"Perhaps," the teacher interrupted with formal patterns, "our guest could tell us about surface magic instead? It would be... educational... to understand the differences."
Harry recognized the diplomatic olive branch and took it. "Well, we use wands to focus our magic," he explained, careful not to move his own wand where the students might get ideas. "But nothing like your water manipulation. The closest thing might be transfiguration—changing one thing into another."
This sparked a whole new round of questions:
"Can you turn water into...not-water?"
"What's a wand?"
"Do surface creatures have pattern-speech too?"
"Is it true you have something called 'rain' that makes water fall from above?"
Crystal-Harmony helped field the questions, her unique perspective bridging the gap between surface and RSH concepts. Harry noticed how she used both pattern-speech and surface gestures, making complex ideas clearer for the students.
"Look!" called out a previously quiet student. They had created a wobbly water-shape that looked vaguely like a bubble-head charm. "I made surface magic!"
"Very creative, Coral-Swift," Master Flow-Shaper's patterns showed genuine approval. "Though perhaps not quite the proper exercise..."
"But Master," Pearl-Seeker's patterns were earnestly academic, "isn't understanding surface forms important for water-shaping? The ancient records say water remembers all the shapes it's been, even in the above-world."
The teacher's patterns showed surprise at this insight. "That is... a valid perspective." He studied Harry with new interest. "Perhaps there is something to be learned from different approaches to magic."
A tiny RSH who had been hiding behind their classmates finally gathered the courage to approach Harry directly. Their patterns were so faint they were barely visible: "Is it scary? Living where the water ends?"
Harry considered how to answer. "It's different," he said carefully. "Just like I find it amazing that you can live so deep underwater. But that's what's brilliant about magic, isn't it? It lets us adapt to different worlds."
Crystal-Harmony's patterns showed warm approval at this response. "Exactly! And sometimes," she demonstrated by creating a small, wobbly water-sphere, "it's okay if we're not perfect at everything. The important thing is learning from each other."
The students watched in fascination as her sphere wobbled and dissolved. Instead of the embarrassment Harry had seen earlier, this time Crystal-Harmony seemed to be making a point about accepting differences.
"But Your Highness," Wave-Dancer asked with innocent curiosity, "why do your patterns look different from ours? And how do you make them work with surface movements too?"
Master Flow-Shaper's patterns sharpened with alarm at this personal question, but Crystal-Harmony just laughed.
"The same way Harry can understand our speech without being RSH," she said easily. "Magic works in mysterious ways. Speaking of which—who wants to show him how we use pattern-speech to make music?"
This successfully diverted the students into an enthusiastic demonstration of how they could create harmonies by combining their pattern-lights in specific ways. Harry watched in fascination as simple exercise patterns transformed into something like an underwater light symphony.
"You're good with them," he said quietly to Crystal-Harmony while the students practiced. "They forget to be formal around you."
Her patterns showed thoughtful happiness. "They haven't yet learned to see different as wrong," she replied. "To them, being unique is still interesting rather than strange." She watched as Pearl-Seeker helped the shy student perfect their harmony-pattern. "Sometimes I learn more teaching here than I ever did as a student."
Master Flow-Shaper, who had been observing quietly, suddenly formed a complex pattern that made all the students snap to attention. "The tide shifts," he announced formally. "Time for meditation practice."
The students' patterns showed dramatic disappointment.
"But Master Flow-Shaper!"
"We haven't shown him the color-patterns yet!"
"Or the current-riding techniques!"
"A proper student knows when to focus on their exercises," the teacher said firmly, though his patterns held a hint of amusement. "Though perhaps... if our guests wish to visit another time..."
"Can they? Please?"
"I want to learn more about surface magic!"
"Maybe next time they can tell us about walking on solid ground!"
Crystal-Harmony's patterns showed delight at the students' enthusiasm. "We'll see what can be arranged. For now, though, we should let them practice. After all," she added with a conspiratorial pattern-whisper to the class, "the sooner you master the basics, the sooner you can learn the really interesting water-shapes."
This produced a flurry of excited patterns before Master Flow-Shaper called them to order. As Harry and Crystal-Harmony prepared to leave, the teacher's patterns shifted to something more personal.
