Chapter 1043: Chapter 1043: City Survival and Gambling Distraction
The sounds of pursuit were still echoing faintly behind us as Elowen and I slipped deeper into the bustling heart of the underwater city. The glowing coral spires and kelp avenues stretched out in every direction, alive with the constant flow of sea life. Merfolk glided gracefully between stalls, octopus merchants haggled with glowing shell coins, and schools of colourful fish darted through the "streets" like living traffic. It was beautiful chaos, a vibrant, living metropolis that felt both ancient and alive with subtle magic.
Elowen moved with the careful grace of someone who had done this before, her cloak pulled tight around her to hide her Bloomkin features. I stayed close, my disguised merman form blending perfectly with the crowd.
"Keep close, Big Sis."
I whispered teasingly, bumping her shoulder lightly.
"Wouldn’t want my favourite big sister to get lost in all this excitement."
She shot me a glare that could have frozen the warmest currents.
"Tsk....Still a young kid, you can’t even know the fun of all this excitement at all."
"Sure, sure, I would rather be there to cheer you on during your epic gambling wins."
I replied with a grin, dodging her half-hearted swipe.
"We’re a team now, till all this ends anyway."
Elowen rolled her eyes but didn’t push me away. We moved through the crowded markets, avoiding the main patrol routes where shark guards and merman enforcers scanned the crowds with sharp eyes. The city was alive with energy vendors calling out their wares, children chasing glowing jellyfish lanterns, and the constant hum of conversation in a dozen different sea dialects. It was easy to get lost in the flow, but I kept us on course, using small space distortions to nudge patrols away from our path without drawing attention.
We eventually found a smaller, less reputable gambling den tucked away in a side district, a dimly lit coral structure with glowing kelp curtains and the unmistakable sounds of games and laughter spilling out.
"Perfect."
I said, guiding her toward the entrance.
"A little distraction to fund our escape. My treat."
Elowen raised an eyebrow but followed me inside. The den was packed with a mix of sea folk merfolk laughing over shell games, octopus dealers shuffling glowing cards, and a few penguin beastkin arguing over dice rolls. The air (or rather, the water) was thick with the scent of fermented kelp wine and excitement, as to how you drink in water or even cook?
These areas are vacuum cleaned of any water, meaning right now inside the buildings, the water is not flowing in at all. All the houses have this feature: the right to close and open the water flow.
I arranged a "lucky" seat for her at one of the higher-stakes tables with a subtle influence, nothing too obvious, just a few well-placed suggestions to the dealer. Elowen sat down with a confident smirk, her competitive side emerging as she started playing. I stood behind her like a supportive (and very annoying) cheerleader, whispering encouragement and the occasional joke.
"Go, Big Sis! Show them how it’s done!"
I said loudly enough for the table to hear, earning a few chuckles from the other players.
Elowen shot me a death glare over her shoulder.
"Shut up or I’ll make you my betting chip."
The game started, and Elowen quickly got into it. She was good at her regressor instincts and natural talent, making her reads sharp and her bets bold. As the wine flowed (I made sure the good stuff kept coming to her), she loosened up, trash-talking her opponents with increasing flair.
"You call that a bet?"
She said to a smug octopus dealer, slamming down her shells with a confident grin.
"I’ve seen better plays from drunken crabs. Watch and learn, tentacle boy."
The table erupted in laughter as she won the hand, her pile of glowing shells growing steadily. The wine was hitting her now, bringing a beautiful flush to her bronze skin and making her bloom spots open slightly, releasing that sweet floral scent. She looked stunning, confident, competitive, and just the right amount of tipsy.
I cheered dramatically from behind her.
"That’s my Big Sis! Unbeatable! The queen of the tables! All hail the Matriarch of Gambling!"
Elowen elbowed me without looking.
"You’re enjoying this way too much, little brother."
"Can’t help it."
I replied with a grin.
