The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 76: Overthinking ()

"What do you think?" Zariah asked Nile as she watched him examine Kristen with his magic.

It had taken a little bit of coaxing and a promise to not reveal his situation to anyone else other than Prince Treyton before Kristen had finally been willing to speak of his symptoms.

Zariah felt it was rather inappropriate to tag the changes Kristen had noticed in himself as symptoms since whatever was off about him was certainly not a health condition.

It also did not seem to be demonic energy left behind by the charmer demon spirit, but another sort of dark, foreign energy entirely,

Or at least, that was what Zariah had initially picked up on him when she first caught sight of him guarding the entrance of the Sky Bubble.

Zariah could not recognize that dark energy she had sensed at all, she could only sense it barely then and had it not been for Nile sharing the same suspicions, she might have concluded she was just being overly sensitive.

However Zariah had been raised to trust her instincts and so she felt it imperative to take a look at Kristen for herself, if only to get a better understanding of why her instincts were triggered by him.

Zariah had done just that and had come up with absolutely nothing at all, there was nothing out of place that could have been cause for alarm.

Zariah found it rather odd that she could not sense that strange dark energy she had picked up on the merman previously at all.

Zariah had hoped Nile would have better luck understanding what exactly it was that caused their senses to react the way they had upon sighting Kristen,

But judging from Nile’s thoughtful expression, Zariah guessed he was also puzzled by it.

Zariah had never seen anything so odd, it seemed as though they could only sense the slightest traces of the darkness on Kristen now but nothing else.

Nothing nearly as striking as what Zariah had sensed upon first sight of the merman.

Nile’s eyes fluttered open as he shook his head apologetically.

"I’m not sure, I will need to meditate on it." Nile replied,

Zariah nodded in approval as she reverted her gaze to Kristen.

"Do pardon our concerns, you mentioned you had felt frequent headaches out of the blue?" Zariah asked again for confirmation,

"Yes, they started mild back at the Ethereal Domain and then grew increasingly severe towards the end of my stay. As you know, I was ordered to return earlier after that event." Kristen said, passing a wary glance over at a brooding King Askel.

"It has only been a few days since my return to the Sea Kingdom and I have been occupied with serving my punishment."

" I believed I had just caught some allergy due to being on the surface for too long, especially since the headaches disappeared upon my return to the Sea Kingdom." Kristen continued.

Zariah frowned slowly, headaches were a rather odd ailment for mermen and what was more, to have suddenly disappeared upon arrival at the Sea Kingdom...?

"And other than that, you have not noticed anything else strange? How is your magic control?" Zariah inquired, just to make sure.

"Perfectly fine, my water magic is intact, I can summon the waves just as easily as before and although I have not done much swimming since my return as my patrol duties were rescinded, I doubt anything has changed with that too." Kristen replied with a casual shrug.

"If you believed it to be just an allergy and it is really as insignificant as you say, why do you keep it from the Sea Oracle?" Nile asked doubtfully.

"No particular reason, I just thought it wasn’t worth mentioning. I also had some light suspicions that if anything, it would be related to the demon possession, in which case, you would be the most suitable to seek guidance from." Kristen explained.

Zariah nodded, Kristen’s words did make sense. Although the Sea Oracle possessed great magic and his magic manifestation could be related with Nile’s spirit magic,

However since Nile had been the one to vanquish the demon, he was in the best position to pick up thy traces of the demon spirit left behind, if any.

And ultimately, Nile was convinced this had nothing to do with the charmer demon spirit all.

Zariah guessed perhaps she was just the one overthinking it, Kristen seemed perfectly fine and Zariah was not even sure what it was that she had picked up before that had gotten her so alert.

Moreover, Zariah did not think it wise to make assumptions or burden the merman with worries over what could eventually turn out to be nothing significant at all.

"Very well then, there is nothing to be worried for presently but if you do notice any oddities, be sure to come to me immediately." Zariah said,

"Would it be right to burden you? I would not want to hinder the more urgent affairs, Lady Zariah." Kristen said uncertainly. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"If I say it, then it is no bother. Since the Crimson Moon has already handled your case, we will not let you off till we are certain you are not compromised in anyway." Zariah said,

"If those words had been said by any other, I might have taken offence from it. I am not accustomed to being..." Kristen trailed off at this point when a low growl was emitted from King Askel.

Zariah understood the merman’s point, as Chief of Royal Guard, he was considered one of the top battle mers and was not familiar with being on the receiving end of concern and favors.

"What I meant to say is, I am grateful for your concern Lady Zariah, fret not...a mistake made once will not be repeated again." Kristen adjusted in light of King Askel’s reaction to his previous words.

" I would not be worthy of the royal blood of the Sea if I allowed that." Kristen assured Zariah.

Zariah nodded as Kristen rose to his feet and lowered his head to a bow before taking his leave.

Once the door was shut behind Kristen, Zariah passed a glance to Nile.

"You definitely felt what I did out there at the entrance of the Sky Bubble, didn’t you?" Zariah asked doubtfully.

"I did and even if I didn’t, you would never be wrong Zari... something is off with him, I just cannot figure out what and I doubt he knows of it too." Nile replied.

Whatever Zariah had felt outside the Sky Bubble was almost completely gone now that she took a look at Kristen and this only aggravated Zariah’s unease.

Clearly, Kristen was unaware of what concerned Zariah and Nile or the aura he had been exuding when Prince Treyton had led them to the entrance of the Sky Bubble.

"It would be better if it turns out we are being overly sensitive... otherwise, a lingering demon spirit or a strange dark energy...I cannot decide which is a more unsettling turn out." Zariah murmured quietly.

"If you are not rest assured Mhíjani, we can have Prince Treyton set eyes on him for the time being, so if anything goes wrong, we will be the first to know." King Askel suggested,

Zariah glanced over at him in surprise, considering King Askel had declared his dislike for Kristen merely a short while ago, it was unexpected that he would chip in a suggestion to aid the merman.

"I thought you didn’t like him." Zariah pointed out, unable to resist calling King Askel out on his strange actions.

"I don’t...it beats me why you have to bother with the merman, but if you must, I would rather have your burden eased Mhíjani." King Askel replied in a straightforwardly.

"And I would rather you do not concern yourself with my affairs, King Askel." Zariah clarified.

"Yet what happens when I insist?" King Askel asked in an unfazed tone,

Zariah frowned at King Askel’s words and for a moment, they both just stood, each staring down the other.

The emotions reflected in King Askel’s gaze were clear to Zariah and Zariah’s gaze turned even more chilly in response.

Perhaps the stare down lasted a moment too long as Nile broke the tension.

"Uhmm...I will take my leave now, you both should retire early for the night... after you have concluded your... affairs, of course." Nile interrupted, heading out of their shared quarters before Zariah could object.

Zariah rolled her eyes at Nile’s predictable action as she pulled her coat tighter around herself and ignoring King Askel’s gaze, she headed into her room.

Zariah stared down at the flimsy excuse of a dress that had been left for her and she was glad someone had thought to leave the oversized coat she wore as well as a tunic and leather breeches.

Zariah heaved a sigh as she sat down in a meditative position on her bed, her eyes fluttering closed.