It was midnight and everywhere was overwhelmed with nothing but absolute gloominess and bizarre quietness…
Somewhere above the peaceful and sedated deep blue sea, a petite, wooden brown boat could be seen accurately swaying itself gently atop the large body of water.
Two souls could be detected currently onboard on the boat. One was a trivially old man, half of his hairs were occupied with thick grey strands. He was wearing a brown fisherman hat, and a simple black robe garment.
The old man was sitted above the fragile wood of the boat, while the other person on the boat was a beautiful young lady. The young lady appeared to be fully asleep, as her eyes were closed firmly, her skin were as pale as ever and her lips were unfathomably dried up as though she was drained of all her strength. She was layed on the old man's laps meekly.
In the middle of the deep blue sea, the small wooden brown boat appeared to no longer be moving, as it floated in one position. Perhaps it was the old man's wishes to no longer let it move forward as he wasn't paddling it. His eyes slightly fearful and cautious.
From beneath the calm sea, an agile but solemn voice suddenly sounded. Actively jolting the slightly old man as he now became quite afraid. And it sounded like the voice of a young lady;
"If I'm not mistaken. You say you want me to heal your severely sick daughter with my siren song, am I right?"
Trembling slightly, "Yes water Goddess, that is what I want," the old man affirmed, glancing downwards fearfully at his sick daughter.
"Okay then, let's say I'm genuinely willing to agree to do as you've said just now. What would you give to me in return for the favor?" The voice beneath the water resounded, rather desperately than before.
"I assume you're already aware that I would only agree to help you, if you're also willing to give me something in return. And before you proceed to tell me what you want to offer me. You must also know that if what you're willing to offer me isn't worth the favor I'm going to offer you. Then I'll sink your boat. And remember you only have one chance."
"So now tell me. What would you offer me in return?" Her sweet and alluring voice demanded, still using the sea as her protective shield, and the darkness as her unyielding armor. Hiding her face thoroughly.
"If you're willing to help me heal my dying daughter. Then I promise that I can make you human," the old man said confidently.
Spontaneously after that sentence was uttered by the old man. The environment immediately fell silent. Causing the old man to become quite scared, as his heart accelerated. He wasn't sure if that would be enough to persuade the water Goddess. However, what he was sure of was that he would keep his promise, and that he could make it happen.
Be it as it may, what was presently badgering him was the unwonted silence that pervaded the air. He didn't know what could be going on in the water Goddess' head. Therefore all he could do was waited patiently of course.
At long last and after what deemed like centuries. The alluring voice beneath the sea spoke again;
"Let's say I've agreed. How would you make it happen? How would you make me human? Remember if you dare to trick me I'll sink your boat without any hesitations."
The old man exhaled. Discerning that the water Goddess had seemingly shown some signs of considering his offerings. He promptly glanced downwards, reaching for his pocket, he brought out a bracelet. The bracelet appeared to be emerged with white pearls. It was extremely beautiful. The bracelet seemed to be like something a jewelry merchant would pay fortunes just to acquire.
The old man raised the pearl bracelet upwards.
"Here Goddess. This is an extremely rare pearl bracelet. It is a heirloom of ours, passed down from generations to generations. It is mine to keep, but today I'm going to hand it over to you in return for my daughter's safety, as it possesses the ability to turn you into a human being, as long as you keep it on your wrist."
"Are you certain about what you've just said?" The Goddess asked.
"Yes, I am."
Some distance away from the old man's boat. The Goddess poked out her head from the waters. She was at alert incase the old man tried to pull any tricks on her to capture her or anything.
Then slowly and steadily, she swam closer towards the old man's wooden boat.
The old man lifted the lantern that was present beside him, so as to see the Goddess as he could percept some delicate movements circulating towards him. He guessed that it was the water Goddess. So he remained calm at least.
The Goddess swam much more closer to the old man's wooden boat. And when she was close enough, she stretched her hands forth and out of the water. Then rapidly grabbed the fine looking pearl bracelet away from the old man's clutches into hers.
Eventually she lifted her face out of the waters.
Notwithstanding the lantern of the old man wasn't still enough to shed enough light upon the lady, thus, he still couldn't see what the Goddess appeared like. And he dared not shift the lantern towards the Goddess' face anymore than he was already doing, fearing what might transpire if he ended up making her feel uncomfortable.
