A few minutes later they emerged from the ocean and arrived at a beach along the coast of Morocco.
The tourists scattered across the shoreline immediately began staring. It was hardly surprising.
One woman was wearing a green bodysuit, another was dressed like a giant bat, and all four of them had just casually walked out of the ocean as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Several people pulled out their phones, debating whether they were looking at a movie production or extremely dedicated cosplayers.
Daniel ignored the attention. He snapped his fingers and the water covering his body evaporated instantly. "Now that's better," he said while stretching his shoulders.
He turned toward Bruce. "Do you need some help? That suit has to be uncomfortable after all that time underwater."
Bruce glanced at him. "No need." The suit was designed to function under far harsher conditions than this.
Daniel shrugged. "Suit yourself."
His gaze shifted toward Mera. Her royal Atlantean attire was striking enough to draw attention even without the bright colors and unusual design.
"You definitely need a change of clothes. That outfit attracts far too much attention."
Mera looked down at herself and nodded. They were on the surface now, and blending in would make their task significantly easier.
"Agreed. It would be better if we dressed like surface dwellers."
Arthur looked at his own clothes and grinned. "Looks like I'm the only normal one here."
The others turned toward him. Arthur was standing barefoot on a Moroccan beach carrying an Atlantean trident that looked like an oversized fork, claiming to look normal.
The silence lasted several seconds.
Bruce spoke first. "No."
***
Inside one of the largest shopping malls in Morocco, Bruce had already left to arrange transportation for the journey into the Sahara. Arthur had disappeared the moment he spotted a food court, leaving Daniel as the unfortunate person assigned to accompany Mera while she shopped.
Daniel sat outside a clothing store scrolling through his phone while Mera examined what felt like the hundredth rack of clothes.
"Why do surface dwellers have such terrible fashion sense?"
Daniel looked up. "Why are you asking me? Men are simple creatures — shirts, pants, maybe a jacket if we're feeling creative. Women's fashion is an entirely different mystery."
Mera stepped out wearing a different outfit and looked down at herself critically. "This outfit has holes in it."
"They call that fashion."
"It looks damaged."
"That's exactly why you shouldn't ask me." Daniel shrugged.
Mera rolled her eyes and disappeared back into the changing room. A few minutes later her voice came again, this time without the earlier annoyance.
"Not only is your fashion questionable, but surface dwellers treat their world terribly. Your factories poison the air, your ships contaminate the oceans, and your people exploit nature without considering the consequences."
Daniel had expected that. It was a common opinion among the sea kingdoms, and not an unreasonable one. "You're not wrong."
The changing room curtain shifted. Mera poked her head out, bright red hair spilling over one shoulder. "You agree?"
"Of course I agree."
She blinked. Most surface dwellers became defensive when confronted with this — listing excuses or claiming other's had no right to judge. Daniel had done neither.
"You don't seem very bothered by that accusation."
"Because it's true. Humanity has damaged the environment plenty of times."
Mera stepped a little farther out, studying him carefully. "What about all the excuses surface leaders usually make?"
Daniel sighed.
"There are explanations. That doesn't mean they're excuses. Most people want clean oceans and clean air. The problem is that modern civilization wasn't built overnight. "
"Billions of people depend on industries, transportation, power generation, and agriculture. Changing everything isn't as simple as flipping a switch."
"If every factory vanished tomorrow, pollution would decrease — and millions would lose their jobs. Food production would collapse in some regions. Entire economies would fall apart."
Mera listened quietly, then leaned slightly against the doorframe. "So the problem is more complicated than it appears."
"Much more complicated."
She was silent for several moments. For all her frustrations with surface dwellers, Daniel's answer felt refreshingly honest. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Anyway, I still think surface fashion is ridiculous."
Daniel grinned. "Now that is a debate I can support wholeheartedly."
The smile returned briefly before she disappeared back into the changing room.
Daniel glanced at the curtain and shook his head. "Definitely more dangerous than fighting Atlantean soldiers."
A shirt flew through the opening and hit him in the face.
Daniel pulled the shirt off his face and turned around, only for his phone to suddenly start ringing.
He glanced at the screen and saw Elizabeth's name. A small smile appeared as he answered.
"Hello, my dear."
"Where were you last night?" Elizabeth asked without any greeting.
Daniel instantly recognized the dangerous tone. "Dear, jealousy makes a woman ugly."
A brief silence. Then another voice came through.
"Are you with another woman?"
"Diana?" He made the immediate and wise decision not to mention that he was currently accompanying a beautiful red-haired princess through a shopping mall in Morocco.
Some information was simply better left undisclosed. "I thought the three of you were supposed to be working."
"Oh, so now you're changing the subject?" Diana asked.
"What? No. I'm just surprised to hear your voice."
"Daniel."
"Yes?"
"Are you with another woman?"
Daniel glanced toward the changing room where Mera was still trying on clothes, then looked back at the phone. His survival instincts kicked in immediately.
"Oh wow, the signal is pretty bad over here."
"Daniel—"
"Hello? Hello? I can't hear you."
"Don't you dare—"
"The connection is terrible."
"Daniel!"
"Bye. Love you all."
He ended the call before either woman could say another word and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
A moment later Mera stepped out of the changing room and noticed his expression. "What happened?"
Daniel rubbed his forehead. "I just narrowly escaped a disaster."
*****
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