"How are you, Grace?" said Volans.

"What brought you to this place?" She asked.

"We will head to Vela's ship to retrieve the weapon of Sagitta," replied Volans.

She stopped when she heard our intention. But she kept her composure, "It's not usually the prince who wants to trouble himself like this. Does it have anything to do with this human?"

I spoke up. "Sorry for my impoliteness. Yes. This is my request."

"It is a sacred heirloom that many gods once desired. To prevent a dispute over it and maintain a balance between the gods, the heirloom is locked in a gold chest and is on a ship where the sea monster lives so that no one else is interested in wanting it." Grace tells us about this weapon.

"But a clue led me here. I intend to use the heirloom to protect the peace." I told my reason.

"Fine. If you still want it. You will face a test. If the test passes, I will give this key to you."

"Okay. I'm ready."

"Choose any musical instrument you can." Grace while swinging her hands and various musical instruments floated up.

"Hah???? I...I can't play a musical instrument. I like music and appreciate it. But can I?" I muttered to myself until I finally remembered something.

Ryana stepped forward and picked up a jeweled harp.

"Okay. You've made your choice." Grace opened a room with just a wave of her hand. Little children were seen sleeping soundly and at the same time, a large door appeared.

"This door is the gate of heaven. The door connects this lake with the sea in heaven. Those of us who have high magic power can go there. But not for the weak." said Grace.

Volans clenched his fists. Because he does not have enough power to get to heaven even though he is one of the gods.

"The manifestations of these little ones are fish that can fly over the heavenly sea. Usually, they live with Delphinus, the blue dolphin. But sometimes they also visit this lake. Now, your job is to wake them up so they can return to the sea of heaven." Grace continued to explain.

"It's not easy to wake up the children, I also need a lot of magic power to channel energy into musical instruments to produce a melodious sound power." Mumbled Grace.

"My heart is beating fast. Can I?" Ryana looked at her palm as well as her harp. Ryana tried to calm herself and closed her eyes. Then she touched the harp with her rough fingers.

"Sring..." Wavy sound at the opening. And her touch on the harp produced sparkling particles of light.

Volans as well as Grace were surprised when they heard the opening moment.

Ryana opened her eyes, then pluck the harp strings that she launched as if without a hitch. Ryana enjoyed playing the music. Although her fingers are not beautiful and wide, but she is good at playing music. They were both amazed.

"Such a melodious tone." Says Volans. The melodious voice invited the inhabitants of the surrounding lake to see it. Not long after, the little children with several around twenty were awakened. "Hoahm..." Then they approached Ryana and danced in their formation.

"H... how can she do it so easily?" murmured Grace.

The children with their little tails swam around Ryana happily. They swam from the bottom to the ceiling of the palace until finally heading to heaven's gate to return to their origin.

Volans saw the sight become stunned, and muttered reassuringly, "I have fallen in love with her."

"The tone is full of enthusiasm but there is tenderness like the warmth of a mother's love." Thought Grace.

Finally, Ryana finished her music show. Then look around.

"Phew..." She took a deep breath.

There was a moment of silence before it burst into applause. Then Volans congratulated her. "It's like you could finish it."

"Yeah. I think so." Ryana smiled.

"Do not be too happy, yet. Next, you will face me." Grace challenged Ryana.

They both looked at Grace.

"We'll play instruments together and see who survives." Challenge Grace.

Ryana gripped the harp tightly and said while nodding, "Okay."

Grace started playing her lute.

"How about this?" Grace muttered.

Ryana closed her eyes and heard the rhythm of the music, then she began to mix the notes.

"Both are evenly matched," mumbled Volans.

"Great show," said other viewers.

Although they compete, they create beautiful melodies and maintain musical harmony.

"Not only she was able to follow me, but also, she turned the situation around. She directs me to follow her and keep this harmony even though I trying to break the tone. Then I'll raise the level," mumbled Grace.

"They both picked up speed. Their fingers are getting more nimble and agile too," said Volans.

"Their skills are above average," said one of the mermaids.

"She's trying to chase after me," Ryana muttered. Then Ryana turned the notes to a low level in a relaxed and flexible mode. At that moment, Grace's harp was cut off due to her strained spiritual power which made her shocked. "What?!"

"She calmly and relaxes playing her instrument. She seems to blend with the musical instrument and the rhythm it produces. Not only that, but she can also maintain harmony in music."

Grace stopped playing her instrument. Ryana kept playing her harp while saying,

Grace was mesmerized and mumbled, "I was busy thinking about beating her instead of paying attention to my musical instrument playing, so it wasn't accompanied by good energy control. It makes me not enjoy my show. That's why she beats me. I have been defeated by her."

Ryana's fingers stopped picking at the strings. There was a moment of silence before the audience cheered for this great show.

