Chapter 470: Episode 468: Zale is leaving.

Drax was doing a very good job as the new boss of the big stone palace.

Even though he was still young, he was very smart and very strong. He made a big rule that nobody was allowed to fight or be mean on the dirt roads through the woods. He wanted to make sure that the carts carrying food, clothes, and toys could travel safely from town to town. Because Drax was so scary to the bad guys, they listened to him.

The roads became very peaceful. And because the roads were finally safe, friends from far away could come to visit the big stone house.

One sunny morning, the front doors opened, and very special guests walked inside. They brought the fresh, salty smell of the beach and the cool ocean breeze with them. It was Nerissa, Nimue, and Uncle Keenan. They came all the way from the deep blue sea. They wore beautiful clothes that shimmered like fish scales, and they had very warm, happy smiles.

Uncle Keenan was Caspian’s brother, which meant he was little Zale’s uncle. He was a very tall, friendly man who loved the water more than anything. He brought pretty seashells and shiny pearls as gifts, but he was really there for one very important reason.

He came to take little Zale home.

Uncle Keenan sat down in the big living room with Drax and Iris. He spoke in a very gentle voice. He explained that Zale was getting bigger every single day. Zale was a merman-boy. He had special water magic. But the big stone palace was built on dry land. There were no big waves to play in. There were no deep, blue waters to swim in.

"The land is just too dry for a growing sea boy," Uncle Keenan said nicely. "To learn how to use his water magic, he needs to live in the ocean. The sea is his true home. If he stays here on the dry dirt, he will not grow up to be as strong and happy as he should be."

Drax and Iris knew Uncle Keenan was right. Their dad, Caspian, would want Zale to learn how to swim fast and make big waves. It was the best thing for him.

But when little Zale heard the news, he did not agree at all.

Zale was playing with his wooden blocks in the playroom when they told him he had to leave. He dropped his toys. His bottom lip pushed out, and his face turned red. He threw a massive tantrum.

He stomped his little feet hard on the floor. He crossed his arms tight over his chest and started to cry big, heavy tears. Because Zale had water magic, his sad feelings made funny and messy things happen in the room. Little puddles of water started to appear on the soft rugs, making them squishy like wet sponges. Tiny rain clouds popped up right near the ceiling, dripping cold water all over the toys and the furniture.

"No!" Zale yelled loudly. "I won’t go! I won’t go!"

Uncle Keenan tried to kneel down and give him a hug, but Zale splashed water right in his face. Zale ran over to a heavy chair and grabbed onto the leg. He held on as tight as he could, burying his wet face against the wood.

"I want to stay here!" Zale cried, his little shoulders shaking. "I want to stay with Drax and Iris and Fedor and Tyara! I am not leaving my home!"

He was very scared. His mom and dad had gone away on a very long trip, and he missed them so much. He didn’t want to leave his big brothers and sisters, too. The ocean seemed too big, too deep, and too lonely without his family. He just wanted to stay in the playroom where he felt safe.

Nobody knew what to do. The room was getting wetter and wetter, and Zale was crying louder and louder.

Then, Iris stepped into the room.

Iris did not have any magic. She could not make the indoor rain stop, and she could not dry up the squishy puddles with a snap of her fingers. But Iris had something much better than magic. She had a very kind heart, a gentle voice, and she gave the best hugs in the whole world.

She did not yell at Zale for making a mess. She did not tell him to stop crying. Instead, Iris walked right through the puddles, getting her shoes all wet, and sat down on the floor next to the heavy chair.

She reached out and gently rubbed Zale’s back. "Oh, my little fish," Iris said softly.

Zale let go of the chair and climbed right into Iris’s lap. He hid his face in her shirt, crying until his hiccups made his whole body shake. Iris wrapped her arms around him and rocked him slowly back and forth, just like a mommy would.

"It is okay to be sad," Iris whispered, resting her chin on his head. "It is scary to go to a new place."

"I don’t want to leave you," Zale mumbled into her shirt.

Iris smiled a very soft, sweet smile. She used her fingers to wipe the tears off his wet cheeks. "I know. And we do not want you to go, either. The palace will be so quiet without your giggles and your water splashes. But Zale, think about the big, beautiful ocean."

Zale peeked up at her with red eyes. "The ocean?"

"Yes," Iris said, making her voice sound very exciting. "You are a special merman! You are meant to swim with the fast dolphins and play hide-and-seek in the bright coral reefs. Here in the palace, you only have small bathtubs and ponds outside. But in the sea, you will have the whole giant world to swim in."

Zale sniffled. "But who will play with me in the big water?"

"Uncle Keenan will play with you," Iris promised nicely. "And Nerissa and Nimue. You will make so many new fishy friends. You will learn how to blow giant water bubbles and ride on the backs of sea turtles. You have a very special job to do down there. You have to grow up strong and learn your magic."

Zale wiped his runny nose with the back of his hand. He looked over at Uncle Keenan. Uncle Keenan was sitting patiently by the door. He gave Zale a very warm, happy smile and a little wave.

Zale looked back at his big sister. "Will you come visit me?" he asked quietly.

"Whenever we can," Iris promised, kissing his forehead. "And you can come visit us, too. Drax made the roads very safe now. You can come back and play with Fedor and Tyara whenever you want. We are always your family, no matter where you sleep at night."

Zale thought about her words for a long minute. Slowly, the tiny rain clouds near the ceiling vanished. The puddles on the floor stopped growing. He took a deep breath and gave Iris one last, very tight hug.

He nodded his head. He was ready.

Everyone helped pack Zale’s little bags. They packed his favorite smooth rocks, his softest sleeping blanket, and a little wooden toy boat.

When everything was ready, they all walked outside to the big front gates of the palace. The sun was shining bright, and the birds were singing.

Uncle Keenan reached out, and Zale took his big hand. Uncle Keenan was absolutely overjoyed. His smile was so wide it almost reached his ears. He was so happy to finally have his little nephew with him to teach him the ways of the sea. Nerissa and Nimue waved a happy goodbye to Drax and Iris.

Zale started to walk down the dirt path with his sea family. He looked a little bit nervous, but he held his head up high, trying to be brave like his big brother Drax.

Just before they walked around the bend and out of sight, Zale stopped. He turned around to look at the big stone palace. He looked at Drax and Iris standing by the tall gates.

Zale cupped his little hands around his mouth so they could hear him loud and clear. He gave them a huge, toothy smile, completely forgetting his sadness.

"I will bring in lots of goodies!" he screams as they depart.