Meet the deep sea monarchs.

The tiled walls and floor inside, as opposed to the exterior, moreso resemble blue quartz--almost crystalline in their shimmering majesty. Perhaps they're kept polished simply by the water, or those who work here put a lot of effort into maintenance. Everything is so different down here compared to the surface that these materials might simply do what they do naturally. In a way, it reminds you of the elves in Silverleaf, living one with their environment. You'll have to take others to visit here sometime. It is a little strange to move around, and you feel the constant cling of heavy, wet clothes at all times, but it's quite a unique, beautiful place regardless.

Leading you through is the same guard as before. He says nothing.

"Both the King and Queen rule in tandem," Kailani explains. "I understand that in some surface kingdoms or empires or whatnot, there is only one monarch, and they have something like a consort, but we always have two rulers, whether it be two kings, two queens, or one of each. Occasionally they have even not been married, though they normally are."

When the guard stops, he simply grunts under his breath as he pushes open a doorway which is far more appropriately sized. Past that is a gorgeous dining hall. Two long tables hold a variety of decorations which are just heavy enough to not float away, such as vases of plants or little sculptures. Along one are platters of food--things you've never seen before. Fruits and vegetables from the bottom of the sea, at least you assume, among other things. Though two figures stick out far more than their environment in their regal visage. They sit adjacent at the far end of the table, and they're already looking towards the door, even before you enter.

Just as all other merfolk, they have green skin and scaly fish tails. King Agam has a wide, bare chest covered in several necklaces--some with precious metals, others jewels, and the rest animal parts such as fragments of bone, perhaps not just from sea life. His bushy beard is as white as a cloud, which covers up some of his jewellery, and his hair is long, coming to twisting curls at the ends. A crown rests atop his head--pale blue with a number of polished gems, though the body itself looks more like a crystal than the rest.

Beside him is a beautiful woman with jeweled seashells covering her chest--purple, faded to blue, with tiny gems both along the shell itself and the string that traces behind her back. Her hair is such a deep shade of aqua that it's nearly back, and runs down as far as her husband's, which is to say over her bust and nearly to her stomach. Even without her bra of shells, she could cover herself up with her hair alone, which is quite the naughty thing to think about a queen, so how dare you. Though it makes sense your eyes would linger. Her chest is huge, and perhaps due to her height advantage, they might actually be larger than anyone's at Castle Phoenix. Further investigation would be required. She also has a crown as well which matches King Agam's, though the one worn by Queen Iri is pale red instead of blue--a material like ruby fused with coral.

Both of them, while not even close to the size of Selina the kraken, look to be almost a couple feet taller than Kailani, who is also the same height as yourself if you consider her tail to be her legs. Snow is about the same, perhaps a tiny bit shorter, though Candy is the odd one out, standing at about the same stature as Eva.

"Kailani," speaks the king. His voice is both rough and deep. "I trust your words to be true. One of those amongst you stopped the Witch of Decay, if I'm to understand correctly. Please, before we begin our luncheon. Pray tell who it is we owe proper thanks. I've felt in debt to a stranger for far too long. You've spoken of him before, I believe. Yes. I remember. You spoke very fondly of him. I truthfully began to think you were rambling on about a schoolyard crush."

As he speaks, Kailani keeps her mouth shut tight out of respect, but she's starting to blush.

He continues. "But now that I look upon this group, I see one man, and he's certain garbed in a manner that one would expect from a mighty adventurer. I can hardly tell what material makes your armour, lad. I've seen much from the surface world, but that looks nothing like any metal or leather I've seen before. Please, introduce yourself, and satisfy my curiosity."

You think back to the Trial of the Erotrain. Aris, the etherite. Her sister, Nae. The rift in space, which brought forth an illidrake. You also think back to the town of Gobiidae, and the menace that was Grenmila. And before all that, you remember the Twilight Grove, which was a desolate wasteland deep in the sea, and the home of the Witch of Decay. It feels like so long ago. Amara and her mother Yaera were with you. Lynx too.

"My name is Kyle Warren," you say with a step forwards. "And I'm an adventurer above 10th level, as well as a leader of dozens of others who seek only to live happily and do good by the world." At least, that's close enough to accurate anyway. "To answer your question, the craftsmanship of my armour is rather complex, but it primarily used parts of an illidrake, as well as something called Elder Wood. Think of it as a druidic mix of living wood and the hide of a dragon. At my side is the magic blade Lauo, which has done me well for a long time now. And here, on my finger. A signet ring that shows my knighthood to the Empire of Tivera. Normally I don't speak so much on my accomplishments and possessions, but I felt it appropriate. Pardon me if it wasn't."

You become even better at this every time it happens. It's actually funny just how many leaders you've spoken with. It seems you read the room correctly too, because at your speech, the king seems impressed, as noted by your Kitty Sense. You can tell he respects the formality, and he respects the reputation you've garnered, even if he hasn't necessarily heard of you himself.

"Outstanding," King Agam says. "Truly you are the one who stopped the Witch."

"It wasn't only me. I was with three others at the time. Amara Tedrilui, her mother Yaera Tedrilui, both clerics, and a rogue who calls herself Lynx."

"Oh my gosh. That's like, super impressive!"

That voice, that cadence--you, Candy, and Snow turn to Queen Iri in shock.

She looks to you all with a big smile. Not a thought seems to be behind those eyes. Instead, she lets out a cute giggle, which somehow causes her massive melons to bounce--barely restrained by that jewelled seashell bra. "So are we going to have lunch with them? That sounds fun."

The king looks to her with rosy cheeks. "Hehe. Sure we can, my love... Ah, so adorable."

Candy stares at you closely. "That's your type, isn't it?" she asks in your mind.

Snow turns back. After remembering she doesn't need to make eye contact to utilize the spell, she returns her gaze to the king and queen. "I doubt that's his type."

"I plead the fifth on this one," you reply.

"Maybe that's why you're fit to be a Demon King," Candy telepathically says. "You don't have one type. You'll get with anything that moves."

"All right. I gotta defend myself against that one."

"Please have a seat," says the king with a wave of his burly arm. "Help yourselves. There is more than enough food here for all of us to share. If my wife thinks it to be fun to dine with your group, then surely we shall."

Queen Iri brings her arms in together to politely cross them over her scaly lap, nudging her melons tight together. "Thank you so much, my love."

"Ah. Wait a moment. Before we begin, we must get you redressed. Not only is this inappropriate garb for the royal dining hall, but certainly you must be uncomfortable in surfacer garb. Please, take them away and find for them the proper attire for those visiting our lovely city."

A couple servants nearby swim over. One older gentleman with wrinkled green skin and short grey hair stops politely in front of you with hands behind his back. "This way, sir. I'll find for you something to wear while the women are dressed."