Chapter 539: 17. Clearly
“Raphael, wuwu, thank you for this surprise, I really appreciate it, wuwu, thank you, Raphael.”
“Jasmine.”
Jasmine wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and held Fisher tightly in her embrace. It had been a long time since she last saw Fisher after their separation.
She remembered that she was supposed to stay at the bottom of the water as Fisher had expected, but after hearing about the imminent end of the world above, she reached an agreement with her mother Xu to come ashore, wanting to attain a mythical rank before the apocalypse arrived.
Now, after enduring countless hardships, the end of the world was approaching, but she found herself stuck right before attaining the mythical rank, unable to make further progress. This anguish and confusion were no less than that of Raphael, who was being continuously beaten back by the puppets supported by Nali.
Moreover, as the High Priestess of the Red Dragon Court, the matters of the Red Dragon Court were not solely Raphael’s responsibility; she had been working hard for it, never slacking off for over five years.
However, today, upon seeing the person she had been longing for, Jasmine couldn’t help but redden her eyes, feeling sorrowful inside, wishing she could share her past experiences and thoughts with the person in front of her.
Yet, all of this was thanks to her good sister Raphael. It was through the surprise she brought that Jasmine could reunite with her teacher, Fisher.
From a distance, Raphael slightly opened her mouth, staring blankly at Jasmine, who was in Fisher’s embrace, her mind completely blank.
At that moment, her brain felt like a slow machine filled with rusty parts, desperately trying to quell her emotions and questions that were about to explode, attempting to analyze the current situation.
But upon seeing Jasmine’s proud bosom pressing against Fisher, she almost couldn’t catch her breath and nearly collapsed right there.
“Um, Lady Jasmine…”
Fortunately, there were still two dragon race guards by her side, looking hesitant, and Emhart, who was eager to act as a “combat journalist” narrating the scene.
Fashir glanced at Raphael and then at the ecstatic Jasmine, who mistakenly thought that what Raphael had prepared for her was Fisher. She hesitated for a moment, but eventually asked,
“Do you and Fisher have a relationship? You seem to know him?”
“Why do you ask this? Of course I know Teacher Fisher, Raphael.”
Jasmine was a bit puzzled, not understanding why Fashir would ask that. But when she turned to see Raphael staring at her in disbelief, even the slowest person should realize something was wrong.
A rather scary possibility suddenly surged into Jasmine’s mind.
What if she meant that Fisher was not prepared for her surprise at all, but that the husband Raphael had been waiting for all along was Fisher?
Raphael had originally brought Fisher over to introduce him to her, but since she hadn’t thought in that direction…
Did that mean that the person both she and Raphael had been waiting for all this time was actually the same person?!
The dragon race guard cautiously tried to break the situation, waking Jasmine from her confusion and pulling her into the conflict.
“Jasmine… what’s going on?”
At that moment, after several seconds of struggle, the stiff Raphael finally started to move, walking little by little toward them, her eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
“Raphael, I… I thought you… were bringing Teacher Fisher to see me, so…”
“Teacher Fisher?”
Yes, Jasmine had previously told her that the person she admired was a very remarkable human, but she had never mentioned that this person was Fisher Benavides from Nali.
She still thought Jasmine, like herself, had a crush on some gentleman from the Western Continent, which is why…
No, the truth is that it all could have been figured out.
Because she had never deeply questioned Jasmine’s privacy, just as Jasmine had never inquired about her feelings for Fisher.
They rarely discussed this subject; each had been working hard, hoping to achieve their goals one day.
She wanted to become stronger, strong enough to face various crises; while she also wanted to liberate the Southern Continent from the shadow of enslavement, no longer looked down upon by humans.
But why, clearly a commendable matter, had it turned into this?
Raphael just didn’t understand.
She gritted her teeth, her mind a tangle, yet looking at Jasmine still tightly hugging Fisher, she found the sight inexplicably glaring.
She quickly glanced at Fisher beside Jasmine, hoping he would provide an answer and explanation that could help her navigate this difficult moment that had shifted from “joyful surprise” to “painful shock.”
“Fisher… what’s going on here?”
“Teacher Fisher…”
Jasmine also remained by Fisher’s side, looking at him with tears in her eyes.
Raphael could no longer bear to watch Jasmine next to Fisher. She called out to Fisher again with urgency,
“Fisher!”
Emhart chuckled, quietly watching as the unprepared Fisher slid into this terrifying battlefield, eager to see how he would operate under such a deadly scenario.
