MY STEP-MOTHER IS MY MATE

THE WILL OF THALASSA

Caspian stared at the blue Green shell shop with impenetrable transparent bubbles safeguarding its contents- also meant for advertising items. He strode into the shop with the princess in hand, and the noise from outside instantly lowered.

"This merchant welcomes Your Royal Highnesses to my humble ashore" An old Human swam from the desk towards them and bowed in a curtsy. His white hair tied into a ponytail was revealed as he removed his Sennett hat from his head. Even though his posture and appearance looked old, his face was cleanly smooth with little to no wrinkles. He looked more like an old retired adventurer if Caspian were to judge.

Caspian extended his hand and the man gently shook it with a friendly smile on his face. Caspian was about to go straight down to business when he saw the man turn towards his side, extended his hands, and crouched forward. He saw from the corner of his eyes as the man lifted a small hand and gave it a subtle dry kiss.

Seeing that the princess had gestured for a royal Hand-kiss, Caspian felt bittersweet.

'At least she's taking to lessons' he thought.

It wasn't a bad thing totally, in fact, it was a gesture of politeness toward the loyalty of the other party, but she was still too young. Caspian heard her giggle softly as the man gently placed her hands back to her side and bowed again.

"What may I offer esteemed sir and adorable ma'am?" He asked with a friendly smile of an older man giving treats on Halloween.

"Good tide Mister, may I have that spear on the showcase?" Caspian tried to sound as polite as he could.

"Please Young lord, call me Kord. I'm afraid the Bident you mentioned cannot be sold as it is cursed, I only put it on display because of its alluring features. If his highness would check around to find something else more to his liking?" The man responded politely with several demonstrative gestures. Caspian on the other hand was surprised to hear that the weapon was cursed. He had read about it severally, however, experiencing it in person was a different thing.

"I want the Bident, nothing else, Sir Kord!" Caspian declared as he felt that the spear was meant for him. He had been an oddity his entire life, a curse, so it wasn't new to him. As for how he addressed the man, he felt a sort of need to accord the elder man some respect.

Sir Kord was shocked but after a little while, he sighed and walked across the dimly lit room towards the Bident.

"Very well. But you must know Young lord, many that have wielded this artifact attained greatness and valor at the cost of their own peril. Their entire generation was wiped out with this same weapon, it is known to corrode the mind slowly and with it comes disaster. Do you still wish to have it?" hearing this, Caspian's heart sank and he shifted his gaze towards the princess who looked frightened at this moment as if she had just been told a scary nighttime story.

Caspian himself was skeptical after hearing the tale behind the Bident. He knew he couldn't be reckless if what Sir Kord said was true, what was he saying? it had to be true as a merchant would only make false statements to make sales, not the other way round. He felt a sense of foreboding towards the Bident for an instant but as he looked at it again, he felt that the spear was pleading with him, promising to be tame and obedient.

'well, I could discard it as soon as I take notice'

Caspian strode forward in slight hesitance and stretched forth his hands to wield the long wine and golden detailed spear that looked like that of the devil's.

'Slap '

Caspian had been so engrossed that he didn't notice the princess swimming up to him from behind to slap his hands off. He looked at her and was surprised to see that she looked ghastly pale. He saw her sigh in the end and bubbles rose as if she had just saved the day;

"Brother, didn't you hear the kind old man? the fork is dangerous!" Aerwyna spelled out each word furiously, giving no concern to the fact that she had to mind her manners as a princess. She wasn't used to being so reserved anyway.

"B-but, I just~"

"You can't even eat with such a big fork, there are no buts, we're leaving!!" she stated authoritatively and cut the prince off abruptly. Kord couldn't laugh at the thought of the calamitous spear that had ruined kingdoms and nations being called a dining fork so the old merchant just stood watching the younger ones with a stiff smile on his beet-red face from restraint as these kids weren't ordinary kids. He couldn't risk offending them.

'perhaps it might be the devil's fork for consuming the delicacy of Destruction and atrocity' Sir Kord thought. Unbeknownst to all, the Bident in question glowed in a blood-red hue, as if to declare its anger.

