"Just kidding,

" Syryn raised his bloody hand and waved it at the anti mage.

Rowan stopped mid move and put his hands on his waist, letting relief pour through him. He vowed that one of these days, he would take Syryn dry just to punish him for the heart attack he had given the blond.

Syryn was in the clear. There were only two more stingers on the table and one of them was loaded with toxin.

The mer guard knew that he was going to die. His gills fluttered erratically, taking in gulps of water as panic flooded his body. He didn't want to die this way.

"You know why I picked you, don't you?

" Syryn asked him while faintly smiling.

The mer guard would do anything to not have to play anymore. He nodded quickly, eyes pleading at Syryn.

Don'tletmedie

This guard had been the most malicious out of the others. He had stabbed Syryn, insulted him, and enjoyed watching the helpless mage fall into the abyss to drown. He remembered each slight against him very clearly.

"Do you regret it?

" He asked the desperate man.

"Yes, I regret it! I'm sorry! I was only following the orders I was given.

"

His orders had been to restrain Syryn. But the mer had gone above and beyond his duty.

"Well it's too late,

" Syryn replied without any pity.

"Go on, do it.

"

The mer guard turned around and swam to the king. He prostrated before the ruler and begged for his aid.

"Your majesty, please help me! I have a wife and children. They need me, please!

"

The king's eyes were frigid. He was unimpressed by the guard's pathetic behaviour.

"Your family will be taken of.

"

The king's cold words shocked the guard.

"Your majesty, please....

"

"Do my guards not have a spine?

" The king turned to an armoured mer who was in charge of training soldiers.

"To die for the kingdom is a glorious and noble duty.

"

The armoured guard prostrated by curling his tail and bowing his head down.

"I have failed, your majesty. Allow me to kill the mer who has disgraced his position and duty towards the kingdom!

"

The mer king turned away from the armoured guard and looked at the mer guard who was shaking before his mount, still bowing.

"As a last act of mercy for the duty you've rendered to the kingdom, I grant you a less painful death.

"

The guard raised his head, gritting his teeth. What painless death? He didn't want to die in the first place. Why did he have to replace the king in the mad game? Why did he torture Syryn? Why was he so unlucky? A flood of thoughts inundated his brain.

Screaming in anger, he pulled out his weapon and charged at Syryn. The mage stood still and watched the mer rush at him. There was no emotion on the human's face. Just as the sharp knife neared Syryn's throat, the mer guard was split in half from head to tail.

Several mers screamed in horror. It was too gory for the civilians and nobles who had never witnessed much violence in their cosy lives. The two parts of the deceased mer's body fell sideways, spilling out the creature's guts and internal organs that too had been cleanly sliced in between.

A ghost of a smile appeared on Syryn's face as he exchanged a look with Rowan. The anti mage was back on his boulder. He shook his head slightly in a reprimanding manner but his eyes were smiling. Syryn had trusted Rowan to protect him. Another gamble by the amnesiac.

"Saw that, your majesty?

" Syryn turned to the king whose face was wrought with cold anger. The humans just weren't giving him any face. Whatever they did or said was over the top and left a lasting impression on the mers. But his most immediate concern was the danger that the blond human posed to him. The mer king had no protection against such an invisible and swift attack. He would be none the wiser if the blond decided to make a move against him.

"I get to throw my weight around because my lover is powerful and handsome. Can your concubines save your life like that? Can they?

"

Syryn was all smiles as he thought about how he had lucked out with getting someone like Rowan. The man was too damn attractive when he killed for Syryn.

"You've made your point,

" the mer king relented. He was cautious with his arrogance now because he had seen with his own eyes just how terrible the human's powers were. When his guards had told him about how the noble mers had been split in half, he had taken the threat seriously. Then he became complacent when he saw that it was only two humans against their immense numbers. But now he knew the reality. The blond human could kill him without moving a finger.

"What do you want?

" He asked the mage.

Syryn's moment had come.

"I take what I want so there's no sense in asking me such a question. Ask me what your fate is, your majesty.

"

Syryn had a way of addressing the king by his royal title while sounding entirely disrespectful. It was as if he was addressing his junior, and not the king of Silisia.

The king's blood ran cold. He realised that Syryn wanted his life. Taking up his trident, the king dismounted and faced Syryn.

"If it is my kingdom that you want then face me like a warrior. This has always been the way of Silisia. Are you a challenger for the throne, Syryn?!

" He bellowed loudly so that all the mers could hear him.

The mer guards raised their weapons and shouted with the king. Their voices sounded like drums in the water.

The mage raised his hand and made a quieting motion towards the mers. Seeing his action, they began yelling even louder. Syryn shrugged and waited for them to quiet when they decided to.. It wasn't like he had anywhere to be despite what he had said to the previously alive guard.