Chapter 918: Rowena Is Wreaking Havoc
At that point, the royal guards and the bodyguard of Prince Liam arrived and checked up on him before they finally followed after Rowena.
However, Rowena outpaced them as she traveled across the streets of Verona which were packed with people. It was a difficult place to rush through, but she took it as a shortcut until she finally arrived at the Wishing Mermaid Lagoon.
Compared to when Rowena and Liam visited it before the sunset, the waters of the lagoon took on a far more haunting quality as the moon reflected its light and cascaded across the waters.
There was no doubt that the water was unbelievably cold, Rowena's cheeks were already frosty as she leaped from Hades and then dove into the waters.
Rowena expected nothing but darkness to welcome her, and yet when she opened her eyes—she found that there was a luminescent glow of the corals several feet below her alongside seaweed and other plants.
She had always had great vision, even in the dark. Rowena didn't know that it was her heritage, having an elven princess for a mother. Knowing she could see well in the dark gave her the confidence to just jump into the lagoon to look for any mermaids or portals to their realm, or whatever she could find to help Julian.
More importantly, when Rowena came to check the seashell tied across her neck, it had also started to glow a soft white light and even produced pearls that fell into the waters.
Despite all of that, there was nothing that resembled a Mermaid coming through to meet with her.
Frustrated, but determined, Rowena swam down deeper as she kept her one hand on the sword and finally reached the now glowing corals which were rumored to be the entrance to the mermaid realm.
Pearls continued to fall down deeper into the inky darkness of the waters, but unfortunately, even their glow failed to show anything within the pitch-black waters.
And it was going to get darker.
Rowena grabbed a hold of the sword and swung it hard across the corals and the blade of Prince Liam cut through it.
The coral immediately lost its luster and turned black and the chunks fell down into the water, but she didn't stop at that. Without any sign of the mermaids or any portal realm opening for Rowena, she continued to wield the blade and smash it across the corals.
Wave after wave of destruction was caused at that moment. Even if the simple seashell necklace was hardly enough to make a Mermaid come and retrieve it, Rowena had the lingering suspicion that wreaking havoc and chaos
on their beloved lagoon would be enough to clamor for their attention.
Rowena didn't have much time, and she didn't have any other clues or ideas as to what could summon them.
However, before she knew it, the pearls that fell down into the pit of the water started to rise and spin wildly into a torment whirlpool and it swallowed her alive.
***
Raphael didn't know if he should be upset or thrilled as he met up with his fellow gods in a forest, far from any human settlement.
He made an agreement with his fellow gods to help assist him and prevent the spread of information about King Draco searching for Rowena, and it failed miserably.
Even a powerful god or goddess became lazy or overconfident about their skills or ability. It meant that while a god who was determined to fully cover his tracks was capable of doing it, it also meant that a lax god could make mistakes.
Somewhere along the time, some messengers still slipped through and managed to share the fact to the neighboring kingdoms that King Draco Roseland of Ashland was looking for his daughter, Rowena and he would give great reward to any princes who could bring her home.
Rowena's beauty soon attracted so many potential suitors who came from far and wide, to try and bring her back to Ashland. The paintings of her were now spread to so many countries, thanks to these faithful messengers.
"And because of this failure, we will have to reside here temporarily and ensure that these princes that are coming and searching do not find Rowena," Raphael told them firmly.
"Seriously?" some of the gods complained. "We already did our best, we should go back to Cretea now."
"Your father will surely be looking for you," Nymia added with a frown. "If he had not been suspicious before, he would soon."
"We can't spend our time blocking or harassing all of the princes that try to visit Ashland or inconvenience them at every turn." The God of Aviary added. "Even though it's kind of fun."
Raphael folded his hand behind his back. "Which is why we should have done a better job in the first place, but unfortunately, some of you had gotten rather lazy."
Nymia pursed her lips and chose not to say anything.
If Raphael believed that the letters from King Draco arrived in other kingdoms because some of them had gotten lazy and not because of her intentional decision, then she wouldn't say a word.
Nymia, the Goddess of Rivers didn't wish to
earn his ire and only chose to remind him every now and then of the fact that the King of Cretea might be looking for him.
"First things first, you don't have to worry about my father looking for me." Raphael smiled at Nymia and gestured at all of them. "In my father's eyes, I am simply spending my time and relaxing with all of my friends."
Some young gods coughed at his statement, but a glare from Raphael put them to silent mode.
"Yeah, he doesn't know that you're working us to the bone." A god complained as he pulled up a letter that bore a royal seal and burned it into dust. "You're really using the fact that you're the Seventh Prince quite too much."