Atlantis and the whole of Nymphdom was in mourning. Their great king was dying. He had gotten sick but none of the healers in the city were able to cure his sickness. The king was growing weaker every day. Finally, the champion healer of all Nymphdom had arrived. The Lady of the Lake. Nyla Atégina. Surely, she would be able to help the king.

But Nyla was frustrated from the moment she arrived. She could not make sense of the king's symptoms. Demosthenes was weak, had severe muscle pain, and was vomiting frequently. His symptoms pointed to poisoning from a venomous snail but the king insisted that he had never been in contact with such a beast. The servants had been interrogated and the royal meals tested daily for toxins. Nothing. Nyla even checked his aura in case the cause was magical. Nothing. As the best healer in Nymphdom, Nyla was discouraged. All she could do was watch as her charge grew sicker and sicker. 

Finally, Lord D'eath was summoned. It was customary that when a leader is dying, the current Lord Death is the one to reap the soul. This would be the first leader soul that Barnabus would personally collect. He was extremely nervous. This was also the first time visiting the underwater realm. Barnabus had to wear a special amulet, imbedded with a magical spell so that he could breathe and speak with the Atlantians. Rosa had worked closely with Gaia to design it. It was made of silver and lapiz lazuli was affixed in the middle. Engraved on the silver backing were the runes for protection and the spell for the breath of life under the waves. It was quite a feat for the witch. 

Now, Barnabus was awaiting permission to enter the pearly castle. When he had arrived, the guards were under orders to check that all visitors were approved and had an appointment. Barnabus thought that it was an odd policy. Clearly they could tell he was here on official business and that he was a reaper. He got his answer when an older guard finally let him in. 

"Apologies, Lord Death, sir." The guard remarked, sheepishly. "Orders from Prince Leon. Ever since the king got sick... We've had to increase security."

"Ah, yes." Barbabus replied, raising an eyebrow. "How did he get so sick?"

"No one knows. And what's more. Even the Lady of the Lake hasn't been able to make him better. And she's the best healer in the realms!" The guard sighed sadly as he led the reaper through the winding halls to the royal chambers.  

Barnabus looked around and was impressed with the architecture. He and Rosa had been working on rebuilding Reaper Headquarters to be brighter and more welcoming. The reaper made mental notes to discuss motifs with his wife as they walked into the chambers. 

King Demosthenes was laying in the bed, looking pale and weak. A female nymph was close by with a cool cloth to wipe the leader's brow. Hearing the reaper enter, the king glanced up. "Ah... Barnabus... Correct?" He murmured. "I had heard that you took over from your father..." Barnabus bowed and stopped at the foot of the bed.

"Yes sir. I'm sorry to hear about your... predicament." Barnabus replied gently. 

Demosthenes waved a hand dismissively. "It seems like Gaia needs me sooner than thought... Though I worry-" The leader gave a rough cough, blood dripping from his lips. The female reaper called out for Nyla who came rushing back from another room, herbs and tonics in hand. 

The nymph was the same height Barnabus and had raven black hair, streaked with blue and green which was braided neatly. Her moonstone and opal circlet shone in the dim light of the lamps. Deep blue eyes met with Barnabus' briefly and her intricate markings flashed sapphire as she passed him. "My lord." She greeted before turning to her charge. Nyla gave a worried click of her tongue as she took the damp cloth from the other nymph to wipe at the king's lips. "Vomit?"

"Coughed." The king choked out.

"This is happening so fast..." Nyla murmured in a frustrated tone. "What can I give you to ease your pain?"

"Nothing."

"Sire..."

Demosthenes patted her hand. "You have done well in the circumstances. I know that this is hard." He coughed again. "Let me... Meet my creator with a clear mind..." 

Nyla frowned, knowing that his pain would only worsen before the end. But, the king was in charge and she could not force him to take medicine he did not want. Instead, she told the attendant to get him some broth.

The broth was brought in by a tall nymph man. His demeanor was arrogant and he pushed past Nyla to give the king the dish. Nyla huffed in response. "Leon. I told you, you don't have to do that! Your father is my patient!"

"And a great job you've done so far!" Leon snapped. 

Barnabus frowned. He had heard some rumors that the nymph prince was extra pushy and was not fond of outsiders. The reaper confirmed it when Leon glared at him with steely blue eyes. Still, he took a step forward. "Hello sir. You obviously know why I'm here. But there is no need to take your grief out on the person who's been treating your father." 

Leon growled and put the dish to the side. "I do know. And if she's so powerful, she should have figured out what is wrong." 

"Leon. Stop." Demosthenes groaned. "I don't want to pass with such animosity in my death room. Nyla has done her best. Sometimes things happen in mysterious ways." The king paused to have another coughing fit which Nyla mopped up the mess around his blue tinged lips. "I know... I embrace the afterlife knowing you will take care of our people." 

Leon nodded softly, watching his father doze off. Once Demosthenes was asleep, he turned to the reaper and Nyla. "Send word when he has finally died." With that morose order, he left leaving the room quiet and awkward. Nyla sighed, standing only to sit in a chair to watch her charge while he slept. She knew the time was coming, but she still could not give up. 

