King of the Seven Seas (EMH) Chapter 24: Journey Through Otherworld (2)

[Third Person POV]

“By now, we’re passing over Avalon, a place that’s being guarded by the grand wizard known as Merlin,” Dane explained, his gloved hand motioning toward the rolling landscape far below. From their vantage point high in the sky, the ground stretched like an endless tapestry of greens and golds, the late-afternoon sun spilling warm light across the horizon as their shadows skimmed faintly along the earth.

Arthur craned his neck to get a better look, leaning slightly forward while keeping one arm securely wrapped around Mera’s waist for balance. “I thought Avalon would be city-like,” he remarked, his blue eyes narrowing as he scanned the open expanse below. “All I’m seeing is fields and trees, nothing like the mystical kingdom I imagined.”

“That’s because we’re currently passing over the Apple Orchard,” Dane clarified, his voice carrying easily over the rush of wind. “This entire region is a vital buffer zone for the capital. We have to be careful not to fly too close or we risk being mistaken for intruders. The orchard is protected by the android known as Gawain, a sentinel specifically stationed here because of its strategic importance to Avalon.” He glanced at the other two as they continued to glide side by side.

“Fun fact, actually,” he added, raising a finger in mock lecture. “Avalon is also known as the Golden Forest—or, by its most ridiculous name… The Bosom of Gaea!”

Arthur and Mera both turned to stare at him in perfect silence, their expressions flat and unmistakably judgmental.

“You’re kidding, right?” Mera finally asked, her emerald eyes narrowing in disbelief.

Dane threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing faintly in the open air. “Unfortunately, I am not. As I’ve mentioned before, Avalon was one of the first realms to come into existence when the Otherworld dimension was created. Legend says it was formed as Gaea’s own personal sanctuary—a living garden of her essence.”

“Right…” Arthur said slowly, his tone carrying a mixture of fascination and skepticism. The awkward pause that followed only made Mera burst into a small, musical laugh.

“If we weren’t under such a strict time crunch, I’d give you both a proper tour of the place,” Dane said with a wistful smile, his gaze drifting toward the golden horizon where the orchard met the distant forest. “Perhaps at a later date.”

Arthur straightened and gave an exaggerated salute. “Certainly. I’ll definitely look forward to exploring the Bosom of Gaea with you, my friend. Godspeed.”

Mera covered her mouth to hide a grin, and the three of them shared a round of laughter before leaning forward and continuing their flight.

They kept to a narrow, straight path, forced to admire Avalon's legendary landmarks only from afar as their mission allowed no time for detours. Below them passed the towering Great Wood, whose colossal oaks shimmered faintly with light. In the distance stood Merlin’s Tower, its crystal spire catching the last rays of sunlight, and beyond that, the mysterious Starlight Citadel glimmered like a fragment of the sky fallen to earth. Soon the familiar fields gave way to an untamed wilderness, marking the outskirts of the legendary realm known as Fairyland.

“Now here,” Dane said solemnly, his voice tightening as his eyes fixed on the enormous forest ahead, “we have to be really careful.”

Mera arched an eyebrow at him, her hair whipping in the breeze. “You’ve said that about every single place we’ve flown over,” she pointed out dryly.

Dane gave an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his helmet. “Yeah, well, this one more than the others. The fae are… unpredictable. Their magical abilities are unlike anything else in the Otherworld. Faeries come in all shapes and sizes—and personalities. You never know which kind you might encounter. Some are friendly, others are mischievous pranksters, and some are outright malicious. It all depends on who decides to notice us first.”

Arthur’s grin widened at the prospect. “Sounds exciting,” he said, his tone equal parts eager and reckless.

Dane let out a weary chuckle. “You would think so.” Mera merely rolled her eyes.

They angled lower, preparing to enter the colossal woodland where the trees stretched skyward like living skyscrapers. But before they could breach the forest canopy, a thick, roiling wisp of darkness spiraled into existence ahead of them, twisting in midair like a living shadow.

Out of the swirling blackness stepped a tall, grey-skinned elvish girl with striking, angular features and large, iridescent pixie wings that shimmered like stained glass. Her long hair was styled into a daring mohawk that swayed in the breeze, and two wickedly sharp daggers gleamed at her hips. Extending one elegant hand toward them, she called out in a commanding voice that echoed through the open sky.