"Seeing you kick ass is my new favourite hobby."
She won big on the next hand, her pile of winnings doubling as the other players groaned. The dealer shook his head in disbelief.
"You’re on fire tonight, miss. Luck of the ocean or what?"
Elowen laughed, a genuine, warm sound that made her look even more beautiful in the glowing light of the den.
"Just skill. And maybe a little help from my annoying cheerleader over here."
I bowed dramatically.
"Happy to serve, Big Sis. Your victories are my victories. Your winnings are... well, mostly yours, but I accept tips in the form of compliments."
She rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile on her lips as she took another drink. The bonding moment came naturally as the game slowed for a bit. She leaned back in her seat, sharing her cup with me as she complained about her old life in a low voice only I could hear.
"In my old timeline... I was always fighting. Always pushing. Power, responsibility, saving everyone. And for what? It all ended the same way. Now I’m here, and all I want is to enjoy what little peace I can find. Drink, gamble, forget. But you... You keep dragging me into fights and drama."
I took a sip from her cup, our fingers brushing lightly.
"Maybe because I think you deserve more than just forgetting. You deserve a life worth fighting for. And I’m going to help you find it. Starting with winning all their money tonight."
She snorted, but there was a softness in her eyes now.
"You’re impossible. But... thanks. For the wine. And the distraction. It feels... nice. Having someone in my corner for once."
We shared a quiet moment amid the noise of the den, her competitive fire returning as she won another big hand. The table cheered her on, and I played the perfect annoying cheerleader, shouting encouragement and making bad jokes that had everyone laughing, including her.
But peace never lasted.
A group of patrol guards entered the den, their eyes scanning the crowd. Elowen tensed immediately, her bloom spots dimming as she pulled her cloak tighter.
"Time to go."
She whispered.
We slipped out the back just as the guards started asking questions. The chase through the market stalls was pure comedy. Elowen moved with graceful efficiency, dodging between vendors and leaping over crates while I created small distractions, a sudden current that knocked over a shell display here, a space distortion that made a guard trip over his own feet there.
"Big Sis, left!"
I called as a guard lunged for her.
She ducked, her whip cracking out to tangle his legs while I pushed another guard into a pile of glowing kelp baskets. The market erupted in chaos, vendors shouting, fish scattering, and the guards cursing as they tried to keep up.
Elowen laughed breathlessly as we ducked into a narrow alley.
"You’re actually useful sometimes, little brother."
"Only sometimes?"
I replied with mock hurt.
"I’m hurt, Big Sis. After all my cheering and tripping enemies for you."
We finally lost them in a dense kelp forest on the edge of the city, the long fronds swaying gently around us like a natural curtain. We collapsed against a large coral formation, she breathing hard and laughing at the absurdity of it all.
Elowen leaned against the coral, her cloak slipping slightly as she caught her breath.
"That was... actually kind of fun, though I don’t want to do it again."
I sat beside her, teasing gently.
"See? Maternal instincts kicking in during the fight. You were protecting your little brother like a proper Big Sis. Very heroic."
She elbowed me hard, but there was a genuine smile on her face now.
"You’re never going to let that go, are you?"
"Never, It’s my favourite title. Big Sis Elowen and her loyal, slightly annoying little brother against the world."
I replied with a grin. She shook her head, but the smile stayed. The bonding moment felt real, shared exhaustion, laughter, and the small seed of trust growing between us. The goal was still there, planted firmly: finding the main group responsible for the corrupted attacks.
But for now, in the quiet kelp forest, we had a moment of peace. Until the distant sounds of more pursuers reached us.
"Time to move again, deeper into the city. Let’s see what other trouble we can find."
Elowen said, standing up with a sigh
I stood beside her, matching her pace.
"Lead the way, Big Sis. Your annoying little brother is right behind you."
The underwater city stretched out before us, full of danger, opportunity, and the promise of more chaotic adventures. And as we moved deeper into it.