"Your understanding of our speech is... remarkable, Earth Walker," he said quietly. "Perhaps there is much we could learn from each other."
As they exited the learning sphere, Harry heard Pearl-Seeker's voice trailing behind them: "When I grow up, I want to learn ALL the magics—surface AND water!"
"Well," Crystal-Harmony's patterns sparkled with amusement as they swam away, "I'd say that was an educational experience for everyone."
⚯ ͛
⚯ ͛
"Hungry?" Crystal-Harmony asked as they left the learning sphere. "The market currents should be in full swing by now."
The market was a riot of color and movement. Different temperature currents carried different types of goods—cold currents for preserved foods, warm ones for fresh catches, swift currents for daily goods, slower ones for browsing luxury items.
A group of young RSH nobles drifted past, their elaborate decorations marking their status. Their patterns flickered with barely concealed mockery as they noticed Crystal-Harmony. "Oh look, the moon-tide princess ventures among us common folk," one whispered in pattern-speech, clearly not expecting Harry to understand.
Crystal-Harmony's patterns dimmed slightly, but she lifted her chin and deliberately ignored them. "Come on," she said, leading Harry toward the food stalls. "I want to show you how we really eat."
The first stall featured what looked like floating spheres of golden light. "Pressure-cooked bubble-fish," Crystal-Harmony explained. "The chef uses different water pressures to create varying textures. Watch this!"
The chef, an RSH with particularly elaborate cooking-patterns, demonstrated by manipulating water pressure around one of the spheres. It transformed from completely solid to something like a custard, then to a warm liquid that glowed from within.
"The pressure changes how it tastes?" Harry asked, fascinated.
"And the temperature, and the current direction," the chef explained through pattern-speech. "Would you like to try? I heard earth walkers had come to our little city down here, so I made those."
The bubble-fish dissolved into warmth and flavor as soon as it passed through Harry's charm—somehow tasting both like the finest fish he'd ever had and like liquid sunlight.
"Now you have to try the crystal-kelp," Crystal-Harmony insisted, leading him to another stall. Long strands of what looked like living crystal swayed in carefully controlled currents. "It's harvested from the deep thermal vents. The mineral content makes it sparkle, and the heat gives it flavor."
The kelp vendor, a jovial RSH with cooking-patterns etched into his scales, carefully selected a strand. "For surface taste," he explained, adjusting its temperature. "Not too strong for first-time trying."
The crystal-kelp crunched like normal kelp at first, then melted into something that tasted like a combination of the freshest vegetables and sea breeze.
They passed stalls selling current-fruits (grown in specialized magical currents to enhance their properties), pressure-pearls (tiny spheres that burst with different flavors depending on how hard you pressed them), and something Crystal-Harmony called "tide-mist" that looked like captured fog but tasted like whatever you were craving most at the moment.
"You have to try this," Crystal-Harmony insisted, leading him to a stall where an elderly RSH was creating what looked like living sculptures out of some kind of underwater crystal. "Master Wave-Singer makes the best current-candies in the city."
The elderly RSH's patterns showed gentle welcome as Crystal-Harmony made their selections. To Harry's amazement, what looked like solid crystal dissolved into pure flavor as soon as it passed through his bubble-head charm.
"It tastes like..." he struggled to describe it, "like sunrise feels? And something else... treacle tart!"
Crystal-Harmony clapped her hands in delight—a very human gesture that somehow suited her perfectly. "Yes! Current-candies blend with your own magic to create flavors unique to each person. That second taste is usually something familiar from your own experiences."
They moved on to a stall selling what Crystal-Harmony called "depth-spice"—crystals formed in the deepest trenches that added impossible flavors to other foods. "Just a tiny bit," she warned. "It can be overwhelming for surface tastes."
The depth-spice made everything taste deeper somehow, as if Harry could taste the history of the ocean itself. "That's... intense," he managed after trying a minimal amount.
