The moment those words left her lips, the endless ocean surrounding them shifted. Not in a violent or threatening way, but Jax could see it was definitely deliberate.
It was like the sea itself had suddenly become aware of what was being discussed and what had awakened beneath its depths.
Jax stood quietly atop the endless water, golden eyes lingering on the image floating above the ocean surface.
Dark currents twisted unnaturally. Ancient ruins rested half-swallowed by blackened tides, and somewhere beneath it, something moved.
Not clearly. It was not enough to identify what it was precisely, only enough to feel. Jax coul see a vast, ancient shape.
The image itself distorted slightly whenever Jax tried focusing too deeply on it, as though whatever existed there resisted observation.
His expression sharpened, "...That doesn’t look very friendly."
Meridia’s gaze lingered on the distant image, "No,"
Her answer came quietly, "It is not."
Jax kept looking before he spoke, "As the Goddess of the Sea, shouldn’t you be able to just sense what it is?"
Meridia chuckled as he said that, "Smart, and yes, I do have a decent idea of what it could be, I just need you to confirm. After all I cannot interfere, and besides, this is a good method to test if you truly deserve my assistance,"
After she finished speaking, the sky above dimmed subtly. Auroras slowed, and the stars reflected beneath their feet darkened faintly.
Like the memory alone unsettled even this place. Jax noticed that immediately. Meridia stepped forward and the image expanded between them, much larger and clearer now.
"This is where you must go."
The sea beneath them shifted into a map. An impossibly detailed reconstruction of the abyss. Ocean trenches, mana currents, pressure zones and ancient fault lines.
Jax immediately recognized portions of it, "...Deep."
"Very," Meridia answered, "Far deeper than where you currently stand in my temple,"
The map zoomed inward. Toward a section of ocean that looked utterly isolated, dark and still, looking like it was almost forgotten.
Even the currents curved strangely around it, avoiding it. Like the sea itself refused to touch that place.
Jax frowned slightly, "...That normal?"
"No," Her answer came instantly, "The waters avoid it."
The image sharpened further and ancient ruins emerged. Half-buried structures resting within a trench large enough to swallow mountain ranges.
Gigantic pillars broken by time. Massive stone formations covered in symbols. Some almost looked familiar, though impossibly old.
Jax narrowed his eyes. The map shifted again and a glowing point illuminated.
"There," Her finger hovered over the trench, "You will begin here."
The image zoomed again. Showing a collapsed entrance hidden between abyssal cliffs, "You will find ruins, broken sanctuaries and ancient currents."
Her voice sharpened slightly, "But there are things I need you to watch for."
Jax focused immediately, "Like?"
Meridia lifted one slender finger, "Silence."
"...Silence?" Jax asked.
"Yes."
Her gaze remained calm, "If the ocean grows too quiet, then leave."
Jax frowned slightly, "...Too quiet?"
"The deep ocean where this abnormality is located is never silent," Her tone remained measured, "There are currents, movement, life and pressure all of which cause a large amount of sound,"
"If all of it stops," The faintest darkness crossed her eyes, "Do not remain."
The ocean around them dimmed slightly, "Second."
Another finger lifted, "If you hear singing, ignore it."
Jax blinked.
"...Singing?"
"Yes."
Her expression flattened slightly, "Especially if it sounds familiar."
"Third," Her gaze sharpened faintly.
"If something asks your name," The ocean around them rippled once, "do not answer."
Jax stared at her, "...What kind of horror movie rules are these?"
Meridia blinked slowly, "I do not know what a horror movie is."
"...Fair."
Jax sighed softly, "Anything else?"
She straightened slightly, "If you successfully investigate what has awakened..."
Her voice returned to calm certainty, "I will guide you personally to the Merfolk Kingdom just like you asked,"
That got his attention again, "Personally?"
"Yes," Her eyes softened faintly, "You seek to reunite a child with her family. That deserves certainty and a promise from me,"
Jax exhaled softly,"...Alright."
He looked at the map again. Then toward her, "I’ll have my people give me any extra information on the area and check it out as soon as possible,"
Meridia studied him quietly, "...You agree quickly."
"Kid’s waiting," His answer came easily, "Besides."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips, "I’m curious now."
That response actually made something warmer flicker in her expression, "Yes, you are."
"Good luck," Meridia said, snapping her fingers and all of a sudden, Jax felt a huge rush of mana all around him, and before he could even react, he was back at the temple, deep within the Ocean.
The only thing that changed was a blue rune on the palm of his right hand, that suddenly glowed, "This is how I’ll communicate with you for updates, pour mana into the rune to contact me,"
"Okay," Jax muttered, and quickly swam out of the temple, planning to head back to the Demon Kingdom to reset and fully prepare for the incoming trip.
*****
After around 7 hours, Jax returned to the Demon Kingdom, heading straight to Sabrina’s Office to update her on what happened.
"So you’re saying you need to investigate a mystery beast that could be extremely powerful with very limited information?" Sabrina asked, tapping her finger on the desk after listening to Jax’s explanation of what went down in the last day.
"Yeah, can you gather any extra information on the place, I plan to head out tomorrow," Jax said.
"Fine, I’ll put some people on it," Sabrina said.
"Good, by the way where’s Astra, I want to take her with me," Jax asked.
"She has a house in the NorthEast of the City, I’ll give you the address, you can find her there," Sabrina said, writing down the exact address on a piece of paper and handing it to Jax.
"Thanks," Jax said, leaving the office and heading to Astra’s house.
After a short 5 minute walk, Jax arrived at the house, sensing Astra inside and phasing through the wall, moving upstairs towards her room and opening the door.
"Huh," Jax muttered, before a sly smirk appeared on his lips.
Inside the room was Astra, only she was half naked, wearing only sexy black lingerie. In her hand was one of Jax’s underwear, and she was pressing it against her nose, inhaling his thick masculine musk.
Her fingers were roaming her pussy, as it throbbed, and she moaned out Jax’s name constantly, shaking her hips erotically.
The Storm Dragon was clearly in heat, completely entranced in her own world of personal pleasure.
As she was doing all of this, Jax had already phased into the room, staring at her.
"Oh...JAXXXX!" Astra screamed out as she orgasmed, her body trembling as she collapsed onto the bed, finally turning to the side and spotting Jax.
"..."
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