"Yes," he answered her question about the Merfolk city first, bringing his gaze back to the petite Ancient. "Airbreathers are welcome there now. Though we ask that you harvest manta crystals responsibly." Given the shape of the current King, his protectiveness of the gentle creatures that moved between land and sea was hopefully understandable. "And no more or less than the Merfolk," he added in response to her reflection. "The sea is vaster than the land. And filled with as many dangers and wonders." Quite a few Mer lived outside the City or off the coasts of other regions, keeping to themselves but nevertheless present.
And in the shattering of the continent since the War there were many more land-adjacent places that Merfolk could visit even without a human shift.
For the most part he sat still while they spoke, relaxed and at rest without the need to fidget or expend unnecessary energy. He moved his head occasionally to study the Temple's decorations or look back to Maea, and at her statement he inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Mmh. The skyships make it easier." As evidenced by how much harder it had been to get to and from the coastal region while the skyport was under repair.
As for how the Grounds might compare, Hadama had no frame of reference, having missed the trauma of the Barrier and the expansion of the Voice's portal system that followed its fall.
There was no sparkle of mischief in his eyes as he considered Rae. If anything, the Tidebreaker's stoic expression became even more solemn. He did not seem to mind Maea's questions, but he considered his own words with slow care, and spoke with equal gravitas, unhurried as he answered. "They are... unique," he said at last. "One god in two bodies. Separate but joined. Intimidating. And distant." In a way that Safrin had never been. He had been uncertain that they would help at all, but... "Possessive of what they saw as theirs. This world's creatures. Their territory. They agreed to help us create a ward around Haulani. To keep the void-touched at bay." He paused before adding: "They healed a wound that one of the void creatures made. Mastered healing had not been able to help it." Only the power of the Great Gods - presumably including Dygra - could do that, it would seem.
It did not bode well for Caido's near future.
And in the shattering of the continent since the War there were many more land-adjacent places that Merfolk could visit even without a human shift.
For the most part he sat still while they spoke, relaxed and at rest without the need to fidget or expend unnecessary energy. He moved his head occasionally to study the Temple's decorations or look back to Maea, and at her statement he inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Mmh. The skyships make it easier." As evidenced by how much harder it had been to get to and from the coastal region while the skyport was under repair.
As for how the Grounds might compare, Hadama had no frame of reference, having missed the trauma of the Barrier and the expansion of the Voice's portal system that followed its fall.
There was no sparkle of mischief in his eyes as he considered Rae. If anything, the Tidebreaker's stoic expression became even more solemn. He did not seem to mind Maea's questions, but he considered his own words with slow care, and spoke with equal gravitas, unhurried as he answered. "They are... unique," he said at last. "One god in two bodies. Separate but joined. Intimidating. And distant." In a way that Safrin had never been. He had been uncertain that they would help at all, but... "Possessive of what they saw as theirs. This world's creatures. Their territory. They agreed to help us create a ward around Haulani. To keep the void-touched at bay." He paused before adding: "They healed a wound that one of the void creatures made. Mastered healing had not been able to help it." Only the power of the Great Gods - presumably including Dygra - could do that, it would seem.
It did not bode well for Caido's near future.
