It was already dark when everything settled down. The air cold and freezing, it didn't help that he was alone and only accompanied by the occasional cricket sound and slowly splashing waves. It didn't help that he was alone, in the dark, in an unknown world and cold.
Lyron just now realized the reality he was in. Amidst the joy he felt when he was finally able to sing without causing a public disturbance, he was utterly and completely isolated from the world he once knew. Of course he is used of being left in the dark, he once live like that, alone in his room but he always find comfort in himself with the idea of having his three older sisters ready when he needed them, his parents and grandmother. But the situation now isn't like that, he don't have his sisters with him, no parents, no grandma. And it was unnerving. Being left alone, totally isolated and lost.
He never prepared for anything like this to happen. When he realized he was drowning he was already prepared to die, maybe a little bit of regret that he didn't live his life to the fullest but he can accept dying like that. The sudden pang he felts when he thinks that his grandma would find him floating, stomach bloated and not breathing still worries him. His grandma is already old and the shock would break her. His parents would probably cry, his mother would certainly cradle his lifeless body and ask for anyone to save him even though it's clear that he cannot be save anymore. His father would likely stay next to his mother, rubbing smooth circles on her back to calm her down and trying hard not to cry. His father is always the strong one, compared to his sickly son that knows nothing but bring problems to the family, his father is tough but he will certainly cry like before. And his sisters-- oh God! His sisters! They will be heartbroken, the four of them is tightly close since their childhood and they are his only companion while growing up. They bonded while watching Disney movies, Barbie movies and singing their favorite part in the music although he certainly failed when it comes to singing but his sisters indulge him, spoiling him to no end because his their only younger brother. And now he was dead, he is dead. And he didn't know what to do with his new life.
He didn't know how to live, he was just breathing before. He let those uneventful day passed by, cope with his addiction to novels. His only joy is reading and playing instrument when he feel like it. And he didn't have any of those now.
And it's suffocating being left in the open. The irony is apparent even for him. He needed company, because he can't possibly live like this, feeling abandoned and hopeless.
With his new found courage, he edge closer to the water and slowly sit down. Legs slightly apart, he let his feet submerged in water, urging his tail to emerge.
And it was not a pleasant experience. While the spell for having his feet back is nothing but magical, having his tail is nothing but pain. After being dunk in the water, his legs is slowly move closer with his skin feeling like it was knitted together and his scales splitting his skin open, drawing blood and coloring the water red. It was an excruciating process, the harsh ripping of his skin followed by the emergence of his scales slowly crawling up to his thighs and his abdomen before the agonizing feeling finally stop. His scales tinted with red that is gently washed away with water is now glistening under the starlight.
After everything is done he is nothing but a sobbing mess. His hair decorated with tiny seashells and pearls is now astray, some sticking on his forehead that is now soaked with sweat.
"I think I understand why the original never tried to use that spell before." He muttered under his breath. His hand shook a little as he slowly wipe away the sweat on his forehead.
He sluggishly scuffle his way into the water, his tail splashing waters now and then.
There is still a long way before I can get a glimpse of the Kingdom called Nast. Although this is still the territory of Nast, it is nothing more but the waters that inhabited by sea monster, sometimes sea bandits or pirates would roam the area.
Be it bandits or pirates, either is fine as long as he is not plugged alone in the all encompassing darkness in the middle of the ocean.
But isn't this transmigration a little bit unfair?! I read countless transmigration novels that I can be drown in it but MCs always have their cheat system! Be it an AI system, a Google translate monotone like system or even a private spiritual library. But why don't I have any?!
"Hello?! System are you there?"
"Buddy! I can accept quest for level up purposes. Or just some random pop ups for a meager reward! Hello? System?"
"Brother?"
"Sister?"
"Motherland?"
"Fatherland?"
"Fairy godmother?"
"Sebastian?"
This is hopeless. It's not a full pledged transmigration experience if I don't have a system! Brother am I supposed to blindly search my way out of here? Not even a GPS as freebie?
Lyron can do nothing but just shaking his head before diving deep down into the ocean, blindly finding his way to somewhere as long as it has people. The journey is uneventful, thankfully no monsters pop up and try to fight with him. And it was a good thing that some sea creatures are in good terms with my merman self, they sometimes accompanied me before leaving in another direction. A group of fish would circle around before disappearing.
It was deep into the night when a whale draw near him before he can hear lively music up into the water, blurred under the ocean. Excitedly, he swim up above, the whale following behind him, and there are people indeed.
The ship is big and lively, little lights swirling inside a lamp making the ship bright and clearly noticeable in the dark night. He surveyed the ship and noticed a flag flapping in the wind, an insignia bearing a picture of two swords with an anchor in between and above situated a crown decorated with pearls. Nast! That's an insignia of that Kingdom!
The original once see a ship owned by the Kingdom of Nast and its ship bears that kind of insignia. But what are they doing here? Purging sea monsters? Patrolling the perimeters?
Lyron inched closer, he can now clearly hear the boisterous laughter of the sailors, their face have a hint of red from drinking too much.
"Aiyah! What is the Prince thinking? Sailing in the dead of the night is dangerous even for us." One of the man complained.
A much smaller man swatted the guy, "Shut your trap! Or the Prince will hear you!"
Another man nodded, "Ai! Or else the last time we will see you is seeing your pitiful face dunk into the waters becoming a food for fishes!" A loud laughter followed, wooden glasses clinking.
Some shuffling can be heard around, the moving of barrels and a familiar tapping can be heard.
🎶There once was a ship that put to sea
The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow🎶
🎶HUH🎶
The music unlike any other music that uses instrument it's just a pure tapping of wooden surface, a combination of the sailors baritone voice.
🎶Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We'll take our leave and go🎶
A short sailor flail about, arms carrying a ton of wooden glass full of ale and passing it to the other sailors.
🎶She'd not been two weeks from shore
When down on her a right whale bore
The captain called all hands and swore
He'd take that whale in tow🎶
🎶HUH🎶
🎶Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We'll take our leave and go🎶
🎶Da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da🎶
Lyron was enjoying the music, his mouth opened and singing along with the sailors.
🎶Before the boat had hit the water
The whale's tail came up and caught her
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her
When she dived down low🎶
🎶HUH🎶
He was having a good time singing along with the sailors, his tails tapping under the water, his head nodding along with the tapping sounds the sailors made when suddenly a shout is heard.
"Loreley!" A sailor shouted.
He was a bit startled when the cabin was roughly pushed open and the singing stop, followed by the rapid steps of the sailors. He search for the source of that voice, there!Perched on the ship's crow's nest is a sailor holding a stick? It has a tapered mahogany barrel with brass fittings.
Is that a telescope?!
"Where?!" A man shouted, voice rough and sound a little bit breathless.
"There!" The sailor pointed in his direction.
He was a bit late to dive back before the man can see his face. There eyes meet and Lyron never felt so afraid and panicky at the same time. So before he could process anything, his fight or flight or in his case 'swim' kick in, of course he chose to swim. Diving deep into the ocean, his tails frantically trying to move back and forth just to move faster.
The last thing he heard is someone shouting, "Chase him!"