A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 686 The Thirteenth

After that, they watched fellow students from the College Of Magic win and lose their bouts, which was entertaining. One person who caught Archer's attention was Kassandra Tidewater, the Kraken Princess, who was approaching him with an adorable smile after winning her first fight.

Kassandra stopped before him with a glint in her beautiful blue eyes, ''It's good to see you again,'' she greeted him, then asked. ''Can I join you, please?''

Archer nodded with a charming smile, which caused Ella to jump onto his lap, making room for Kassandra to sit beside him. While doing that, she commented, ''Too many weak people competing. It's a shame they aren't as strong as you, Arch.''

He grinned in response to the compliment, his attention drawn to her natural beauty, which he hadn't fully appreciated. Her jet-black hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, accentuating her slender neck.

Kassandra's black eyes exuded an air of depth and mystery as pools of infinite darkness flecked with glimmers of unseen secrets. Their obsidian depths seemed to hold untold stories and hidden emotions, drawing others in with their enigmatic allure.

However, he saw the gills beneath her ears that distinguish her from other humanoids—a captivating feature that suggests her Kraken heritage. They enhance her already enchanting presence with an otherworldly charm.

Despite her soft features, her muscular frame speaks of strength. Well-defined muscles sculpt her arms and legs, while her giant boobs and slim waist create a harmonious balance of femininity and power.

Her thick thighs ooze power, indicating a life of activity and vigor. With each movement, she exudes confidence and poise. She embodies a rare blend of beauty, strength, and charm—a mesmerizing sight that leaves a memorable impression on all who see her.

"When are you going to stop staring at her husband?'' Ella commented with a giggle when she saw him staring at their visitor. ''She's not a piece of meat, you know."

When he heard Ella's words, Archer was about to speak, but Kassandra said reassuringly, ''It's okay. He's strong enough to do so, and my kind love strength, especially a powerful surface dweller.''

''Oh yeah. I forgot Krakens are all about strength and conquering innocent kingdoms,'' Teuila sarcastically said.

Kassandra laughed, ''You have a point there. But like I've told you, we needed breeding pools to help our race. Anyone would have done the same thing as us,'' she commented with a neutral expression.

Teuila huffed but stopped short of arguing and chose to ignore Kassandra, who wouldn't stop talking, ''We don't have to be friends, but can we be civil?''

''Return our lands, then we can be civil,'' The blue-haired girl snapped back before she turned to Archer. ''You can talk to her, but don't expect me to. There's too much bad blood between our races.''

Archer nodded, ''Okay, Teu. But you know the Mid-Rift surrounds Draconia?'' He smiled before offering her something she couldn't refuse. ''I may be able to help your people set up a colony there. I'll make sure to capture some sea monsters to protect it.''

A pair of ocean blue eyes turned to him with a look of hope and asked in a hopeful voice, ''What will stop the Krakens from attacking again?''

Once Teuila said that, Archer turned to Kassandra with a grin and replied, ''Because she won't allow it, will you?''

''No,'' She returned the grin with one of her own, ''But I desire something in return if you want me to tell Father to stop invading your kingdom, Aquarian,'' she said.

Teuila turned to look at the girl and asked in annoyance, ''What do you want, Kraken?''

"A date with Archer?" she instantly answered while thinking. "If I remember correctly, you surface dwellers take your lovers on them," Kassandra said, causing Teuila's eyes to widen in shock.

She shook her head as Archer laughed and let the two girls speak. Teuila asked suspiciously, ''Do you want to be Archer's lover?''

The black-haired girl nodded, ''Yes. He beat me, and in my society, if a man beats a woman, she becomes enamored with him and wants to be around him to form a bond,'' she looked at him with hopeful eyes. ''And that's what's happened to me, and it shocked me, to be honest.''

Archer noticed her cheeks growing red, but she quickly explained, ''I'm not exactly a lady, as I love fighting and adventuring.'' Kassandra looked down as she continued and heard the sadness in her voice. ''My siblings used to bully me because of my muscles and interest in fighting.''

When hearing that, Archer reached out and touched her dainty hand, loving how soft they felt. This caused Kassandra to look up with a small smile as she squeezed his hand in return as electricity passed through the two, causing him to get a shiver.

