The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 255: Scrying ()

The sea was calm and characteristically silent at this depth, and the silvery sea sand shimmered faintly, as though reflecting the moonlight.

The Sea corals swayed gently with the ocean currents and Kristen observed the familiar sight, his veins charged and rejuvenated in a manner he had terribly missed.

Being away from his natural habitat for so long had been tasking on Kristen but being by Nile’s side and bonding with his mate had made it bearable and a worthy sacrifice.

Still yet, Kristen was grateful for this brief moment back amongst the currents, if only for a short time.

Despite basking in the comfort of his natural habitat, his tail swaying this way and that as he floated across the currents,

Kristen kept his senses alert and a watchful eye of his beloved mate.

Hovering over the Sea bed, Nile knelt, his eyes closed in deep meditation and Kristen watched him and the wisps of magic dancing around him, in awe.

Nile’s abilities were beyond anything Kristen had ever witnessed, beyond that of the Sea oracle even and Kristen was always fascinated to witness its manifestation, though Nile rarely wielded his magic.

In this moment, his form appeared Ethereal and Nile seemed to blend with the sea itself, his robes flowing gently, mirroring the calm ripples of the waters.

Clasped tightly in his hands was a small, scrying bowl, an artifact Nile had once told Kristen, that helped him connect with the realm beyond and even summon spirits.

Nile had drawn a sacred circle on the sea bed around him and though Kristen did not know the significance, he noticed how even the small schools of fishes gave a wide bert around the sacred circle, most likely sensing something out of the ordinary.

Kristen loomed not too far from the sacred circle, close enough that he could attentively guard Nile but not so close that he would interfere or distract the spirit guide.

Kristen was not certain for how long Nile’s scrying would last but he hoped no troubles would come their way in this time, they were far out from the Mer civilization and that fact itself was unsettling.

Not long after, Kristen sensed a change in the atmosphere. Though it had always been quiet, there were at least a few sea life here or there, but at this time, no schools of fish were in sight.

Kristen’s brows furrowed slightly and he summoned his trident, a weapon bound to him which he had not had much use for since taking up residence on the surface.

A sudden vibration rippled through the water, faint at first but quickly growing stronger.

Kristen’s muscles tensed as the sand of the sea bed shifted strangely. He spun, raising his trident as a monstrous looking Mer creature emerged from the ground, like rising out of nowhere.

It was a mer, Kristen could tell that much but it was badly deformed, with extreme levels of decay on different aspects, its mouth was filled with jagged teeth as it released a haunting shriek.

A shriek that was echoed by one too many other haunting voices as the sea sand shifted at different points.

"Forsaken!" Kristen hissed, recognizing the horrid creatures for what they were, remnants of the dead arisen by a sinister force of darkness.

They were summoned by a sole figure and Kristen identified the man in black flowing hood standing on the other side of a portal that opened right behind Kristen.

"A dozen will become a hundred and then a thousand. You know what I want..." The man said, his words carried over to Kristen alone by some method.

Kristen did know...there was just one thing in his possession which Nile had entrusted to him before commencing his meditation.

"The shard..." Kristen muttered, clutching the item in his palm.

"Neither you nor the oracle will be able to leave here alive." The hooded man spoke again.

Kristen hesitated, he did not truly understand the importance of the shard but it had placed Askel in the position he currently was in, which meant it could not be ordinary and would be dangerous to fall in the wrong hands.

But Nile was currently vulnerable and Kristen was not confident in his ability to protect him.

"The shard!" The hooded man demanded.

Kristen hesitated for a moment longer before he tossed the shard, letting the currents carry it right through the portal.

The portal sealed shut immediately and Kristen watched the horrid creatures crumble to dust like they had never existed.

Heaving a sigh of relief, he turned back to find Nile watching him with a narrowed gaze, hand outstretched and Kristen realised then that their attackers had not just crumbled to dust out of nowhere.

"When did you...?" Kristen began to say but Nile cut him off.

"When did you begin to trust the words of your enemy? Did you really believe they would not attack because you handed it over?" Nile asked instead.

"I...well... you didn’t specify I had to put up a fight. You said to give whatever they ask for." Kristen murmured,

"If you are putting up an act, don’t you think it requires some effort?" Nile countered, his gaze still narrowed. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

With a slight sway of his tail, Kristen swam over to Nile and took him by the waist.

"How did you know we would be attacked here? You even prepared ahead of time?" Kristen asked Nile.

"Other than the fact that I see glimpses of the future at random times, especially when I least expect to?" Nile replied with an obvious question.

Kristen chuckled sheepishly but his excitement faded when he noticed Nile’s countenance was the furthest thing from elated and it had nothing to do with what had just happened.

"What did you see?" Kristen asked warily.

Nile forced a smile to his lips and shook his head slightly.

"We should return, time flows differently. We must have been gone for at least a few days." Nile murmured.