Nate looked at Mermadonna.
"So... you don't actually have all the power in the clan?"
Mermadonna smiled.
"I am Queen."
"But I do not rule alone."
She folded her hands together.
"Unlike many of the other Yokai Clans, the Ningyo Kingdom is governed through several great houses."
She glanced toward Mermother.
"My great-grandmother—Lady Marma—believed placing every decision in the hands of a single ruler was dangerous."
Mermother sighed.
"...That sounds exactly like my daughter."
A nostalgic smile appeared on her face.
"Always worrying about what would happen after she was gone."
Mermadonna nodded.
"So she divided authority among her most trusted allies."
"Those allies founded the Great Houses."
She began counting on her fingers.
"The Seto Family became one of the kingdom's noble houses."
"Several military commanders formed the Council of Elders."
"The scholars became the Royal Archives."
"And the priestesses oversee our ancient traditions."
"The Queen guides the kingdom..."
"...but major decisions require the agreement of the Council."
Nate slowly nodded.
"So it's a shared government."
"Not an absolute monarchy."
"Exactly."
Lily smiled.
"Honestly..."
"That's a fairly stable system."
Aaron nodded in agreement.
"It prevents one bad ruler from destroying the kingdom."
Ryūjin chuckled.
"It also means every important decision involves far more paperwork."
Whisper dramatically gasped.
"The true enemy of every nation..."
"...bureaucracy."
Everyone laughed.
Hailey leaned toward Fumika and whispered quietly,
"So..."
"They're basically eternal virgins."
Fumika blinked.
"...What?"
Hailey pointed toward the elders Mermadonna had mentioned.
"They're called Elders."
"Elder..."
"Eternal..."
She shrugged.
"I almost had a joke."
Fumika pinched the bridge of her nose.
"...You reached for comedy..."
"...and missed by an entire ocean."
Emma quietly giggled.
Even Moka covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Nate looked at Hailey.
"...You know..."
"...I'm actually impressed."
Hailey brightened.
"Really?"
"You managed to make a joke so bad..."
"...that it physically hurt Whisper."
Everyone turned.
Whisper was clutching his chest dramatically.
"My soul..."
"It has taken critical damage."
Even Mermadonna couldn't suppress a laugh.
"...Perhaps..."
"...this council meeting won't be as stressful as I expected."
Mermother smiled at her descendant.
"I certainly hope not."
Because while the Royal Council would decide the future of the Ningyo...
For the first time in centuries...
The palace echoed with laughter instead of worry.
The royal guards saluted.
"At once, Your Majesty."
One by one, they departed the throne room, swimming through the palace corridors to summon the members of the Royal Council.
The massive doors slowly closed behind them.
Only the royal family and Nate's group remained.
Kunou walked over to Nate.
Without hesitation, she slipped her hand into his.
"So..."
She smiled at him.
"What's the plan, Husband?"
Nate smiled back, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
"I'll do something we haven't really had to do before."
Kunou tilted her head.
"And that is?"
Nate took a slow breath.
"...Politics."
Hailey immediately groaned.
"Oh no."
Fumika looked at her.
"What?"
Hailey pointed at Nate.
"Every time he says something calmly, history changes."
Emma nodded.
"That... seems to be a pattern."
Whisper floated over, stroking his imaginary beard.
"Indeed."
"Normally Master Nate solves problems by fighting, making friends, or accidentally causing miracles."
"This is the first time he'll have to convince an entire government."
Nate shrugged.
"I can't exactly challenge parliament to a duel."
Ryūjin chuckled, a deep rumble echoing through the hall.
"That would certainly be entertaining."
Mermadonna smiled.
"The Council is made up of proud people."
"Some value tradition."
"Some value military strength."
"Others care only for the prosperity of the kingdom."
She looked directly at Nate.
"If you wish to unite the Ningyo with the United Yokai Clans..."
"You will need to convince all of them."
Nate nodded.
