For the next half hour, the Mermaid Pontiff and O'dor reminisced about the past. Velin and Kyle moved over two coral stools and played with some pink fish that had appeared from nowhere, waiting patiently nearby.
"Are you willing to wait so long for your teacher, yet unwilling to come back and see me even once?"
Sensing the Mermaid Pontiff's resentful gaze, O'dor said solemnly, "You are already married. What if your husband misunderstands because I came to see you?"
"I envy your wife. I truly envy her..."
Watching the Mermaid Pontiff shed tears, O'dor remained unmoved. He neither took any practical action nor offered words of comfort, merely watching quietly.
"How heartless!"
"You are the Mermaid Pontiff, a mermaid watched over at all times by the God of Mermaids and Songstresses. I am merely a humble human mage. How could I dare offend you?" O'dor answered calmly, leaving the Mermaid Pontiff speechless.
Looking at the mermaid tears drifting over, Velin could sense the powerful force within them. They were only slightly weaker than the blue crystal bestowed by the God of Mermaids and Songstresses.
However, they belonged to someone else. Even when they floated before him, Velin did not dare reach out and catch them.
"Uncle, it's getting late. We should head back first," Velin said, noticing that the sky outside had grown dim.
Seeing this, O'dor rose and said to the Mermaid Pontiff, "Pontiff Shirley, it is late. We shall take our leave first."
The Mermaid Pontiff removed a bell from her fishtail and held it out to O'dor. "I know about the agreement between you and Halifax. Take this. It can serve as proof."
Looking at the bell swaying freely in the currents, O'dor hesitated for a moment before accepting it. "Excuse my offense."
"It's fine. I