He had earlier joined the meeting after lying to everyone about his whereabouts. 

During the meeting, he found himself yawning multiple times as every word that came out from the lips of the officials were boring him and when the meeting finally ended, he was the first one to leave.

Firth and Havelock were also in his chambers keeping watch over him, and at the same time, fighting over the littlest things. 

The king was vexed by the confrontation from the officials, and had warned the two of them not to get him out of their sight.

"Can you stop blaming me already? You are equally at fault as I am." Said Havelock, his grey eyes gleamed dangerously like he would cut off Firth's throat if he annoyed him any further.

Firth didn't back off. His red eyes looked like they were raging fire balls, matching the same intensity in Havelock's eyes. "I still stand my ground that it was your fault.  If you hadn't started an argument with me, the prince wouldn't have sneaked off under our watch."

Havelock let out an exasperated sigh. "You were the one looking for an argument where there was none!"

And that was how they continued to argue about Axle like he wasn't even there. They were both grownups, intelligent and smart as individuals, but once they were together, they would become so dumb, especially Firth.

Axle who had been brainstorming suddenly sat up and said, "I have to go!"

Firth and Havelock looked at him in confusion, and that was when he realized that he said it out loud.

"Where to, your highness?" Asked Firth as they both gave him suspicious looks.

"Err… I meant you both have to go. I want to have my rest, but your arguments won't let me. You can guard outside." He spoke in a tone that left no room for questions.

Havelock and Firth had no choice than to leave his room, and hope that he wasn't planning on sneaking out again.

Almost immediately Firth and Havelock left the room, Axle went to the safe that was in his room and opened it. He put his hand into it and brought out a bracelet from it. It was Luca's bracelet.

He wore it on the wrist of his right hand and looked towards the entrance of his room with determination burning in his silver orbs as the words Eris had whispered to him earlier replayed in his head. 

The words Eris had whispered was, 'I know how you could transform into a human. If that's what you want, meet me here by nightfall'.

…

It was already sunset and darkness slowly began to take over the earth. The cool evening breeze blew and the waters of the ocean danced.

Eris was on a big rock that was at the top of the waters. His face showed no expression as he stared at the dark sky. The wind blew against his face and his red hair danced with the wind.

"Seems like there is going to be a heavy pour down" Said a voice from behind Eris.

Eris turned his head to face the owner of the voice and saw Axle. He smiled at him and then said, "I thought you weren't going to come."

Axle nodded his head in understanding and replied, "I thought so too, but I've made up my mind and I'm not turning back." There was a glint in his silvery orbs as he spoke.

"No one saw you?" Eris curiously asked.

Axle tilted his head and then said, "Well…"

….

Almost an hour ago, when Axle had sent Firth and Havelock out of his chambers, he began to think of a way he could sneak out without being seen.

Most of the things that came to his mind were old tricks he had done before and he was sure that he would be found out if he did them again. So he wanted to do something he had never tried before. Something that was sure to get him out of there unnoticed.

At the end, he finally thought of something he could try. He went to the window-like structure in his chamber. He then opened it and stretched out his right hand before closing his eyes. 

His white pearl came out of the palm of his right hand and began to glow. Nothing happened, and everywhere was still quiet for a while, until… 

Suddenly, the waters started to move fiercely in different directions, causing a commotion almost throughout the kingdom, just like waterspout.  If it were to be on land, what was happening would have been referred to as a 'tornado'.

The waters tossed the merfolks around. No one was in control of their movement anymore, and they all began to wonder and panic about the situation.

"Our ancestors are angry! They will kill us all!"

"What is going on? Save us your majesty."

"Is this really the end for us?"

Those were some of the words of the merfolks which were said out of fear, but non of them actually got hurt, apart from the dizziness caused by them being tossed around.

Axle slowly opened his eyes when he noticed that the temperature of the waters had dropped and that was when he noticed what was happening. 

He didn't know whether to rejoice that his powers had grown to the extent of causing that much havoc or if he should be worried for the people.

At the end, he decided to take this chance and make a break for it while everyone was distracted. He took a peak at the entrance of his chambers and saw that Firth and Havelock weren't there anymore. That was how he escaped from his chambers.

He was a bit worried that the waterspout would affect him too, but it turned out he was an exception. The waters immediately turned calm in whichever path he chose to go.