“Stop! You are not authorized to enter Fairyland.”

Dane immediately braked, suspicion narrowing his eyes. “What? Since when do we need authorization for entry?”

“You need to pay a toll,” the fae girl replied coolly, her indifferent gaze sweeping across the trio. “No toll, no entry. Those are the rules.”

“This wasn’t a rule before,” Dane said sharply, his frown deepening. “Does King Oberon know about this?”

“That doesn’t concern you,” she shot back, crossing her arms with a dismissive flick of her wings. “If you are unwilling to pay the entry fee, then turn back the way you came.”

Dane clicked his tongue in irritation. “And what exactly is the toll?”

The fairy tilted her head, pretending to ponder as her eyes flicked over each of them like a predator selecting prey. “Hmm… You don’t look like locals, so I doubt you carry the currency we use here. But…” Her lips curled into a sly, dangerous smile. “I’m feeling generous. I’ll allow you entry—on one condition.”

Arthur stiffened as her gaze locked onto him.

“I want him to spend the night with me~” she purred, extending a long finger directly toward Arthur, her words dripping with sultry amusement.

“WHAT?!” Mera and Dane shouted in perfect unison.

“Eh?” Arthur sputtered, pointing a finger at his own chest. “Me?!”

“That’s right~” the fairy said, licking her lips with predatory delight. “Those light features of yours—your golden hair, those blue eyes, and that perfectly clear skin. You’re exactly my type. So what do you say, handsome? In return for a free passage, all you have to do is spend the night with me. That seems like a fair deal, doesn’t it?”

“What?” Mera growled venomously, her voice low and dangerous. Her fingers tightened around the reins of her sea-horse mount until it creaked in protest. The oceanic magic in her blood began to stir, her eyes igniting into a deep, glowing blue that pulsed with power. Strands of her crimson hair rose and writhed in the air like serpents, each motion betraying her barely restrained fury. Her beautiful face twisted with twitching muscles, her expression balancing between rage and the promise of violence.

“Now, just hold on—” Dane raised a hand, his tone cautious as he tried to mediate.

“Sure, I don’t mind,” Arthur interrupted with a sudden grin, his voice smooth and maddeningly casual.

“HUH?!” Both Mera and Dane snapped toward him in perfect unison, eyes wide with disbelief as if Arthur had lost his mind.

“What. Are. You. Talking. About?!” Mera spat through gritted teeth, each syllable sharp enough to cut stone.

Arthur simply shrugged, that boyish grin never faltering. “Relax, it’s just one night, right? Honestly, it’s a fair deal. I get free passage and a great time. What more could I possibly ask for?” He chuckled.

The dark fairy’s eyes gleamed with surprise, then excitement. “Wait… really?” she asked, her grin stretching into something wild and delighted.

Arthur dismounted without hesitation. He swung a leg over the side of his sea-horse and leapt into open air, descending in a blur of motion. The ground shuddered beneath him as he landed in a low crouch, dust rippling outward from the force of his Atlantean muscles compressing against the earth.

Straightening with casual grace, Arthur looked up at the hovering fae and spread his arms wide. “So,” he said with an easy smile, “are you coming or what?”

The fairy laughed, her wings shimmering with dark light. With a sound like rushing wind, she dissolved into a swirling wisp of shadow and reappeared in front of him. “Haha, I didn’t expect you to agree so readily,” she purred, her sharp teeth flashing in a wicked smile.

“What can I say?” Arthur replied smoothly, resting one hand on his hip as he offered his other to her. “I’m always up for a good time.” Without waiting, he guided her deeper into the shadowed forest, the trees closing behind them.

Mera and Dane remained frozen on their mounts, staring at Arthur’s retreating back with their mouths hanging open.

“What is happening right now?” Dane muttered under his breath.

“Arthur…” Mera whispered, her voice a mix of disbelief and barely contained fury, “if you survive this, I will kill you myself.”

Meanwhile, in the shaded grove beyond, Arthur led the fairy until the glow of the path vanished behind thick trunks and hanging moss. Sunlight barely filtered through the towering canopy, leaving only fractured beams of light that painted their faces in gold and shadow.

Arthur stopped abruptly, turning to face her with a playful tilt of his head. “So,” he asked, his grin widening, “shall we begin?”

The fairy tilted her head back in surprise. “You want to do it out here?” she asked, arching a silver-gray brow.