"Wait until you try thermal-cakes," Crystal-Harmony said, leading him to where an RSH chef was manipulating different temperature currents around what looked like floating pastries. "They're cooked entirely by controlling water temperature and pressure. The really skilled chefs can create temperature gradients so precise that—"
She broke off as they passed the group of noble RSH again. Their patterns showed more obvious disdain this time.
"Teaching surface dwellers our ways now?" one of them said in pattern-speech. "How... charitable. Though I suppose you're uniquely qualified to explain surface things."
Harry felt Crystal-Harmony tense beside him, but before he could say anything, the thermal-cake chef's patterns flashed with sharp authority.
"Young Coral-Vale," the chef said firmly, "your father's kitchen places a regular order with my stall. Should I inform him you're refusing proper respect to the princess?"
The young nobles quickly moved on, their patterns showing embarrassment. Crystal-Harmony's patterns flickered with gratitude toward the chef.
"Try this," the chef said kindly, offering them both thermal-cakes. "New recipe—combines surface and depth techniques. Sometimes," she added with meaningful patterns, "the best creations come from bridging different worlds."
The thermal-cake was amazing—somehow both warm and cool, solid and melting, familiar and completely foreign at the same time. Harry noticed how Crystal-Harmony's patterns brightened at the chef's words.
"There's one more thing you have to try," she said, leading him toward a quieter section of the market. "Something really special."
They approached a small stall tucked away from the main currents. The vendor, an ancient-looking RSH with patterns that spoke of deep-water wisdom, was creating what looked like drops of living light.
"Memory-drops," Crystal-Harmony explained softly. "They capture the essence of a moment, a feeling, a place. When you taste them, you experience that memory as if you were there."
The vendor selected one that glowed with a soft, pearl-like luminescence. "For the surface friend," their patterns said gently. "A taste of your first view of our city."
When Harry tried it, he gasped. He could feel again that moment of wonder when they'd first emerged from the kelp forest to see Abyssantica spread out before them. The vendor smiled knowingly.
"And for you, Your Highness?" they asked Crystal-Harmony. "Perhaps... moonlight on waves?"
Crystal-Harmony's patterns showed surprise, then understanding. "You know about...?"
The vendor's patterns were kind. "I am old enough to remember other times when the moon's magic touched our people. Those who mock simply fear what they don't understand."
As they left the market, Harry noticed Crystal-Harmony seemed thoughtful. "The thing about current-candies," she said finally, "is that they're unique to each person. No two people ever taste exactly the same thing." She looked at him. "Maybe that's true of people too. We're all shaped by different currents."
Harry thought about the vendor's words about the moon's magic, and the noble RSHs' mockery, but he didn't press. Some mysteries, he was learning, revealed themselves in their own time, like flavors slowly dissolving through layers of current-candy.
As they were leaving the market, Harry noticed a group of RSHs were after them. A group of young noble RSH had been following them at a distance, their patterns showing barely concealed disdain. When Crystal-Harmony paused at a water-sculpture display, one of them deliberately swam closer.
"Watch this," the noble RSH said loudly to his companions, forming the water into a perfect sphere, then a cube, then a complex spiral—basic forms that every RSH child learned early. His patterns radiated smug superiority. "Oh, I apologize, Your Highness. I forgot you might find these simple exercises... challenging."
Harry saw how Crystal-Harmony's patterns dimmed slightly before she forced them back to diplomatic brightness. Her hands—so human compared to pure RSH form—clenched briefly at her sides.
"Thank you for the demonstration," she said with careful dignity. "I'm sure our surface guest appreciates seeing proper RSH technique."
"Of course," another noble joined in, patterns dripping with false sympathy. "After all, who better to bridge relations with surface dwellers than someone who already looks so... surface-like?"
Harry felt anger rising, but Crystal-Harmony touched his arm gently—a very human gesture that made the nobles' patterns flicker with renewed disdain.
"You four should know better than to annoy the princess and the guests of the King."
Harry looked up to see an imposing RSH approaching them, his scales bearing marks. In his hand, a sphere of water spun, moving so fast it created its own current. The presence of this RSH made the four nobles back away immediately, their patterns showing clear nervousness.
"Battle-Storm," Crystal-Harmony's patterns showed relief and genuine warmth. "I didn't know you were back from the deep patrols."