It wasn't that Aerwyna knew nothing about warfare, she knew swords and shields were used in the protection of one's self as she knew what pain meant. But the shape of the weapon her brother wanted looked more like cutlery and she didn't know what her brother would do with it in the first place. She gave no concern and thought it to be his 'preference' at first, maybe he wanted to eat from afar with it. However, hearing the calamity it brought to its owner, she couldn't stand still and watch.

Caspian was surprised to see Aerwyna act this way, he didn't know she cared about him this much. It was a major emotional uplift for him to be as much important to someone, especially looking back at his daunting past. Even if she was still young and impulsive, he cherished this moment like no other and he only smiled before saying;

" I know you care for my safety dear.... sister, But it's no big deal. That old man is only trying to scare us away with his lies, that's how merchants are" Caspian struggled to say the words that conveyed his relationship with the princess in the middle of his sentence and tried to assure her that everything was fine. He didn't forget to give the old man a cold glare either.

'Admit that you lied if you dare make her change her mind!!' Sir Kord, the merchant, read his glare and understood clearly what he meant.

Aerwyna seeing that the old merchant only opened his mouth without saying a word calmed her nerves. At the sight of this, Caspian felt relieved and was lost in his thoughts. He knew he was the liar here, and he wondered if he was doing the right thing lying to someone who cared about his safety for selfish reasons. He didn't feel anything other than the need to wield the metal artifact, it was the feeling a kid felt when he saw a toy. But he couldn't shake the feeling off, the feeling of possessing such a limited 'edition', but was it worth his newly formed relationship of care and trust between him and his sister, who wanted him safe?

He was still in a daze when he caught a glimpse of Aerwyna's tail swimming toward Sir Kord. He raised his head to see what was going on but alas, he only heard;

'Slap'

" liar!! Humph!"

".."

Caspian swore he saw steam exhaled from her slit tiny nostrils as she crossed her arms with a puffy chest and a pout, glaring at the old man.

'She just slapped Sir Kord!!'

"Aerwyna!!!" Caspian cried out in shock.

"But he lied, I detest liars!!" she retorted and spread her arms as if she was a rightful prosecutor

"That's uncalled for! a- apologize... to him.... now!" This was Caspian's first time scolding someone, he did know what to say but his words lacked authority as he only stuttered in the end. He at least tried to pass on the message that what she did was wrong.

"Hmph!!" she snorted again and raised her pout towards the ceiling in objection as she crossed her arms again, her long hair flailing about.

"It's fine Young lord. In fact, I should apologize for lying to her Highness" Sir Kord said and bowed afterwards. Caspian was surprised to see him act that way, he didn't catch a glimpse of anger in his expression and he only raised his head with a smile still worn over his spotless face.

"Hmph!!" Was the little princess' response. Caspian only sighed and felt partly guilty for what had just happened, but he was thankful that the old man took control. He nodded at the old man in respect which was responded with a slight appreciative bow of his.

"Here's the weapon Young Lord, Please, have it" He extended the Bident towards Caspian. Caspian took it with care and his eyes shone with excitement as he held the crude shaft. It was heavy and he had to place its hilt on the floor, making its blade point upwards. He examined every of its detail in awe, especially the golden runes. He laid it down horizontally and examined the two smooth wine-colored blades that seemed to hide a blood-red glint that shone on it.

'such magnificence!'

He placed the weapon lying horizontally on the floor and then raised its hilt afterward to see a strange symbol written coarsely beneath. He couldn't read the symbols nor did he understand what it meant, so he only asked the person who might in the room;

"What does it mean, Sir?" he looked towards the man in anticipation as he knew the next words that would come out of the man's mouth would be significant.

"It's Pluricentric..." the man paused and grinned widely. Caspian stared at him, confused and also in enthusiasm.

"It means THE WILL OF THALASSA" the man uttered in a strange but familiar language that he did not understand. He saw Sir Kord's eyes glow golden for a moment and he couldn't help but feel a slight shiver run across his whole existence. Even the angry Aerwyna wasn't left out, she stared at the old man whose name she didn't remember in shock.

Caspian didn't know what it meant, but he wouldn't forget how the man had pronounced the word.

.....