<div align="center"><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Music</div><div class="spoiler_body">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T24ElarXeNU</div></div></div><br/><br/>The doors opened, and beyond lay a vast hall, seemingly too large to have fitted even into the palace as it looked from the outside. It also looked different, the floor of the hall appearing to be the deck of some great barge sunken aeons ago, yet still kept in pristine condition, with redwood planking and a gold-trimmed hull visible where the floor adjoined the walls. Above them, the stone appeared just irregular enough to have been grown rather than assembled, yet that only enhanced the beauty as the white-veined blue arched overhead, seeming to ripple and shimmer in time with the ocean above everyone assembled there. And at the end of the room, placed so that the eye could only be drawn there, was the seat of Maur-Azur, God of the Azure Sea and patron of Hacre.<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/zNXfMs1.png)</div><br/>He slouched in the throne, looking by far the most relaxed person in the room. Despite his age, he appeared as a handsome man in the flush of youth, appearing younger than many of his children. An ornament around his neck contained what looked like a Hearthstone, while the collar and cloak of his dress seemed to be made of flowing water, forever foaming at the edges.<br/><br/>Lining the approach to the throne were a group of about ten snail-soldiers, accompanied by a God-Blooded woman who appeared to be in her mid-teens. She might almost have appeared cute, were it not  for the armour she wore, and the cutlass-like blade of blue jade she carried. Her expression was utterly baleful, suggesting she was just waiting for an excuse to use her weapon. Lady Pearl stood to one side of the throne, along with a blue-skinned man who looked to be in his fifties, and entirely bored. To the other side stood two more God-Blooded, a youth playing a flute beautifully to provide some background music to the proceedings, and a long-haired man who stepped forward and began to read from a scroll he held.<br/><br/>"Welcome to the heart of the Beautiful Blue, the palace of Mau-Azur himself. As his son Golden Sand and the speaker for the Azurkin, I welcome you to this most holy place." he said, addressing Kersinta. "Step forward, that our father may assess your worthiness."<br/><br/>Wavecrest gave Kersinta a little push in the back when she hesitated, and couldn't keep down a little giggle when she stumbled.<br/><br/>"Wait a minute." said Maur-Azur, raising a hand, and pointing to the four companions. "What are<em>they</em>doing here?"<br/><br/>"I said they could watch, Father. They were so insistent." said Wavecrest, with a cheeky smile. "I just couldn't refuse!"<br/><br/>"Unacceptable!" said Pearl sternly. "You know better than that! Our father's happiness is paramount! Commoners such as those have no business being here! It was your job to keep them out the way and satiate them with wine and whores until they could be returned."<br/><br/>In reply, the young God-Blooded simply looked to the four bodyguards with a raised eyebrow. She looked distinctly like she was trying not to laugh.