The Seal of Water
But... being Rune's sworn brother... I tried... to properly greet him. Yet he ignored it...
Yeah. You might feel hurt. You're probably upset. But your brother didn't ignore your effort to spite you. In fact, I was thinking of helping you quickly.
Amelia's face drooped, shoulders sagging in defeat.
Rune then turned to Perdikion.
Brother. Even if it doesn't please you to see it, Amelia worked hard to show respect to the Red Dragon clan elder, who is the first Water Dragon clan elder she has ever met. She had a heart to respect you.
Perdikion folded his arms and looked at Rune with displeasure, then turned his gaze away.
Rune finished explaining with as soft a voice as possible.
There were just differences in their way of thinking.
Rune smiled gently and took each of their hands.
Both of you are people I am grateful to. My precious brother and sister. Don't fight.
A little cheesy... but if I just watch them, they won't even eat or drink.
Inside, his scales would stand on end, but forcing them to perfectly understand each other was impossible.
But even if their thoughts and stubbornness were strong, they might at least soften their hearts at the plea of the innocent young beings.
Amelia and Perdikion looked at each other, then turned their heads away from the coaxing of the younger hatchling.
I've got it.
They were sweating profusely.
At that moment.
Look at this!
Heungmi approached with Dullahan, arms full of snacks.
A basket overflowing with various cupcakes, puddings, and chocolates hid Heungmi's face. When she slightly lowered it, a smiling Heungmi appeared.
Ugh... when I'm feeling down, Heungmi does whatever she can to become happy because she hates feeling bad. It's a secret, but I'll tell you two, Sister and Perdikion-nim, specially!
Sheepishly.
Heungmi giggled and looked alternately at Perdikion and Amelia, then pulled a yellow lemon tart from the snack basket and handed it to Amelia's hand.
Next, she handed a mini cupcake filled with strawberries and cream to Perdikion's hand.
Perdikion-nim likes lemon chiffon. Lemon iced tea and lemon tarts too! Amelia unnie enjoys eating soft strawberry cream cake by poking it with a fork.
The water-blue gaze and red gaze met, then turned toward the lemon tart and strawberry cream cupcake on their hands.
Hm... if I become someone who brings happiness, Heungmi will also become happy.
Heungmi held the hands of Amelia and Perdikion holding the snacks and grinned with a hehe.
By looking properly at the person in front of me and telling them directly. I want to give happiness to unnie and to Perdikion-nim.
The tense atmosphere gradually softened from Heungmi's innocent words without any calculation or selfishness.
Heungmi led them to exchange the lemon tart and strawberry cream cake, and they hesitated, unable to ignore the sparkling eyes of Heungmi with anticipation.
If someone doesn't become happy because of Heungmi, I will be very sad and upset. But if there are days like that, you have to ask. What can I do so that you can become happy? I'll think about it with you too.
Heungmi took out an apple pie with a sweet scent from her pocket and smiled widely.
Then she took a bite first.
Try it too, unnie and Perdikion-nim! If it still makes you upset after eating this, I'll think with you about how to become happy!
...
Heungmi...
Amelia, who was at a loss, gently held the cupcake in her hand.
Tch.
Perdikion clicked his tongue with an exasperated face and bit into the lemon tart placed on his hand.
When Amelia looked at Perdikion, he slightly furrowed his brows.
Because it's embarrassing, stop looking. Are you trying to act indecent in front of these kids, even though you're a prospective elder?
...
Only then did Amelia feel ashamed that a mere 10-year-old hatchling like Rune and pure-hearted Heungmi were scolding the elder Amelia and Perdikion.
Amelia looked alternately at Rune and Heungmi, then carefully bit into the strawberry cupcake in her hand.
T-thank you... Heungmi.
You're welcome!
Heungmi turned to Rune slightly and winked.
She then pouted her lips and grinned.
Good job!
The saying that one shouldn't drink cold water carelessly in front of kids who don't know anything was not for nothing.
Even if they looked innocent and pure, kids knew more than they seemed.
Good job.
Rune nodded.
Heungmi chattered happily beside Perdikion and Amelia, feeling in a good mood.
Rune watched the two settle down and let out a sigh of relief.
The road ahead is long. Still, Heungmi helped a lot.
Rune waited until they finished eating the snacks.
There was no word of apology between them, but the awkward atmosphere gradually softened.
I should change the topic lightly.
Rune deliberately took out a cookie and ate it with them, then let out a light exclamation.
Because it's a mana food, it gives energy.
Yes! Heungmi wants to run around too! We'll have fun in the dungeon!
Heungmi with cream on her lips chattered with an expectant voice.
But before going, I have to receive the Water Seal first. Amelia, can I ask you?
Y-yes! Thanks to the blessing of Christina-nim... I can do it.
Amelia gripped the yellow magic stone necklace around her neck.
Indeed. Knowing I might not be able to receive it, you gave Amelia a mana stone infused with Light's power.
