"To be honest, my dear, this is not the first time I have traveled under the sea, but it still takes a while to get used to the situation." Marianne sighed, when at last, after everything was arranged around the forge, the members of the Mullen family descended into the depths of the sea.
Although most travelers needed permission to travel through the undersea realms, there were still parts of the sea that did not belong to any nation. To the average undersea-walker, it was completely logical why these places were unclamed, but the surfacers had no idea what horrors lurked in the dark depths.
Not so Matthias, the undersea-walker who was the famous blacksmith, was aware of the dangers of the sea, but he also knew how to avoid them. How he should protect himself from the beasts that lurked in the depths of the sea, or more, from the horrors that were even worse. Of course, the journey would still be just as long, but at least the feeling of safety would remain.
"You're doing pretty well for that, Annie, dear." The blacksmith of the Floating Barracks smiled up at his wife. "Some people just can't get used to it at all." He added, accompanied by a shrug.
The child-like blacksmith's entire aura changed the moment the Mullen family got far enough from the Floating Barracks and reached the so-called uncharted areas of the sea. The invisible weight that always seemed to weigh on the man's shoulders seemed to have miraculously disappeared.
It was as if he didn't even feel the weight of the water on his shoulders. And yet, anyone who wanted to go down from the surface to the depths would swim back up to the surface, gasping for air, a quarter of the way there. The only way to escape a pressure problem for the surfacers was to wear clothes that were made specifically by undersea-walkers.
Or if they wears the armor made by Matthias and Marianne, which was made specifically for this purpose. True, there are limited quantities of armor made for this purpose, all made for the Hegin team. The greatest works of the Mullen couple, to this day. True, as Matthias knows his wife, they will soon have another major one.
But now the blacksmith does not have to think about such things, the work has been left behind in Floating Barracks, instead he is here at the bottom of the sea in the company of the creatures dearest to him. Despite his vow that he will never return to the realm of the southern seas, you can still clearly see that he is truly at home here at the bottom of the sea, where he began his life.
Moreover, Matthias is not the only one who is positively affected by the embrace of the sea. Although Mukei does not like to travel in the depths of the sea, or even to be down there at all, but still, when his mother now sees how he reacts to his surroundings, it is undeniable that, despite all his opposition, he breathes much easier than usual. One simply cannot deny what he was born to be.
Just as Mittar inherited his mother's heritage and became a predator, so Mukei is an undersea-walker thanks to his father's heritage and as such his natural habitat is the depths of the sea, even if he likes to avoid the place. Like father, like son, both of them avoid the sea, but for both of them it is home. So now the trip spent under the sea has been especially good for both of them.
And Marianne was just glad that the boys had a good time, thanks to which she herself enjoyed the trip. Matthias led his family through places that even the bravest travelers would not have chosen, but thanks to the blacksmith, they traveled safely and did not have to worry about getting into trouble even in the dark of the night. This is how they finally reached the border of the South Sea Association, which surprised the eldest Mullen quite a bit.
"The world has really changed a lot, when I was last here, this was not here yet." Matthias thought, as he watched the border settlement approaching from afar.
"That's the border, father." Mukei chuckled, which only made his father look at him questioningly.
"Border?" The blacksmith of the Floating Barracks asked.
"Sure, a defense system where everyone has to sign in." Mukei shrugged.
"Oh, and what does this sign-in mean?" Marianne asked with narrowed eyes.
"It's no big deal, Mom, don't worry. They don't need to know you're a predator." The younger Mullen boy smiled broadly.
"Thank the wind spirit." The world's most famous tailor sighed. After that, the trio continued on their way along the seabed in silence until they finally reached the border, where, of course, as was the custom, they were stopped by the guards.
"Name and purpose of travel, please." The border guard said seriously.
"Mukei Mullen, vacation." The young undersea-walker folded his arms behind him. However, with his words, he managed to make the border guard's eyes widen and he stammered.
"President Mullen's younger brother?" The next question came, which made the Mullen couple look at each other with puzzled faces, as if they were just asking if the other knew what was going on, only to be immediately answered that no, neither of them knew what was going on.
"Exactly." Mukei nodded firmly, and the border guard swallowed so hard that Marianne was afraid he would choke.
"Who are your guests, if I may ask, sir?" The border guard asked cautiously.
"Our parents." The young undersea-walker Mullen announced with a broad smile, but this managed to scare the border guard so much that he almost started praying on the spot.
"The... The... Test should be done, if it's all right." The man grunted, and Mukei chuckled, raising his right hand to his mouth.
"Leave that to me." He finally waved before leading his parents into the house next door.
"What is this?" Marianne asked with sparkling eyes when she saw the stone pillar in the middle of the room, with crystal veins sparkling in it.
"This..." Mukei began, but before he could continue, his father interrupted.
"This is an emotion-sensing totem." Matthias put his hands on his hips. "Although I don't understand why it's here." He shook his head.
"To find out who comes to the South Sea Association territory with what intention. It was my brother's idea, so we can keep an eye on everyone." The boy shrugged.
"And what do you have to do with this?" Marianne asked, holding her chin.
"You just have to put your hands on it. That's all." Mukei smiled, and his father sighed heavily and simply placed his palms on the pillar, which immediately began to glow colorfully.
"What does this mean?" The tailor asked.
"Caution, doubt, but mostly joy." Mukei said, but upon hearing the last emotion, his mother looked at his father questioningly.
"I don't know what you're surprised about, Annie dear, I'm always happy to be with you." Matthias shrugged as he let go of the pillar.
"I love you too, my dear." Marianne giggled while she placed her hand on the pillar herself so her son could see what emotions she was feeling.