Grace stood up and swam over to Ryana then said, "That's great. It's amazing. I haven't played a game like this in a long time."

Grace asked, "What's the key so you can produce a melodious tone?"

". If you don't channel too much and can channel energy in the right portion. In addition, sincerity in doing it wholeheartedly. By loving what we do, we can only practice consistently and continuously." Ryana answered while smiling optimistically.

They were both amazed and the audience who attended.

"The one who can surpass me other than her is the goddess Lyra. Her playing style is the same as her." Grace muttered in her heart. Grace also remembers the incident where she played music with the goddess Lyra in heaven.

"You were too hasty and ambitious that you lost control of energy. Balance is the best and it makes a great sound." The goddess Lyra advised Grace.

"As agreed, this is the key to the gold chest. But think again to go there."

"Thanks for your concern, Grace."

"It's been a long time since I found a competing partner like you."

The two of them embraced as old friends reunited.

*****

On the way back to the castle.

"Have you ever played a musical instrument?" asked Volans.

"Yes. It was in my past life. And that carries over to the present.

"Excellent." Said Volans while swimming in front of her but followed by a gloomy expression.

In Volans' mind, he didn't want Ryana to go to Vela's ship.

"Why?" asked Ryana.

"Isn't there another way? Do you really have to take the heirloom?"

"At first I had my doubts. But I have reached this stage. Therefore, I will try my best. None of this would have happened without you either. Thank you, Volans."

The gloomy Volans then turned around, "Fine if that's what you want."

They came back to the palace. As soon as they entered the palace, a magnificent chariot with two pairs of seahorses stopped in front of the palace.

Suddenly a voice was heard, "His Majesty the King entered the palace."

"Why at a time like this?" said Volans.

He is a dragon king with a golden aura surrounding him.

"Father..." said Volans.

"Are you playing again? Think about your future! Look at you. With such low spirit power, how can you visit heaven? If you have time to play around, you better practice." Said his father.

Volans lowered his head and clenched his fists in shame.

Ryana who felt uncomfortable then spoke up. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I asked him for help. He's not playing around."

"Who's she? Why are humans here?" asked the king who was surprised by the presence of humans.

"He's my friend, Dad."

The dragon king then looked with his eyes and realized that there was a dragon pearl inside this human. "Hmm... Why is there Hydra's dragon pearl inside her?" the king's mind.

"Why is there an eastern sea dragon pearl in you?" asked the dragon king.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty. I also do not know." Ryana answered.

"Huh... How could you not know?" asked the increasingly confused king.

"I just found out about it from prince Volans," I speak.

"So, what is your purpose here?" The king asked the purpose of her arrival.

Ryana also conveyed her intentions regarding the Tyrone issue. Since she didn't want to lie, she was telling the truth about her desire to take the heirloom.

"What???!" The dragon king flinched.

"I think they have warned you, so go ahead if you want to seek your death." The last piece of advice from the king.

Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Volans also saw Ryana's eyes that were convinced and couldn't stop her.

Then the king left them both.

"Volans." I greeted.

"Yes?"

"You don't have to take your father's words too seriously." Ryana tried to comfort him when a sad expression appeared on Volans' face.

," Ryana explained.

"I've been used to it since I was little to my father's attitude. My father had high expectations of me, but I let him down. Why was I born a useless person with the manifestation of my power still as a fish?"

Ryana held his hand, "Don't talk like that. Even though the manifestation of your strength is a fish, you have a kind and caring heart. Besides that, you also look beautiful with your beautiful tail."

Volans blushed with embarrassment. His face flushed red at the compliment from the person he liked.

. And perhaps, your father saw the potential in you too."

"Thank you for cheering me on," replied Volans with a smile.

"You're welcome," I replied.

"Okay. Because you have encouraged me, I will train you."

"Eh?"

"Because your willpower is strong before you fight monsters, you must train to move quickly in the water," explained Volans.

"I'm ready for it. Hehe." I said firmly.

Ryana adapted to her new surroundings and two weeks had passed. After they had enough training, they intended to dive into Vela's ship.

The day before the fight...

"My energy control is getting better. But I'm nervous." Ryana thought about what would happen next.

Before she thought too much, Volans knocked on the window. Ryana opened it and he swam in.

"Tomorrow is the day of the fight. Are you ready?" asked Volans.

"It would be a lie if I wasn't nervous," Ryana said.

"Eh??" Ryana was thunderstruck by his confession. Her heart was beating fast.

"Your words opened my heart. Since our meeting that night on the surface. And I fell in love, even more, when you faced Grace and cheered me on too."

"Volans...," said Ryana who didn't expect Volans' feelings.

"Just think about it later. Let's fight together with the best," said Volans.

"Yeah," I answered.