Meanwhile, in King Augeus' chambers, the waterspout was also as effective as it was in other places. He tried to get to his scepter, but he failed time and again.

He later stopped trying and just let the waters take him wherever it wanted, but that was until something struck his mind. What if this was the handwork of Axle? But what would be his gain from doing this? Unless… was Axel trying to go away for good?! Those were the questions that were running through his head, and the last one was able to make him more determined to get his scepter.

He stretched his hand towards where his scepter was and it appeared right in his hand. The scepter shone brightly and the waters went still immediately.

A silent rage was evident in his silver eyes as it glinted dangerously, and in a swift movement, he began to head to the surface.

….

Eris' mouth hung open in surprise after hearing Axle's side of the story. He couldn't believe that Axle's powers could suddenly grow so much. Was Axle really that determined to go to dry land, and was that why he was able to awaken his powers to such an extent? He wondered.

"I know my new powers sounds cools, but you've been staring at me for a while now. We might get interrupted. My fa… the king must be suspicious by now." Axle was able to distract Eris from his thoughts.

Eris sheepishly smiled and said, "Ah, that's right. We had better hurry up then. Follow me." He got off the rock and led the way to the shore.

Axle could hear his own loud heartbeat as he followed behind Eris. Would it even work? If it even worked, would life on dry land be worth it? Worth leaving his friends 'Aiva, Fiona, Firth and Havelock behind' and as much as he hated to admit it, he also felt a pang of pain when he thought of leaving his father.

There were so many question in his head and a voice kept whispering the words, it's not too late to turn back over and over again in his head. He kept shutting off the voice, but it was persistent. It's not too late to…

"Are you ready?" Eris' voice brought Axle back to his reality.

"Uh… I-I think I am." Axle's voice faltered as he spoke.

"Don't force your…"

"I'm not!" Axle cut Eris off as he tried to regain control of his mind, telling himself that he wouldn't go back.

"If you say so, then… we can proceed." Eris said while gesturing for Axle to sit.

Axle obediently crawled with the aid of his elbows and pushed his body against the wet beach sand. Once he was a little bit away from the waters, he then sat on the ground.

Eris' face turned serious as he spoke, "Let your pearl out and then close your eyes."

Axle looked at Eris questioningly, but he decided to go with the flow and leave the questions for later. 

He took in a deep breath and did as he was told. His pearl appeared, but it wasn't glowing yet.

"Now begin to Imagine yourself as a human." 

Axle's eyebrows creased even with his eyes closed when he heard what Eris said. Nevertheless, he still did it. 

He tried imagining himself with legs and then tried imagining himself walking, but his head was in chaos with all his thoughts of the uncertainties, and it just wasn't working out.

Axle opened his eyes and yelled in frustration plus a bit of anger, "It's not working!" 

"I understand that it might not be easy for you to just leave behind all the memories you've made in the ocean and that's what is altering your concentration. But if you truly wish to be human and to leave your father and friends behind then it will surely happen. If it doesn't work, then you are not ready!" Eris let out a sigh after saying those words and then he continued, "So I'll ask you again. Are you ready?"

Axle stared at Eris for a while. When he said those words earlier, Axle felt like Eris was indirectly telling him not to go, but at the same time it also sounded like he wanted him to leave.

Axle decided to go with the second one and then closed his eyes with determination. 

He didn't change his mind, not because he felt more determined to go to dry land, but because he suddenly felt that he wasn't worthy to go back. 

He had chosen dry land over his own origin where he had been born and bred, and for that, he felt like he didn't deserve to call it his home anymore. With his eyes closed, he made a promise to himself that he wasn't ever going to return, no matter what happens to him on land.

'I wish to be human! I wish to be human! I wish to be human! I wish to be human!' He kept chanting those words in his head as a lone tear slowly trailed down from his eyes.

His pearl began to brighten and he was suddenly enveloped with an almost blinding white light. He slowly opened his eyes and was surprised at what he saw.

The sky became even more gloomy, the wind blew more fiercely and thunders rumbled.

Axle wasn't bothered by that. His eyes remained fixed on his blue tail that was slowly beginning to vanish. 

A pair of white toes came in view, followed by the other features of the legs of a human until he was fully human.

The thunders rumbled loudly once again before the rain started pouring down heavily as if it was vexed that the law of nature was disobeyed once again after more than twenty years.