"Oh? So a completed soul is all it takes to restore your original size." Jax's nod was terse, his thumb rising in curt approval.
Right now, Nerissa was back to her size. Her frame now aligned with Jax's, exuding a presence infused with a ripened allure. The uniqueness of her dark beauty was simply flawless.
"..." Nerissa didn't reply. Or more precisely, she couldn't. She was too conflicted to react, her eyes locked on Jax with a tangle of emotions.
She also noticed her size had reverted when her fragmented soul merged with her. Inspecting her body, she couldn't find anything amiss anymore.
Right, she'd almost forgotten. There was still one more thing she was missing. And that was her physical body. Right now, her soul resided within the Deep Sea Black Pearl, ensnared in the unsettling truth.
But what else could she do? She'd just gotten a favor from Jax, asking for another one so soon would be kinda pushy, right? Maybe she should play it cool and wait for the right moment?
''I can't do anything with your body. It's left in the Forbidden Land with that savage Royal Knight.'' Jax's words cut through Nerissa's thoughts, his sigh weighting his statement with exasperated resignation, like he was anticipating her next move.
''You mean...'' Nerissa was about to ask, but her words died on her lips as Jax interrupted.
''Yes, you are rescued by a Royal Knight. We almost died back there you know.'' Jax's sigh lingered, a guess slipped out, ''I'm sure your physical body's in good hands with that savage woman.''
''Alright, let's forget about it and let's go,'' Jax flashed a carefree smile. He strolled off, like he'd forgotten he just handed Nerissa her soul back.
''Hurry up and lower your guard. Open your heart to me now!'' Jax thought, his carefree smile morphing into a sly, hungry grin now that Nerissa wasn't looking.
Of course, nothing was free in this world. The price she'd pay back could only be her loyalty.
Nerissa's gaze lingered on Jax's back, her emotions persistently tangled. Unanswered doubts and bewilderment lingered, her mind stubbornly craving clarity.
Still, she obeyed his order to follow him, bracing herself for what was to come. She just planned to ask him later when circumstance permitted.
But before she complied, a jarring thought intruded upon her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, mentally steeling herself for another transformation.
With deliberate grace, the scales on her lower body began to fade, her fishtail dissolving into legs.
But this time, her fishtail gave way to slender, supple human legs, untainted by monstrous form. A whirl of water ensouled her, crystallizing into a flowing white dress with delicate lace hems and a bodice that shimmered like morning dew.
This form of hers was her greatest loathing. She turned as fragile as a human, her bond with the sea also severed. Consequently, her grasp on water's power waned, dwindling to a mere trickle.
She wouldn't dare transform this way if there wasn't someone to guard her. However, as much as she hated to admit it, she was a human Familiar now, not a mermaid princess.
Since that was the case, she might as well look the part. Flaunting her mermaid looks would just rub salt in her wounded pride as a princess.
As for her safety... Well, she'd leave all that to Jax, her master. He better keep her safe!
Without catching Jax's attention, Nerissa drifted down silently, her bare feet barely grazing the ground.
She trailed behind Jax without ranting, silent for a few more moments, before finally muttering, ''Don't get it wrong, Jax. I still abhor you.''
Of course, her disdain for humans ran deep, especially to Jax who'd abducted her. The world could flip upside down, but her hatred wouldn't budge.
She only followed willingly and without a fuss because...
"..." For a good while, Nerissa pondered deep. But her face fell into a pretty frown, scratching her head as she drew a blank expression.
"Hehe, success," Jax celebrated inwardly, not daring to look back, his grin plastered all over his face. He took Nerissa's calm response as a big win for his plan.
On top of that, instead of "Bastard", she now called him by his real name. How could he not be happy? This girl had definitely been tamed by him!
"Ha ha ha," the more Jax thought about it, the more his excitement grew palpable. But it seemed like he couldn't suppress it anymore as he finally let out his signature maniacal laugh.
The one he always did whenever he was in a good mood.
"Tch, disgusting. How very human of you," Nerissa rolled her eyes to look away, her revulsion evident. Though she trailed behind Jax, her reaction betrayed her.
But a few meters of walking proved too little, as she collided with something solid. Annoyed, she snapped her head up, and her gaze met Jax's back. A dark expression clouded her beautiful face.
