201 Ch. 201 'Saparate Ways'

That's why she didn't expect the drastic change between the two at all.

The daemon picked up the mermaid queen's hand and give a feather kiss on the smooth hand as if it was the most natural thing to do, and Merylin let him do it!?

"Niken, why do you look at us like that?" Flynn's question broke Niken's reveries, earning a head shake from Niken.

"It's nothing. I suppose I'm not used to it."

"Used to what?" Flynn and Merylin looked at each other questioningly before turning their attention back to Niken.

"When I first came back from the past, I saw Merylin as an evil spirit, then I met you. Your personality and character are so different from what I've experienced in the past. Then now, you and Merylin are back to normal." Niken looked straight at Flynn while the daemon gave a teasing smile. "But you still... different. I don't recognize you at all. Have you had a concussion?"

Merylin chuckled as she walked to hug Niken tightly.

"For your information, we actually have been in a relationship for a long time ago. But we decided to keep our relationship a secret."

"What?" Niken gasped in disbelief at what she had just heard. "Why?"

"Frankly speaking, my mother, the former queen of Mermaladia, against our relationship. The relationship between the two different species was unprecedented. That's why we kept our relationship secret and have a backstreet relationship."

"But there are many species that are married to different kinds. Ceryle married a tortoise shapeshifter, while the pureblood wizard married a mermaid. I have had no problem establishing relationships with other species."

"Yes. But unfortunately, relationships between different species were rare in the past. They even called it a taboo to make another kind as their spouse. That's why I'm so grateful everything change in a better way, so we can show our relationship in public. I just hope my mom is still alive so she can give us her blessings."

"I'm sure she will happy for you."

Once again, Merylin embraced Niken with feelings of gratitude for all the things that Niken had done for her.

Niken glanced at Flynn, who now smiled softly at her, making Niken realized something. Merylin's existence was the source of the daemon's life axis.

That's why Flynn let the devil inside his heart take over his mind in thought Merylin wouldn't come back.

That's the reason why Flynn wouldn't respond to her voice but reacted when Niken mentioned Merylin's name.

Ah, she never knew that Flynn had such deep feelings for Merylin to make him sane again and not get caught up in his murderous instinct.

"En. We're leaving for Beast country tomorrow morning."

"Can't you leave next week? We only just met for a week."

"Are you sure? I think I'll be a nuisance between you two if I linger here."

Merylin's cheeks blushed, "Ah, Niken. Stop teasing me." her complaint elicited an amused laugh from Niken.

"Don't worry, if someday you have a wedding party, I will definitely come."

Merylin choked on her own saliva when she heard the word 'marriage.'

"Uhm. Niken, do you know what marriage means to beings like us?"

"Is it different from what marriage means to humans?"

"A lot. On the day we consummate our marriage, that's our wedding day."

Niken's eyes widened at this. "What? There are no ceremonies or traditions to do?"

Merylin shook her head with a sullen face. "But after hearing your words, I think I want to try it."

"Trying what?"

"Throw a lively party to celebrate our wedding. It would be great fun if we did it our way."

"I totally agree. I'm looking forward to your invitation."

The two of them were still chatting for a few minutes before Flynn decided to approach them.

One of the mermaids planned to plant the prospective baby mermaid seeds into the incubator cave and wait for the queen's approval and blessing. 

Merylin must return to her palace to give her blessing by channeling her energy to the exact position of the seeds that will be planted by the mermaid.

Meanwhile, Flynn was waiting by the lake with Niken and chatting with the girl.

Every now and then, Flynn would glance at Kazuto, who was currently conversing with the current lord along with Zehell and others.

Niken was curious about the wary gaze that Flynn gives every time the daemon looked at her lover.

"What are you thinking?"

"Hm?"

"I don't know why, but it looks like you put up your defensive wall every time you got close to two Elementalist knights."

Flynn chuckled to hear Niken's guess, which was half right. He was indeed wary of the Elementalist knights but didn't put up a defensive wall like the girl claimed.

"Niken, I will only give you this one-time advice as a friend. I really don't know what kind of character or past he went through, and I know I have no right to say this, but I still want to tell you. Don't give the black knight your whole heart and soul."

"But, I already gave him my all."

"No, you haven't. Maybe you already gave him your heart, but not with your soul."

Niken cocked her head, wondering if there was a difference between giving a heart and giving a soul?

Well, it was quite different. Giving one heart, meaning that Niken has loved the man and that man was the light of her life. But giving a soul that means Kazuto's existence significantly affected her life.

Flynn already gave his heart and soul to Merylin so that when Merylin left this world, Flynn's heart and soul died with the mermaid princess.

Niken felt sure she had given her heart, but she was not sure she had given her soul to her lover. After all, she could endure, not seeing him for more than a week. Because of that, she did not know whether she had given all her heart and soul for that man.

Niken herself had no idea about the answer, but how did this daemon know?

"Why are you giving me advice like this?"

Flynn told her something she never expected to hear. Little did she know, this explanation of the daemon would stir her heart near in the future.

***

The next day, Niken and two Elementalist knights left for the west country. Zehell and his sister decided to go into seclusion because their existence was almost no longer welcome in this place.

Aqua returned home where her chosen master lives and waits for the master to accept her. On the other hand, Ceryle and her family decided to stay in Mermaladia until the portal to the spirit realm opened.

Each of them traveled on different paths and separated from each other.

Even though they are not in the same place, each will always remember their togetherness as good memories.