"Then that's what I'll do."
He looked around the throne room.
"I'm not here to conquer anyone."
"I'm not here to force a treaty."
"I'm here to offer a future."
Mermother smiled proudly.
"That's exactly what a king should say."
Lily folded her arms.
"Remember, Nate."
"You aren't negotiating as just yourself."
She gestured toward Kunou.
"You and Kunou represent every Yokai Clan that has already joined your alliance."
Aaron nodded.
"Every word you say reflects on them."
Kunou squeezed Nate's hand again.
"We'll face the Council together."
Nate smiled.
"Together."
Far outside the throne room, the sound of conch-shell horns echoed throughout the Dragon Palace.
One by one, members of the Royal Council began making their way toward the Hall of Tides.
The debate that would decide the Ningyo Clan's future...
Was about to begin.
The great doors of the Dragon Palace opened once more.
One by one, the members of the Royal Council entered.
The Hall of Tides slowly filled with the kingdom's most influential figures.
Military elders.
Representatives of the Great Houses.
Priestesses.
Scholars.
And finally...
A woman with long light brown hair tied into a ponytail, dressed in an elegant kimono with the confidence of both a noble and the daughter of a yakuza family.
Sun Seto.
She walked beside the other council members with calm confidence.
Sun looked toward the throne and bowed.
"You called for us, my Queen."
Mermadonna nodded.
"I did."
She gestured toward the seats surrounding the circular council table.
"Please, everyone, take your seats."
One by one, the council obeyed.
Chairs slid across polished shellstone.
Papers were placed neatly on the table.
Sun was about to sit...
...when something caught her eye.
She froze.
"..."
She slowly turned her head.
Her eyes locked onto a familiar face.
Brown hair.
Kind smile.
A face she hadn't seen in years.
"...Lily?"
The room became quiet.
Lily looked up from her tea.
She blinked once.
Then smiled warmly.
"Sunny."
Sun's eyes widened.
"...It really is you."
She forgot all royal etiquette.
Forgot the meeting.
Forgot the Queen.
She hurried across the room.
"Lily!"
Lily stood just in time for Sun to pull her into a hug.
"It's been forever!"
Lily laughed, returning the hug.
"It really has."
Aaron chuckled.
"Looks like someone found an old friend."
Sun stepped back, still smiling in disbelief.
"I thought you disappeared after becoming the Seer."
Lily shrugged.
"Life got busy."
She placed a hand on Nate's shoulder.
"Marriage."
"A son."
"Saving the world every now and then."
Sun blinked.
"...That last part sounded strangely casual."
Nate coughed.
"It kind of is around our house."
Sun finally looked at Nate properly.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Wait."
She looked back at Lily.
"...Don't tell me..."
She pointed at Nate.
"He's your son?"
Lily smiled proudly.
"He is."
Sun looked Nate up and down.
Then laughed.
"So this is the famous Yokai King."
She folded her arms.
"I've heard plenty about you."
Nate smiled awkwardly.
"I hope most of it was good."
Sun grinned.
"Depends who you ask."
She glanced at Mermadonna.
"Though..."
She looked back at Lily.
"I wasn't expecting my old high school friend..."
"...to walk into the Royal Council with the Child of Prophecy."
Whisper floated over and whispered to Hailey,
"Master Nate has once again accidentally unlocked a hidden NPC relationship."
Hailey sighed.
"...I'm not even surprised anymore."
Sun finally let go of Lily and took a deep breath.
"...Well."
She straightened her kimono.
"I suppose we can catch up after the meeting."
Lily nodded with a smile.
"I'd like that."
Sun returned to her seat, though she kept glancing at Lily every few moments.
The rest of the council had watched the exchange in silence.
One elderly Ningyo stroked his beard.
"...You know Lady Adams?"
Sun answered matter-of-factly.
"Know her?"
"We went to high school together."
A few council members blinked.
Another elder frowned.
