Internet Mage Professor-Chapter 113: Little Baby

The newly awakened Naga Siren stood in the shimmering shallows, her long silver-blue tail coiled delicately beneath the surface of the glowing water.

She blinked, studying Nolan and Lirazel with an expression that was both serene and brimming with curiosity.

Her eyes—large, luminous, pools of oceanic light—locked onto Nolan’s face, and her lips curled softly, almost shyly.

"Father, is that you? Are you my father? I can feel that you are my father..." she said, the word carrying the weight of magic and emotion, flowing off her tongue like a whisper through mist.

Nolan stiffened, startled. His mouth opened, but no sound emerged.

Then the girl turned to Lirazel, her expression brightening with a beaming, tender smile. "Mother, are you my mother?" she said, her voice warmer, more sure this time. "I remember your heartbeat. I heard it, even in the shell. It was the loudest... it was always there, even when I slept."

Lirazel’s eyes immediately welled up.

"Ohhh—oh, my baby! My little baby! Yes, I am your mother... I am your mother and you are my little cutey baby..." she cried, her voice trembling with both shock and joy. She rushed forward, arms wide, nearly tripping into the shallow water as she bent to scoop the girl up.

The Siren let herself be embraced, wrapping her arms gently around Lirazel’s neck, her long hair trailing behind her like seaweed in a soft tide.

Nolan was speechless. Did I just become a father? What? I haven’t even enjoyed it! But somehow, he could only stand there as if he had no idea what to do next.

Meanwhile, Lirazel held Naga Siren like she was porcelain, brushing her cheek, kissing her forehead, running her hands down her daughter’s delicate face with wonder and adoration.

"You’re so perfect! You’re so beautiful! My little hatchling, my sweet pearl! Were you scared? Oh, stars, were you scared in there?" Lirazel cooed, tears streaming down her face. "Did it hurt when the shell broke? Did the mana get too hot? Did the big bad egg make you sad?"

The Naga Siren giggled and leaned into the crook of Lirazel’s neck, nuzzling her affectionately.

"It was loud," she admitted softly, "but... I wasn’t alone. I had them."

She turned her head slightly and gestured behind her.

The two eels—her companions—rose from the depths like spirits.

The black one swirled around Lirazel’s legs, brushing affectionately against her before slipping away in a gleam of obsidian.

The white one circled above, twirling in midair, glimmering like lightning through fog before plunging gracefully back into the water.

"They’re my friends," the Siren said proudly. "They stayed with me in the shell. They didn’t say anything, but I knew they were there. They gave me dreams when I was lonely. This one—" she pointed to the black eel, "—likes to bite my tail when I sleep. And this one—" she pointed to the white, "—likes to float upside down and pretend he’s dead."

"Oh, you naughty little ones," Lirazel said with a giddy laugh, patting both eels as they circled closer and closer. "You kept her company? Huh? You played with her while she was waiting? You two are little blessings, yes you are! You’ll stay forever with her, okay? Okay?"

The white eel squeaked happily and twisted itself into a loop, bumping Lirazel’s knee like an excited dog.

The black one bobbed its head against her hand and let out a soft electric crackle of satisfaction.

Lirazel cradled the Siren again. "You were such a brave girl," she whispered. "My little starfish. My deep sea moon. I’m so proud of you. I am glad that I can now hold you in my arms."

The Siren’s fingers curled slightly into Lirazel’s collarbone, and her gaze wandered, curious, until she spotted Nolan still standing several steps away.

She tilted her head.

"Mother?" she asked, pointing with a clawed fingertip. "Why is Father standing there? Is he not happy I’m out?"

Nolan swallowed his saliva.

Lirazel looked over her shoulder, then back at her daughter with a smile. "Oh, sweetheart... he is happy. Very happy. It’s just..." She glanced at Nolan again and winked. "He’s overwhelmed. That’s his face when he’s too amazed to speak. He’s never seen anything like you before."

"Really?" The Siren’s eyes sparkled, glowing a little brighter.

"Really," Lirazel nodded, brushing some wet hair from the girl’s face. "You surprised even him. He didn’t expect you to be this strong, this... radiant."

The Siren blushed and lowered her head. "I’m glad. I... I wanted to be useful. But—"

The brightness in her expression faltered.

She curled into Lirazel’s arms a little tighter and murmured, "But I feel weak..."

Lirazel’s smile faded slightly. "Weak? What do you mean, baby?"

The Siren closed her eyes. "It’s like... everything happened so fast. One moment, I was dreaming. I remember shadows, and cold, and something touching my egg—then I was running, inside, trying to escape. Then something bit me... I don’t even know what it was. I fought back. It hurt. And then I was just... out."

She looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers as if expecting them to vanish.

"I didn’t understand what I was becoming. It’s too soon. I’m not even sure this form is right. My heart still beats like I’m inside the shell, like I’m trapped. It’s all so fast, like someone pushed me into the world before I could finish growing."

Lirazel gently pulled her closer, rocking her slowly.

"Oh, my sweetling. You did nothing wrong. Nothing. You were born from chaos and survived it. And you’re right—it was fast, too fast. I didn’t want you to be rushed. None of us did. But you’re here now. And you’re safe. With us."

The Siren’s fins drooped. "But what if I’m still not strong enough? What if there’s something worse out there? What if I can’t protect you... or Father?"

"Hush, hush now," Lirazel murmured, placing a hand over the girl’s chest. "Feel that? That’s your heartbeat. Still strong. Still steady. You are not weak. You are new. And that means you still have everything ahead of you."

The Siren trembled slightly, then let out a long breath. "Okay..."

"I’ll protect you," Lirazel whispered. "We both will. You’ll grow. You’ll learn. We’ll take care of you, alright?"

The Siren nodded softly and nuzzled her cheek against Lirazel’s neck again.

But then—

She froze.

Her eyes widened, and her body tensed, all softness draining from her expression.

She turned her head, sharply, scanning the distant darkness beyond the dungeon’s misty lake.

"There’s something," she whispered.

Lirazel looked up, brows tightening. "What?" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

The Siren raised a hand and pointed toward the far edge of the dungeon, toward a passage still cloaked in heavy, shifting fog. Her voice quivered with sudden fear.

"It’s coming. It feels like it’s burning ocean opposite to the warm feeling I am feeling now. Like it wants me. It wants to destroy me. Like it’s already seen me. It wants me to die."

The eels shrieked—high-pitched keens of warning—and darted closer, wrapping protectively around her arms.

Lirazel’s entire body stiffened.

Then she slowly stood, holding the Siren in her arms, her wings twitching.

"Nolan," she said, her voice low and sharp.

Nolan froze.