- “Because I can’t physically close my mouth while witnessing this injustice.”

- “What are you babbling about?”

- “I can’t sleep in the same room with you.”

- “Why? All familiars always sleep with their master.”

- “But there’s only a single bed.”

- “Yes. It’s my bed. You’ll sleep on the floor.”

- “What! Listen, Iki....”

- “How dare you! I am royalty. Call me Princess.”

- “Fine. Princess Iki, I can’t sleep on the floor.”

- “Why?”

This brat!

- “I need you to demonstrate how to sleep on the floor. Then I’ll consider doing it.” I say politely.

- “You think I’m dumb?”

- “You sound like one.”

Iki almost shouts, “What did you just say?”

----

- “What’s going on?”

I turn around. Mr. Ruka is standing at the doorway.

I say politely, “Princess Iki is telling me to sleep on the floor. But as a human, I have the right to sleep comfortably on a bed. Seems like Her Royal Highness doesn’t possess enough brain cells to understand something so simple.”

- “Human?” Mr. Ruka asks.

- “In my world, we’re called humans. Just like you’re called Rukarians here.”

- “Oh! I see. So your species is called Human.” Mr. Ruka seems lost in thought.

- “Did you just insult me?” Iki asks, confused.

Looks like our princess needed extra processing time.

“Don’t worry, Dhruv,” Mr. Ruka says. “I’ll arrange a bed for you.”

He leaves.

---

“Iki… Princess Iki,” I ask, “Do all familiars sleep in the same room as their masters?”

- “Yes. Absolutely.”

- “Then how do those giant creatures fit in rooms like this?”

- “Simple. We’re taught a spell that shrinks familiars. You can only use it on your own familiar.”

- “Wow. You guys really use magic for everything.”

- “If you want, I can use the shrink spell on you.”

- “Hey! Hey! Don’t even think about that. I absolutely don’t want it. Keep your spells to yourself.”

- “Fine. I don’t even want to waste my magical energy on you.”

- “You mean mana?”

- “What’s that?”

- “Nothing. Forget it.”

I sigh. I think I’ve talked too much.

---

After a while, Mr. Ruka returns with four men carrying a bed. They place it on the other side of the room.

Mr. Ruka hands me a bag. “I know you don’t have clothes, so take these. They’re specially made for you, Dhruv.”

- “Thank you so much, Professor Ruka,” I say politely.

- “No need to thank me,” he replies with a smile.

He leaves with the others. He really is a good man.

---

- “Iki,” I say.

- “What?!”

- “Princess Iki… where do you bathe? I haven’t bathed in two days. I really need one before sleeping.”

- “There’s a pond a little far from here. Go outside the hostel, cross the field, and walk straight to the garden. The pond is surrounded by it.”

- “That’s great! Marvelous! Should I clap?”

She stares at me blankly.

I sigh. “A towel, please.”

---

The pond isn’t hard to find.

But calling it a pond feels like a crime.

It’s a lake!

And the most beautiful yet scary thing is the moon. It’s massive and incredibly bright. I can see everything clearly under its light.

There are man-made stone steps leading into the lake, with a stone platform beside them.

I place my new clothes and towel on the platform.

The water is cold as I step in.

I walk forward until the water reaches my chest, take a deep breath, and dive.

I stay underwater, testing my breath-holding limit. To my surprise, I can hold it almost four times longer than before.

Honestly? Best upgrade so far. 

Bathing in a lake under moonlight. My body finally relaxes.

When I reach my limit, I come back up.

What! Why is everything dark? The moon was....

Oh! Hair.

My hair is covering my eyes. I quickly push it back.

My heartbeat stops.

A girl is standing knee-deep in the water, holding some clothes. 

She stares at me with wide green eyes, like she’s seen a ghost.

Her voice trembles. “Are you…a mermaid?”