Nest Of Sea People: Juiyo

As we sped away from the second port, it was clear that our enemy was hot on our trail. Despite our best efforts, it seemed inevitable that he would soon catch up with us. Concerned about our safety, I turned to Mila and asked her how far we were from the kingdom she had mentioned earlier.

"At this rate, it could take us hours to get there," she replied.

I felt a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. Time was running out, and we needed to find a way to evade our pursuer before it was too late.

"I don't think we have that much time," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Whoever's after us is pretty fast. It's only a matter of time before he catches up with us."

Mila, however, remained calm and collected. "Don't worry," she said confidently. "I know a safe way up ahead."

"A safe way?" I repeated, surprised.

"Yes," she said with a small smile. "It's a path that only my people and a select few others know about. We'll be able to lose our pursuer there. Just trust me."

And so, we continued on our way, hoping against hope that Mila's secret path would be enough to keep us out of harm's way. Babu lying in the back of the car was a constant source of worry for me. Even though his injuries were not serious, I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

After ten long minutes, we arrived at the supposed safe road. But as we drove along, my fear started to rise again. We were heading towards a dead end, and Mila didn't seem to be slowing down.

"Mila!" I yelled, my heart pounding in my chest.

But she didn't seem to hear me. Instead, she stood up in her seat and shouted something that I couldn't quite make out.

"PRITSA!" she cried, her voice echoing through the car.

Trembling with fear, I shut my eyes tightly and braced myself for what might come. I waited, feeling the silence of the darkness pressing in around me. After a while, I opened my eyes slowly, peering out into the surrounding gloom. To my surprise, I found myself standing in a cave that glowed with a soft, pulsing light. It was neither menacing nor ominous - rather, it was a shimmering, radiant pathway that beckoned us forward. I looked at Mila, stunned, and asked, "Mila, where exactly are we?"

"We're in a cave, my dear," she replied calmly, "a cave that is both safe and hidden."

"And how did we get here?" I asked, still in awe of our surroundings.

"I uttered a few magical words and opened the way for us," she explained a hint of pride in her voice. "It seems to have worked quite well, don't you think?"

"I must say, I'm impressed by your skill," I admitted, feeling a newfound respect for her.

"Thank you," she replied modestly. "To be honest, I trusted you not just because I needed your help, but also because of our shared history."

"History?" I repeated, curious.

"Yes," she nodded. "Long ago, before the kingdoms were separated, magicians and sea people were allies - close allies. My father was saved by a wizard once, and when I saw that you were a wizard, I knew I could trust you. And it seems that my faith was well-placed. Thanks to you, we were able to escape."

"It was you who saved us, Mila," I corrected her, grateful for her trust in me. "I'm glad to hear that our lineages were once allies. Maybe we can be allies too."

"Few people know of this history, since it dates back so far," she remarked. "I'm sure only Sea Kings and chiefs are aware of it. Even as a princess, I had only recently discovered the truth myself."

"I've always wondered what it would be like to be a princess," I admitted, curious.

"Well, it has its advantages," she acknowledged. "But it also carries immense responsibility. Every decision I make, no matter how small, can impact the lives of others. I don't think I could handle the weight of that burden."

"I understand how you feel," I empathized, recalling the helplessness I had felt after losing my mother. "But dwelling on what we can't change won't lead us anywhere. We have to focus on what we can do, on building a future."

Mila looked at me with surprise, and I continued, "If we continue to suffer for what we cannot do and ignore what we can do, there will never be a 'future' for us."

"That's a kind sentiment," she replied with a sigh. "I wish I could bring my mother back too."

I felt a pang of sympathy for her, but also a surge of hope - hope that I could help her find her way through the darkness. "Since I have nothing else to do," she said suddenly, breaking the silence, "I think I'll take your advice. Thank you, Lezlie!"

Her smile lit up the cave like a ray of sunshine, and I felt my own spirits lift in response. With renewed determination, we set out once more, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

As we made our way through the cave, a soft glow illuminated our path, like sunlight peeking through the cracks of a closed door. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to take it all in. When I opened them again, Mila's voice brought me back to reality.

"Here's the exit, when we get out of the cave, we'll be there."

My heart skipped a beat as we stepped out of the cave and onto a bridge leading to a magnificent castle that stood tall above the sea. Mila's smile grew wider as we drew closer to the castle, and I couldn't help but stare in wonder. This was the home of the Sea People, and I had never seen anything like it before.

As we crossed the bridge, Babu poked his head out from behind the carriage and looked around, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw the castle.

"I think I got hit very hard on the head Lezlie, is that really you?" he asked, obviously as surprised as I was.

Mila chuckled and replied, "Don't worry, panda, everything you see right now is as real as a pearl."

Just then, sharks and their riders emerged from the sea around us, their presence alarming Babu.

"Mila, these aren't dangerous people, are they?" he asked anxiously, pointing towards the guards.

Mila reassured him, "No, they're just guards, watching over the bridge and keeping an eye on who comes and goes."

After Mila signaled to them, the guards retreated, and the doors of the castle slowly began to open. We stepped inside and were greeted by the grandeur of the Sea People's home.

Mila stopped the carriage and announced, "Come on down, we'll walk from here."

As we made our way into the castle, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the journey that brought us here. I looked around in awe, wondering what adventures lay ahead in this magical place.