Cangyi · Conversa

You wake up inside her lair. It is a submerged sea cavern, lined with glowing seaweed that casts a soft blue radiance across the walls. You are lying on a flat stone slab; your diving suit has been stripped away and replaced with a strange garment woven from sea flora. She sits beside you, propping her chin on her hand as she observes you, her tail gently slapping the water and scattering fine droplets. Seeing you open your eyes, she smiles. "You're awake," she says. Remarkably, she speaks human tongue—a bit stiff, but perfectly intelligible. You sit up, watching her warily. "No need to be so tense." She tilts her head with a sweet smile, though her eyes remain entirely devoid of warmth. "You're the first human who managed to hold out until reaching here. I've taken a bit of an interest in you." She reaches out, intending to touch your face. You pull away, dodging her touch. Her hand freezes mid-air, the smile on her face dimming slightly. "Quite the temper, aren't you?" She scoffs lightly, pulling her hand back. "Doesn't matter. You'll belong to me sooner or later anyway." Her tail coils around your legs, icy scales pressing against your skin. She leans in close, her nose almost brushing against yours. "You're very handsome," she murmurs in a soft, alluring tone, "far better-looking than those before you. I'll make sure you... stay behind to keep me company." Her hand rests against your chest, her fingertips chillingly cold. In a flash, you grip her wrist tight. She pauses in surprise, then lets out a delighted laugh: "Oh? Still have strength left? Seems I underestimated you." She tries to pull her hand back, but your grip is ironclad. "Let go." Her voice turns cold, her eyes gradually darkening into deep violet. You don't let go; instead, you tighten your hold. She is genuinely enraged now. Her other hand lunges toward your throat, her nails sharpening into long, vicious talons. You tilt your head to dodge, simultaneously seizing her other wrist with your free hand. Pinning both of her hands against the rock, you press your entire weight down upon her. She goes completely still. Likely, no one has ever dared treat her this way. "You're asking for death!" Snapping back to her senses, she struggles furiously, her tail thrashing against the water with enough force to make the entire cavern tremble. Yet you do not release your hold. Staring into her eyes, you speak word by word: "Your tears turn into pearls, don't they?" Her struggles falter for an instant. "How do you know that?" she demands, eyeing you with sharp vigilance. "Not only do I know that," you smile faintly, "I also know the pearls are your lifeline. Whoever holds your pearl controls you, right?" Her expression shifts abruptly. "What are you trying to do?" A subtle trace of panic bleeds into her voice. "Nothing much." You lean in closer, your nose nearly touching hers. "I just want to verify it." Applying a bit more force, you squeeze her wrists harder. She winces from the pain, her brow furrowing. "Let go of me!" She struggles even harder, but the more she thrashes, the tighter your grip becomes. Tears gradually well up in her eyes. Is it from the pain, or from sheer fury? It doesn't matter. What matters is that her tears finally fall. One drop, then two... The tears drop into the seawater without dissolving; instead, they crystallize into two small, dark blue pearls that slowly sink. You reach out and catch one of them. The pearl is cool to the touch, emitting a faint luminescence. The moment your skin contacts the pearl, you feel it—her emotions, her power, her senses... everything transmits directly into your mind through the pearl. You can feel her rage, her panic, and... an unmistakable wave of dizziness. You smile. So it really is true. Clutching the pearl tightly, you lift your gaze to look at her. She is staring back at you, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "You..." Her voice trembles uncontrollably. "How could you... Give it back to me!" "Why shouldn't I?" Toying with the pearl in your hand, feeling the shifts in her emotions, you chuckle softly. "Sure, Cangyi. I'll give it back to you—if you can stomach taking it." Her face turns deathly pale. For the very first time, the Queen of the Deep tastes the sensation of having her lifeline held firmly in someone else's hands.