Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

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The aroma of freshly baked cheesecake was undeniably tempting—unless it was loaded with an excessive amount of sugar.

After attempting to make cheesecake and experimenting with flour, eggs, and sugar, Neeko seemed to equate the cake's deliciousness directly with the amount of sugar added. As a result, the cheesecake she had made was so saturated with sugar that the smell wafting from the oven was almost nauseatingly sweet.

Link, standing by the window, couldn't help but grimace at the overpowering scent. Beside him, Neeko was practically drooling, her nose twitching as she stared longingly at the kitchen door.

"You can't go in yet," Link said, placing a hand on Neeko's head to stop her from rushing in. "We'll scare off the thief if you do."

"But the cheesecake—"

"Consider it a necessary sacrifice to catch the culprit."

"Sacrifice?" Neeko tilted her head, chewing on her finger in confusion.

"Sacrifice is when you give up something you love for a greater purpose," Link explained, patting her head. "Like using your favorite cheesecake as bait."

"Oh—" Neeko clenched her fists, her tail swishing back and forth. "Can Neeko sacrifice Link instead of the cheesecake?"

Link's eye twitched, and he lightly chopped her on the head.

"No."

The kitchen was filled with the cloying sweetness of the cheesecake, a scent so thick it felt like the salty tang of the harbor air. Suddenly, a soft splash came from the corner of the room. A bucket lid lifted, revealing a pair of large, curious eyes.

The owner of the eyes sniffed the air, letting out a series of incomprehensible gurgles. With a nimble leap, the small figure emerged from the bucket, clutching a coral trident. The trident, perfectly sized for its wielder, had three prongs carved with glowing, runic patterns that pulsed like a living thing.

The little creature, its webbed feet leaving faint, damp prints on the floor, approached the table. It closed its eyes, inhaling deeply, before stabbing the trident into a large piece of cheesecake and raising it triumphantly with a joyful cry.

Before Link could react, Neeko burst into the room.

"Bad fishy!"

Neeko's shriek quickly devolved into a series of rapid, gurgling sounds—a language Link had never heard before. It was a mix of nasal and guttural tones, sharp and bubbling like popping water, yet oddly rhythmic.

As Link entered the kitchen, he saw the two blue-skinned creatures wrestling—one babbling incoherently, the other speaking with a thick, lisping accent.

"Fishy, stop moving! Neeko gonna catch you!"

It was easy to tell who was who. The real Fizz clutched his coral trident, while Neeko had no such weapon.

"Well, this is lively," a smooth, familiar voice drawled. Link sighed, turning to see Camille leaning against the doorway.

"What brings you here?" he asked.

"Boredom," Camille replied, her sharp eyes fixed on the wrestling pair. "That's Fizz, isn't it?"

"You've heard of him?"

"I've heard the legends from my time in Bilgewater," Camille said, her lips curling into a faint smile. "You never cease to amaze me, dear. Even the terror of the seas isn't safe from you."

"I haven't caught him yet," Link said, pulling a small metal sphere from his pocket. "But you can say that again in a moment."

He tossed the sphere into the air, where it exploded into a fine net that ensnared both Neeko and Fizz.

Camille chuckled as Link approached the tangled pair.

"Neeko, stop fighting. Explain to him that we mean no harm. If he understands, I'll let you both out."

"Okay!"

Neeko immediately began chattering in Fizz's strange language. The little yordle, initially panicked by the net, gradually calmed down as Neeko spoke. Soon, the two were engaged in an animated conversation, their voices rising and falling in a cacophony of gurgles and clicks.

Camille raised an eyebrow. "I can't make heads or tails of this."

"Fizz's language is... unique," Link said, watching the exchange with a calm expression.

After a few minutes, Fizz turned his large, round eyes to Link and let out an excited cry.

"Shark!!"

"Shark?" Camille repeated, her brow furrowing.

"That's how Fizz greets people," Link explained.

"Is that why he's associated with sharks in the legends?"

"Pretty much."

Link walked over and released the net. Fizz, now free, poked at the net with his trident before turning to Link and shouting again.

"Shark!!"

Link crouched down to Fizz's level and responded in kind. "Shark!"

"Shark, shark!!"

Fizz was ecstatic, hopping around as if searching for a gift to offer his new friend.

The word "shark" was something Fizz had picked up from the people of Bilgewater. Whenever he appeared riding his trusty shark, people would scream, "Shark! Run!"

Over time, Fizz came to associate the word "shark" with friendliness and excitement. To him, it was the ultimate greeting.

As Link observed Fizz, he noticed how much more vibrant the little yordle was compared to his in-game depiction. His blue skin, webbed hands and feet, and oversized eyes made him look almost adorable—if not for his mischievous nature and penchant for chaos.

Fizz's love for pranks and his incomprehensible language had earned him a reputation as a terror of the seas. But in reality, he was just a playful, misunderstood creature looking for friends.

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 156 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 110 power stones I will publish the next chapter.