A Siren was a race that had the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish. Although, for some, their depictions in folktales might be a little different and even come off as something evil.
In modern times, only a few could really prove their existence, as they never left the deep sea.
Aerine didn't deny it and affirmed it.
"I am... but... I'm not a pure siren," she admitted. Aerine was half human, half siren. Her father was a human whom her mother fell in love with, but he died before Aerine could even remember him.
She had always thought that being impure was the reason her mother had not brought her to the deep sea, her homeland. Aerine was once insecure because of this, as she was neither a pure human nor a pure siren. However, over the years, she has already accepted it and is no longer bothered by it.
Still, as she waited for Elise's response, she was a bit nervous about her reaction.
To her surprise and relief, Elise seemed to not mind it.
"It's fine. I still have to ask to confirm: do you have the singing talent of the Sirens?" Elise's real intention was this.
The reason she enlisted Aerine's name in the competition was attributed to her race's innate ability. If Aerine said she didn't have the talent, then Elise could still put her somewhere else. It was no big deal for her.
However, for Aerine, it was! This situation gave the impression that she needed to earn her keep and show her usefulness, or she might be abandoned.
She had nowhere else to go. Aerine didn't have experience living on the mainland, and she couldn't return to the island for the time being. She would return to the island in the future and even look for her mother or bury her.
As for what to do to the attackers, Aerine didn't have the means to investigate at the moment. She still wanted to abide by her mother's words; she needed to stay alive.
"I can! I can sing!" Aerine almost shouted at this, agitated. Then, with a lower voice, she continued. "My... mother even said my voice is much better than hers and the Sirens she knew."
She wanted to show her competence. Aerine was even this close to singing in front of Elise if she still wasn't convinced. She also wasn't lying. She really has a good singing voice that could even be heard in her speaking voice as well.
At some point, when she accidentally watched a small concert, Aerine had thought of becoming a singer and singing on a stage with a huge crowd. However, she was aware that this dream wouldn't be accomplished.
Yet, who knew that this dream had the possibility of being fulfilled? It was truly fascinating how destiny played a role in everyone's lives.
"I understand." Elise had to cut in and calm Aerine. For some reason, her serious front was slowly crumbling because of Aerine. "As you can see, there is a new singing competition that will air next month, called Voice Arena. The contestants are more or less finalized but don't get me wrong, I'm not here to immediately sign you up as one."
For Elise, getting Aerine into the competition was as easy as waving her hand. After all, the company that owned the station where the singing competition would air was only a subsidiary company of theirs.
Her implications were also understood by Aerine. She didn't interfere and listened attentively to Elise. This attitude makes a good impression on the woman.
As a result, her tone became slightly softer.
Elise continued. "Next week, they will be conducting the last audition for the competition. And I've been told they are only short of one person. Ms. Aerine, I hope you get this spot." She paused, her tone then shifting slightly heavier. "Prove yourself to be deserving of the Master's grace, Ms. Aerine."
Aerine never had a slight knowledge of the implications. As Elise looked at her and saw the way she nodded heavily as if accepting the challenge, she suddenly sympathized with her.
Being her master, Lucian LeVayre's contractee, Aerine was never destined to have a peaceful life. Elise hoped Aerine could maintain her pure personality. She indeed hoped so.
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Aerine tidied up the documents and began to clean herself. Everything she needed had already been prepared. She washed herself in the bathroom and put on new clothes.
When she wore them, she felt the differences from her normal clothes and suspected that they might be what they call high-end clothes. Aerine was slightly excited, but she didn't let them get in her head.
As she looked in the mirror while brushing her pink hair, Aerine had already taken mental notes of her future goals and endeavors. She had to earn a slot in that competition. She also tried her best in the competition once she got in.
Although she didn't have a lot of experience interacting with humans, Aerine could try to learn as much as she could.
After she had the relatively safe place here... Aerine's hands were unconsciously clenched. She would return to the island and make sure... to find the culprits.
She was mad, but she wasn't foolish enough to be impulsive and choose revenge over her life. Perhaps this was also the reason why her mother said those last words; she knew just how much Aerine listened to her.
Aerine had always been a very obedient child. She wouldn't die, as her mother said. She would fight and... At this moment, she couldn't even seek death, even though she was willing.
Her eyes instinctively looked at her chest, where a mark was tattooed on it. Its appearance was abstract, but it gave the impression that it was a word. Although she was unsure of what it meant.
In her intention, the mark disappeared. Aerine could make it appear if she wanted to. It was rather convenient, which she felt grateful for.
This mark was both a symbol and a reminder. Her life was not only her own.
"I did it to survive," Aerine mumbled, convincing herself. Indeed, she did it to survive. And that kept her sanity intact.
After a few contemplative thoughts, Aerine chose to bury what happened for a brief moment, intending to focus on her new life. A peaceful development was what she needed the most.
She sat in her bed and took the document again, then turned her attention to the identification documents this time. She read it carefully.
In one of these documents, her name had slightly changed.
"Aerine Lee." She read, the nuance of it rang in her ears.
Elise said that her surname was not appropriate to use, and they created a new identity for her. From now on, she was Aerine Lee.