"Well, little reaper, it's been nice having you back home, but I guess it's time for you to venture out into the world again. Enjoy it while you can. Next time, you won't be leaving," GR promises.
The man smiles as he steps back to stand next to Cordayl. The two of them walk out, being escorted by GR. When they reach the door, Cordayl sees a massive crowd of white beings staring at them with black eyes.
"I thought you said no fighting?" Cordayl ask.
"We're not fighting. These are the souls who refuse to go home, so I let them sit down here until they come to terms with the situation. Jealous lot. They get very green when they think someone is leaving here without them.
"Try not to let any attach to you on the way up. I feel bad when one of these wads escapes and starts haunting and spooking the living." GR says, throwing his hand up as he returns to the cave.
Cordayl heeds his words and quietly tries to move around the crowd of souls who still have their eyes locked on the cave entrance. But the moment he activates the tracker, all the eyes snap to him and start to swarm him.
Cordayl grabs the prisoner and activates his gravity control as he tries to quickly ascend out of the depths of the ocean.
He isn't moving fast enough, as he can feel the dead hands grab hold of his and the prisoner's feet, trying to climb up with them.
Kicking the souls off of them, Cordayl and the prisoner swim as fast as they can upward, and it's only when the sea is touched by the smallest hint of light that they escape the ghost and make a clean getaway.
Making it to the surface, Cordayl turns in all directions until he can spot the yacht in the distance. Finally making it to the ship, Cordayl floats them up to the deck.
Landing on the deck, an eruption of cheer happens upon seeing the prisoner.
Ajaccio hugs his father, who returns the love by placing his head on his son's forehead. Ajaccio then snaps his fingers, and a buff ass dude comes over and rips the air piece off of the prisoner's face.
Finally free of the contraption, the prisoner leans back and takes a deep breath. Smiling, he shouts that he is back, and the crowd loses it again.
Turning to Cordayl, the prisoner looks him in the eye. "Thank you, Cordayl. Now, if you don't mind, " the prisoner says, holding out his hands.
Cordayl fishes in his pockets for the keys, but they are no longer there.
"Do not worry about it Cordayl. My old man loves to make things difficult for me. Anyway, thank you for freeing me. It has been far too long since I've felt the moonlight on my face."
"No problem." Cordayl turns to the Ajaccio. "Our deal?"
"Of course." At the snap of his fingers, Eursala's container is brought to Cordayl.
Cordayl walks up to the glass and smiles at Eursala. "So we're good?" he asks, the gravity on the ship getting heavy as he cuts his eyes at the Ajaccio.
"Yes, Cordayl. Your mermaid friend is free, and the appeal has been sent to the organization to cease all movement against you." Ajaccio tells him.
"An appeal?" Cordayl asks, slamming the ship with gravity, causing it to slowly sink into the water.
"Even with my influence, there are still processes in the organizations, but trust me, the appeal will go through, and you will be removed from our wanted list," Ajaccio guarantees.
With the ship starting to groan, water starts to seep onto the ship's deck. Cordayl pushes Eursala's container to the edge, and with her facing the sea, he punches the glass just enough to crack it.
Eursala is a little timid at first, but after seeing Cordayl's smirk, she breaks through the glass and into the ocean. Cordayl throws the container back on the deck and jumps right behind her.
As everyone stands back to their feet, the dad continues to stare at the spot Cordayl jumped off at as the ship rises back to its original height in the water.
"Let's celebrate!" Ajaccio says, grabbing his father.
"We will. But not prematurely this time. This time, I do things definitively. After I retake my position, he will be the first on my list." The father states.
"But why? Cordayl has only declared war on us because of our aggression. With no one attacking him, he will be no thorn in our sides." Ajaccio explains.
"How many people have you sent down to that hole to break me out?" The prisoner asks.
"Dozens over the last 10 years," Ajaccio answers.
"Right. And none have returned. The ones that did find the cave, I watched your grandfather smite without mercy. But he walked in and out, and the Reaper didn't even make a fist. Do you know what that tells me?"
Ajaccio is silent as he ponders this.
"That means your grandfather thinks Cordayl can stop me. He willingly let me be freed by someone he believes can defeat me if necessary. I do not like that. And I will not take a chance to see if he is right or wrong." The father states.
"Father, please, forget about him. Plus, I've already given my word that we will not hunt for him again.
"I understand, son. And as I have taught you, you shall keep your word. But I have given him no such thing. So, to honor you, I will not use a single white hand member, and there will not be a hunt. This is simply an execution by my doing. But, let us enjoy ourselves before the real fun begins and set course due south." The father says with a smile.
Cordayl finally catches up to Eursala at the bottom of the sea, and she gives him a big hug. "Thank you Cordayl. Thank you."
Cordayl returns the hug, happy his friend is finally safe. Well, safe-ish, as he sees her father quickly swimming up to them.
"Eursala? Eursala!" The father shouts, belated, as he rushes in to hug his daughter.
"Ohh, I'm so happy you're okay. The vice president told me what happened and assured me your safe return after those vandals kidnapped you. I sent Cordayl just in case to make sure everything went well." The father states.
"Thank you, Daddy. I knew I could count on you." Eursala hugs him.
"Did they hurt you? Did they touch you in anyway?" Her father asks.
"No. They kept me locked in a dark room the whole time. I've never felt so scared and alone." Eursala breaks down in her father's arms.
Her father comforts her as she cries. Looking up at Cordayl, the two stare at each other intensely, one staring in disbelief at such a bold lie, the other staring, daring him to expose him.
Cordayl, accepting defeat, tells Eursala that he will be taking off.
"Nonsense, Cordayl, after all you have done for us. Allow me and the city of Atlanta to honor you for rescuing one of our citizens."
"Nah, I think-"
"Please, Cordayl. It's the least we can do. You deserve to be praised for your bravery." Eursala's eyes beg him to accept.
"Okay, but just to make sure you're actually fine." Cordayl answers.
"Splendid. I'll make the arrangements now." The father says with his usual smirk.
Over the next couple of days,Cordayl's face is a mixture of guilty confusion as traverses to places with Eursala and her father, looking puzzled as he tries to fully grasp whether he is doing the right thing by being silent about the truth of this situation.
They stop by the dome, where Eursala's return is celebrated. Eurick smacks Cordayl on the back as a thank you, but Cordayl's face doesn't change.
They have a feast later that night, and even after the seafood platter drops in front of him, Shamua drooling at the sight of Cordayl's plate, Cordayl's face doesn't change.
They stop by the family physician, and as he checks out Eursala, Cordayl's face doesn't change.
Cordayl is given a medal and even a statue to replace the one destroyed during the city's dragon attack.
Cordayl's face remains the same as endless cameras take his photo with Eursala. Her father creeps up beside him and poses in the pictures with them.
"I know it seems like I am mocking you, but trust me, this is for the best. I've been where you are before. I know the moral conundrum it poses, but for the greater good, what is one little secret between friends?
"This is just a small taste of what we have to control to keep the perceived peace so everyone can continue living their lives so leisurely." He says, continuing to pose for the cameras. "Who knows, after your showcase at the gala, you might even be invited to join us one day." The father chuckles.
Hearing this, Cordayl turns his head and makes eye contact with the father. His face still has not changed, but a second later he explodes away from the platform and propels himself back to the surface at top speed.