The cavern still felt thick with impending doom, shadows swirling like the breath of an enigmatic beast. The air pressed down on them, suffocating, as though an ancient apocalypse were moments away.
Shui Yi's nails dug into Long Fei's arm as her heart hammered in her chest. He tensed his arm, gaze fixated at the entrance of the tunnel.
The silence stretched, becoming unbearable. Every inch of the space felt more oppressive than the last, as though the walls were closing in. The screeching and roaring approached, growing louder. A cold wind surged through, spraying droplets from the river as though it was raining inside. She shivered against him, petrified, envisioning a horrifying monster capable of warping the very environment, creeping toward them. She felt a tap on her shoulder and glanced back, but there was nothing there. Another wet tap on her shoulder, she tried brushing it off but it was insistent. She glanced over her shoulder again, but there was nothing.
A terrifying howl echoed through the cave, and her heart pounded in her ears.
And then—
"GOTCHA!"
The mermaid shrieked, her heart leaping into her throat. The ominous shadows of the cavern erupted into motion, but instead of the terrifying creature she had prepared for, out popped Ling Yue, doubling over in laughter, clutching her sides, wearing a devilish grin.
"Ahaha! You should've seen your face!" Her voice rang through the cave, her laughter echoing as she stumbled from the shadows.
The mermaid nearly had a heart attack. She stood up, staggering forward, and pointed a trembling finger at the trickster.
"Ling Yue!" she half-shouted, still reeling from the fright.
She whirled toward Long Fei, wide-eyed with disbelief.
"You knew?!"
He shrugged nonchalantly, a slightly amused smile tugging at his lips.
"And you didn't say anything?!" Her voice rose, exasperated, still shaken by the prank.
"Didn't want to ruin her fun," he answered, eyes softening at the sight of his guardian.
Shui Yi's mind raced, frustration bubbling up inside her as the shock began to wear off.
"You're both unbelievable!"
The trickster wiped away a fake tear, still giggling.
"Oh, former princess, I knew you'd be fun to scare."
The princess' chest untightened as the shackles of guilt were released with the safe return of their lost companion, whose warmth melted the tension in the air. Without thinking, she threw her arms around the guardian, pulling her into a tight hug.
"I'm so glad you're alive," she exclaimed, voice muffled against her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry."
The guardian stiffened before shoving the mermaid off as she rolled her eyes.
"Alright, alright, former princess. Keep your hands to yourself."
Shui Yi stumbled back as she processed the playful rejection. But there was warmth in her chest, an unexpected fondness that made her chuckle. She had never realized how much the trickster had come to mean to her until this moment. She was almost angry with herself for getting scared so easily. But before she could say anything, Ling Yue dashed toward Long Fei, throwing herself around his neck.
"Master!" she whined. "I was so scared...!"
He allowed a small, relieved smile to pull at his lips as he looked down at his trusted companion. His gaze softened, a rare snippet of fondness slipping through his usually composed exterior.
"Found you," he said and tapped her nose.
The guardian dramatically sniffled, one hand clutching her chest as she looked up at him with wide, doe eyes.
"Nah-uh. I found you first. I couldn't wait for you to find me—especially when you had to royal-sit her former highness. I was nearly devoured by all sorts of nasty things! You're telling me you didn't think I'd need some backup? You left me out there all alone?"
He chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"I should have been more considerate to the other creatures."
She gave an exaggerated sigh, then suddenly twirled on her feet.
"First, I got lost in this maze. It twisted like one of those creepy legends you read about in those boring books. But I didn't give up! Master needed me, so I pushed through!"
She paused, raising her fist in the air.
"So I kept going, thinking you need me to save you from..." She directed her eyes to the mermaid.
She briefly glanced at the floor, her grin faltered for a split second before she looked up at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"But then I remembered what you said. You told me you trusted me. So, I pushed through the maze, crawled through caves full of bones."
She placed a finger on her chin, brows furrowed.
"It reminded me of the time you trained me in your basement when I was a three-year-old kid."
She paused, her expression softening as she gazed up at her master with a proud smile.
"I thought I was a goner, but hey, I pulled through, didn't I?"
He gazed down at his guardian, the storm of guilt finally easing into a calm breeze. He reached down and ruffled her hair.
"I'm sorry for leaving you behind. It wasn't an easy decision, but—"
"But I know it was the right decision," she interrupted with a smirk, her voice light despite her earlier discomfort.
"You were right. The former Princess wouldn't have stood a chance there—or anywhere on her own. I was upset for a bit, but... I remembered what you said."
Her gaze softened further, and she gave him a wink.
"Guess you were right to trust me after all. It wasn't the worst adventure. After this, I'll need a nice long nap... and a mountain of your air-cooked krill."
"You know, you can cook it on your own."
"Nah, yours always taste better."
His hand lingered on her head as he looked at her with a quiet, approving expression.
"You did well."
She puffed out her chest, grinning widely as she flicked her hair back.
"Of course I did! After all, I'm your most trusted pet, right?" She winked.
Shui Yi, still processing the whirlwind of emotions from the prank and the reunion, let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. She couldn't help but smile at the scene unfolding before her. Her heart was still pounding, but now something else nagged at her. She watched Long Fei being affectionate toward Ling Yue, and her smile faltered. Why does this feel strange now? A gnawing prick at her heart, discomfort simmering within her. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Don't be silly, they're just comfortable with each other. For now, though, she was glad to have everyone back together.
The cavern suddenly grew cold even with her companions' warmth. She felt a chill down her spine, as it became eerily silent. A distant growl rumbled the earth, and the hairs on her neck stood on end.
Long Fei's eyes narrowed, his body shifting subtly, ready for action.
A roar echoed through the darkness once again, as though the cave wasn't done testing them. He immediately straightened, his body tensing as he shifted into a defensive stance. He gently moved the mermaid behind him.
She turned to the trickster, raising a brow.
Ling Yue, who had been laughing moments before, now stood ready, her claws flexing as her posture shifted to alertness. The sudden change in her demeanor stirred a sense of dread in the air.
"I swear by the Sea, it wasn't me this time."