Seeing the reincarnated demigod again - after knowing her identity that is - I couldn't seem to find my own voice. I was nervous and when I looked at Geeta, she was gaping like a fish. She must have been as flustered as I am. I tried to recall what Tarun and Seela did when they faced him. I gulped and lowered my head as I remembered Tarun and Seela. "I serve t-"
"No no no. Please." Brinda immediately said making me look up at her worriedly. Did I do something wrong? Did I say the wrong words? Brinda must have read my expression. "Please. I really am uncomfortable when people treat me like a god. So, unless it's for some official purpose, please just greet me normally." She said. Geeta and I exchanged glances before looking back at her with a nod. Brinda grinned in satisfaction. "So, mind telling me why you two are here? Are you guys skipping with your training?" She whispered.
"O-of course not, mam!" Geeta quickly denied. "We have permission to be here."
Brinda seemed surprised at this. "Really? That's rare." She paused and pondered a bit. "They should know that I..." She shook his head. "Never mind. If it's good with your officers, then I guess it's fine. Would you two like to accompany me?" She asked. I didn't answer and Geeta glanced at me for help.
"Princes Brinda, we-"
"Please. Just Brinda? I am getting sick of hearing that title." She sighed. "I am just a normal teenage girl. Like you guys." She chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't exactly call us normal on Earth land standards with the whole advanced genes or whatever." We wiggled her hands in the air for emphasis. "Tell you what? I'll show you something cool if you accompany me. I am bored as hell. You can even ask me anything." She insisted and still we did not respond. Under the dimly lit room I saw her expression slumped briefly. An expression that I was too familiar with. "Never mind. I guess you two rather-"
"Sure." I answered without even thinking. I saw Geeta flinched beside me but didn't say anything. Brinda looked surprised at my response for a second before she smiled happily. "Great! Come on then. I'll introduce you guys to kufi!" She said and turned back and started heading towards one of the doors.
"Are you crazy?" Geeta whispered to me as we were a few paces back from the demigod. I know what she means. Accompanying such a high ranking and respectable person like her is a bit...I don't know. I can't find the right words to describe it. But it is close to astounding. But I guess I felt sorry for the guy. She is still just a teen like us. And I could only assume that people treat him strict up-fronts all the time.
Does she even have friends?
I merely shrugged in response and followed Brinda. Geeta couldn't do anything but follow as well. She lead us through a huge tube-like hallway with a metallic platform for us to walk on. It was all made out of glass except for the platform. Nothing but the small bulbs lit the path - just enough for us to see our way.
"Lemurians sure do like circular things and dilly lit facilities." Geeta commented making Brinda chuckle. We were walking closely with her now because of our anxiousness and the drop of temperature.
"The design actually has a purpose." Brinda says. "Convex design walls are actually good at compressive forces. And you all know we are very deep underwater. To avoid getting crushed under this intense pressure, our walls are circular. It's like the concept of dams. You have that on land, right? Notice how the convex part faces the water? Now imagine if the water flows on the other side or if the dam is straight. The force will convert to tension instead of compression and completely break it." She explained and I was having a hard time grasping the concept. Geeta was looking dizzy as well and it makes me a bit glad that I wasn't the only stupid person in the group. "As for the dim lights, we only use it when our designs are to support viewing the scenery outside. It's because there are creatures out there that are attracted to bright light. We don't want to risk the chance of them attacking our base."
Just as she said it, our surroundings suddenly darkened. The small fishes and sharks suddenly dispersed as if something spooked it. Just then, the sea creature that Seela previously called the kraken swam past us. Geeta suddenly grabbed my arm and started shivering with fear. I could tell that she wanted to scream but she was just holding it in. Brinda didn't seem bothered by it at all. "Ricky!" She laughed as the kraken made a low and loud noise. "It's pretty rare of you to show yourself to visitors. Guys, this is Ricky." Byron pointed at the overgrown squid lizard that was studying us with one of its reptilian eyes.
"C-Can you talk to it? I mean, are you sure it won't attack us?" Geeta asked nervously and let out a yelp when Ricky, the lizard kraken, brushed its octopus arms on the glass gently as if it was petting us.
Brinda saddened a bit at Geeta's question. "I guess you guys heard of my suppose-to-be abilities, huh? Unfortunately, I can only control the water right now. But talking to them is far from it." Brinda raised her hand and made a twirling motion. I could faintly see the water twirly around max's tentacles, and it let out a sound.
It was pleased.
"But they do act like they recognize me, so I guess I am getting closer to figuring out my other ability." She chuckled sadly and turned to face us. "So much for the reincarnated demigod, right?" She didn't wait for us to response as she immediately fixed her attention to max. "Alright boy, the guys are scared. I'll play with you later. Right now, we are going to see kufi." She says and even though she said that she cannot communicate with the sea creatures yet, the kraken seemed to have understood her as it immediately swam away. After it was gone, Brinda started moving again.
