Deep Water Prison.
The charming Sea Siren sat on a reef, plucking the strings of her harp, softly singing. Her lodious voice echoed throughout the space.
The white-haired young man leaned against the reef, resting his head on her soft tail, most of his body subrged in water. He swayed gently with the music and waves, humming along, patting the water's surface to the rhythm.
The sound of waves hitting the reef, the Sea Siren's songs, and the human's tapping combined to form a wonderfully subli song.
This lingering song lasted several hours, finally reaching its climax before fading away and coming to an end.
Once Fremay's song stopped, Herbert slowly opened his eyes and spoke softly, "Fremay, I have to leave for a while."
"Hmm? Oh."
The Sea Siren opened her eyes, stunned for a mont, then nodded gently:
"When you accompanied in singing for so long today, I had already guessed you were here to bid farewell."
Having spent so ti together, Fremay had co to understand Herbert's personality, knowing he wouldn't do things without reason.
Today he proactively wanted to sing with her, which must an they wouldn't be able to sing together again for so ti.
"It's not really a farewell, is it? Just letting you know. After all, I will co back sooner or later."
Herbert shook his head, stretched lazily, then adjusted his position to rest his head comfortably against her tail again.
So comfortable!
He said, but the Sea Siren did not easily believe it.
Fremay shook her head, leaned over, and reached out to touch Herbert's hair, speaking softly:
"Herbert, my whole life has been filled with farewells. Each separation I have treated as a final goodbye."
As an unusual being, Fremay was relatively fortunate.
As a mber of the Sea Demon Royal Family, she wasn't persecuted by her kin and grew safely into adulthood.
But she was also lonely.
Unable to communicate normally with other Sea Sirens, though she was in the midst of her kind, it felt as if she was always in a silent prison, constantly aware of her differences.
Always out of place.
Never truly becoming one of them.
So, she left.
On a calm night, without leaving a ssage, she quietly departed.
Fremay began her journey, swimming through various sea regions, secretly learning other languages.
She used the currents to send fallen sailors back to shore, handed sunken treasure to adventurers searching for relics, guided lost ships through the fog, and separated warring sea monsters...
In that long journey, she t many people, helped them a lot, but in the end, they all left her.
So perished through ti, so sank due to greed, so crashed on reefs through recklessness, so perished together in anger...
No matter who, in the end, none fulfilled their promises to her.
Therefore, Fremay doesn't believe in reunions.
Every separation is a goodbye for her.
"Then you need not think that way anymore."
Herbert shook his head, eyes still closed, speaking softly: "I don't know about others, but I will not break my promise with you."
"Rest assured, I will definitely co back to see you... and it won't take long."
Though he was going on a little adventure, it certainly wouldn't take too long, as he would eventually return to this place.
After all, this little box was his eternal ho.
Unfortunately, Herbert didn't open his eyes at this ti, missing Fremay's glance towards him.
That gaze as gentle as lake water, yet as calm and deep as the ocean.
She gently played with Herbert's hair with her fingertips, slowly saying: "Then... can I really try to believe in you?"
"You can always trust , co on, like before, let's make a promise."
He raised his right hand above his head, wiggling his pinky in front of Fremay.
The Sea Siren blinked with so hesitation, then helplessly extended her pinky, gently hooking it with his.
"Alright, I believe you."
Though she didn't know what unique ritual this was, she felt it was sowhat childish but chose to go along with it.
"Will there be danger when you leave this ti?"
"There might be so. So people won't want to see return; they'll likely try to harm secretly, which could cause quite a storm, I suspect?"
Herbert opened his eyes, looking up with a smile, "But there's soone responsible for my safety, so don't worry about ."
The Sea Siren looked down at the boy's fearless expression, ending up shaking her head with a chuckle, whispering: "A storm, eh?"
"Since you're about to face a storm, then let bless you..."
Her fingers moved, and the water beneath Herbert started to flow, gently lifting him from the water to her front.
Herbert: Eh?
Fremay didn't explain, holding Herbert's head, gently kissing his forehead, and whispering in a unique rhythm:
"My fearless friend."
"May you remain brave and never be hard by the storm."
The ancient language of the Sea Sirens stirred the rules, transforming her words into power, rging into Herbert's soul.
Herbert widened his eyes, looking at Fremay in so confusion.
"This..."
But Fremay just smiled wordlessly after letting go of him, waving her hand to let the water carry him away.
"Go now, young warrior. Return as promised, and sing with again."
She picked up her harp, plucking the strings once more, singing alone in the solitude.
However, this ti, the lody was no longer sad.
It was a song signifying a reunion with an old friend.
Awaiting your... return to sing with again.
...
"I really just ca to say goodbye, didn't expect a free blessing!"
Back in the Endless Maze, Herbert scratched his head in confusion.
I really didn't plan for this!
"Well... she's nice to have willingly blessed ."
Fremay was the last one. After bidding farewell to her, Herbert had pacified all the Monster Girls this ti.
Of course, most of them felt Herbert was making a big deal out of leaving for only a few months.
What are you talking about?
For those legendary long-lived beings, ti not counted in years or decades was hardly long at all.
Oh, there was one who couldn't bear Herbert leaving.
More precisely, couldn't bear his blood leaving...
Eliza, the coffin mimic, got so addicted to spicy food that she was almost at withdrawal levels, feeling uncomfortable without a daily dose.
Eliza insisted, using her past contributions as a reason, leaving Herbert no choice but to grant her ten bottles of special Holy Blood to enjoy slowly.
Seeing her addiction made Herbert sweat inwardly and even doubt if his blood contained so special ingredient...
When Herbert went to wake Valentina, she opened her eyes on her own, wrinkling her nose and saying:
"You... have a strong fishy sll! Where did you go?"
She widened her eyes, attentively examining the source of the sll, glaring suspiciously at Herbert.
Where did you go?
Why do you reek of fish?
Herbert: !!?
"H-Huh?"
"No, no, you must've slled it wrong, haha! Haha... cough."
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