The Mermaid

Paul didn't think it over. He only wanted to choose the best way to save Mina.

But he forgot that even though Mina was a little girl who lacked the emotion of fear, she still cared deeply about her appearance.

"Mina doesn't want to turn into a monster!"

Mina looked at her father, then at the big brother beside her. Pouting, she said, "Mina doesn't want to turn into an ugly monster."

If you ignored the brain tissue still trembling on top of the little girl's head, the sight would have been utterly endearing.

Thor's hand paused as he reached for Mina. He sighed softly. "All right. I won't let you turn into an ugly monster."

He turned to Paul. "Wait outside."

Paul wiped away his tears. He had wanted to stay and help, and to keep an eye on Mina, but when he heard Thor's words, he said anxiously, "Mentor Thor, please let me stay and help."

Thor shot him a sideways glance. "You're a Level 3 Apprentice. What could you possibly do to help here?"

Paul wasn't usually indecisive, but with his daughter's life at stake, he could only steel himself and keep pleading.

But just as he opened his mouth, before he could get a single word out, the world spun around him.

When everything came back into focus, Paul found himself outside the room.

Across from him, his friends Nero and Nathan stared at him in astonishment.

"Paul?"

"When did you get here?"

"I..."

Paul couldn't explain it either. He turned around in bewilderment and saw the door firmly shut. At last, he realized that Wizard Thor didn't want him in the room and had simply thrown him out.

He wanted to rush back inside, but thinking of what Thor had just said, he couldn't bring