?Everyone smiled back at him, but Nefertiti was the first to talk. ”What happened to you? Who was the person that attacked you?”

Archer glanced at the pink-haired girl before looking at the others as he explained. ”Her name is Raven Moore, she’s a princess from the Astoria Continent, which is controlled by a powerful empire.”

Once he finished speaking, they all sighed before placing bets among themselves, which amused Archer as he asked. ”What are you lot doing?”

Ella turned to him with a sweet smile. ”We’re having a bet to see if you end up with this new princess.”

Archer pretended to be offended but was amused. ”Why does everyone think I collect princesses? I don’t!”

”How do you explain two of us then, ay?” Talila commented with a smug grin.

He looked at the mixed elf with narrowed eyes. ”Shut up, Tali. You didn’t know you were a princess until I helped your parents.”

The silver-haired girl giggled at his reaction, causing Archer to smile while turning to Sera, who was bouncing around. ”And you, Sera. I never knew you were a princess.” .𝒎

”But we are and can’t help that. ”Sera retorted with a smile.

Archer just shook his head. ”Well, it doesn’t matter. People think it, and I might as well lean into it and collect Princesses from all over Thrylos.”

After speaking, he felt someone smack his arm to see Nefertiti staring at him with a look of jealousy, causing him to laugh. ”Don’t worry, my succubus. I don’t plan to pluck all those different flowers for the fun of it. I have to like the specific one before I take notice.”

The pink-haired girl nodded with a smile before Llyniel commented as she was looking out the window. ”We will arrive at Greenwood City tomorrow morning, so we should relax until then.”

Archer smiled when hearing the elf but agreed with her. Soon enough, the girls spread out in the room and lazed around while chitchatting. He pulled Llyniel onto his lap, causing her to go red, which he found adorable.

He leaned into her ear and whispered. ”I’ve seen you naked, Llyn. Why do you still get embarrassed?”

She didn’t know what to say but soon got distracted again as Archer’s hands roamed over her slender body. One hand grabbed her perky boob, and the other slid up her dress.

Once he arrived at her cave of wonders, he started to gently rub her, causing pleasure to run through her body, forcing Llyniel to put her hand over her mouth so noise could be heard.

”Get a room, you two! I didn’t know you were so naughty, Lly.” Teuila commented with a smirk.

The wood elf leaped to her feet, her voice quivering as she protested, “I’m not naughty! It’s his hands that are the real troublemakers! And who are you to judge me, Teu? I’ve seen you eye him up like a starving wolf eyeing a juicy steak!”

The blue-haired girl giggled before answering. ”So what? He’s my husband. Can’t I find him attractive?”

Llyniel nodded in agreement and stopped speaking as she sat on one of the empty chairs. The group laughed some more before continuing to banter until they were summoned back to the hall once the headmistress had arrived after some rest.

Archer and the girls entered the corridors as students poured out of their rooms. Some of them spotted him and gawked while gossiping with their friends.

When Leira saw this, she locked her arm with his and commented with a cute smile. ”Seems you’re the talk of the ship husband. I do hope you’re okay now.”

He nodded. ”I’m fine. Need some sleep, but that’s about it.”

She smiled as the group entered the hall and saw the headmistress standing on the stage, waiting for everyone to sit. When they arrived, Lioran, Cian, and Alaric called him over while the girls joined Leonora, Nalika, and Cassie.

The grand hall’s atmosphere hummed with anticipation as they settled into their seats. Seats had been arranged in neat rows, and the air was filled with the excited chatter of students.

As the rest of the students filed in and took their seats. Ophelia stepped onto the stage, her presence commanding attention.

She began, her voice carrying through the hall. “Good morning, my students. As you know, the Qualification Round for the Arcane Magic Tournament is fast approaching.”

The students murmured excitedly, eager to prove themselves in the prestigious event. Ophelia continued talking. “To determine which group you will be placed in for it. We will be holding a series of fights.”