“But of course,” Arthur said with a careless laugh, pulling her closer by the waist. “If we’re going to become one, why not do it with nature as our witness?”

Her dark wings trembled with excitement, a shiver running across her sharp features. “Hoho… I like the way you think~” she whispered with a sultry snarl.

Arthur grinned devilishly. In one swift motion, he tugged at her belt and sent it flying into the grass, the leather strap landing with a faint snap. She responded with equal eagerness, sliding her slender fingers beneath his shirt and pulling it upward until the fabric cleared his head, exposing his hard earned muscles and physique.

“You ready?” he asked, his voice low and teasing, his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers.

“Give it to me~” she whispered, her breath hot against his ear.

“Since you asked so nicely,” Arthur murmured, his grin flashing—

and then he vanished.

The fairy blinked in confusion, her playful smirk faltering. Before she could react, an overwhelming presence materialized behind her like a thunderclap.

Arthur’s muscular arms snaked around her neck in a lightning-fast motion, locking her into a crushing headlock. His strength was merciless, Atlantean muscles tightening like iron cables as he cut off her air in an instant.

“Arckkkk!!!” The fairy choked, clawing at his forearms with sharp, black-tipped nails that sparked against his skin. Her wings beat frantically, the air filling with frantic gusts as she thrashed, but his grip remained unyielding. “You… mother… fucker!” she gasped, her voice breaking as she realized how completely she had been caught.

Arthur’s expression remained cold, detached. His face hovered close to hers, the brilliant glow of his eyes shining in the dark grove.

Shadows burst from the forest floor in a violent surge, forming tendrils of writhing blackness that lashed against Arthur’s body. They whipped and slashed, striking with enough force to shatter stone, but they left not so much as a mark against his skin.

The dark tendrils coiled tighter, wrapping around his chest and throat in an attempt to choke him, but Arthur didn’t even flinch. “I can go for hours without air,” he whispered into her pointed ear, his voice a calm, lethal murmur. “We’re not the same.”

The fairy’s struggles grew frantic, her eyes wide and bloodshot as her vision began to blur. Her wings beat erratically, growing weaker with every passing second. Foamy saliva gathered at the corners of her mouth, her breaths shortening into desperate gasps.

“F…fuck…” she croaked weakly before the darkness claimed her entirely. Her body went limp in his grip, her consciousness slipping away like a candle snuffed out.

The shadows that had attacked him faltered and dissolved, their connection to her broken. Arthur loosened his hold and let her crumple to the mossy ground, where she lay sprawled, unconscious but breathing raggedly, her chest heaving in shallow, frantic gulps of air.

Without a word, Arthur bent down to retrieve his shirt. He shook off a few stray leaves, pulled it over his head with an almost bored efficiency, and strode calmly back toward the edge of the grove.

When he emerged from the trees, Mera and Dane both flinched at the sight of him. Arthur adjusted his collar and offered them a harmless grin. “Shall we get going?”

Dane blinked rapidly, his helmet tilting as he tried to process the impossible calm in Arthur’s voice. “What… what happened back there?”

Arthur sighed dramatically, feigning disheartenment. “It seems I was too much for her. Poor thing couldn’t handle more than one round before passing out.”

“What?” Mera asked sharply, her suspicion sharpening like a blade.

Her question was answered moments later as they passed through the forest and spotted the dark fairy sprawled on the ground, foam still at the corner of her lips, her chest rising and falling in uneven breaths.

Dane swallowed hard and shot Arthur a wary glance. Arthur, catching his look, ducked playfully behind Mera with a crooked smile.

“You,” Dane said slowly, shaking his head, “are one scary mate. I’m honestly glad we’re friends.”

Mera only huffed, flicking her hair over her shoulder with a frustrated snap. The group pressed on beneath the towering canopy, leaving the fallen fairy in their wake.

---

An hour later…

The fairy stirred, eyelids fluttering as consciousness returned in a slow, aching tide. The forest swam back into focus above her, sunlight filtering through the branches in shimmering beams of gold and shadow. She lay unmoving for a long moment, chest rising in shallow breaths, before a weak, hoarse voice escaped her lips.

“…Woah…” she rasped, her words rough but tinged with an odd, breathless awe. “…That was… unbelievably…So f***ing hot…” A shaky, delirious smile curved across her lips. “…I think I came a little… Is this… what they call love?”