The princess swam up to the barrier, studying it with familiarity. "The barrier can only be deactivated by the staff," she explained. "But I need you to do it for me. I can't lift it on my own as part of my restrictions."

Nova approached cautiously. The staff's moonlike orb pulsed with powerful magic, glowing brighter as they neared the barrier.

The princess guided his hands to join hers on the staff. "Can you feel the mechanism?"

Nova nodded again, sensing the channels of essence coursing through the staff. It was even more powerful than he expected, but not too complex. The deactivation was a simple flick of essence at the right spot.

Together, they pressed the staff's head against the shimmering wall. Nova sent the signal to deactivate, and right away, he could feel the magic resonating between the two objects, like harmonizing musical notes.

The barrier rippled violently, distorting like a reflection in troubled water. Then, with a sound like breaking glass, the magical wall collapsed inward on itself, dissipating into thousands of tiny motes of light that scattered and faded.

Anny swam through immediately, using her webbed hands to propel herself with surprising speed. Her eyes remained fixed on the princess, more out of curiosity than nervousness.

(She seems young,) Anny observed through their mental connection.

(She claims to be at least several decades old,) Nova replied. (There's no way to know, really. She's fine with dying, but I felt bad for her…)

The princess smiled at Anny, offering a formal bow that looked strangely elegant underwater. "Hello! I'm Princess Naia. I understand you're helping this diver clear the floor?"

Anny's eyes widened slightly at being addressed directly. She glanced at Nova, who shrugged helplessly—he still couldn't speak underwater.

"Yee, wee wooin oe-heu," Anny replied, unable to say anything clearly. Her voice came out garbled, barely comprehensible.

The princess's smile widened as she watched Anny struggle. "I think I understood some of that… But nodding will do in the future." She turned to Nova. "Now that we're all together, shall we head to the city? My brother will be surprised to see visitors."

Nova nodded, gesturing for her to lead the way. The light from the corridor caught in his white hair, making it seem almost ethereal underwater.

"Ah, right, I'll show you the fastest way!" The princess's enthusiasm was contagious. She pointed toward a narrow passage to their left. "And I'll let you know if I sense any beasts on the way!"

As the princess swam ahead, her white dress billowing around her form like a jellyfish's bell, Nova exchanged a glance with Anny while swimming after.

(You think it will be fine?) he projected through their ring connection, trying to keep his tone light despite the uncertainty ahead.

(Sure. She seems nice, and I can understand how she would be lonely down here.) Anny's mental voice was thoughtful as she watched the princess navigate the underwater passages. (It does seem strange, though…)

(I figured this floor was more of a puzzle than a straight-up fighting one.) Nova maneuvered around a coral formation, careful not to damage the delicate structure. (There's apparently a city as well.)

(A city?!) Anny's surprise flowed through their connection like a shock wave. (Which we would have to get through while carrying the dead princess's heart?)

(Exactly. So I think this is the correct solution, if there is such a thing.) Nova watched as the princess paused at a junction ahead, examining the passages with a practiced eye before choosing one. Then her head poked out from beyond the corner, checking to see if they were still following.

Anny nodded, looking back at the mermaid with a curious glance. Her webbed fingers propelled her smoothly through the water, adapting quickly to the underwater environment.

The princess led them through a series of winding passages. The blue crystal light grew dimmer as they progressed, casting longer shadows across the coral formations. Nova kept close to Anny, both of them watching their surroundings with vigilance.

(Something's not right,) Anny projected suddenly. (The current changed.)

Nova felt it too—a subtle shift in the water's movement, pushing against them from the passage ahead. The princess seemed to notice at the same moment, becoming more cautious as she slowed her pace.

"We might have company," she whispered. Despite the distance, her voice carried clearly through the water. "The white ones don't usually come this far into the mansion."

As if summoned by her words, five white shapes emerged from a crevice in the coral wall ahead. They looked almost like the mantises they'd faced earlier, but these were larger and moved with more coordination.

(These look stronger than the last batch,) Nova projected, already positioning himself for combat.

[Fragment of Nova Regis equipped.]

(Yeah, both larger and faster. You think it's time to spend the kilosouls?) Anny put her fists up, ready to rumble.

The creatures spotted them immediately, turning towards them in perfect unison. Unlike the earlier monsters, they didn't charge blindly. Instead, they spread out in a practiced formation, blocking the passage ahead while creating multiple angles of attack.

The princess moved behind Nova and Anny with great speed, watching the creatures with interest rather than fear. "They're not targeting me," she noted with surprise. "That's unexpected. But let's see if that continues if I start fighting with you two."

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The first creature suddenly darted forward with shocking speed in the dense water. It aimed straight for Anny, opening its scythe-like arms to attack from both sides. She met one arm with her shield and the other with the hilt of her sword, sending ripples through the water that Nova could feel against his skin.

Two more attacked simultaneously, one going low toward Nova's legs while the other attempted to circle around toward Anny's exposed flank. Nova kicked upward, narrowly avoiding the lunge. His hand shot out, and ice magic crystallized around his fingers. The water temperature dropped instantly as frost patterns spread outward from his palm.

The ice formed a sharp spear that struck the creature's side. Frost spread across its scaled skin, slowing its movements as the water around it began to freeze. The cold penetrated its flesh, freezing it from inside out—but the creature still fought, thrashing violently against the encroaching ice.

Anny managed to wound her first attacker with her fists, having wrapped her legs around its torso. She repeatedly slammed into its face with enough force to draw blood, ruining its eyes in the process. Dark blood clouded the water around them.