"The former Seer... attended a normal high school?"
Lily shrugged.
"I wanted a normal life before destiny ruined that."
A few quiet chuckles spread through the room.
Mermadonna lightly tapped the arm of her throne.
The room settled.
"Now that everyone is present..."
She looked around the circular table.
"There are two matters to discuss today."
"The first..."
She gestured toward Mermother.
"...concerns the return of someone our history believed lost."
The council members looked toward Mermother.
Some were skeptical.
Others curious.
Sun simply stared.
"...She really does look exactly like the paintings."
Mermadonna continued.
"Captain Zazin has already confirmed her identity through the First Sea Gate."
"Ryūjin himself recognized the ancient royal authority."
"And..."
She smiled softly.
"...I recognize her as my great-grandmother."
A murmur spread through the chamber.
One noble whispered,
"So... the founder truly lives..."
An elderly priestess lowered her head.
"The Sea has blessed us..."
Mermother stood and gave a small bow.
"I apologize for appearing so suddenly."
"I never intended to cause such a commotion."
One elder smiled.
"Your Majesty..."
"You've caused the happiest commotion this kingdom has seen in centuries."
The atmosphere relaxed.
Mermadonna nodded.
"Which brings us to the second matter."
She turned toward Nate and Kunou.
"Our guests."
"The Yokai King."
"And the Yokai Queen."
Every member of the council focused on the young couple.
Some examined Nate with curiosity.
Others studied Kunou.
One military elder crossed his arms.
"So..."
"These are the rulers uniting the Yokai Clans."
Nate met his gaze calmly.
"They are."
The elder raised an eyebrow.
"You speak confidently."
Nate smiled faintly.
"I have to."
"If a king lacks confidence..."
"Why should anyone follow him?"
The elder gave a small, approving grunt.
Mermadonna folded her hands.
"King Nate."
"The floor is yours."
"You may present your proposal to the Royal Council of Ryūgū."
The chamber fell completely silent.
Every noble.
Every elder.
Every commander.
Every scholar.
Even Ryūjin watched with interest.
Nate took one step forward.
He looked around the room before speaking.
"I'm not here to ask the Ningyo Clan to submit."
"I'm here to ask if you'll stand beside us."
He paused.
"Because the world is changing."
"And I would rather see the Yokai face that future together..."
"...than one clan at a time."
One of the clan leaders leaned forward.
An older Ningyo with sea-green hair and robes embroidered with coral.
"How does this affect us?"
His tone wasn't hostile.
Just cautious.
Nate nodded.
"A fair question."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"We all know the Ningyo Clan is less of a clan and more of an independent kingdom."
He looked around the council.
"And from what I've learned..."
"The droughts that strike parts of Japan every decade..."
"...aren't entirely natural."
Several council members exchanged glances.
Sun Seto spoke up.
"Once every ten years."
She folded her arms.
"Scientists believe they're caused by geological and climate cycles."
She smiled slightly.
"They're half right."
"The other half..."
"Our Rain Spirits stop bringing rain."
A few council members nodded.
It wasn't a secret within the Ningyo Kingdom.
Nate nodded.
"I'm guessing that's meant to teach anyone who provokes your kingdom a lesson."
Sun answered honestly.
"Correct."
"If another faction attacks us, breaks an agreement, or threatens our waters..."
"We remind them that everyone depends on water."
One of the military elders snorted.
"A lesson that never seems to stick."
Several council members chuckled.
Nate sighed.
"And that's exactly my point."
The room quieted.
He continued.
"If every clan keeps solving problems by hurting everyone around them..."
"Then nothing changes."
He gestured toward the council.
"The drought hurts innocent farmers."
"It hurts children."
"It hurts families who have no idea the supernatural world even exists."
"They don't know why their crops fail."
"They just know they're hungry."
Silence filled the chamber.
Nate looked directly at the military elder.
"I'm not saying the Ningyo shouldn't defend themselves."