Fortunately, water mixed well with darkness.
Enough to absorb the seal without Christina personally being present.
The flow of power... if pulled in, can't. Everyone... step back.
Amelia said this and checked that the surrounding people had safely withdrawn, then looked at Rune.
Ready...?
Yes.
With a fairly wide space, only Rune and the mermaid remained. The mermaid held the pearl and the gold mana stone necklace in her hands.
Spark!
The faint gold left by the Gold Dragon in the gap of the hand showered gentle blessings.
The particles of light were like stars shining in the depths of the sea.
Assist... me. Lamel.
Kyuik!
Pong! The sound of clumped water droplets sounded in front of her, and the great dolphin she had seen before revealed itself.
The dolphin, filled with faint light, looked at Rune right beside Amelia as if protecting her.
The dolphin looked at Rune with an annoyed expression, as if not satisfied.
Then it quickly turned its head.
? Boring guy.
He began to prepare to receive the Water Seal and chose his breath.
Amelia placed the necklace full of blessings in both hands.
Then she began to sing an inaudible song.
-.
Responding to the dolphin, it opened its mouth and made their own sound waves.
Without anyone hearing, it was just an eerie resonance stacking up the mermaids' and dolphin's song.
In response to their own choir, the surrounding sea water began to ripple.
Swoooosh-
Swoosh-
The waves stirred in the depths of the sea slowly swirled around, then swirled strongly and created a massive whirlpool.
The feeling of standing only on the tip of the crown was strange.
The center of the whirlpool gradually became quieter.
The yellow diamond filled with Christina's blessing alternated between the deep buttercup color and the pale chick color of the lighthouse light, then burst brightly.
Flash!
The overflowing shine swirled as if creating a constellation.
When all the light settled, a precise light magic circle was laid on the floor.
The patterns on the magic circle slowly spun in different directions.
In the light that helped power coordination and stability, the water writhed as if alive.
Amelia's fingertips, with eyes closed, freely directed the water.
The sight hinted at the dignity of the Water Empress's manifestation.
The sparkling water tornado, freely swirling, rode Amelia's sound waves and light and drew the seal on the necklace from above.
This is the Water Seal.
The grand sea. A village well. A serene lake, even a small stream in a remote place.
All the power connecting the water's pulse flourished inside the fist-sized pattern.
Rune, watching quietly, reached out and grabbed the seal.
Kurruk!
With the fierce sound of water, the water's aura was instantly sucked from his hand into his body.
! Indeed, it's quite heavy.
Even when absorbing the Fire Seal, with Christina's perfect assistance, Rune in a weaker state than now could endure.
However, now the vitality of water seemed to run through his whole body, and if he let his mind slip even a little, it would swallow him whole.
Rune swallowed each breath and chased the swirling water aura with his senses.
It didn't feel harmful.
It was just that Amelia's power seemed to be everywhere in Rune's body, and he was exhausted because he couldn't reveal himself.
Completely different from Amelia.
Huu.
Rune...
Amelia called worriedly and gripped the staff and necklace so tightly that her hands turned white.
If it was a normal being, it might be swallowed by this power, but Rune laughed inside.
Wrong opponent chosen.
His inner darkness controlled the water's power, and Rune's will began to harness the water's mana.
He was the one who ruled all attributes.
It was the same before, and it was the same in this life.
My master is now me.
From inside him, the angry sea rushed like a waterfall and covered Rune all at once.
Crack!
Ah...! Rune! Are you okay?
The necklace filled with Christina's power shattered.
Amelia, whose control was cut off, calmed her breathing from the shock and examined Rune's condition.
The small boy's hair, with a hazy gaze toward the void, was scattered by the sea currents.
Startled, Amelia's eyes trembled.
Was it wrong? Rune.
Amelia looked at him with trembling eyes, worried.
The endings of those who failed to receive the Water Seal came to mind one by one.
Most of them could not withstand the water's mana and died as they were, or met a horrible result.
Or they were swallowed by the water's mana and became one with the sea.
It should be fine. Right? Yeah?
The time of waiting was too long, and she couldn't breathe.
Rune lifted his head with a unfocused gaze somewhere.
She gripped the staff tightly with trembling fingertips.
Amelia saw Rune's red eyes suddenly turn into cold blue eyes and startled, blinking.
Upon closer look, Rune's eyes were still red.
The reason they seemed blue was because the water ripples hidden beyond them were writhing inside the red eyes like blue waves.
W-we did it!
Rune smiled faintly at the happy Amelia and waved his hand to calm the surrounding whirlpool.
Rune! Are you safe!
Rune-nim! Rune-nim!
Pii! Piiit!
When the great whirlpool disappeared, Perdikion, Heungmi, Dullahan, and Baekya, who had felt the unusual aura, rushed over.
Rune looked at them, slowly closed his eyes, and opened them again.
We did it.