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Chapter 3 - Merfolk

Merfolk are naturally free creatures of nature. They roam the seas, explore the ocean and sometimes walk on lands. Rarely their kinds meet hence they are blessed with common memories of their own ancestors, a form of teaching for their young ones. Those memories involved the history of the merpeople, some legends, mating seasons, common spells and complex spells and so on.

The famous legend of Loreley is considered amusing. The people of Nast called merfolk as Loreleys, not knowing that it is just a name of a beautiful mermaid who fell in love with a human ruler. It was said that Loreleys are bewitching creatures of the sea, luring man into their arms and drowning them into the waters as a form of vengeance for a failed relationship. It is then that the citizens of Nast composed a music for Loreleys, and every time a ship is set to sail deep into the waters of Nast they sing this song to remind the sailors and for them to be cautious. A reminder for them to not be lured by the alluring voices of Loreleys.

Merpeople also have this unique way of solving conflicts. When conflict arises they usually settle it through singing, all complaints and whatever ails the both parties are delivered through a song. Which is basically just a singing competition if you ask me. Both parties just throw songs with each other until the conflict is resolve.

They usually have conflicts when someone comments about their tail, the pearls they are using, or when someone talk about the best hair ornament used. Petty people.

A little thought distracts him from nitpicking those petty merfolk.

Wait-- does that also mean I have a beautiful singing voice?!

This made him perk up, completely disregarding his early nitpicking. He shifts in his half lying position and hums a little spell, caressing his 'tail' back and forth. Scales now slowly vanishing back, revealing a smooth and dewy skin.

It is a simple spell completely copied from the original's memory. Thankfully I don't need to find a sea witch or some humanoid octopus named Ursula to bring my feet back or else I'm doomed. I don't have a talking crab with me who knows how to matchmake a runaway horny mermaid and a vision impaired prince who have an unhealthy kink for beautiful voice.

He tried to curled his toes and slowly stand up, staggering a little. I guess the original never tried to use his feet. He thought in passing and slowly walked near the water. The sun is setting, the orange hue lights up the waters casting a myriad of colors reflection from the sky spreading across the ocean, painting the mixture of beautiful colors. The stars that starts to appear, adding a mesmerizing scenery in front of him. The waves now slowly moving, the night breeze turned a little chilly and slowly caressing his long hair and his 'dingdong'.

"My dingdong never felt so exposed like this." He muttered and wave his hands with practiced ease, the movement slow and mesmerizing, slowly little lights converge creating a tunic long enough to cover his dingdong.

He never felt so airy and free before and the feeling seems so foreign, it's a little bit distracting.

Taking a deep breathe, he opens his mouth and sings the first song that comes in his mind.

🎶I've been staring at the edge of the water

'Long as I can remember

Never really knowing why🎶

Grinning, he takes a step forward, letting the waters tickle his feet.

🎶I wish I could be the perfect daughter

But I come back to the water

No matter how hard I try🎶

He takes a deep breathe.

🎶Every turn I take🎶

He turns around, slowly moving backwards.

🎶Every trail I track

Every path I make

Every road leads back🎶

He then stop walking, hand curled into a fist as he dramatically hold it near his heart while staring at the sea.

🎶To the place I know where I cannot go

Where I long to be🎶

Lyron is a certified frustrated singer. So frustrated that he won't stop singing as long as no one have the guts to take the mic away from him. And at this very moment, the frustration he have when he still have a terrible voice is slowly ebbing away, drown in the sea. Having 3 older sisters and growing up in the company of Disney princesses, he have a list of his favorite disney songs and like almost everyone else he anticipate this part of the song.

🎶See the line where the sky meets the sea?

It calls me

And no one knows

How far it goes🎶

He dramatically hold out his other hand towards the sea. His voice smooth like a feather gliding in the wind as it prepare to sing the next part.

🎶If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me

One day I'll know

If I go, there's just no telling how far I'll go🎶

He turns around, walking along the shore, his feet occasionally playing with the water as he continue singing the rest of the song. His voice not once cracking but holds a fairytale like scenery to it, water bubbles bloomed and pop, fishes diving back and forth spraying water and the breeze blowing his hair.

He grins as he starts to run, carrying the water bubbles behind while the fishes jump up and down in the water.

🎶See the light as it shines on the sea?

It's blinding

But no one knows

How deep it goes🎶

🎶And it seems like it's calling out to me

So come find me

And let me know

What's beyond that line?

Will I cross that line?🎶

The winds seems to pick up, blowing his clothe and ruffling his hair, the waves crashing into the shore, and the water wetting his legs.

🎶And the line where the sky meets the sea

It calls me

And no one knows

How far it goes🎶

His eyes goes round, almost watery as he hits the note perfectly fine.

🎶If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me

One day I'll know

How far I'll go🎶

He immediately hold out his hand, pointing at the sea as he finish to sing the last part of the song. His breathless but he feels great. He never felt great. Sisters I'm sure you are all will be happy if you see me like this, hitting the notes perfectly and singing beautifully.

I don't care if I have a tail, I can be a merman forever.

He wipe a single tear that slips in his eyes, feeling elated. I can even sing Ursula's Poor Unfortunate Souls at this very moment.

Feeling sobered up, he looks around and now aware of the commotion he cause in the surroundings.

The fishes are still there, swimming to and fro, sometimes jumping and splashing sea water. The bubbles slowly pop, bursting into brilliant colors while the other animals who live in the island are making noises.

"Okay fellas the show is done, you can go now. Shoo shoo!" He clap his hands twice and beckon for them to disperse.

If it was back on Earth I already collect money from them.

I should be careful when I sing next time. Fortunately, no humans heard my voice or else the legend of Loreley will not just be legend anymore.