"Mitt?" Geeta asked nervously.
"Yeah?"
"If max is this giant Kraken, then what kind of...creature do you think is Fifi?"
"Honestly? I have no idea and I feel like I don't want to know." I answered honestly. Somehow, I don't want to know about kufi anymore. But the demigod seemed excited that I feel like we will upset her if we leave right now. I nudged Geeta to gesture her to follow. She gave me a pleading look, but I simply shook my head and half dragged her forward.
Brinda was standing in front of a dark metallic door. She punched in a code and scanned she cuffs. "I have two additional guests." She says and gestures for us to scan ours as well. Once we did, the metallic door slid open to reveal a cylindrical elevator with white walls. Brinda got in and we followed her inside.
"796-10-332." Brinda says the moment the elevator door closed. I could feel the elevator moving and it only made my anxiety increase. Geeta shaking beside me is not helping at all. Among us, only Brinda seemed relax and she continued to whistle.
What is kufi? Is kufi worse than Max? Exactly what type of sea creature is it?
"Princess Brinda.
"Please. Just call me Brinda."
"Brinda...what is kufi?" I asked hesitantly and I could feel Geeta's grip on my arm was getting tighter. It didn't help that she has Lemurian strength as well.
"I heard of this gigantic shark that no longer exist. But rumour has it that it still does, but they live somewhere deep within the sea." Geeta gulped as she asked. "Is... Is kufi one of those? I mean I could only assume. Is kufi a Meg?"
"I like that!" Brinda enthusiastically pointed at her. "You sure are knowledgeable if you know about the Meg. But no. Momo, K**i, and D**o are the Megs. But your guess is good. Try thinking of something older."
As she was talking, Geeta and I pressed ourselves against the cool metallic wall of the elevator as it moves. What she just said - and in a very casual tone if I may add - was too much for us to process.
THERE ARE MEGS! AND THERE ARE THREE OF THEM.
Geeta and I exchanged glances and started laughing nervously. We were gonna die. Maybe not from the sea creatures but from shock. Seeing the Kraken wrecked our nerves, hearing about three megalodons made our knees weak, and now we were about to meet kufi!!
WHAT IS KUFI!?
"By older you mean younger than the Krake - I mean - Max or older than Max?"
"Older. Our scientist was able to recover some fossils and brought it back to life 50 years ago. Sadly they could only find one. And right now, kufi is my goal. I want to learn how to talk to her properly."
"How do you know that it is a girl?" I asked.
"I don't. It is just a guess. But kufi is cute so I only assume that it's a girl because she's very pretty and gentle." At Brinda's description of kufi, Geeta and I finally relaxed. Cute. She says kufi is cute. Maybe it is a cute sea creature after all.
I heard Geeta letting out a sigh of relief while I smiled when I felt my nerves starting to work normally again. There was a light ding and the elevator door slid open. In front of us was a humongous glass dome that was dimly lit by both the indoor lights and the glowing sea anemones outside. It was actually bright enough that I can see that there is a hole at the center and about one meter below is a pool connected to the water outside.
"We usually keep the pool close, but I was just heading out to get Fifi some food when I ran into both of you as I was heading back." Brina explained and told us to stay back a little. "I'll introduce you both to kufi first before you can come close. She's very shy."
I nodded while Geeta beamed eagerly. "I wonder what kind of cute creature is kufi."
"Maybe a very pretty jellyfish?" I suggested.
"Could be a large seahorse that you can ride!" Geeta whispered excitedly. I have to admit; her suggestion was way better than mine that I actually hope that it was real.
Brinda stopped right in front of the pool and cupped her hands into his mouth. "kUFI!" She called out. "COME ON OUT! WE HAVE GUESTS!" She yelled loudly. When there was no response, he started to put two fingers in her mouth and let out a very loud whistle.
We waited. Then I saw bubbles coming from the pool.
"There she is. That's my girl."
Even though it was dark, I saw it. I saw lizard scales reflected by the lights. I feel like blood drained from my face when I realize what Fifi was before she even emerged. Once she did, she stood pretty tall and towered over Brinda easily at 4 meters tall. It's rounded fins holding on the floor to keep itself steady. I heard a rattle and I could only assume that Geeta fell on the ground and shivering in fear.
It has a head like an alligator, but its jaws were a bit pointed with two of its bottom teeth protruding. It's body...I can only describe that it resembles a seal, but scaly like a lizard. Water dripped from both its snout and body as it emerged from the ocean and was regarding us curiously.
"Guys, meet Kufi!" Brinda screamed with joy and hugged the snout of the sea creature as it leveled itself with her. "The one and only Plesiosaur."