Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 133 - 128 Merfolk

"So, what exactly does this vermin want to do here?"

"This person is the top student among the new Spirit Summoning Studies freshmen. I brought him here to get an early understanding of magical enhancement knowledge, including flesh materials which you deal with. As one of Andrey’s instructors, you have a duty to help students understand knowledge."

"He’s a bit better bug, but what does he have to do with Arnold, with no course plan and no notice from the school authorities, everyone just scrams from Arnold."

The dragon approached the dwarf, who was completely enveloped in shadow beneath his enormous body.

"What if I say this is a direct request from the dean, supporting the development of Spirit Summoning Studies, would you defy Andrey’s will?" the dragon casually fabricated an order from the dean.

"Ridiculous, why hasn’t Arnold been notified?"

"Am I not notifying you now? Perhaps because everyone dislikes you, no one was assigned to inform you. If you have doubts, you can inquire with the dean yourself, leaving your sweet water nest..."

Arnold obviously disliked moving about, "Damn dean, damn school. Do whatever you like, Arnold," he said as he pointed to several walls across the water. Only then did Lyle realize that they were barriers made of magically condensed ice, "Behind each wall, there’s a peculiar species, pick one vermin, have a touch with my treasure, and then skedaddle."

Lyle casually pointed to one of the ice surfaces.

Arnold looked over and became irritable.

"Dirty vermin, not this one, choose another!"

Mr. Dragon grabbed the dwarf.

"Arnold, I’ve tolerated you for a long time, if you keep obstructing my student, I will make you taste the dragon’s wrath."

"That creature still has issues, it was just caught, it could harm the vermin... the student."

Mr. Dragon threw Arnold into the water.

"We’re choosing that one, dangerous or not, I will ensure my student’s safety, and if your disgusting creation doesn’t show gratitude, I do not mind making it my own."

"Damn you, you big stinking bug," Arnold muttered softly, yet he helplessly conjured his magic and the ice barrier shattered.

"Come to me, my treasure," Arnold’s fingertips emitted a red light.

Moments later, a figure emerged from beneath the surface of the water.

As the creature approached, the dragon slowly backed away, he gave Lyle a shove in the back, "Plague Doctor, I must say, this was the best option I could think of."

The enchanting body was covered in colorful scales, her soft, long hair the color of bluish-green, strange in that it didn’t clump together with the movement of the water. Her face was indistinguishable from that of a mature woman’s, but her eyes had two layers of pupils, one yellow and one purple, overlapping each other.

Her caudal fin sliced through the water, a fish tail covered with glistening mucus.

This was a mermaid, a beautiful mermaid.

She paid no attention to Arnold’s beckoning, instead swimming straight up to Lyle, propping up her upper body with her arms, and looked up at him.

A sleek arm extended towards Lyle, under the ethereal gaze of the mermaid.

Lyle responded, and their palms met.

Tender and boneless, cool to the touch, smooth. Before Lyle could fully appreciate the sensation, a force, through the delicate arm, dragged him down under the water.

Lyle struggled fiercely underwater, but to no avail, the mermaid’s arm was like a vice, and Lyle could only sink deeper with her. Sea water rushed into his mouth and nose, flooding his lungs. He reached out towards the light with his hand, but ultimately plunged into darkness.

After what felt like an eternity, in the pitch-black depths without a glimmer of light,

a voice entered Lyle’s waterlogged mind, an indescribable sound as though many women were speaking the same words, with an ethereal harmony.

"Feeling better now?"

Lyle opened his eyes, in front of him were those faintly glowing beautiful yellow eyes. The mermaid’s face was close against his own.

Her scales and mucus shimmered with light in the darkness, like a goddess guiding light, like a mythical deity from a dream. Her unique beauty made the water her wedding dress, the fish her carriage. With the movement of her limbs, the white bubbles she scattered fluttered like falling petals of blessings, or like dancing butterflies, ascending towards the unseen light.

Lyle discovered that he could breathe underwater and see many things that were invisible to the naked eye, all thanks to the mermaid’s palm pressing against his mask.

"Mind Communication."

"Yes, I am Vena."

"You can call me Plague Doctor."

Vena swam with Lyle in the current, and around her, those dazzling illusions continuously surrounded them. A sensation of tranquility rose from Lyle’s mind; he knew this was the feeling of the mermaid Vena, because at that moment, they were connected in spirit.

They swam aimlessly, becoming sprites of the ocean, undisturbed by anything.

As they continued to dive, Lyle saw their destination.

It was a city on the seabed, the home of the merfolk, Mosue.

The tall white buildings were massive seashells, round pearls laid scattered carelessly on the seabed adorned with beautiful corals, and the merfolk swam contentedly, playing a special seven-stringed harp; the music conveyed the sound of the sea currents.

Underneath the music, the ocean transformed into a gentle mother, whispering softly by your side. Intoxicated by the gentleness of merging with the seawater, Lyle just wanted to join them as soon as possible.

But Vena, serving as the guide, stopped moving.

Through the connection of minds, Lyle voiced his question.

"Home, is in a place far, far away."

Vena reached out towards Mosue, but what she touched was the cold stone wall. What they had just seen and heard were only beautiful bubbles of memory preserved in Vena’s mind.

She was imprisoned in Arnold’s cell, a place that could never be called home. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Lyle looked at that pretty face and felt the heartbreaking sorrow emanating from the depths of Vena’s heart.

"Plague Doctor, I want to go home."

"Let’s escape," Lyle held Vena’s hands, "Mr. Dragon is outside, with his help, teaching Arnold a lesson won’t be a problem, I will take you, back to your homeland."

Vena shook her head, turned around, and lifted her hair, revealing that repulsive, disgusting thing.

It was a black leech, like a fat maggot, tightly biting into the nape of Vena’s neck.

"Arnold controls this to imprison me; with just a thought, the leech will suck all my blood. I can’t escape."

Lyle thought of a strategy underwater, shaking his head.

Black tentacles unfolded behind him, one of which touched Vena’s forehead.

"Nia likes you, Vena." Vena offered a faint smile.

She grasped Lyle’s hand, "I’ll transfer to you the knowledge you want first, although I’m not sure if the biological knowledge leftover in merfolk memory will be of any use."

"What about you?"

"Think of a plan to save me after you leave this place."

"What if I fail?"

"I only have you now, Plague Doctor. Merfolk can only communicate with living beings."

Vena embraced Lyle, completely drawing him into her embrace, glowing faintly all over, just like a beautiful Glowing Jellyfish.

The knowledge of merfolk, along the path of mind communication, entered Lyle’s mind.

"Please do your best, Prince."