"They absolutely should."
"But if the Yokai Clans are united..."
He pointed around the room.
"...then disputes don't have to become disasters."
"We settle them around a table."
"Not by making thousands of innocent people suffer."
Even the elder who had spoken earlier remained quiet.
Ryūjin watched Nate carefully.
The Sea God smiled faintly.
"...Interesting."
Mermadonna noticed several council members thinking rather than arguing.
Exactly what she had hoped for.
Sun Seto rested her chin on her hand.
"So your proposal isn't simply military."
"It's political."
"It's economic."
"And it's humanitarian."
Nate nodded.
"Exactly."
"I don't want a united Yokai nation because it's stronger."
"I want it because strength should mean fewer people have to suffer."
The chamber fell silent once again.
This time...
Not because they disagreed.
But because they were considering the possibility that the young Yokai King had a point.
Nate let the silence linger for a few seconds.
Then he asked a question.
"May I ask something?"
Mermadonna nodded.
"Go ahead."
Nate looked around the council.
"How old is the Ningyo Kingdom?"
One of the historians answered.
"Our records place the modern kingdom at over a thousand years."
Nate nodded.
"I thought so."
He folded his arms.
"Then let me ask another question."
"How many pure-blood Ningyo are actually left?"
The room became noticeably quieter.
Several nobles looked at one another.
Sun Seto raised an eyebrow.
"...Where are you going with this?"
Nate continued.
"A thousand years is a very long time."
"People fall in love."
"They marry."
"They have children."
He looked around the chamber.
"I'd be willing to bet this kingdom isn't made entirely of pure Ningyo anymore."
One elder slowly nodded.
"...No."
"It isn't."
Another council member spoke.
"We have families with Dragon ancestry."
"Others married Kappa."
"There are Shark Yokai."
"Sea Snake Yokai."
"Even Human blood appears every few generations."
Nate smiled.
"So..."
"What are they?"
The council looked confused.
"They're Ningyo."
Nate shook his head.
"No."
"They're hybrids."
Silence.
He continued.
"My mother explained something to me years ago."
"A hybrid isn't someone who's half of something."
"It's someone who belongs to more than one family."
He looked directly at the council.
"And that's a strength."
Lily smiled.
She knew exactly where Nate was going.
Nate continued.
"The Yokai Clans keep acting like they're separate species."
"But history says otherwise."
He gestured around the room.
"Your kingdom is living proof."
"After a thousand years..."
"You aren't just Ningyo anymore."
"You're a kingdom built from countless Yokai bloodlines."
Sun slowly nodded.
"...He's right."
The historian opened one of the ancient records.
"...The Seto Family itself has Dragon ancestry."
Another elder added,
"The Eastern House carries Leviathan blood."
A priestess smiled.
"The Royal Family has intermarried with several sea-related Yokai over the centuries."
Nate spread his hands.
"So why pretend those connections don't exist?"
"If Yokai have been mixing for centuries..."
"Then why are the clans still pretending they're completely separate?"
The military elder frowned thoughtfully.
"...I've never looked at it that way."
Nate nodded.
"The clans aren't strangers."
"They're cousins."
"The only difference is..."
"...everyone forgot the family reunion."
A few laughs spread through the chamber.
Even Ryūjin let out a low chuckle.
"An amusing comparison."
"But not an inaccurate one."
Nate smiled.
"My dream isn't to erase the clans."
"The Ningyo should stay the Ningyo."
"The Kitsune should stay the Kitsune."
"The Oni should stay the Oni."
"I'm not asking anyone to abandon their culture."
"I'm asking everyone to remember..."
He looked around the entire council.
"...that we've never truly been separate."
"We've just spent centuries acting like we were."
The Hall of Tides fell silent once more.
This time, even the most skeptical elders couldn't immediately argue.
Because every family in the room...
Could trace at least one ancestor to another Yokai clan.
To be continue
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