A change, Hadama had offered her. Not with any expectation that it would lead to answers, but as a chance to step away from the fear and frustration of the fight in the Feverlands. To wash away the shame and despair that had followed. A place that was new to her, with no memories of near-death or pain, no crew or acquaintances that she would need to keep up appearances for.
A respite from the world she knew, and that knew her, at least for a little while. A chance to forget, and to wonder at the colors and myriad forms of the life beneath the ocean she sailed. An entire world that even now that it was open to landfolk, few airbreathers braved.
A safe haven, if only for a few hours or days.
The mermanta swam with a grace that was usually hidden on land by his slow, deliberate steps. Here, in the underwater city, he was literally in his element, moving with effortless elegance through the water. He nodded acknowledgment or greeting to many of those that they passed. He was not a King who inspired over-familiarity with his subjects, but there was respect from the people around them, and even a few greetings from those who had known him before he had taken the throne; mostly from merchants in jewelry or metalwork.
He looked back at Thalassa regularly, slowing when she needed more time to take in a view or rest from the constant swimming, or occasionally drawing her attention to a particularly notable piece of art or architecture, such as a living abstract sculpture made of coral grown painstakingly into a twisting helix over the course of decades.
A respite from the world she knew, and that knew her, at least for a little while. A chance to forget, and to wonder at the colors and myriad forms of the life beneath the ocean she sailed. An entire world that even now that it was open to landfolk, few airbreathers braved.
A safe haven, if only for a few hours or days.
The mermanta swam with a grace that was usually hidden on land by his slow, deliberate steps. Here, in the underwater city, he was literally in his element, moving with effortless elegance through the water. He nodded acknowledgment or greeting to many of those that they passed. He was not a King who inspired over-familiarity with his subjects, but there was respect from the people around them, and even a few greetings from those who had known him before he had taken the throne; mostly from merchants in jewelry or metalwork.
He looked back at Thalassa regularly, slowing when she needed more time to take in a view or rest from the constant swimming, or occasionally drawing her attention to a particularly notable piece of art or architecture, such as a living abstract sculpture made of coral grown painstakingly into a twisting helix over the course of decades.