The warrior's scarred form spoke of countless encounters. One particularly dramatic scar ran from his head crest down to his armor, looking like it had come from something with very large teeth.
"Just returned, Your Highness," Battle-Storm replied, still casually manipulating the water sphere in ways that made the young nobles flinch. "These depths grow more... interesting lately. Though apparently," his patterns shifted to sharp disapproval as he looked at the nobles, "some still find time for discourtesy."
The lead noble tried to maintain his dignity. "We were merely demonstrating traditional forms—"
"Were you?" Battle-Storm's patterns turned dangerous. The water sphere in his hand suddenly expanded into a complex series of shapes before turning into a spear-like shape. "Perhaps you'd like to demonstrate them against someone who's spent thirty years fighting deep-trench leviathans? I'm always eager to... practice."
The nobles' patterns practically radiated terror now. They backed away with hurried patterns of apology before fleeing into the nearest current.
Battle-Storm's patterns softened as he turned back to Crystal-Harmony. "My apologies for interrupting, Your Highness. Some young nobles need reminding that true strength isn't measured by simple water-forms."
"Thank you, old friend," Crystal-Harmony's patterns showed genuine appreciation, though Harry could still see the hurt beneath her diplomatic composure.
"Your father asked me to check on you," Battle-Storm added more quietly. "The deep currents bring strange tidings lately." He glanced at Harry with keen assessment. "Though I see you've found an interesting surface ally."
As they moved to continue toward the symphony hall, Harry caught fragments of the nobles' retreating pattern-speech, still muttering despite their fear: "Can't even manage basic forms—" "More human than RSH—" "Shame to the royal line—"
Crystal-Harmony maintained her perfect diplomatic face despite the words she was hearing.
"You know," the old warrior said casually, yet pitched to carry to the retreating nobles, "in my experience, those who boast loudest of tradition and proper forms tend to swim away fastest when real dangers rise from the deep." His scarred form straightened proudly. "While those who think differently, who see beyond old ways... they're the ones who stand firm when darkness comes."
His patterns shifted to something more personal as he addressed Crystal-Harmony directly. "Your Highness, I haven't forgotten who spotted the pattern-changes that warned us of the last squid attack. Traditional water-forms wouldn't have saved us then. Your different way of seeing did."
Crystal-Harmony's patterns brightened slightly at this reminder. "You give me too much credit, Battle-Storm."
"I give credit where it's earned, Your Highness. Now," his patterns turned professional again, "shall I escort you to the symphony? These waters grow uncertain, and your father would rest easier knowing you're properly guarded."
As they swam on, Harry noticed how other RSH reacted to Battle-Storm's presence—a mixture of respect and wariness that spoke of his reputation.
"Battle-Storm trained me in pattern-reading when I was younger," Crystal-Harmony explained quietly to Harry. "When other teachers focused on my failures with water magic, he taught me to use my differences as strengths." Her patterns showed deep affection for the old warrior. "He's one of the few who never saw me as a shame to the royal line."
Harry had a feeling the warrior's timely arrival hadn't been entirely coincidental—and that any further attempts to mock the princess would be met with more than just warnings.
Once the two were alone, Harry looked at the Princess with a sad look.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," she said, trying to smile. "Some of our nobles are very...traditional in their views."
"They're wrong," Harry said firmly. "Being different isn't—"
"That's where you are wrong, Harry." she interrupted a little sharply. "It Matters. I cannot use water magic; even a first year is better than me, and I-" she suddenly stopped. She looked ashamed of herself, and there was a long moment of silence before she finally looked back at Harry. "My apologies. Do you want to continue with our exploration?" she asked, looking blank in her face. Despite the scales surrounding most of her face, Harry could tell she was trying to act like nothing happened.
Harry wanted to help, but he didn't know how to use Water Magic, and he could not do anything to change anyone's mind. He was an outsider, after all.
But he would find a way to help her. He might have known her only for a day and a half, but he wanted to help her.
If you want to Read 12 More Chapters Right Now. Search 'Drinor Patreon' in Google and Click the First LINK