A/N: So, I decided that when I focus on the main character's perspective it would be in first person and when I switch to other perspectives it'll be in third person just to make my writing easier to keep track of. And again to remind all of you I am a begigner writer so I will have a lot of flaws when I write this story. To everyone expecting for a fast-paced story...well you will be disappointed as I wanted to focus more on the feels and worldbuilding of what I write so, lkvanrnjhaevnbhk.
Administrative Heads - Excellent Individuals who had garnered the praise of all merfolk due to their ability to handle specialized departments that are needed for the continuity of the merfolk race. Those under their influence could handle matters that are within their scope and it is currently divided into 4 stages, these are; Novice, Apprentice, Senior Apprentice, and Successor.
(Chapter Starts)
"In the depths of the sea stood an ancient structure of the mermaids. Atlantis."
"The city which was cursed by the Gods due to their insubordination at the time of The Culling. The people who were once humans but now turned into semi-aquatic fish that could not step on land, and if they ever did break that rule, they would experience the Curse of the Sea which would urge them to submerge in any kind of water if not they will die like fishes on land."
"Sir."
"It had been 2359 years ago, however, the curse still stood strong until now!"
"Alright, that's all for now. Dismissed!" An old merman shouted annoyed at the sudden guest that interrupted his class.
He had white hair and a wrinkled face, a solemn expression that was complemented by his snarky smile, he wore bug-eyeglasses which enlarged his eyes every time he stared and for his top body, he wore a blue coat which had a symbol of a merfolk's shape.
"Professor Jaerd, we need your urgent attention please." The lady who interrupted him was a student of his a long time ago, however, he knew who she was and what it entailed in her sudden visit, so he didn't relent and followed her.
"It better be good, Ohaire." Ohaire didn't hesitate and said her piece.
"Well, unfortunately, the Eye of Tarith has informed us that a guardian of the eels has been killed and we are still investigating who and where it happened."
"What am I supposed to do with that information? Surely you know that I only teach history..."
"And it is because you know more history than any of us here that you are needed sir, and more importantly, that you have royalty running in your blood."
"Importantly? Royalty in my blood? A bunch of old fish sayings which have died out 200 years ago what does this have to do with the findings?"
"Sir, we have results that the Call of the Sea has been uttered again."
"Oh." Surprised filled Jaerd's face.
"Now that I have your attention, we need your blood to perform a ritual to track down the Perpetrator." Jaerd wasn't listening to her, he was too caught up in his head to know the implications of the sacred calling.
Jaerd placed his hands on Ohaire's shoulder and stared intently at her.
"S-sir?"
"Do you know what this means?"
"Yes, I know that once we find the suspect, we have to judge him for his crimes against the laws of the sea."
"NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! Do you even know what happens when a user of the Call of the Sea exists?"
"N-no?"
"Tch, it seems youngsters of this generation don't study much, do they? Always going out there having a war with those frogs!"
"What exactly is your point, sir?"
"What I mean is that if a user of the Call of the Sea is found outside our realm, you judge it by our existing laws? When in truth in the beginning those who have that skill are the ones responsible for the survival of our kind right?"
"Uhmm..."
"Exactly, now don't delay."
"Yessir..."
(Line Break)
"Thank you, sir Jaerd, thanks to you we have finally located the suspect." Ohaire smiled nervously at the solemn face Jaerd.
"I wish to meet him when he arrives, that is the only favor I want for this."
"I see, I will discuss it with the court, sir..."
"Good, now don't disturb me again in my class."
"Yes sir."
With Jaerd leaving her, Ohaire could finally focus on her job it was nothing short of just discussing Jaerd's favor to be heard at the court, and then she could rest easy.
Steadily swimming down the ancient structures which were once a dark stone that faded due to time into nothing more than a green and blue one that stood since the oldest of times, sea plants littered the place covering the murals and statues of forgotten kings and queens of the sea. Staring in awe on the place she found herself thinking of the history of the users that Jaerd had told her.