Hearing her sigh, Barnabus pulled up a chair next to her. "That was weird..." He commented. "It's like he cares about his father but then he doesn't." 

"That's Leon I suppose." Nyla remarked, frowning. "Since the king has become ill, he's taken over most if not all of the duties. It's his birth rite but... One wonders if he got impatient." She clicked her tongue, mentally cursing herself over sharing her thoughts. Barnabus only raised a brow before frowning as he heard a rattle coming from the dying king.

It was time. Demosthenes had paled, lips gone a tinge of blue. The rattle in his breathing still present if not becoming more frequent. Nyla continued to pat the dampened cloth to his forehead, attempting to ease whatever pain he might be feeling. Barnabus was still close by, soul jar and ceremonial scythe at the ready. The ceremonial scythe was small with a silver curved blade and an opal handle. 

Demosthenes gave a groan and coughed roughly, spittle and blood foaming at his lips which Nyla dabbed away. Her markings glowed blue as she began to recite an old prayer. 

"As anapaftheí i psychí sou en aiónia eiríni. {May your soul rest in eternal peace.}"

The nymph king shuddered and gave one last cough before his chest rattled still. Barnabus stepped forward as Demosthenes's soul lifted up out of his chest. The soul was bright and shone in a green hue. It was tethered to the body by a glowing thread. Barnabus grabbed the soul tenderly before cutting the thread with his scythe. He bowed his head as he placed the soul in the jar gently. "It is done." The reaper whispered, placing the cork into the jar, sealing it. Nyla ducked her head down, finally letting her tears and sorrow for her king fall. 

As per Nymph custom, the funeral took place over the following days. The body was to be cremated and the ashes interned in the Hall of Kings within Atlantis. Nyla stayed to make sure that the king's funeral rites were carried out correctly and not rushed. It was hard though, considering when Leon found out his father died; he had immediately started planning his coronation. Barnabus left shortly after the king's death since he had to process the soul. But he returned out of respect for the coronation. 

At the coronation, they found out that Leon had taken Nyla's sister to be his wife and Nyla was to be dismissed back to Avalon. Nyla of course was unhappy at what was happening. One of her duties as the Lady of the Lake was to advise the king but Leon rejected it, saying that he did not need her advise. She additionally did not trust Leon with her sister but knew that she could not go against her new king. 

Barnabus found Nyla at one of the parties Leon was throwing. Rosa had come with him, wanting to meet the nymph whose legend was famous in her home of Scotland. "My lady!" Rosa greeted with a bow. "It is an honor to meet you." Nyla smiled kindly and bowed in return. 

"The honor is mine." She replied before looking to Barnabus. "My lord. What did you find out?" Nyla asked, glancing over her shoulder to make sure that Leon wasn't nearby. 

Rosa looked confused but followed the pair as they went to a different corridor to confer. "What's going on?" She asked.

Barnabus took her hand and patted it. "Remember that soul I had to process?"

"The Nymph king?"

"Yes, dear. Well... Lady Nyla here had asked if I could discover what he had perished from by looking at his soul." Barnabus explained before turning back to the nymph woman. "You were right. When I processed the soul, I found traces of a poison. However, since Demosthenes did not know who poisoned him, I wasn't able to find the culprit."  

Nyla gave a wretched sigh. "I can give a few guesses but unfortunately, it wouldn't do us any good to accuse him." 

Rosa frowned. "Why not? If they killed him, he ought to be brought to justice." 

"It's not that easy. Especially when he's the new king and already distrustful of reapers and me." Nyla explained, blue eyes dark.

"Oh. That does complicate things." Rosa remarked quietly. "What can we do?"

"Nothing." Barnabus murmured. "I conferred with Eon before we came here and he was cryptic as usual. But he told me that it would not end well for any of us if we were to meddle any further." He shuddered. "Eon had seen all the strands of time and none of them boded well." 

Nyla shook her head before her eyes glowed sapphire briefly. She swayed gently before rousing herself back to the moment. 

"My lady?" Rosa pressed gently. "Are you well?"

"My apologies." Nyla smiled gently at her companions. "I get visions from time to time."

"Oh?" Barnabus asked. "What did you see?"

Nyla sighed. "Hard to explain but someone close to us all will set it right. Leon's treachery will be brought to light. But it won't be for some time it seems." 

The reaper and witch nodded solemnly. "Well... You will always have the support of the reapers." Barnabus started. "Rosa and I will be here if you need us." 

Nyla smiled. "Thank you sir. That means a lot." 

Rosa smiled back brightly. "Come visit us anytime. I'd love the company."

"I may take you up on that. But I need to go to Avalon first." Nyla explained. "But I will remember your invitation. Thank you Rosa for your kindness."

"Of course, my lady."

The trio departed soon after; Rosa and Barnabus going home to London and Nyla to Avalon. Nyla would continue to check in on Atlantis, mostly for her sister's welfare but also to keep an eye on Leon. It was in the nymph capital that she would eventually meet her own husband, a lord from the city of Aquila.