Knossa Oligaris is the founder of the Underground in Santa Ana, a wise and compassionate leader who has dedicated her life to helping displaced merpeople adjust to life on land. She is a close friend of Professor Ulysses Vitruvius, the mysterious figure whose funding keeps the Underground afloat. When Amelia meets Knossa in the Underground’s restaurant, Knossa reveals the institution’s financial struggles and explains its history: there were three founders, one of whom, Otavio Gandara, left after his mermaid wife returned to the sea. The locked area of the Underground, Amelia learns, actually belongs to Otavio, and Knossa admits that despite her authority, she cannot control his use of his property.
Knossa is open to Amelia’s suggestions, especially Lara’s advice about charging small fees and creating additional services to generate revenue. She agrees to negotiate Antemidia’s deal, revealing that Professor Ulysses does not actually hate Antemidians—a crucial piece of information that softens Amelia’s approach. When Amelia tells Knossa about seeing someone meeting in the locked area, Knossa dismisses it, asserting that Otavio has every right to use his own space. Knossa is a pragmatic, kind-hearted administrator who has built a community out of nothing, and her willingness to collaborate with Amelia is essential to the success of the cultural program.
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