''Damn Krakens and your strange love life; Father told me that your race is monogamous and doesn't like harems,'' Teuila finally spoke in a barely restrained voice.

Archer was looking at the blue-haired girl and wondered why she was getting angry. He asked Ella to jump up so he could pamper Teuila. The half-elf got up and motioned for her friend to take her place.

Teuila saw the offer and shrugged before slipping onto Archer's lap. When she did that, he started running his fingers on her thick thigh before whispering into her ear, ''I love you, Teu. Forever and always. Do you know how happy I am that we met all those years ago? Extremely''

Once hearing his voice, Teuila's whole body shivered, causing her to smile and lean into him before Kassandra answered the blue-haired girl in an amused tone. ''Can't a girl break the mold? I don't care for harems. Take us, for example. You will never like me, and the same goes for me toward you, but we mustn't be at each other's throats as we share the same husband.''

After Kassandra spoke, Teuila's temper flared again, causing her to snap, ''He's not your man! You asked for a date, but he hasn't replied yet.''

Archer chuckled and sent a message through the dragon tattoo, [What's wrong? She's only been friendly to us]

When Teuila heard this, she sighed before replying, [She's a Kraken Arch. They destroyed my kingdom's settlements in the Mid-Rift and forced us to the surface]

[Isn't that a good thing though? If you were still under the water, we would have never met. So, in a way, the Krakens brought us together]

Teuila sighed before concluding, [Well, you're right. I will be civil with the girl just for you, but I can't bring myself to be her friend after the thousands of Aquarians they killed during the wars]

Archer smiled, ''I understand, Teu, I would never force you into anything, and you know this.''

Teuila nodded before returning to Kassandra, who watched them fascinatedly, and said in a retrained tone, ''You want a date? But are you ready to rush into a relationship with someoneyou barely know?''

Kassandra watched Teuila with a thoughtful expression, her blue eyes holding a glimmer of understanding. Archer saw the look of honesty in her gaze and waited for her to speak.

"You know," she began, her voice calm, "in Kraken society, love is not something that strikes like lightning, nor can it be forced. It's a slow, steady burn, cultivated over time."

Teuila raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "What do you mean?" she asked, her tone guarded.

"Well," Kassandra continued, "we believe that love is something that grows as a couple spends time together, shares experiences, and faces challenges side by side. It's not about grand gestures or passionate declarations; it's about the quiet moments, the everyday interactions, and the unwavering support that two people offer each other."

Teuila considered Kassandra's words for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "So, you're saying that even if a couple barely knows each other at first, they can still grow to love each other over time?"

"Exactly," Kassandra confirmed, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's about building a foundation of trust, respect, and understanding. As time passes, that foundation becomes stronger, and love blossoms naturally from it."

Archer watched as Teuila started nodding slowly, absorbing Kassandra's explanation. "I suppose that's a different approach from what I'm used to," she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"It may be different," Kassandra acknowledged, "but it's no less valid. Love comes in many forms, and each culture has its own way of expressing and experiencing it. The key is to embrace those differences and find common ground."

When hearing the girl's explanation, Archer found it rich, "They believe love should be nurtured over time, through shared experiences, allowing it to grow strong," he summarized, reflecting on Kassandra's insight.

But soon, he gazed into Kassandra's blue eyes and decided to ask, ''So you want to be in a relationship with me? You do realize what that means?''

Kassandra nodded as she spoke, her eyes fixed on Archer's with unwavering determination. "Yes, I know. You're a greedy dragon who will claim me for life, and I've happily accepted that."

Archer's gaze softened as he reached out to gently touch her hand, a flicker of emotion crossing his features. "And I, in turn, have accepted the responsibility that comes with claiming you," he replied, his tone sincere.

After that, Kassandra questioned in a hopeful voice, ''So that means we're lovers now?''

He nodded, ''Yes, and you will forever be mine in this life and the next Kassandra Tidewater.''

Teuila huffed in his ear, saying, ''I'll try my best not to argue with her, but you need to talk to the others to see if they accept her.''

''Okay. Let's do it now,'' Archer replied.

That's when Teuila got up and sat down next to Kassandra, who smiled at her. Archer turned to the other nine girls and spoke, ''I've claimed Kassandra. Does anyone have an issue?''

[Please let me know if you spot any mistakes, and I will edit them. Thank you]

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