Chapter 754: Octavia
As Michael and Professor Lichtenstein continued their conversation, their bubble started descending down into the depths of the lake.
They found themselves looking down at a sunken city made out of large coral reefs complete with a kelp sea forest. Bioluminescent clumps of algae lit up the whole lake floor, allowing mermen and fishes to swim comfortably even hundreds of feet deep underwater, where not even light could touch its surface.
"Hmm... they’ve done a great job in trying to recreate Atlantis," Professor Lichtenstein commented. "But this is nowhere near as grand or as beautiful as the real thing."
Since this whole territory was entirely made in only a few months’ time, it was understandable that it wasn’t up to the same standards as what could be seen in the ocean floor. But for Michael, this was already impressive enough.
"Have you been to Atlantis, professor?"
"Yes," the professor answered proudly. "One needs to be well versed in the world, if one intends to study it. If you really want to find answers to mysteries, then travelling all over the globe will help tremendously."
The professor, without knowing it, started treating Michael as if he was truly his protege. Perhaps, it was because of the talent Michael showed with deciphering the map that the professor realized that there was finally someone who he could endow his numerous bits of knowledge to.
"We’re here," said the Merman guiding the bubble.
Michael noticed that the man’s mouth didn’t move at all as he spoke. Yet, the voice that came out of him sounded as clear to him as if the man had been speaking right in front of him.
"You’ll get used to it," the professor chuckled. "Mermen communicate by vibrating their voice nodules, just like how a whale or a dolphin uses clicks and whistles."
Eventually, the giant bubble descended down into a giant coral reef bearing a great resemblance to a sunken ship. Michael could even see the mast broken in half, now covered in barnacles.
"The Princess is waiting for you inside," said the Merman.
The bubble automatically floated towards the giant hole in the middle of the ship, which seemed to be the point of failure that caused it to sink in the first place.
Entering inside, Michael and the Professor saw numerous other Mermen and Mermaids, all untypical of the beastfolks he’d seen before. These Mermen were more ’fish’ than they were human.
"There’s a whole city down here," Michael muttered.
He saw Mermen children playing around in the kelp forest, he saw Manatees-Human hybrids carrying large rocks seemingly used for construction, and he saw freshly captured krill being served at tables with what seemed to be a restaurant meant for Mermen.
This was the first time he had seen Mermen in their natural habitat.
But as curious as he was about them, they were just as curious about him as well.
As the bubble floated through a current in the water coursing across different coral homes, Mermen would peek out of their holes and stare at him and the professor.
"Have they not seen a human before?" he asked the professor.
"They have. They just didn’t expect to see one using the princess’ bubbles, I expect."
Finally, the current of the water led them straight to an open throne room where the Octopus princess sat comfortably.
The bubble laid to rest right in front of her, surrounded by Mermen guards all around them.
The Octopus Princess stared at the professor with an intrigued expression. "Humans aren’t allowed inside the lake, you know. But for you professor, I can make an exception. After all, your reputation precedes you. I have heard of your great need to hoard knowledge and information like it was Soo drops."
Professor Lichtenstein performed a very crude bow, where one wouldn’t know if he meant it in a sarcastic way, or he was truly as awkward as it seemed.
"Thank you, now can we get to what I want?"
The Octopus Princess chuckled. "Relax, professor. We haven’t even introduced ourselves yet. My name is Octavia, and I am the 30th princess of the Kingdom of Atlantis."
Then, the princess gestured for the professor to do the same.
"Lichtenstein. Professor Lichtenstein."
With a nudge from the professor, Michael introduced himself as well—of course, using his undercover name.
"Keo, the professor’s protege."
Princess Octavia nodded in satisfaction. "Now that we’ve got that out of the way, professor, can you please tell me what you know about Mariana’s Jewel."
The professor eyed the princess. "And you’ll tell me about the Antique?"
The princess just smiled. A vague answer.
But what could the professor do? She was the last one known to have had the Antique. He had to give her what she wanted.
"Alright. Mariana’s Jewel. I know that all of you princesses have been searching for it your entire lives."
Princess Octavia nodded, casually taking a plate of krill given by her attendants.
"Yes. It’s of utmost importance that I get it instead of my other sisters," she said, munching on the krill.
"Why?" Michael sneakily asked the professor. But it seemed that the princess heard about it either way.
"It’s because our father promised us something from the day we were born. Give him Mariana’s Jewel, and he will give us his kingdom in return. Obtaining it will allow any of us to inherit all the wealth, power, and fame that an Ocean King entailed. So, you can understand my obsession with Mariana’s Jewel."
It finally made sense why Octavia caved in and let the professor inside their quadrant. It was a small price to pay compared to getting a chance to inherit the entire Kingdom of Atlantis.
"So, professor. Tell me what human history tells us about Mariana’s Jewel. If you help me obtain it, then I shall consider it with great gratitude. I will reserve a seat for you in my new kingdom," Princess Octavia promised.
The professor didn’t even bat an eye. He truly had no interest in matters not concerning history.
"Mariana’s Jewel is not in the ocean," the professor declared.
Princess Octavia nodded. "Tell me something I don’t know, professor. If the Jewel was underwater, it would have been long found by my other sisters. Heck, our father wouldn’t even entrust it to us. He would have searched for it himself."
"This means that you think that Mariana’s Jewel is in the surface world," the professor continued.
"Yes," the octopus princess nodded. "That is why I’m here, professor. It is a chance for me to find clues on the whereabouts of Mariana’s Jewel. And my sisters will do the same. So, I would really appreciate it if you give me a head start."
The professor looked up at the princess. "According to knowledge left behind by the Ancient Era, the Mariana’s Jewel is not located in the seven seas. It is not even located in the four corners of the world."
Princess Octavia hung on the edge of her seat.
"It is found in another realm," the professor revealed.
Hearing this, Princess Octavia began massaging her tentacle hair. "Another realm? A Pocket Dimension, perhaps?"
"It is said that Gaia herself hid the Mariana’s Jewel by safeguarding it in a completely different reality than the one we live in."