I looked at the mage with a curious stare but it didn''t bother to answer me. I looked at the tea thinking that it would be made up of something gross but it wasn''t. It was normal tea. I didn''t drink it either way, I do not know what may be mixed with it. I sat on the chair frozen at the very spot. I observed him and it still bewilders me, as to how different he is from his nature. Maybe he''s just acting or faking this? I wouldn''t know. The place was dead silent and no form of any sea creatures other than the glowing jellyfish can be found. It was also starting to get cold as heat from above can''t penetrate this deep part of the ocean. I looked at him and he looked like he wasn''t bothered by my presence as I was with him. He had dark and thick brows, his upper body was exposed just like mine is. He had no signs of scarring which is very common in a mage but he did not have any. He looked like a normal merman but the dark streaks on his tails would say otherwise.

    In the kingdom, we would know that one is an abyss mage if dark streaks are seen on a merpeople''s tail.. It is said that the gods has have cursed them for their actions way back from the fall as they were once and still wicked creatures who does not serve the gods but the abyss. The abyss where every source of darkness comes from. He placed the teacup back down on the table and looked at me.

    "Well? Are you not going to ask?" His voice did not sound groggy and creepy like how a mage should, again he was very different. I looked at him before speaking cautiously as I do not know if I might offend him. I don''t have my powers so if he did plan on killing me then he would be able to do that easily as doing such would be like killing a mere fish in the hands of a shark.

    "W-What did you mean? The thing that you said, a-about me needing something from you." I stuttered between sentences in fear. He looked at me before standing up. My body felt even more stiff at his action. He walked towards me slowly. My breathing got unbalanced and my heartbeat was getting faster. My body was starting to get cold from the nervousness as I do not have any certainty as to what he may do to me down here.

    Who knows? Maybe he would inform the kingdom and ask for a huge ransom or maybe straight up kill me. I closed my eyes as I felt his presence from my behind. I tried to think in what way can I escape him. I immediately opened my eyes as soon as an idea popped in my head. I can talk to Nate telepathically no matter how far!

    "Nate, swim down at the ocean at the far out side of the academia. I''m with a mage, inform Captain Elevi if you must but do not ever tell my father. There''s something very odd about this mage. He''s very different from what he should be as supposed to." I said precisely, hoping that Nate would immediately take an action. The mage continued and walked back to his seat.

    "I know that you don''t have your powers." He said nonchalantly. I looked at him bewildered as to how he knew such information.

    "How did you know that? " I asked.

    "Because if you had them, then you would''ve just easily fought and defeat me back there." His eyes were glowing in a pulsing manner as he looked at me. His eyes resembled the abys and he looked handsome I must admit. His face was very edgy and his body was well built. He had abs and a puffy chest. I suddenly blushed as I realized that I was thinking of such and what''s worst is that it''s a mage. I cleared my throat and looked away. I heard him snicker before he placed his elbow on the table as his head was on his hands, looking at me with a faint smirk.

    "I can give that to you. You already have it in there. It just needs some reignition." He said. I looked back at him immediately as my interest got captivated immediately. He smiled before he leaned back on his chair as he crossed his hands over his chest. At this point, I was more interested of him than being scared of him. I leaned a bit closer to the table and looked at him with a serious stare.

    "What do you mean?" I said, still confused.

    "What it means is what I mean. I know that you are troubled as the clash is coming and if I was at the same situation as you then I would be pretty frustrated as well. Without your powers, you might as well end up with bad injuries that would take months or even years to heal. " He answered.

    "But how will you do that?"

    "You''re asking. Are you willing?" He answered immediately.

    I stopped talking for a while and got into thought. There is no way in the deep sea that an abyss mage would help a merman without anything in exchange. I am also doubting if he can be trusted when I already know that he can''t be. But at this point of aggravation, I need to have my powers and I would even take the help of an abyss mage at this point. As long as I win and bring justice, honor and valor to my kingdom, I''d sacrifice everything, even my own safety. I looked at him once more before making up my mind. Even if I don''t want to do it but as long as I get my powers then I''ll do it.

    "As an abyss mage, I know that you don''t give everything for free. What do you take, in exchange." I said trying to negotiate.

    "Ah, so you are willing to accept my help?" He said. I only looked at him waiting for him to continue.

    "You are correct, as an abyss mage, I do not give things for free but as for this. You are a special case dear prince. I would give you your powers now and take payment later on after the clash." I looked at him suspiciously but his face did not change one bit.

    "As you have already decided, then let us make it formal. Vivalex Demonyo, an abyss mage from the sea." He said and offered his hands. I looked at it for a while contemplating again if I should do this or not. I sighed and said in my head ''no pain no gain.'' before taking his hands. A wicked smile was now plastered on his face. I felt a static electricity from between our hands and when we released our hand, a paper with some writings emerged from it.

    "A pen, for our contract." He said. The paper glowed bright violet. I hesitantly grabbed the pen and was about to sign it when I heard someone yell my name. I immediately looked as to where it came from and there, I saw Nate with Captain Elevi. They looked at me with a certain look but as soon as their gaze saw the mage behind me, they both held a very deadly stare.

    "Do not sign it!" Captain Elevi exclaimed. I looked at him and Nate for a while before I looked back at the paper. Vivalex was looking at the paper with glimmering eyes. I closed my eyes as I wrote down my signature on the paper work.

    "No! Alexander!" Nate shouted but it was too late. My mind was fixed and so was the signature on the paper. Vivalex laughed like a total evil entity before positioning both of his hands at me. A violet bubble started to form around me. I looked at Nate and Captain Elevi watched with wide eyes. I started to feel electricity striking my body. I yelled in pain as I felt like every fiber in my body was burning. Vivalex continued to laugh maniacally as flashes of light from the lightning that was striking my body with every second. I was panting very hard and felt like I was going to die from the pain until the pain stopped. I opened my eyes and looked at the mage.

    He had a wicked grin plastered on his face. I looked at my hands but still saw nothing. The bubble around me started to shrink until it was like a coating that coated my body. I couldn''t breathe at this point. I started to ascend to the surface but I caught a glimpse of the abyss mage looking at me with a wicked smile. Both Nate and Captain Elevi rushed and charged at the mage but he immediately vanished from where he stood. I felt my body getting weaker and my vision was filled dark spots. I looked back at them one last time before my body and mind drifted into the unknown.