The soft light of the morning filtered through the water, casting a shimmering glow across Seirra's room. She blinked awake, her mind still tangled in dreams of the human world, of that boy with the ocean-blue eyes. Her heart fluttered at the thought, but she quickly pushed it aside as she heard voices nearing her room. She barely had time to adjust herself before the door swung open.
Her brother, Leo, entered first, grinning widely as usual, his strong frame cutting a sharp figure against the soft light. Behind him, their grandmother followed, her eyes warm and kind, carrying the weight of years of wisdom.
"Rise and shine, Seirra," Leo said, his voice full of energy. "What are you doing still in bed? You don't want to miss out on today."
Seirra smiled, stretching and yawning dramatically. "And what's so special about today?" she asked, teasing.
Leo laughed. "You'll see. Grandfather has something planned for you. I've been sworn to secrecy."
"Oh, have you now?" Seirra shot back, rolling her eyes at her brother's mysterious tone. But her curiosity was piqued.
Her grandmother came closer, sitting gently at the edge of her bed. "Your grandfather will take you somewhere special today, my dear," she said softly, brushing a lock of Seirra's silvery hair away from her face. "It's something he has wanted to show you for a while"
Seirra sat up straighter, suddenly interested by the serious tone in her grandmother's voice. "What is it?"
Her grandmother only smiled, her eyes twinkling with hidden knowledge. "You'll see soon enough."
A few moments later, Seirra's grandfather appeared at the doorway. His presence was commanding, his long silver hair flowing freely, and his eyes, though aged, gleamed with wisdom and strength. There was something about the way he carried himself that always made Seirra feel a mixture of awe and comfort. He had lived through more than she could ever imagine, and his experiences shaped the way he saw the world.
"Ready for an adventure, Seirra?" he asked, his voice deep and reassuring.
Seirra nodded eagerly, her curiosity bubbling to the surface. She had always enjoyed spending time with her grandfather. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, every word seemed to hold the weight of the ocean.
"Then come with me," he said, motioning for her to follow. "There's something I want to show you."
---
The day unfolded beautifully. Seirra and her grandfather swam through their underwater kingdom, exploring places she had never seen before. They passed through fields of vibrant coral, where colorful fish danced around them, and through towering underwater cliffs that reached toward the surface.
Her grandfather was unusually quiet, though his eyes were filled with a calm joy as they wandered. Seirra kept close to him, enjoying the peaceful moments, but her mind continued to wander back to the human world, and specifically, to the boy she had saved.
As they swam, Seirra noticed her grandfather glancing at her every now and then, as if waiting for her to ask something. Finally, as they stopped at the edge of an underwater cliff that overlooked a stunning view of the deep ocean below, she couldn't hold back anymore.
"Grandfather," she began, her voice hesitant, "what do you think of humans?"
Her grandfather turned to her slowly, his face thoughtful. "Humans?" he repeated, as if weighing the word carefully. "What makes you ask such a question, child?"
Seirra shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how much to reveal. "I've just... I've seen them, near the shore. They seem so... different from us. I've always been curious about their world."
Her grandfather's eyes darkened slightly, and he let out a deep sigh. "Curiosity is natural, Seirra. Especially for someone like you, with your bright spirit. But you must be careful."
"Careful?" Seirra frowned. "Do you think they're dangerous?"
Her grandfather paused, his gaze turning out to the endless sea. "Not all humans are dangerous," he said slowly, "but many are driven by fear and greed. They see anything different from them as a threat. In their world, power and control are often more important than harmony. They fear what they don't understand."
Seirra was quiet for a moment, considering his words. She had always known that mermaids and humans didn't mix, but she had never truly understood why. "But can't we help them understand us? Maybe if they knew we weren't a threat, they wouldn't be afraid."
Her grandfather gave a sad smile. "It's not that simple. Humans are complicated, Seirra. Some might be kind and understanding, yes. But others... they would capture us, study us, exploit us. Their world is ruled by uncertainty, and in uncertainty, they often choose to protect themselves first."
Seirra's heart sank. The boy she had saved he didn't seem dangerous. He seemed lost, broken even. Could he really be a threat?
Before she could ask more, her grandfather placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come. There is still more to see today."
---
As the day wore on, they continued to explore, and Seirra found herself lost in the beauty of the ocean once more. They swam through hidden caverns, where bioluminescent creatures lit up the dark waters, and over ancient shipwrecks, long forgotten by the human world above.
It wasn't until they were on their way back to the kingdom that Seirra spotted something strange. At first, it was just a shadow in the distance, but as they swam closer, she saw it clearly—a massive structure floating above the water, larger than anything she had ever seen before.
"What is that?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.
Her grandfather's expression darkened again. "It's a ship," he said quietly. "A human ship."
Seirra's curiosity flared. She had seen small human boats before, but this... this was something entirely different. It was enormous, a towering steel structure that seemed to dominate the surface of the water. Humans moved about on it, their figures tiny from where she watched beneath the waves.
Without thinking, Seirra swam closer, her fascination pulling her toward the ship. She stayed just beneath the surface, watching in awe as the humans walked on their strange legs, talking and laughing. Some of them held devices in their hands, speaking into them, while others leaned over the railings, gazing out at the ocean.
"What are they doing?" Seirra whispered, more to herself than to her grandfather.
"They're traveling," her grandfather said, his voice tight. "Exploring. Humans are always searching for something—whether it's resources, knowledge, or control."
Seirra was mesmerized by the sight. The humans seemed so strange, yet so familiar in a way. She could see their emotions in their faces, hear their laughter in the air. It was both fascinating and unsettling.
But before she could move any closer, her grandfather reached out and grabbed her arm firmly. "We need to leave," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Why?" Seirra asked, confused. "They don't even know we're here."
Her grandfather's grip tightened slightly, and Seirra could see a rare flicker of fear in his eyes. "You don't understand, Seirra. We cannot be near them. Not all humans are dangerous, but their world is. They have technology, tools that can harm us even if they don't intend to. And if they find out we exist..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but Seirra understood. The unspoken fear lingered in the water between them.
Reluctantly, she allowed him to pull her away from the ship, her heart heavy with disappointment. She had been so close to seeing more of the human world, to understanding the creatures that had always intrigued her. But her grandfather's fear was palpable, and she couldn't ignore it.
As they swam further from the ship, Seirra couldn't help but ask, "Grandfather, do you really think humans and mermaids could never be friends? Is it truly impossible?"
Her grandfather sighed deeply, his eyes softening. "It's not that it's impossible, Seirra. It's just... unlikely. Our worlds are so different. We live in harmony with the sea, while humans are driven by ambition, by a need to conquer and control. They are not all bad, but their nature makes them dangerous to us."
"But what if there's some human who are different?" Seirra pressed. "Some who doesn't want to harm us, some who could understand."
Her grandfather looked at her with a sad smile. "Maybe, Seirra. Maybe one day, there will be such humans. But until then, we must be cautious. We must protect our world, our people."
Seirra nodded, even though her heart felt heavy.