''What are you doing now?!'' Nerissa spat coldly, her anger simmering barely beneath the surface. If only she could, she would've pinched Jax to the side.
''Look who it is. Isn't this our long-lost kid? As expected, you really are not dead yet.''
However, instead of Jax, Nerissa was answered by another voice. That left Nerissa reeling with curiosity and questions.
She looked over Jax's shoulder, only to find several humans, a group of about fifteen people, approaching. One of them, the one standing at the forefront, even looked eerily familiar.
"Right, I remember now." With a dawning realization, Nerissa muttered inwardly. Wasn't he the same bastard who'd run away earlier?
''Eliseo...'' Jax muttered, the word escaping him like a barely-contained curse. His face was serene, but his sharp eyes betrayed his simmering rage.
Memories of the past came crashing back. It was then that this bastard before him had abused his silence, doing whatever it took to further his own leverage.
The mere thought of it sent Jax's hands balling into tight fists.
"What's this? You even brought a girl with you?" Eliseo's gaze flicked to the figure behind Jax, his tone laced with surprise. Then his eyes locked onto her breathtaking beauty, her presence momentarily rendering him speechless.
As a bulb of light went off above Eliseo's head, a wide grin spread across his lips. "Ah, now I know," he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "You must've ditched your fiancée to find another girl. No wonder you suddenly disappeared for too long."
"You cheating bastard. To think you still have the guts to cheat when you're this ugly!"
"What the hell are you spouting?" Jax retorted coldly, his tone was an icy foil to the turmoil brewing within. The accusation itself was laughable. After all, he had been the one cheated on.
And what did he mean by "too long"? He'd only disappeared for two weeks. That wasn't enough for someone to miss him this much. No one would be concerned about him since there was no one else who had a good relationship with him.
Even if he disappeared, no one would care or notice.
It wasn't as if he still had Len Len to remember him.
However, this guy had spoken as if he'd disappeared for a month or two. The absurdity of it all was laughable, this bastard must've lost his mind.
And also, what girl was he even talking about? He hadn't brought anyone with him.
Curious about the accusation, Jax turned to glance behind him, but the gesture only sparked more confusion. Ten question marks might as well have floated above his head.
Jax frowned, still trying to piece things together. A nagging question escaped his lips, "Who the hell are you?"
"You..." Nerissa forced out a smile, the twitching of her lips betraying her irritation. Ironically, the gesture only accentuated her allure in her frustration. What was wrong with this guy now? Had he already forgotten her that quick?
"Stop joking, Jax. Just hurry up and deal with them. I'm at my weakest in this human form. I can't help you." Nerissa's words came out impatient, her forced smile still plastered on.
"What do you mean by... What the?!" Jax's face contorted in shock as comprehension dawned. His gaze locked on Nerissa, his eyes widening in incredulous disbelief. "Don't tell me... you're Nerissa in the human flesh?!"
Sapak!
To Jax's dismay, his question was met with a resounding brutal slap. Not from the gorgeous lady before him, but from someone else entirely.
Nerissa's eyes widened in shock, her slender hands flying to cover her mouth as she breathed, "That was one loud slap!"
''How dare you ignore me when I am talking nicely to you? It seems like you've forgotten your place.''
Five seconds after the resounding slap, a haughty voice sounded as Eliseo finally made his move. He turned to the lady behind Jax, a condescending gaze raking over her before he spoke again.
"Hi there, beautiful lady. Stay away from this weakling and come to me instead. You will regret tangling with this cheating bastard."
Eliseo's arrogance blinded him to his own reflection, his hideous appearance a stark contrast to his haughty demeanor.
Jax's face clouded with anger and familiarity. Memories he'd rather forget resurfaced, and his hand instinctively rose to touch the stinging cheek. His chest expanded with a slow, deliberate breath.
Damn. Jax's hands trembled violently. His heart thundered in his chest with a ferocity he could hear right inside his head.
''This is so fuckingly wild,'' Jax muttered, his voice low and rough. How could he not feel this excited? After so many restraints, he could finally beat the shit out of this guy!!!
A maniacal grin finally twisted his lips.