“The names of the groups are as follows: Light, Darkness, Fire, Water, Earth, Thunder, and Cosmos. You will be assigned to a group based on your fight performance. Those who show skill will earn their place among the elite.” She finished speaking and waited for the information to sink in.

The students listened intently as some got excited and started whispering to each other while Archer was getting excited due to finally being able to fight.

After the chatter subsided, Ophelia’s voice, infused with mana, boomed through the hall. “Quiet down! But there’s more. The winners of the tournament will receive extraordinary prizes, generously donated by the attending royal families. Rumor has it that coveted items like Mermaid Tears and other elusive treasures.”

When hearing that, he looked straight at Teuila, who felt his gaze and smiled. ”They are used to strengthen your body. Taking them breaks your body down before rebuilding it so it’s stronger.”

”How did they get it?” Archer asked.

Teuila shrugged. ”The King Kraken used to produce them in the trenches, but he no longer sells them to outsiders due to greedy Tritons trying to steal some from his kingdom.”

Archer looked at the blue-haired girl with wide eyes before mumbling. ”King Kraken? Kingdom? There are such things in the sea?”

”Yes. Father has an alliance with the King, but they vanished and haven’t been seen for years.” She answered while moving closer due to Halime letting her have her seat.

His curiosity piqued, he inquired, “What are the beasts that inhabit the sea?”

Teuila replied matter-of-factly as if discussing the most ordinary of subjects. “Wild Krakens Arch. They are very aggressive and attack ships constantly, while the ones we know are intelligent, friendly, and love to trade.”

Archer nodded. ”Can I visit this Kraken kingdom? And do they have human forms?”

Teuila shook her head. ”Not possible. The queen collapsed the entrances to the deep sea to stop the Tritons sneaking in, and yes, they do.”

”What are these Tritons you keep mentioning? Are they wealthy?” Archer asked as his violet eyes shone.

She started laughing before answering. ”No, they are a backward race who trade with shells and wear seaweed for clothing. They love raiding our borders.”

”Do they come on land?”

Teuila smiled. ”No. They stick to the Mid-Rift.”

Archer’s brow raised. ”Mid-Rift?”

She nodded. ”The the Shallow Sea where our cities and town are. Then there’s the Mid-Rift, where the Tritons reside, and the Dark Trenches, where hundreds of different beasts kingdoms are.”

He was blown away and asked in an excited voice. ”So there’s a world below us?”

Teuila loved his reaction and found it adorable. She continued teaching him about her homeland. ”Yes. It’s the Hollow World. No one knows if it’s real, but the elders speak of it and have passed down stories.”

Once she finished speaking, Archer’s eyes glowed as he wanted to hear these stories. He grabbed Teuila’s hand and spoke to the others, who looked confused. ”I will be back soon.”

Halime asked in a curious voice. ”Where are you going?”

Archer smiled. ”Teuila just told me about the world under the sea. I’m getting her to tell me a story. If I miss anything, send me a message.”

They all nodded with happy expressions. After informing everyone, Archer teleported them back to the domain before opening a portal to a place he found years ago.The couple stepped through, and when Teuila saw the view, she was amazed. .

She stood on a piece of land that jutted out of the side of a massive mountain that pierced the sky. Teuila got close to the cliff’s edge, her blue eyes wide with wonder as she gazed at the wild sea below.

The sound of crashing waves echoed against the rugged rocks. The cliff overlooked a vast expanse of ocean, its surface churning with frothy whitecaps as the waves relentlessly battered against the shore.

Seabirds soared overhead, their cries mingling with the roar of the surf below. As Teuila looked down, she realized the cliff they stood upon was just a small outcropping from a mountain isolated from the world.

Teuila realized the ledge was spacious enough for a home, but she couldn’t comprehend how anyone could access it.

The cliff face was sheer, rising hundreds of meters high, and below, the sea churned with jagged rocks protruding from the water.

If there are any mistakes, point them out, and I’ll edit it. Thanks

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