The cavern still felt thick with the weight of the unknown, shadows swirling like the breath of some unseen beast. The air pressed down on them, suffocating, as though an ancient apocalypse were moments away.
Shui Yi's grip on Long Fei tightened, her heart hammering in her chest.
The silence stretched, becoming unbearable. Every inch of the space felt more oppressive than the last, as though the walls were closing in. The screeching and roaring approached, growing louder.
And then—
"GOTCHA!"
The mermaid shrieked, her heart leaping into her throat. The ominous shadows of the cavern erupted into motion, but instead of the terrifying creature she had prepared for, out sprang Ling Yue, doubled over in laughter, clutching her sides, wearing a devilish grin.
"Ahaha! You should've seen your face!" her voice rang through the cave, her laughter echoing as she stumbled from the shadows.
The mermaid's legs nearly gave way, and she almost had a heart attack. Staggering backward, she pointed a trembling finger at the trickster.
"Ling Yue!" she half-shouted, still reeling from the fright.
She whirled toward Long Fei, wide-eyed with disbelief. "You knew?!"
He shrugged nonchalantly, his lips curling up into an amused smile.
"And you didn't say anything?!" her voice rose, exasperated, still shaking from the prank.
"Didn't want to ruin her fun," he answered with a grin.
Shui Yi's mind raced, frustration bubbling up inside her as the shock began to wear off. "You're both unbelievable!"
The trickster wiped away a fake tear, still giggling. "Oh, former princess, I knew you'd be fun to scare."
The princess' chest tightened, the overwhelming relief sinking in like a weight lifted. Without thinking, she threw her arms around the guardian, pulling her into a tight hug.
"I'm so glad you're alive," she exclaimed, voice muffled against her shoulder. "I'm so sorry."
The guardian stiffened, before shoving the mermaid off with a roll of her eyes.
"Alright, alright, former princess. Keep your hands to yourself."
Shui Yi stumbled back as she processed the playful rejection. But there was warmth in her chest, an unexpected fondness that made her chuckle. She had never realized how much the trickster had come to mean to her until this moment.
The mermaid's heart still raced from the fright. She was almost angry at herself for getting scared so easily. But before she could say anything, Ling Yue dashed toward her master, her steps light and quick, full of the energy that had just been missing.
"Master!" she whined, throwing herself around his neck. "I was so scared...!"
He allowed a small, relieved smile to pull at his lips as he looked down at his trusted companion. His gaze softened, a rare snippet of fondness slipping through his usually composed exterior. "Found you," he said and tapped her nose.
The guardian sniffled dramatically, one hand clutching her chest as she looked up at him with wide, exaggerated eyes. "Nah-uh. I found you first. I couldn't wait for you to find me—especially when you had to royal-sit her former highness. I was nearly devoured by all sorts of nasty things! You're telling me you didn't think I'd need some backup? You left me out there all alone?"
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I should have been more considerate to the other creatures."
She gave an exaggerated sigh, then suddenly twirled on her feet. "First, I got lost in this maze. It twisted like one of those creepy legends you read about in those boring books. But I didn't give up! Master needed me, so I pushed through!" She paused, raising her fist in the air. "But I didn't give up! I kept going, thinking, Master needs me, he needs me to save him from..." She directs her eyes to the mermaid.
She looked up at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But then—THEN—I remembered what you said. You told me you trusted me. And I told myself, 'Get it together. Master's counting on you.' So, I pushed through the maze, crawled through caves full of bones, and—poof—here I am!"
She paused, her expression softening as she gazed up at her master with a proud smile. "I thought I was a goner, but hey, I pulled through, didn't I?"
Long Fei's eyes softened as he looked down at his pet. A mix of relief and guilt tugged at him. He reached down and ruffled her hair. "I'm sorry for leaving you behind. It wasn't an easy decision, but—"
"But I know it was the right decision," she interrupted with a smirk, her voice light despite her earlier discomfort. "You were right. The former Princess wouldn't have stood a chance there—or anywhere on her own. I was upset for a bit, but... I remembered what you said."
Her gaze softened further, and she gave him a wink. "Guess you were right to trust me after all. It wasn't the worst adventure. After this, I'll need a nice long nap... and a hot meal. Maybe two."
His hand lingered on her head as he looked at her with a quiet, approving expression. "You did well."
She puffed out her chest, a wide grin spreading. "Of course I did! After all, I'm your most trusted pet, right?" She winked.
Shui Yi, still processing the whirlwind of emotions from the prank and the reunion, let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She couldn't help but smile at the scene unfolding before her. Her heart was still pounding, but now something else nagged at her. She watched Long Fei being affectionate toward Ling Yue, and her smile faltered. Why does this feel strange now? She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. For now, though, she was glad to have everyone back together.
The cavern suddenly grew cold. Shui Yi felt a chill down her spine, as it became eerily silent. A distant growl vibrated the ground beneath her feet, and the hairs on her neck stood on end. Long Fei's eyes narrowed, his body shifting subtly, ready for action.
Then, as if the cave wasn't done testing them, a roar echoed through the darkness once again.He immediately straightened, his body tensing as he shifted into a defensive stance.
She turned to the trickster, raising an eyebrow.
Ling Yue shifted her stance to fight mode. "I swear by the Sea, it wasn't me."