'Are they really that important?' She wondered, 'All I know is that people who have that skill tend to become a tyrant and that's the reason why they were executed in the first place...'
'I'll see for myself if they are really "That" important because somehow, I find myself doubting, as of now no known magical aquatic creatures can cause a disastrous effect on the city, coupled with the fact that the soldier and the technological advancement of Atlantis could easily counter Titled creatures. So why do I need to feel uneasy about this? Sigh."
Ohaire dispelled her thoughts and proceeded inside the court where people of administrative heads expressed their proposals. She was an average-class employee in her department yet due to her proactiveness and skill which helped her handle seapaperworks easily, she was promoted to be an apprentice under Intelligence and Merfolk Resources Administrative Head Janggo. As always due to her average ranking she was ignored when she entered, she promised herself that she would work without fail just to have these geezers pay attention to her.
Administrative Head Janggo was the only one kind enough to notice her and interrupt the talks.
"Apprentice Ohaire, finally you've arrived! Any news on the recent find?" Ohaire breathe slowly before reporting.
"We have finally found the killer of the guardian of eels and sent the Leviathan squad to apprehend him."
"I see."
"He must be strong to handle a titled creature, so sending the Leviathan squad is a good choice, however from what I've heard you contacted Professor Jaerd? To what purpose though?" Military and Artifact Administrative Head Hiroe raised his eyebrows.
"Sir, I know I have made such a hasty decision however the reason for contacting Professor Jaerd was to perform a bloodline ritual to locate the Suspect."
"So, from what I understand, Professor Jaerd who has the last running blood of royalty was asked a ritual to locate this Suspect who somehow has royalty in his blood? It's already absurd from what I can infer so tell me, how did you come to a conclusion like that?" Ohaire felt the atmosphere run cold due to the gazes she was under, but she held on.
"I concluded that the suspect is part of royalty due to the reason that when the guardian had died, another signal was caught in our net and that signal was for intercepting the Call of the Sea. "
Once she uttered that word, all the administrative heads had a solemn expression.
"The original meeting will be adjourned for now, and apprentice Ohaire, we thank you for your report. You are hereby dismissed."
"Thank you, sirs." Ohaire bowed deeply and thought of something.
"Oh, and one thing I forgot; Professor Jaerd wanted to meet the Suspect in person. Shall I allow it, sirs?"
"It's fine."
"Thank you again."
After leaving the room, she calmed down her heartbeat and nervousness however despite that she had a noticeable smirk on her face.
'Yish got them! I hope I get a raise for this!'
(Line Break)
Captain Rodin the leader of the Leviathan Scout Group already informed his squad about the details, so they proceeded with caution drawing detection spells, ready-to-drink strengthening tonics, and their life-saving skills on hand, However, when they arrived, they found themselves unable to comprehend what really happened even with the couple of years they had in their service.
In front of them were the corpses of many fish who had died by being torched to death, even the guardian eel was not spared from being torched. They were surprised yet carried on with the mission to inspect everything and in the end they finally noticed that there was someone inside of the eel and he was still breathing.
(Line Break)
Ohaire finally got the results she wanted, A good response from the Leviathan Scout Group, and the suspect was taken into custody. She thought that this was the beginning of her rise, a big leap from her previous position and it was all because of her quick thinking that surprised even the administrative heads. She shook her head when she finally realized how deluded that thinking was and just waited for the Leviathan Scout Group to arrive so that she could finally be filled in with the details.
It was only after an hour that she finally saw the group however they were in a hurry, she was curious why, so she followed them.
She had seen that they were carrying someone, however, he was wrapped in a jelly aid and from what she knew, it was a specialized jellyfish breed that enhances the natural regeneration of the body.
The captain of the group approached her from behind which made her flinch back, she composed herself after identifying who he was and made him talk.
"Captain Rodin, I assume your mission was successful?"
"Ah Apprentice Ohaire fancy seeing you out, and that? Yes, we were successful just a bit doubtful of the many implications surrounding the scene."
"Oh? I'm curious, what did you see there? and what happened to him?"