In spite of that, the old man was still quite satisfied that at least the water Goddess had accepted his offerings. So now his dear daughter's life would be safe.
'Thank goodness,' he said inwardly. Adjusting his daughter's body more properly.
The Goddess elevated her herself out of the waters. She layed her hands above the boat's edge.
"Since you've kept your promise. Bring her close to me. As promised, I'll also heal her in return," she stated, and the old man did as he was told. He shifted his daughter's body towards the boat edge, so that the Goddess would have access to it, and would be able to heal her.
Then the Goddess sang to her. Her voice as soothing as ever, like the snores of the oceans, and like the tranquil whispers of the northern wind. She sang unexplainably wonderfully and gloriously as though she was an angel.
And when she was done singing. Both herself and the old man glanced down at the pale sleeping young lady with dried lips who appeared sick. The young lady was starting to regain consciousness already.
"Father…?" she muttered haggardly, attempting to get up.
But was hastily stopped by her father.
"Rest Silvia. Don't exhaust yourself by getting up. Sleep my dear. We will arrive home soon," he said with a genuine smile, almost wanting to tear up.
Silvia who was still quite weak couldn't help but obey.
The old man was substantially amused by this. Looking towards the water Goddess.
"My daughter hasn't woken up for days now. And now I can finally hear her speak again. Thank you water Goddess. Thank you so much for this. May the heavens bless you greatly. Thank you so much," he appreciated. Bowing his head every now and then.
"You don't have to thank me. I was going to heal your daughter anyways even if you wouldn't offer me anything in return. You seem like a nice man. And seeing that you've kept your promise made my assumptions even more appropriate."
"You flatter me Goddess. I'm very grateful for this. May the heavens reward you greatly on my behalf," he smiled. "Thank you. By the way Goddess, it's already late now. The coldness of the sea is really harsh especially for my daughter's condition. We would have to get to shore by morning. So I need to take my leave as soon as possible."
"Right," the Goddess said. "You may leave. But remember. You mustn't mention any of this to anyone. Or your daughter might just fall sick again," she lied. Probably to make sure that the old man doesn't mention this to anyone else. As he seemed to be able to do anything in his power for his daughter's protection. So what better lie could she give?
"I give you my word Goddess. I will never let anyone else know about any of this. It would never happen," he assured.
"Okay," the Goddess said. "What's your name?"
"My name his James Harlow," James replied.
"James…" she repeated, then trailed off. "Okay then James. You may leave. Take care of your daughter. She's a very beautiful lady. She doesn't deserve to die early. Now leave quickly."
"Sure I will definitely take care of her Goddess," James assured, "I shall leave then," he said. Clenching the boat paddles, he attempted the paddles, and began propelling the boat forward promptly, away from the water Goddess' abode.
The water Goddess stared at him from where she was. So many thoughts going through her head. She watched the boat drifting away from her. Then something suddenly popped up into her head.
"Wait James?!" she instructed.
Hearing this, James instantaneously halted. And percepting this, the water Goddess swiftly swam towards James. Upon reaching there, she glanced at James. She could already perceive that James was a good man. From what she had seen so far, she could tell that James had no malicious attempt towards her.
"James let me follow you," the Goddess implored. Not really knowing exactly why she said this.
"Huh…? Follow me?" James was slightly stunned by what he just heard. It was really unexpected. But he knew better than to make this unknown being furious by refusing her. What if she decided to hurt them instead.
"Alright. Since you would probably turn into a human by wearing the bracelet. So I guess there's no problem with you coming along with us then. The more the merrier. Hop on," James considered.
He would probably be endangered if he refused her, and would still be endangered if he doesn't. So it's safe to say that there's no point in refusing.
"James, the boat isn't that spacy to fit the three of us properly. It might probably just sink. So I'll swim along with you. And when we're at shore I'll wear the bracelet and follow you."
James nodded slowly.
"Okay then. Let's leave," he said, being cautious of the time. And the Goddess agreed. Therefore, as the boat moved forward, the water Goddess swam alongside them.
"By the way Goddess what's your name?"
"You can call me Noelle," Noelle Nirvana said gently.