Episode 23

They have a short conversation, with Scypho warning Pezci not to be so quick to give away the Key to Paradise. She says she has no reason not to trust the Dohrnii, and after some thought, he reluctantly agrees with her, adding he's not letting his guard down. They turn back and Pezci accepts the elders' proposal, and the elders are delighted. Lady Nellii asks Shin take them to the guest rooms, after he removes their cuffs. On the way to their rooms, Pezci urges Shin to tell her how he knows her. He tells her it was while she was a juvenile. Shin turns to Scypho and tries to figure out who he is to Pezci, guessing slave, bodyguard, and, with a sly look, boyfriend, causing Pezci to finally freak out, and she tells Shin he saved her from the maelstrom, so she's including him in the Light Tower reward as payment. Shin remarks it's strange to see a Planifron trust someone who isn't a Planifron, but then he thinks she's very strange for a Planifron.
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== Cast of Characters ==
== Gallery ==
== Synopsis ==
Continuing the conversation, Scypho advises Pezci that before she gives away their literal Key to Paradise, he asks if she's sure they can trust the Dohrnii. She shrugs and replies that they seem sincere, and she adds they haven't killed the two of them yet. Scypho rebuts, asking her rhetorically who's to say they won't kill them later, adding he feels the human is super shifty. With that, he turns a blatant glare towards the human in question. Shin responds by sticking out his tongue at him. Showing her timid side, Pezci admits she's scared she'll upset them. Scypho dismisses her fears with a laugh, saying that after her previous comments, he doesn't think anything can upset them.
Sir Cindarii and Shin watch the other two carry on an animated discussion. Shin turns and smirks at the elder, holding up and twitching the remote to the cuffs. Disgust fills the elder's voice as he again tells Shin no in answer to the obvious offer to shock the cuffs.
Drooping wearily, Pezci whines that she doesn't want to keep swimming all the way to the Light Tower. The suspicious jellyfish asks her what if it's all just a set up to take them out when it's most convenient. Starting to panic, she wonders if they are gonna die, and trying to sooth her, he admits that's not necessarily so. Shaking and desperate, she holds up her hands and asks what she should do. He offers that he still has his escape plan, but she tells him his escape plan makes her nervous, and she doesn't even know what it is yet. He says that maybe if she were more subtle about her anxiety, this could be easier. This doesn't help and she becomes even more anxious until she goes into a panic attack. Putting his hand on her shoulder, he gives in, telling her maybe they can trust the Dohrnii for now, stopping her panic attack instantly. He tells her he guesses the chances of survival are better since the Dohrnii already know her. Shaking a finger at her, he informs her he's not letting his guard down.
They turn around to face Shin and the elders again, and when Pezci stays silent for too long, Scypho nudges her with his elbow. Even so, it takes her a moment to remember the decision they've made, and she tells the others that she agrees to take the Dohrnii tribe as her choice to the Light Tower. The elders both smile with delighted faces — even Shin's face bears a gentle grin — and Lady Nellii exclaims that they are saved. Taking her hand, Sir Cindarii tells Pezci they are eternally grateful, and he again offers their sincere condolences to her tribe, adding they really did enjoy their visits and treasured the connection they had. Rubbing her neck, she recalls the Dohrnii were always so kind to the Planifron despite her tribe's brutal behavior. She guesses this is the least she can do to repay them for all those good relations. She then confesses rather shamefaced she's also sorry about the whole 'ending a thousand year trading pact' ordeal. Inexplicably sweating and showing a blush himself, Sir Cindarii lets her know it's no trouble at all, telling her to let bygones be bygones.
Lady Nellii changes the subject, telling her new allies it's time to show them to their resting quarters, making the observation that they must be tired from all their traveling. She calls to Shin, asking him to show them the way, and ordering him to remove their cuffs. He responds with ill grace, and removes the cuffs with a snap of his fingers. The click of the locks brings a happy smile to Pezci's face, and Scypho gives Shin a knowing grin. As they drift away toward the inner wall of the galleria, Lady Nellii tells Shin to take them to their best rooms, and Shin gestures 'OK' with his left hand. The elders are much more relaxed and smiling now. The Lady vigorously nods her head as the Lord tells them to get some well-earned rest, and they'll meet again in the morning to examine the Key.
Shin leads them into one of the tunnels that pierce the castle's inner walls. As they pass through the entrance, Pezci asks Shin if he can tell her again when exactly they did meet. She tells him she feels bad that she doesn't remember him. He tells her she was just a juvenile Planifron in training at the time. It was during one of their trading sessions and he managed to sneak away from one of their meetings. He confesses he loved to watch the Planifron train, saying they're so fierce and fiery in a voice rich with emotion. Smiling again, he turns to Pezci and gives her a nudge, saying except her, though, that's why she stuck out so much for him. Not very happy with his story, she tells him that sounds like a bad thing. Speaking more seriously, he tells her it's how come he remembers her, but not any of the other Planifron from that day, even though they're supposed to remember all of their allies' names.
A suspicious look comes over Shin's face, and he turns to Scypho and asks just who he is again. Aggravated, Scypho growls out his name. Shin answers condescendingly, as though just recalling that Scypho is a sea nettle and Pezci's jellyfish slave. Pezci corrects him, saying he's not her slave, prompting Shin to ask if he's her bodyguard. To that she tells him not exactly. He ponders that, saying she's right, the Planifron don't need any bodyguards. Getting a sly look on his face, he ask if he's her boyfriend. Shocked and shaking, she vehemently denies that accusation, telling him Scypho saved her from the maelstrom, and she's including him in the Light Tower rewards as repayment. He tells her to relax, that he was only kidding. He remarks it was strange to see a Planifron trust someone other than another Planifron, and he thinks she's very strange for a Planifron, an observation that seems to bother Pezci, a lot.
== References ==