Chapter 287: Under the Surface!

The ocean stretched endlessly beyond the balcony.

Soft currents drifted like invisible rivers through the dark, carrying faint glimmers of bioluminescent life across the horizon. Atlantis pulsed beneath it all, alive, radiant, impossibly vast.

Albedo stood quietly at the railing, the cool night air brushing against his skin.

For a few moments, he simply watched the beautiful distant glow of coral towers, and the slow but charming movement of the colossal sea-beasts far above him.

The steady rhythm of a kingdom at peace. Then, Albedo reached into his coat and pulled out his phone.

The faint glow of the screen illuminated his face as it activated, a stark contrast to the natural magic surrounding him.

His thumb hovered over the screen for a second. Then he opened his messages, immediately locking his gaze onto Gwen’s name where he paused briefly, his expression softening just slightly as he tapped onto her icon.

Then he started typing out his message.

Albedo: Hey. Just checking in.

He stared at the message for a second and then deciding to add on some more context.

Albedo: My training is going really well. I’m on a pretty cool trip right now, somewhere very different, I’ll tell you about it when I get back,

After he sent that, there was another pause and Albedo let out a small exhale.

Albedo: It’s pretty amazing though. I think you’d like it.

He leaned lightly against the railing as he continued.

Albedo: I picked up some souvenirs for you. Don’t get your hopes up too much.

There was a brief pause and then

Albedo: Take care of things while I’m gone.

He stared at the message again. Then hit send. The screen dimmed slightly as the message delivered.

For a moment, there was nothing.

Just the quiet hum of the ocean beyond.

Albedo slipped the phone into one hand, idly scrolling through the photos he had taken earlier.

Atlantis in twilight, glowing coral towers, living rivers of light drifting through the city. He paused on one image in particular, the balcony shot which was a perfect angle with perfect lightning.

He could already imagine Gwen’s reaction. A faint smile almost formed.

Then, the phone buzzed. Albedo blinked once.

That was fast. He looked down.

Gwen: ALBEDO???

Another message instantly followed.

Gwen: I hope all has really been well. I’ve missed you

Albedo leaned slightly more against the railing, one hand holding the phone as the other rested casually at his side.

Albedo: I missed you too

Three dots appeared instantly, then disappeared and then reappeared.

Gwen: You said it’s amazing??

He glanced out over Atlantis again. The glowing city stretched endlessly before him and smiled as he knew just how much she’d like it here.

“…Yeah.”

His fingers moved.

Albedo: It is.

Albedo: I’ll show you all the pictures I took when I get back, you’ll love them all.

There was a noticeable delay this time.Then,

Gwen: You better.

A small smile tugged at his lips. Then,

Gwen: Things here have been kinda boring though.

Albedo blinked once.

Albedo: Boring?

Gwen: Yeah.

Gwen: Nothing really happening.

Gwen: No weird stuff. No attacks. No crazy things.

A pause.

Gwen: It’s actually kinda peaceful, I guess this is semester break.

Albedo’s eyes flickered slightly. Peaceful. That word didn’t sit right. Not completely at least.

Albedo: That’s good.

Another pause before,

Gwen: …Well.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

Albedo: What?

A few seconds passed before the reply came.

Gwen: Seraphyne’s been going out a lot though.

Albedo’s gaze sharpened instantly. The ocean beyond the balcony seemed to fade from his awareness.

Gwen: Like… a lot.

Gwen: She says it’s “business.”

Gwen: But she won’t tell me what kind.

Silence. Albedo didn’t type immediately. His mind was already moving as he knew Seraphyne wasn’t the type to repeatedly move without reason, and definitely not without leaving some kind of explanation.

If she was active and acting like this, that meant that something was happening behind the scenes.

Albedo’s eyes darkened slightly as he realized this, thinking of what or who could be causing this.

Abyssal remnants? Political movement? Something worse? There were too many possibilities, but Gwen didn’t know any of that, and she didn’t need to.

Albedo exhaled slowly. Then typed.

Albedo: She can handle herself.

The reply came quickly.

Gwen: I know.

Gwen:She’s just… weird sometimes.

Albedo almost smirked.

“…That’s one way to put it.”

Albedo: That’s normal for her.

A pause and then,

Gwen: Still, I hope everything’s fine with her. She’s really fun to have around usually, her jokes are always funny.

Albedo’s gaze drifted back out toward the ocean. The glowing city. The distant movement of shadows in the deep.

“…Probably.”

But he didn’t say that. Instead

Albedo: Don’t worry about it. She’s stronger than me, nothing can faze her out there.

Gwen: …Okay.

Another pause.Then,

Gwen: When are you coming back?

He thought for a second.

Albedo: Soon.

Gwen: You always say that.

A faint smile formed.

Albedo: And I’m always right.

There was a delay.

Gwen: …Fine.

Gwen: Just be careful, okay?

His expression softened again.

Albedo: I will.

Another message appeared.

Gwen: And bring back something cool.

He glanced briefly toward the table inside the room. The souvenirs, especially the pendant.

“…Already did.”

Albedo: I did.

Gwen: GOOD

Gwen: I’m holding you to that.

Albedo shook his head slightly.

Albedo: Go get some rest.

Gwen: You too.

A final pause.

Gwen: …Miss you.

Albedo froze for half a second before responding,

Albedo: Yeah, miss you too.

The chat went quiet after that. The screen dimmed slowly. Albedo lowered the phone slightly, his gaze lingering on it for a moment longer before he locked it completely, looking out at the ocean that stretched endlessly before him once more.

But his mind wasn’t as calm as before. He was completely lost in thought as he wondered what could prompt Seraphyne to become so active.

“…Something’s happening. Looks like I need to wrap things up soon and get back home,”