"Knowing that you have the necessary clearance for this information, well, what happened was that that boy we found was wrapped tightly inside of the guardian eel, we assumed that they fought to the death. Improvised spearheads coated with a potent eel's poison were found pierced inside of the guardian, preferably in the eyes and the belly, the guardian bore other marks which we found to belong to sharks, sea snakes, and other predators of the sea littered around both of them, I think that they got caught in the shock that the guardian eel released however we don't know the reason for why they were in a fight with the guardian to begin with, so we will continue with the investigation. It's just surprising that the boy was still alive even though his body was charred so much, fortunately, we had a jelly aid with us to facilitate his injuries, if not then he would have died there."
"I see..."
"Is that all, Apprentice Ohaire?"
"Yes, it is. Thank you, Captain Rodin." Captain just nodded and continued his way.
Ohaire contemplated and thought that it may take some time for the Suspect to recover so for the next few days she expected that she could finally get that sweet raise.
(Line Break)
Ohaire informed Jaerd that he was allowed to meet the user of the skill Call of the Sea. Jaerd felt surreal, finally meeting a member of royalty who was wiped out years ago was refreshing, Jaerd felt invigorated as he moved his old flippers like enthusiastically. His joy was always to explore more of his ancestry and that's the reason he took up a teaching class in history in the first place despite the bullying he got from others. He couldn't help it being a child again with the news. So, when Ohaire informed him again a few hours ago that the user, a boy whose body had been reportedly on a lifeline using a jelly aid, he panicked and almost rushed to his side. At that moment he never thought he was so compelled to check on him, he didn't even know him, yet he was feeling uneasy. Maybe because he's a relative of his? or maybe the news that he knew that it was just a boy? that he somehow sympathized with? he doesn't know so he just waited.
The wait for the boy's recovery was long, it took almost a month for the priestesses of the sea to heal his burns yet in the end it paid off and now he was in normal condition however the boy must have been in quite a shock when he woke up and wasn't in the right mood to talk to everyone in the room, so they called for him on Ohaire's behest.
Jaerd felt nostalgic when he entered the room, as he didn't frequent this place that much. The only time he entered here was when he was with his father. Thinking of him, he felt bittersweet, but he was an old man now no more tears are meant wasted. He needs to talk to his long-lost relative, maybe he could spark something inside of his heart again. A purpose or whatever he might thought of.
The room was a new built-in structure created 300 years ago unlike the ancient structures outside, so it was still relatively clean. The priestesses don't like sea parasites inside, so they cast an insect ward every day. The inside was composed of a simple bed made from the fibers of seaweed equipped with straps to hold patients from hurting themselves, as merforks tend to struggle when in pain. Different kinds of herbal sea concoctions were on standby and sea creatures that are effective when administering herbal medicine were placed beside the patients inside.
And there Jaerd saw him, visible scars of burns on his body, his tail didn't give off many colors but just pure green unlike the merfolks in this city, giving him a sense of uniqueness and if only it weren't for the different kinds of sea creatures plastered all over his body, then he surely must have been quite a look for the mermaids here.
He didn't dally any further when he managed to catch his eyes, he looked innocent but from what he knew from his experience he surely wouldn't judge someone just by how they looked, so he started the conversation in a nice tone.
"Hey boy, we found you near dead at the northern section. Do you have any idea why?" Jaerd stared at him with his usual gaze, but he seemed to have been unnerved by it, so he took off his bug-eye glass.
"Sorry for the looks, I can't see far away without these welpies." He gently placed his glasses on a table nearby.
"So, let's continue. Who are you and where did you come from?" I noticed the look in his eyes and surely there must have been something wrong in this situation.
"Hey, boy? Do you even understand what I'm saying?" He paid no heed to my words, clearly conveying his inability to communicate with me with the curious stare on his face.
"I see, this will be a long day." Even though Jaerd sounded frustrated, he couldn't help but smirk a little at the boy who tried to eat a jelly aid, and of course, Jaerd stopped him before he killed himself.
(Chapter Ends)