She spun to face the one approaching her flank, releasing the blinded creature for now. Nova noticed she had suffered two cuts on her lower back from the first attacker, but nothing that wouldn't heal through her regeneration.

'This is a dangerous situation, though. They only need a vital hit to take us out.

The remaining two creatures hung back momentarily, taking in the battle with seemingly little care for their allies. Then, as if coordinating through some silent communication, they began weaving complex patterns through the water with their front claws.

(They're casting something!) Anny projected urgently.

The water between the mantises started to distort, swirling into miniature vortices that shot toward Nova and Anny. The water pressure intensified as the whirlpools accelerated, gaining enough force to potentially crush bones.

'That's clever! Using rotational runes to accelerate the water like that makes for a strong attack.'

Nova started preparing an opposing rotational spell to counter the force, but the creature next to him was moving to intercept him. He wouldn't be able to stop both.

"Let me help!" The princess's voice rang out behind them. She raised her staff in a swift motion. The silver orb at its tip began to glow, gathering energy that swirled like liquid mercury.

With a graceful gesture, she directed the staff toward the creatures. Silver light erupted from the orb, coalescing into three sharp streaks that cut through the water, stopping the incoming whirlpools with ease. The magic struck one of the mantises directly in its chest, punching through its white skin like paper. The monster convulsed once before going still, drifting limply in the current.

"I told you I could fight!" the princess called out.

The remaining creatures reacted immediately to the display of magic. The one nearest to Nova suddenly changed direction, abandoning its attack on him to surge toward the princess instead. Its movement was so swift that Nova barely had time to register the shift.

(She's being targeted!) He projected urgently to Anny, already moving to intercept.

Nova threw himself between the princess and the oncoming creature, gathering more ice magic around his hands. But underwater, his spell formed more slowly than he anticipated. The mantis reached him before the ice could fully manifest.

Massive scythes slashed across his shoulder, cutting deep through his armor and into his flesh. Pain flared white-hot across his vision as the creature struck again, aiming to sever his arm. Nova grabbed one of its claws with his hand. Ice immediately spread across the white scales, but the creature's other scythe came around in a vicious arc, biting deep into Nova's arm and reaching the bone before stopping.

Another pang of white pain shot through his mind, but he remained clear-headed. Through the swirling water now clouded with his blood, he caught sight of the princess's face—shock and guilt had replaced her earlier triumph. She raised her staff again, gathering silver light around its tip.

"No! You'll hit us both!" Nova tried to shout, but the words only emerged as bubbles and garbled sound.

Whether through luck or understanding, the princess hesitated. Instead of firing another magical blast, she swam closer and jabbed the staff directly into the creature's compound eye. The mantis recoiled in pain, flailing wildly without hitting anything.

Nova used the opening to complete his ice spell. Frost erupted from his palm, encasing the mantis's head in a solid block of ice. The creature thrashed for a moment longer before the cold penetrated its brain, incapacitating it completely.

Anny had engaged the last mantis after having finished the first two on her own, using her shield to deflect its scythe attacks while maneuvering for a killing blow. The creature was quick, moving deftly through the water that slowed both Nova and Anny. It darted around her shield, seeking any opening in her defense.

Nova fired an ice spell, focusing it into a concentrated beam that shot through the water toward the creature. The ice struck its side, freezing part of its lower half solid. The momentary distraction was all Anny needed.

She slammed her shield into its frozen joint, shattering both ice and limb. Then she got on the creature's back, grabbing hold of its head and started punching. After the ninth impact, the skull had broken.

The final mantis drifted to the coral floor, lifelessly swaying in the gentle currents.

(Are you okay?) Anny swam to his side, looking at his bleeding shoulder. Both wounds were deep, but the second was by far the most serious. Her eyes barely managed to hide the hunger, but she was completely focused on the blood leaking from his wounds.

'Not right now, Anny. I'll need to heal first.'

(I'll be fine.) Nova pressed his hand against the worst wound, stemming the flow of blood. The water around them was gradually clearing, but it was still dark and foggy. (You were wounded as well, how are they?)

(Oh, already closed up I think. But I lost some of my storage…)

(We need to rest before continuing. I'll give you some then.)

Anny nodded, forcing herself to look away from his wound.

The princess approached cautiously, looking nervously at his wounds. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't prepared to defend myself after I attacked." She clutched her staff with white-knuckled fingers. "I haven't fought much before..."

"It's fine," Nova tried to say, but only bubbles emerged. He resorted to a thumbs-up gesture instead, though the effect was somewhat undermined by the blood still seeping between his fingers.

The princess shook her head, clearly distressed. "You're hurt because of me. I should have stayed back."

'No, we would have struggled much more if you hadn't helped. These wounds are light, all things considered.'

Anny made a series of hand gestures, pointing down the passage, then to Nova's wound. The message was clear even without words: they needed to keep moving.

The princess nodded, understanding the gist. "Yes, there's a place not far ahead where we can rest. I can create another barrier so you'll be able to rest without worry."

(Oh, that's useful!) Nova exchanged a glance with Anny. (We should follow. I also want to test out a spell to communicate, but it will need some tinkering.)

(I'll follow along. But we need to make a plan for fights in the future,) Anny replied firmly. (She needs to be able to protect herself, at least.)

Nova nodded, then gestured for the princess to lead the way again. She did so with noticeably less enthusiasm than before. Her earlier excitement had clearly been dimmed by the fight.

'I think it's time to use the remaining souls. The only question is if I should use them on the Regis fragment or on my own soul. Dividing them on both could work, but it would reduce the gain in power in exchange for a better time limit… I'll have to discuss it with Anny.'

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