Caught in the gaze of both women, Fisher’s body had become as stiff as metal.
For him, this truly was a terrifying shock.
The key was that although he had decided to face his past debts before returning to the present, he had not anticipated being thrust into the unprepared confrontation with two ladies. Moreover, he hadn’t figured out why it was Jasmine and Raphael, and why in such an ominous way!!
Initially, he thought Jasmine was sleeping at the bottom of the sea; even if he pushed his brain’s limits to 120%, he couldn’t comprehend when Jasmine had stealthily come ashore to be with Raphael, and even became the High Priestess. Wasn’t she supposed to be controlling her curse at the bottom of the sea?
Although, on the surface, it seemed Jasmine had already fully grasped the curse; he didn’t know whether to feel happy or unhappy about that.
Electric arcs flashed through his mind, almost burning his brain out. Compared to the gentle and soft Jasmine, she seemed bewildered but had not yet felt any emotions beyond confusion. But Raphael was different; Fisher felt not only disbelief from her but also a searing anger that burned like fire.
Seeing the one he loved being embraced by his sister was clearly an unpleasant feeling.
Fisher even began to envision escaping.
He turned his head, catching a glimpse of Emhart, who was nearly rolling on the floor with laughter, almost ready to pop a champagne bottle.
It seemed this guy had likely known something was off all along; no wonder yesterday he had acted so unusually; he thought he must have been losing it.
However, on the other hand, since he had decided to come back and see Raphael, he inevitably had to face the situation with Jasmine. Emhart probably only learned of these events after arriving at the Southern Branch Mountain, precisely on the night he had driven him away.
What could he possibly prepare in just one day? Merely a few deep breaths to reflect on the past.
But clearly, running away was not an option.
Either he would not let go even in death, or he would have nothing left but desolation and wreckage; how should he choose?
Fisher took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, treating this moment and any similar situations in the future as a life-or-death crisis, thus preparing to wield his full spirit.
First, he gently created a small distance between himself and Jasmine, who was clinging to him. When she looked at him, bewildered, he turned to Raphael and spoke,
“Raphael, Jasmine indeed knows me; she entered Saint Nali at the same time as one of my students. We only parted ways later when I was forced to leave due to being wanted by Elizabeth.”
As Fisher separated himself from Jasmine, whose proximity to him was nearly nonexistent, Raphael’s previously blank brain finally rebooted. The slight curve of her tail indicated that his words had managed to penetrate her mind for processing.
She paused before speaking, and it was Jasmine beside Fisher who nodded, looking worried as she addressed him,
“Teacher Fisher, ever since I completely mastered controlling the curse, I have come ashore. I spent a long time looking for your news, but…”
Jasmine’s words paused for a brief moment as she hesitated to look back at Raphael, unable to suppress her question,
“So, does that mean Teacher Fisher is really Raphael’s husband?”
“Husband?”
This time, Fisher was baffled again. His rhythm had been unexpectedly interrupted, and he turned to Raphael, only to see her biting her lips, slightly avoiding eye contact before defiantly returning it.
But in her eyes, there was not a sense of rivalry, only the passionate emotion that should accompany such words.
Raphael knew that she had never had a marriage ceremony with Fisher. However, since he was her suitable tail partner according to dragon race customs, Fisher should indeed be her husband!
But, Fisher was a human from the Western Continent, where humans thrived on promiscuity; what loyalty could there be?
She even witnessed a woman who probably had relations with many people gifting Fisher flowers!
Gazing into Raphael’s bright green eyes, Fisher paused for a moment, preparing to speak. But suddenly, the conflict escalated, and the narrative was already out of his control.
At that moment, Keshil, holding a child, jumped into the fray, further complicating the already chaotic atmosphere, saying to Jasmine,
“Lady Jasmine, before Fisher returned to Saint Nali, he was already acquainted with Lady Raphael. Admittedly, Lady Raphael, due to objective circumstances, didn’t have a wedding with Fisher at that time, but in the eyes of the dragon race, as Lady Raphael’s suitable tail partner, Fisher indeed is her husband. Lady Jasmine, you’ve stayed in the Dragon Court for so long; you should know what a suitable tail partner means for the dragon race.”
“I… I know, but…”
Jasmine looked towards Raphael, who was gazing at her teacher Fisher with fervor, just like before when she mentioned “husband.” She had expressed deep gratitude towards him.
When Raphael was captured by humans and reduced to being treated as lowly as livestock, it was he who saved her. He never belittled her, rather treated her equally, respected her views, taught her many things, and helped her through confusion and harsh realities.
