Night fell, the mermaids had returned to their castles, but only one remained, their prince, Volans who was still on land sitting on a large rock from the edge of Ryana's side. Ryana saw him looking up at the sky, then approached while shouting, "Hi."

Volans turned to Ryana as he said, "Tch! She hasn't left yet."

Ryana then continued, "It's a beautiful view of this sky full of stars."

Volans was silent.

"Do you like stargazing? I also like to look at the stars."

"What's up with her? Do you want to be familiar with me?" Volans muttered in his heart.

Ryana continued her words, "From a young age I liked stars, maybe because I lived alone. When I see many stars, I don't feel lonely. Well maybe I was entertaining myself at the time, in fact, I am lonely. Haha..."

Volans who heard her vent was touched.

Volans was attracted to her because of her words, saying in his heart, "This human, even though she received the negative, she still reacted positively."

"Even if life is hard, I look up at the wide sky to encourage myself. I can't always avoid what I don't want to happen in my life. Therefore, I try to be tolerant and expand my heart like the sky. Contemplating like that, I feel relieved. Yes, as is the case with this vast and silent lake. The problem is still running, but with our positive reactions, at least we don't add any burden on the heart.

"Why are you talking about this to me?"

"Ah...sorry. I just kept talking. Because I also like to see the stars. He-he..."

Then Volans was indifferent again and plunged into the lake.

"Wow... what a beautiful jump..." I feel amazed. "But why is he being so cold? Is it because he lives in a cold temperature that he acts like that? Humph."

Volans swam into the lake towards his castle. Its large tail and beautiful colors attract other mermaids.

"What's wrong, prince?" Greeting from a mermaid.

"There's nothing. I want to go to my room right away." He avoided them.

Volans lay down on the bed and recalled Ryana's words.

"She seemed to be able to read my mind. I'm lonely and feel empty..." said Volans who then remembered his father's words, "I'm disappointed in you. You can't make dad proud. Look at you still like a fish. I expect too much from you."

"D-Dad... I will try even harder," said Volans

"Huft..." The father took a deep breath and then left in the form of a half-dragon.

Volans opened his eyes.

"I fell asleep. Why do I remember what happened when I was little? I got too carried away because of that human."

*****

Ryana took a walk in the forest in the morning.

"Eat this," said the crow.

"Wow. Thank you. Fruits are enough for me," replied me to thank them.

"How? Are they willing to help you?" Have you found a way to get inside yet?" asked the peacock.

"Not yet," Ryana shook her head.

"Naturally. Who wants to put themselves in danger to take a weapon to someone they just met?" Say dove.

"Sstt." The crow immediately covered the dove's mouth. "He-he... Sorry."

"The reality is like that. There's no need to hide." I speak.

"Then what are you going to do?" asked the peacock.

"I will not give up. I'll try to approach again." I answered.

"Hmmm by the way this lake is so clear and beautiful," I spoke while amazed by the beauty that was presented.

"Yes, that is so. This is the lake where the gods reside."

"What? Before I came here, I asked the local people. Some of them know this place."

"It became a rumor. At first, they could only see the forest at the front, but no one had access to the lake yet. In the past, some humans entered the forest and faintly saw the lake because they could see. For those whose hearts are pure, they will be able to access that lake. But not for those who have greed, lust, and evil intentions. People with defilements cannot reach the lake. It's like a mirage, he only sees. The further he goes, the farther the lake is."

"Oh."

"It means that you are a person who has inner purity," said the dove.

"He-he..." I just smiled faintly.

"This lake in periodically, for example on a full moon or new moon, the goddesses usually go down to soak in the lake at dusk. They play together with the mermaids," Said the peacock.

"Wow.... Thank you for introducing this lake. I was mesmerized by the incredible beauty I saw. Flowers growing on the shores of the lake. Sturdy mountains and rows of hills rise high above this crystal-clear lake. I feel peace here and it conditions me to practice meditation."

"Not only that, but the fruits in this forest also give strong energy, so eating just one or two can provide enough nutrition," explained the crow.

"Wow. That's how it works."

******

In between waiting for the mermaid, Ryana meditated to control her energy. Until dusk comes again.

"Prince, the human is still there."

"Let it be." Said the prince while looking at Ryana who was meditating.

