“The jungle is less dense here. It’s almost like a path was carved out…” Nix observed as they continued through the underbrush. They had been walking for over an hour, but the footprints they were following had disappeared into the thick, lush vegetation, making it harder to navigate. Hamford had taken to hacking through the greenery with Ambrose’s sword, trying to clear a way back.

“Hmmm, Little Witch, I think we might be lost,” Hamford grumbled, scratching his bald head. “I swear we’ve seen this same tree.”

Nix sighed, exhausted but unwilling to argue. “I hear running water. Maybe we should rest there and figure out our next move.”

“Good idea, Little Witch,” Hamford replied, taking the lead. Nix rolled his eyes but followed, too tired to correct him again.

They soon arrived at a small lake, fed by a waterfall cascading from the rocky hills above. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the late afternoon sunlight, and the peaceful sound of the falls was a welcome relief after the suffocating heat of the jungle. Nix dropped to his knees and greedily drank from the water before lying back on the soft grass.

But just as his body started to relax, a soft, eerie giggle broke the tranquil silence.

Nix sat up with a jolt. His heart raced as he scanned the area. Hamford was already on alert, gripping the sword tightly in his hands. “Did you hear that?” Nix whispered, his voice shaking.

“Aye,” Hamford grunted, his eyes scanning the treeline. “Demon sprites. Annoying little bastards. Harmless, mostly, but they can cause trouble if you don’t deal with them.”

Nix swallowed hard. He had encountered demon sprites before—mischievous, impish creatures that loved to torment him during his magic practice. Their shrill laughter always sent shivers down his spine.

Before they could react, a loud splash echoed from the lake. Nix and Hamford whipped around just in time to see Ambrose emerge from the water near a large rock. He was laughing—hysterically—and completely naked.

“What the—what’s going on?!” Nix stammered, his face flushing red at the sight before him. He had never seen anyone so…sculpted. His eyes drifted lower, catching sight of a certain appendage that made him quickly avert his gaze, cheeks burning hotter.

“Aye, lad! What are you doing?!” Hamford bellowed, equally confused. Ambrose seemed to notice them for the first time and flashed them a bright smile before leaping back into the water.

Nix’s embarrassment vanished, replaced by alarm as Ambrose suddenly disappeared beneath the surface as though something had yanked him under.

“Ambrose!” Nix shouted, panic rising in his chest. “Something’s pulled him under!”

Without thinking, Nix kicked off his shoes and dove into the lake. Hamford’s voice echoed behind him, “Little Witch, get back here! We don’t know what’s in that water!” But Nix was already swimming furiously toward where Ambrose had gone under. The water was colder than it looked, and the deeper he swam, the darker it became.

I should be terrified, Nix thought, but instead, a strange calmness settled over him. A surge of power coursed through his veins, sharpening his senses. His vision became clearer, his strokes stronger. What is this feeling? He didn’t know, but he pushed forward, determined to use it.

Diving deeper, Nix’s eyes adjusted to the inky darkness, and there, at the bottom, he saw Ambrose—unconscious—clutched in the arms of two mermaids. One had shimmering purple scales, her hair flowing like liquid silk. The other, blue-scaled and wild-eyed, rested her head on Ambrose’s chest as if she were listening to his heartbeat.

A fierce rage ignited in Nix’s chest. The mermaids hadn’t harmed Ambrose, but the sight of them holding him so possessively sent anger boiling through him.

The mermaids noticed him, and their serene expressions twisted into fear. The one with purple scales screamed and darted toward Nix, claws outstretched. But he was faster. He dodged her attack with ease, seizing Ambrose by the arm and pulling him away. The other mermaid didn’t even attempt to stop him; her eyes wide with terror, she fled into the murky depths.

Nix kicked to the surface, hauling Ambrose with him. As soon as he broke the surface, he gasped for air, shouting, “Hamford, help!”

Hamford was already at the edge of the lake. He reached down, yanking them both out of the water with surprising strength.

“He’s not breathing!” Nix cried, laying Ambrose on the ground. “Do something, Little Witch!” Hamford urged, his voice filled with desperation.

Nix knelt beside Ambrose, his mind racing. There’s water in his lungs, he thought. I have to get it out. He closed his eyes, focused on the water inside Ambrose’s body, and took a deep breath. His hands hovered over the unconscious prince’s chest, and his ruby eyes glowed with intense power.

The jungle grew unnaturally still. A hush fell over the trees as Nix channeled his magic. Then, suddenly, Ambrose’s body convulsed, and a stream of water poured from his mouth, snaking its way back into the lake like a living thing. Ambrose coughed violently, gasping for air as his eyes flew open.

“Aye, the lad’s alive! You did it, Little Witch!” Hamford clapped Nix on the back, nearly knocking him over. Nix grinned, his chest swelling with pride. I did it. I actually saved someone.

Ambrose sat up, groaning as he rubbed his head. “Where am I?” he muttered, dazed.

“We were washed up on an island after the storm. We came looking for you and found you with a couple of mermaids,” Nix explained, carefully avoiding looking directly at Ambrose as he spoke. His eyes remained fixed on a nearby tree branch, his face still flushed.

“Mermaids?” Ambrose repeated, bewildered. “That explains the giggling. I thought it was demon sprites. I don’t see them much, even though I’ve spent so much time on the sea.”

“Aye,” Hamford interjected, “but let’s focus on finding your clothes and making shelter, Prince Boy. It’s been a hell of a day.”

Ambrose froze, eyes widening. “Prince? No, no, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not a prince. Just… Ambrose.”

Hamford raised an eyebrow but said nothing, though his expression showed he wasn’t convinced.

Nix gave a small shrug. “Don’t worry. He’s been calling me ‘Little Witch’ all day, so I guess you’ve got your own nickname now too,” he said, still carefully avoiding eye contact with Ambrose.

Ambrose’s curiosity about Nix’s odd behavior lingered, but after everything they had just been through, he decided to leave it for another time. Right now, all he wanted was to eat something and rest.