They shared such deep feelings, and she firmly believed that although separation was necessary, the bond between them would not vanish.
Raphael had always been waiting for the day they would meet again, wishing to stand equally beside him, breaking free from societal perceptions.
Moreover, it seemed that she hadn’t just met Fisher after Raphael and that, unlike Raphael, she hadn’t made any substantial progress with Fisher either.
Although Raphael had not truly married Fisher, neither had she managed to break free from the constraints of student and teacher herself.
So, what was she supposed to do?
Was it time to let go?
A slight ringing echoed in Jasmine’s ear as she gazed at Raphael, then hesitantly withdrew her gaze.
However, when she looked back at Fisher, the question in her heart rang deafeningly loud.
Raphael had waited and worked so long; but hadn’t she too waited and worked long enough?
I
Don’t want to let go.
“But, hasn’t Raphael not yet held a wedding with Teacher Fisher?”
After a moment of silence, Jasmine looked up and boldly said.
The once soft, pressed whale folk seemed to have developed signs of a rebuttal at this moment, catching both the commentator, Emhart, and the others off guard.
Well said, girl.
Raphael turned to Jasmine but couldn’t help but step back slightly, her body stiffening.
Keshil and Fashir both sighed, saying,
“Indeed, but Lady Raphael and Fisher have already shared a marital life, and this cannot be denied. Moreover, wedding ceremonies are merely human customs; for the dragon race, merely having met the parents and gaining the elders’ and clansmen’s acknowledgment is enough for them to be considered partners.”
“Could it be… is Teacher Fisher already acquainted with Raphael’s mother?”
Jasmine stared back at Fisher in disbelief, seemingly seeking confirmation. But to Emhart’s eyes, this punch solidly knocked Raphael and Fashir into silence.
Yes, Raphael had not only failed to introduce Fisher to her parents, but her parents did not recognize him, and she even feared to publicly acknowledge Fisher as her husband for her clan to witness. Because Raphael knew that her people, having been oppressed by humans for so long, would never accept a Western Continent human as the partner of their Dragon Queen. This was precisely why over the years, Raphael rarely mentioned Fisher outside of Fashir and Keshil.
This had always been a pain for Raphael. To break this barrier, she needed to achieve victory, to place triumph and freedom before her people. Only then could she claim such opinions.
But now she was being continuously beaten back by the pseudo-court, failing to protect herself, let alone…
Jasmine pursed her lips, noticing the grim expressions on the faces of the people around her, realizing she might have said something wrong. She hurriedly waved her hands, trying to remedy the situation,
“No, no. What I mean is, I… I kissed Teacher Fisher. Moreover, Teacher Fisher is from the Western Continent, right?”
Emhart was in disbelief; it was as if Jasmine had been possessed by something. Although her words might not have been deliberate, their impact was undeniable, striking at vital points and causing real harm.
It seemed that Jasmine was indeed a natural-born talent.
Raphael’s tail began to shake slightly as she looked at Jasmine’s lips, even emanating a faint hot steam, as if a steam engine had begun to operate.
Fashir and Keshil were also quite upset, and for the moment forgot about both Jasmine and the High Priestess of the Dragon Court, hastily retorting,
“Lady Jasmine, if that’s the case, then does that mean if a man who has no relation to Fisher has made a marriage contract with her, he belongs to that woman? If that were the case, why not send Fisher to the Eastern Queen Elizabeth, as mentioned in the tabloids?”
Fashir and Keshil had seen the newspaper documenting Fisher and Elizabeth’s scandal, and it was clear that Raphael had been quite angry then, even tearing down the article mentioning Elizabeth.
Later, when Fashir learned that Elizabeth had targeted Fisher, they thought that the news was merely gossip. But both Jasmine and Raphael, to a certain extent, were aware of the connections between Fisher and Elizabeth.
Sure enough, when that name was mentioned, both Raphael and Jasmine’s expressions slightly shifted, especially Jasmine, who had witnessed the terrifying nature of Elizabeth firsthand, not to mention her own aunt…
Emhart thought his two companions sure could talk, yet they dared to mention Elizabeth, as if they wanted to stoke the flames even more!
He coughed slightly, observing the battlefield ablaze with arguments, and looked at Fashir and Keshil saying,
“Let’s not put it this way; you don’t know, at that time, Fisher would rather run away with Jasmine than return to Saint Nali to marry Elizabeth.”
“Hah?! Fisher and that… human Empress thing is real?”
