Amelia Watson pondered deeply, her thoughts a whirlwind. "Who could this girl be? An adversary foretold by the ancient prophecies, or perhaps an unexpected ally?" She knew these questions could only be unraveled by the girl herself. With a determined stride, Amelia entered the dimly lit chamber where the girl was confined.
The sight that greeted her defied explanation; the girl was unmistakably non-human, her lower half have a shark's tail, her teeth sharp and menacing. "What kind of being is she?" Amelia wondered silently. Seeking to bridge the gap between them, she asked gently, "What is your name?" Judging by her petite stature, the girl seemed younger than Amelia, which softened her approach.
The girl's response came in an unintelligible language, a melodic yet alien series of sounds that left Amelia confounded. "We cannot let this impasse continue; we must find a way to communicate with her," asserted one of the researchers, his voice tinged with urgency.
"I believe I have the solution," Amelia declared, her confidence unwavering. She retrieved a crumpled piece of parchment from her pocket and, with a practiced hand, sketched a complex magic circle upon it. "This incantation should grant her the ability to converse in our tongue," she explained. With a swift motion, she tore the paper in two, activating the spell.
To their collective relief, the girl began to speak, her words now clear and comprehensible in their language. Amelia's eyes gleamed with triumph; the first step towards understanding had been taken.
The mysterious girl's eyes darted around the unfamiliar surroundings before settling on the group. "What is this place? Who are you people?" she inquired.
Amelia Watson, maintaining her composure, responded, "I believe we're the ones who should be asking questions. Tell us, 'shark girl,' who might you be?"
With a regal air, the shark girl declared, "I am Gawr Gura, Princess of Atlantis."
"Atlantis?" Amelia echoed, her voice laced with disbelief.
"Yes, how do you not know of it? It is the mightiest kingdom in the world," Gura stated confidently.
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "So you're telling me that you're a princess from a kingdom spoken of only in myths?"
"Myths?" Gura couldn't help but question the incredulous girl before her.
"Yes, myths. Atlantis is said to be a kingdom that existed 20,000 years ago," Amelia clarified.
"20,000 years ago?!" Gura was astounded. The time she had spent in the Trident felt like mere moments, yet this girl claimed it had been millennia. Atlantis, a myth? Despite the calamity's devastation, the thought that their grand empire had been erased from history was unfathomable. How could she accept such a reality?.
Gawr Gura's mind raced with urgency. "Hold on, where is my trident?" she pondered, her voice a silent echo in her thoughts.
"We've kept it safe for you," came the reply, calm yet firm.
"You must return my trident to me, human," Gura demanded, her tone brooking no argument.
"Not until you reveal the truth. Who are you, and more importantly, what are you?" the human countered.
"I have already told you, have I not?" Gura's patience was wearing thin.
"Sure, 'Princess of Atlantis.' If you're truly a princess from Atlantis, then I must be Vergil," the human retorted with a hint of sarcasm.
"Who is Vergil?" Gura inquired, puzzled by the reference.
"That's not important. What matters is the truth," Amelia insisted.
"I have spoken nothing but the truth. If you choose not to believe it, then so be it," Gura replied defiantly.
"Let's put your claim to the test," Amelia suggested, pulling out another piece of paper and drawing a new magic circle. "If you're lying, you'll turn into sashimi."
"I am the Princess of Atlantis," Gura stated resolutely.
To Amelia's astonishment, the scroll indicated that Gura was indeed telling the truth. This girl, named Gura, was the princess of the mythical kingdom of Atlantis. Amelia was in awe; Atlantis was real, which meant her debates with those who claimed Atlantis was lost were now moot. What a conundrum.
With the revelation still fresh, Amelia retrieved her phone with a flourish.
"Hello, this is Watson. Your marvelous detective has reeled in quite the catch," she announced with a hint of pride.
"A fish? What are we supposed to do with that information?" came the perplexed response from the other end.
"This is no ordinary fish," Watson clarified, a smirk playing on her lips.
As the conversation unfolded, Watson couldn't help but revel in the intrigue of the situation. A smile crept across her face, her mind abuzz with the possibilities that lay ahead.