Ryana was so immersed in controlling her energy that the time has passed. It was already night. She slowly opened her eyes.

"Wow... It's night again. Oh, where are the mermaids?" I walked along the edge of the lake.

"Huft. It's ok. What else can I do? Just wait until tomorrow." I muttered.

I contemplated and sat looking at the sky, "How is the condition of the kingdom? I can't stay here long. I have to find a way."

The night was getting late, and I had nothing else to do, so I slept in the open sky. Since I have the temperature controller given by the fairies, I don't have a problem with temperature.

In the silence of the night, a creature came out of the lake and stepped on its two feet wearing a bracelet on one of its ankles. He approached Ryana. The creature knelt and saw Ryana who was sleeping asleep. He was about to touch her face, but he chose to hold her hair. "Smooth hair," he muttered.

Then Ryana accidentally moved and touched his hand and immediately he jumped and plunged himself into the lake.

"Byurrr."

Ryana woke up for a moment. "I think I heard something from the lake." Ryana who was still sleepy ignored it, then fell asleep again.

"Does she know?" Said Volans who looked up at the surface. Then he swam towards his palace while muttering, "What's wrong with me? Why do I feel like I'm attracted to her? Humph."

The next morning....

"Ahhh... Fresh air. I'm really lucky to be here." Ryana breathed attentively.

"Okay, this time I will carry out my goal. But first, I want to bathe."

Previously she asked the kinnari where the bath was.

"Uhm... Is there any little pond here? I meant to bath myself."

"There is not any. Just soak in the lake," said the peacock.

"But is the lakeside deep?" I asked.

"No. Don't worry, you can still stand up to your chest." She answered with a smile.

"Oh, thank you."

I took off my clothes and took a bath. "Ah... it's fresh. The lake is not so cold. Is it because it adjusts to people's body temperature?" I muttered.

And early in the morning, Volans went to the mainland to talk to Ryana. He saw that there were feet in the lake. Then he raised his head to see who it was from a short distance away.

"Deg..." He saw Ryana who was only wearing a cloth washing herself. Volans' face turned red for a moment. Then turned his gaze away.

After feeling enough, Ryana was about to go back to the ground. But because she was careless, she slipped when she was about to go up.

"Arrrgh."

Volans was startled at the sound. Then quickly swam toward Ryana. He caught and hugged Ryana and they spun around as if dancing in the water. With his left hand holding Ryana's waist and his right hand holding Ryana's wrist. They looked at each other.

Ryana was shocked to see this merman was in front of her now, "I touched his broad chest. Warm and smooth." Ryana muttered inwardly.

Then Volans swam towards the surface.

"Hufttt..." I took a deep breath.

"Deg... deg... deg. Why can it be like this? He and I are so close," I muttered inwardly.

"What's wrong with me? Why am I even so stunned by his beautiful figure?" That's what's on my mind.

On the other hand, in Volans' mind, "The blue eyes that are almost the same as mine. Her soft skin was like the petals of a blooming flower and white as snow."

They are fascinated by each other.

Then Volans up to the ashore and cornered Ryana. Ryana defended with her elbows on the ground.

"Be careful." He spoke.

"Eh?? Is he smiling at me?" I thought.

"Y-Yeah sorry, and thank you," I said.

It didn't take long for me to realize that I was only wearing a piece of cloth that wrapped my chest and my bottom. On reflex, I covered my chest.

Volans was surprised and realized it, then said, "Don't worry, I don't get carried away easily by lust."

"Yeah too. He's usually surrounded by mermaids who are beautiful and sexy." In Ryana's mind.

"Yeah. Yes... I'm just embarrassed by my condition like this," said Ryana who blushed and didn't dare to look at Volans.

Then Volans turned and went into the lake.

"W-Wait!!"

"What's up?"

"T-thanks."

"Don't hesitate," he answered.

"There's something I want to talk to you about," Ryana asked.

"About that weapon?"

"Hmmm. Yes."

"You dress first. We'll talk about it later," He spoke.

"Is that true?" My eyes sparkled while hearing that.

"Yes," He replied as he turned his head to look at Ryana before he swam into the lake.

"Hufft. Thank goodness for that. But it was a shame." Ryana muttered.