“But even so, that was a long time ago, even before Fisher came to the Southern Continent, right?”
“But back then, Elizabeth and Fisher clearly…”
“Clearly what?!”
“Yeah, quickly say it!”
The heated banter filled with exaggerations was anything but a fight, overwhelming the grand hall of the King’s Court with the sounds of Fashir, Keshil, Jasmine, and Emhart, offering golden lines and further complicating the already chaotic situation.
Raphael, who had been silent all along, merely watched Jasmine standing in front of Fisher, but the scales on her body kept trembling, and she couldn’t help but start to breathe heavily, clearly reflecting her emotional turbulence.
Fashir and Keshil were trying to help Raphael; their main argument was that “Raphael and Fisher shared marital relations and should rightfully be considered a couple,” hoping to make Jasmine let go. Jasmine appeared soft but showed no signs of retreat, becoming fully entangled in the dispute.
Meanwhile, Emhart continued to shout, wishing to highlight,
“Is it possible that Fisher made no mistakes?!”
And illuminate the flames of Fisher’s side, letting him experience what it meant to have flames burning in his body, what greed would cost.
Yet he ultimately refrained from doing so, leaving Fisher a way out.
The two children held by Fashir and Keshil saw nothing and merely clapped, laughing innocently.
“Enough, you all!”
“Enough!”
At that moment, both Fisher and Raphael spoke up simultaneously, thoroughly irritated by the noise. The Dragon Queen couldn’t tolerate it any longer and, along with Fisher, looked toward Fashir and Keshil, who were rolling up their sleeves to reason.
“Lady Raphael, you’ve waited so long; it’s time to clarify…”
“Yes, and initially…”
“You’re all yelling like fishwives; how can anything be clarified? Besides, this is our matter, and we’ll handle it ourselves. You all should take the children and leave.”
“Raphael…”
“I don’t want to repeat myself.”
Though Fashir and Keshil were hesitant, they finally nodded and left, carrying the cheerful children away.
Jasmine bit her lip, feeling the gazes of the departing women upon her, and for a moment was rendered speechless.
Fisher seized his shoulder that was still being enthusiastically tapped by Emhart and quietly said to him, glancing at his bewildered expression,
“You, once I’m done here, I’ll deal with you.”
“…”
Emhart blinked innocently, only to be casually tossed by Fisher into the eager grasp of the two curious dragon children, who frightened him into a loud scream, yet he could not escape their clutches.
Under the forceful command of the Dragon Queen, irrelevant personnel were quickly ushered out, leaving the space for the three trapped in a whirlpool of unresolved tensions.
For a moment, the earlier clamor receded like a tidal wave, but the atmosphere remained unchanged, even turning colder.
Raphael’s tail swayed dangerously, and after several deep breaths, she could not calm her rapidly accelerating heartbeat.
She gazed at Jasmine from afar, then at Fisher right before her, her fists gradually tightening.
She just didn’t understand why what should have been a joyful event had transformed into this.
Clearly, after a long-awaited reunion, she wanted to share her joy of this moment with the sister who had accompanied her for so long, wanting to gain her mother’s blessing to make him her true husband.
It should have been like this.
But why did her husband suddenly become the focus of everyone’s attention?
Why did he not refuse others? Was it because she was merely a lowly dragon from the Southern Continent? Perhaps he had always seen her as nothing more than a fleeting romance? In his eyes, what did she represent? But he clearly had come to find her.
Jasmine was unwilling to let go; what about Elizabeth? What was the relationship between Fisher and Elizabeth? Was it truly just as he had said, merely a first love that had been severed?
The sudden shock was not only directed at Fisher; it was also very much applicable to Raphael. Just moments ago, she had not managed to utter a complete sentence.
With so many questions and such great shifts, she needed to seek answers.
She simply couldn’t accept the changes that had taken place. She didn’t want to argue with Jasmine, didn’t want to quarrel with Fisher or question him, but all of this seemed fundamentally unavoidable.
Could she really just shrug it off and walk away?
But clearly, whether it was knowing each other, being in love, sharing marital ties, making promises, or cherishing feelings, she had been the one who came first.
The winds of the Southern Continent, once shared with Fisher, still danced vividly in her mind; no matter how much she might want to deny it, she recognized her deep longing for those times.
She, too, did not wish to let go.
In the silence, her breathing gradually slowed, and once more, she shifted her gaze towards Fisher and Jasmine.
Clearly, this was far from over.
Please vote, tip, and support; it is incredibly important to me!
Thank you for your support!
(End of chapter)
