THE LAST MERMAID'S PROMISE

Secrets In The Human World

The city never slept, though some mornings tried to pretend it did. I woke to the sound of traffic humming like a giant beast beneath the buildings, people chattering and shouting, and somewhere, an old man singing to his cats on a fire escape. The smell of fried bread, strong coffee, and… something metallic drifted through the air. My nose twitched. Humans really liked smells, I realized.

The man was already waiting for me outside the building. “Ready?” he asked. His tone suggested he expected me to answer confidently, but I was still untangling yesterday’s chaos from my head.

“Ready-ish,” I said, and he nodded. That was enough.

We wandered into the streets, slipping through alleys and market stalls. The city felt alive in every sense — shutters banging, children squealing, vendors shouting prices at each other, the smell of food, oil, and wet stone mingling into a kind of dizzying perfume. My heart raced with excitement and confusion. How could a place so… ordinary, feel so magical?

The man guided me to a tiny shop tucked between towering apartment blocks. “First lesson,” he said, voice low. “People are everywhere, but you don’t have to talk to all of them. Learn when to watch, when to blend in.”

Inside, the shop smelled of paper and candle wax. Old maps lined the walls, tiny trinkets filled every shelf. I reached out for a globe that spun too smoothly in my hand, nearly knocking over a stack of books.

“Careful,” the man said, smirking. “This isn’t the ocean. You can’t just push things around and hope they float back.”

I laughed despite myself. “I miss the sea,” I admitted. “But… this is fun. Different, but fun.”

He didn’t answer immediately, only handed me a small notebook. “Write. Draw. Remember what you see. The city has patterns. You’ll need to notice them.”

I opened it, scribbling sketches of rooftops, alleyways, the strange pulsing lights of neon signs. I even drew a little figure of myself, scales replaced by pale human skin, clutching the glowing pendant at my chest. Already, I could feel the city’s rhythm creeping into me, little by little.

Afterward, we walked to a park where a small group of street performers had gathered. One juggled flaming torches, another danced on stilts while a dog balanced a cup on its head. I clapped, laughed, and almost forgot the weight of the world that clung to my heart.

“You notice everything,” the man said, leaning against a tree. “And yet, you laugh like a human. Don’t forget that part of yourself.”

I smiled, catching the rhythm of the city around me. Each sound, smell, and movement became a clue — a way to survive, to navigate, to understand. And somewhere in all this chaos, perhaps, Kairo was hiding in plain sight.

Then came the alley chase. I won’t lie — it was ridiculous. A pair of kids had snatched a loaf of bread from a vendor, and I, for reasons I still don’t fully understand, found myself running after them. Overturned baskets, startled pigeons, and a near collision with a fruit cart later, the man caught up and pulled me aside.

“You’re learning,” he said, breathless but amused. “But maybe stick to observing for now.”

I laughed, wiping sweat and rain-damp hair from my face. Observing was boring. I liked chaos. It reminded me of the sea — unpredictable, wild, alive.

As dusk fell, the streets glowed with neon lights. Windows flickered with shadowed figures. Cars honked in the distance. Somewhere high above, a lone figure moved along a rooftop, quick and silent. I froze, heart lurching. Could it be him? Kairo? Or was it only another trick of the city, another reflection of what I wanted to see?

The man placed a hand on my shoulder. “It’s not time yet,” he said. “But keep your eyes open. He’s closer than you think.”

" But who was this strange man whom I was trusting without doubt?" a part of me wondered but I pushed the thought at the back of my head.

I nodded, feeling the pendant pulse warmly against my chest. The city was alive, chaotic, confusing — but it was also my battlefield. Every street, every shadow, every stranger might hold a clue. And I would chase them all, laugh at the chaos, stumble through the madness, and never forget the promise that had brought me here.

Tonight, I would sleep on rooftops and listen to the city breathe. Tomorrow, I would learn its secrets — the dangerous ones, the funny ones, the ones that might finally lead me to him.

And maybe, just maybe, the boy I loved would be waiting in the light between the shadows.