My body hurt all over.
Honestly, I was probably running on adrenaline that whole time I fought Clementine.
Anyways... since my energy was fully restored, I was sure a few days had passed since I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes, I realized I was in some comfortable bed, and overhead was a marble ceiling.
This was neither the academy nor my home.
...Just where am I?
Before I could wonder further, the doors swung open, and someone walked in.
To my surprise, that ’someone’ was Clementine.
She opened her mouth and healed me enough so that I could hear her.
"It looks like you’re still alive."
That’s it?
"Where am I?"
"In my bedroom," she replied flatly.
My mind blanked for a moment.
"I’m in your bedroom...?"
She nodded.
"After you passed out, I tried to bring you back to your companions, but they attacked me. I also tried leaving you on the shore, but... after I saw how most of your companions were staring at you warily and with malice, I took you with me."
Yeah, it must’ve looked a little weird if the Siren Queen herself brought me down.
But for them to still treat me as the demon child even after I saved their asses...
I guess I won’t try to get along with them anymore.
"Thanks. I owe you one then," I said and glanced around. "Are we in your new bedroom, or is this still the same city?"
"It’s still the same city. I decided that instead of moving us all into one place, I’ll scatter us," she replied.
Scatter?
What?
"We Sirens are curious beings, and a lot of us want relationships with the other races, not just our own. We all look human enough, so we won’t have trouble blending in, and... if all goes well, our population will start to increase drastically."
This didn’t happen in the game.
But it didn’t seem like a bad idea either.
The Sirens looked identical to humans.
And she also wouldn’t need to worry about her entire race being wiped out at once.
I liked it.
But...
"What about you?"
"Me? I guess I haven’t thought about it yet."
Clementine sighed.
"Perhaps I’ll follow someone too? Who knows?"
I had a bad feeling about this.
But ignoring it, Clementine and I chatted a bit more about her plans.
She wasn’t as awkward to speak to as the first time.
And once we were done chatting, she even went as far as to bring me some cooked fish.
Even more surprisingly... she fed the fish to me.
Who would ever refuse a beauty’s request to feed them?
Definitely not me.
"Since it looks like you’re a bit better, should I take you back to land so you can go back to your companions?"
I shook my head.
"I need to go to Willow Creek. It’s a bit far away, but that’s the only way I can heal completely," I replied.
Willow Creek wasn’t a major place in the game.
But it did look nice, since when you dive into it, you could see something magical.
I never found out what, since every time the main character entered it, a cutscene played.
"Willow Creek, huh? That’s a bit far away, but I can take you there."
I smiled.
"I would appreciate it a lot, Clementine."
She just stared at me for a few moments, then suddenly picked me up in a princess carry.
"H-Hold on tight."
Seriously?
Although I wasn’t as embarrassed as she was, I decided to go with the flow and become a Mary Sue.
I wrapped my arms around her slender neck, and that was when she dropped me back down onto the bed, her cheeks flushed.
"I can’t do it."
"...You can’t take me there?"
"I can’t carry you like this! G-Get on my back instead."
She turned around with a pout and crouched down slightly.
Did she not want me seeing her face?
That’s cute.
I got on her back, and without saying a word, she immediately dashed out of her room.
It was a small palace, but because she told everyone to scatter, it was completely empty.
When she left the palace, I saw the city where all the Sirens used to live.
Houses made by digging into the ground and the sides of the sea.
Corals used as clothing hangers, and even a few children’s toys made from all sorts of sea trash.
It really was a whole different civilization, and it was much more beautiful than in the game.
But I didn’t have time to admire it for long, as Clementine flew up.
Eventually, we reached a thin barrier that held all the water from crashing down onto the city.
"Amon, hold your breath."
I froze. "We’re not using one of the secret tunnels?"
"I closed them all after I came back here with you," she replied. "Now, the only way out is by swimming up... and we’re very far down, so if you can’t hold your breath for at least 10 minutes, tell me now."
Can I hold my breath for 10 minutes?
If I used Telekinesis, I could.
"I’m fine."
She nodded, and after making sure I wouldn’t fall off her back, she counted to three.
I took a deep breath, and in the next instant, she shot through the barrier and began swimming up.
She used miniature soul weapons to fly most of the time, but now she was using full-blown spears as propellers.
And because of that, she moved through the water very, very fast.
I could barely keep my lungs in check, since one wrong move and they would probably explode.
But even then, as the minutes ticked by, I eventually saw some light.
Clementine sped up even further, and before long, we reached the surface.
My lungs were pretty messed up, but after taking just a few deep breaths, I felt better.
We hadn’t moved yet, so I thought Clementine was giving me a moment to recharge.
But instead...
"Willow Creek... Willow Creek... which way was it again?"
Letting out a sigh, I glanced up at the sun, then tapped Clementine’s shoulder, causing her to flinch slightly.
"Go straight left, and then follow the land to the right."
"..."
"Okay."
She positioned herself straight and sunk her head underwater.
With me still on her back, I decided to tease her a little by stroking her hair.
I half expected her to flinch again and toss me off, but instead she slowly began to swim without even peeking her head up.
I smiled faintly and began brushing her crimson hair more eagerly.
And just like that, we silently began traveling to Willow Creek.