flstandardbreds Chapter 685 An Invitation from the Seabed
Chapter 685 An Invitation from the Seabed
Upon hearing the Naga leader, who called herself Vikis, introduce herself, Elwin and Shandris quickly exchanged a glance.
Sandy nodded slightly, her cold gaze conveying the message, "You can make contact, but remain vigilant."
Stella gently tugged at Elwin's sleeve and whispered in a voice only he could hear, "Be careful, the frost magic on her body is extremely concentrated, she is definitely not an ordinary Naga sea witch."
As a blue dragon, she has an extremely keen sense of frost energy.
Alvin understood and nodded to Vichy: "Okay, everyone wait for me."
The two walked to a spot on the edge of the platform, relatively far from others, with a sheer cliff below and the howling mountain wind in their ears.
“You are indeed a very courageous human being, Lord Elwin,”
Vichys spoke first, a hint of appreciation in her snake-like eyes.
“To speak so openly with my own kind, on this isolated mountaintop.”
Alvin didn't pick up on that topic, but instead cut straight to the point, his gaze sweeping over the busy Naga figures below the mountain: "Ms. Vichys, I hope our conversation can be more frank."
“I think you should know that the Kaldorei and Naga have ceased hostilities on the shores of Azshara, but the new home you have chosen to establish seems to be a bit too close to our fortress, which makes it hard not to have some unpleasant associations.”
Vicky let out her signature giggle, waved her hand, and gestured for the menacing Naga thugs around her to step back a little more, making more space as a sign of her sincerity.
"Of course, Lord Erwin, I've always been very 'frank'."
She emphasized the word deliberately, a sly glint in her snake-like eyes.
“I know we have already ceased hostilities. In a while you will see that what we are building here is not a military fortress, but a marketplace. We want to create a region here to do business with the Cadore.”
Vicky paused for a moment and continued, "But actually, I came to see you not only because I am the manager of this sea area, but also on the orders of that great being beneath the sea, to extend an invitation to you. I would like to invite you to visit the underwater city of Vashj."
"The adult beneath the sea?"
Alvin raised an eyebrow, several names flashing through his mind.
"Miss Cordelia?"
"Cordelia?"
Vicky seemed to have heard something amusing, and covered her mouth to chuckle.
How could that little girl, who hadn't fully shed her childishness, be addressed as 'adult'? No, I'm referring to Lady Vashj, who truly rules that city.
Ms. Vashj?
Elwin's heart skipped a beat. He had certainly heard of that name before; it belonged to one of the Highborne who followed Queen Azshara to the bottom of the sea in ancient times, and was now one of the most powerful leaders among the Naga!
How could someone like him be noticed?
"Ms. Vashj wants to see me?"
Alvin was a little excited, but he still politely declined, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, madam, but I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint her. I'm essentially a landlubber, and I lack the necessary adaptability to the deep sea."
This isn't entirely an excuse; humans are indeed not well-suited to the deep-sea environment.
Vichys seemed to have expected this; her smile remained unchanged as she took an item from a small pouch woven from pearls and seaweed at her waist.
It was a white conch shell, about the size of a palm, shimmering with soft iridescence.
The snail's body is naturally covered with golden, wave-like patterns, and inside, a magical light subtly swirls.
"Madam has already considered this for you."
Vichys handed the conch shell to Elwin.
"This tidal conch is a gift from the lady. When you change your mind, or when you need the power of the sea, blow it on any shore near the deep sea. Loyal servants will come to greet you and guide you safely into the magnificent palace of Vashj."
Alvin hesitated for a moment, but still accepted the conch shell.
It feels warm and smooth to the touch, carrying a hint of ocean coolness and strange energy fluctuations.
He carefully examined the exquisite magical artifact, thinking to himself: Even if I don't go there again, it wouldn't be bad to have such a rare item as a souvenir, or to study the enchantments on it.
"Thank you for the gift, Ms. Vashj,"
Erwin put the conch shell away and asked the question that had been bothering him.
"But I'm curious, I've never met Ms. Vashj before, why would she want to see such an insignificant human as me?"
This time, it was Vicky's turn to show surprise.
"Oh? Really? You didn't know?"
She tilted her head, and her long hair followed suit, looking somewhat eerie.
"But Cordelia always mentions your name in front of ladies. Think about it, if a daughter keeps mentioning the name of a man from the mainland, as her mother, Ms. Vashj will naturally be curious about what kind of person he is?"
"..."
This instantly made the situation more complex and nuanced.
The daughter of one of the Naga's highest leaders seems to have a special regard for him, and Vashj, his mother, has now formally extended an invitation.
This conch shell feels a bit heavy in my hand right now.
Cordelia, why does she keep mentioning my name for no reason!
Now that Vashj has her eye on us, won't a whole host of troubles be brewing?
Elwin sighed helplessly. Being targeted by a Naga lord was definitely not a pleasant experience.
“Miss Cordelia, how is she doing lately? When we last parted, she seemed to mention that she might be locked up by her mother for a while because of something.”
Vichys let out a meaningful chuckle, her serpentine eyes gleaming with all-knowing light: "Ah, you remember that. Yes, our mischievous little princess was indeed confined by the lady, in the most magnificent and loneliest Pearl Palace in Vashj.
She paused deliberately, observing Alvin's reaction, before slowly continuing to express her sympathy: "As for her current state... alas, poor girl, she has no appetite and spends all day staring blankly at those glowing jellyfish and corals, her heart and soul longing for a human man from land."
Her words were direct yet suggestive, and her gaze was fixed intently on Alvin's face.
Alvin was made a little embarrassed by her blunt words. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he subconsciously raised his hand to touch his nose. His eyes darted around, and he dared not meet Vichy's snake-like eyes, which seemed to be able to see through people's hearts.
He coughed lightly and said, "Ms. Vickis, your statement is a bit of an exaggeration..."
Vicky's smile deepened, as if to say, "I'd like to see how you try to deny it."
"Alvin!"
Sandys had arrived at some point. She had clearly overheard part of the conversation. Her face was as cold as frost, and her eyes were sharp as knives. She first swept between Elwin and Vichys before finally fixing her gaze on Elwin.