The Songless Mermaid
1352 Words
Moments later, Myles finally woke up. He was completely taken aback when he saw the mermaids who surrounded him. When he realized he was in the water, he thought of a way to escape from them quickly. However, when Viethra saw Myles finally wake up, she called to him, which made him flinch as he was planning his escape. Myles turned towards where Viethra was and he was relieved to see them like a thorn was plucked from his heart. He swam towards the delta and met up with the two.
Viethra and Mae explained the situation to Myles. The last thing that they remembered was giant serpents attacking them and they were surprised when they woke up in an unknown village. Maisur walked up to the three telling them that the village elder requests their presence. The three followed Maisur to a cave in the village. Inside, they saw a mermaid who has a dark blue tail. She has a middle-aged complexion and had black hair. She wore a shell headdress that distinguishes her from other merpeople in the village.
“Here are the outsiders you requested, great elder,” Maisur bowed.
“At ease, Maisur,” the elder spoke. “People from beyond the seas what is your business on this island?”
“Great elder of this village,” Viethra stepped forward. “I am Viethra Mistwood of the hidden theocracy of elves in Greenwood forest,” she said while removing her hood revealing her long pointy ears. “We stumbled upon this island accidentally due to unforeseen circumstances. We mean you no harm, I assure you, great elder.”
“Then tell me,” the great elder grabbed something from a clam. “Why do you have something like this?” In her right hand, she held the sacred gem of Terra. Myles and Viethra looked at Mae as she tried to find her necklace. But her necklace was gone. “This gem holds enough power to destroy an entire nation.”
“Let me explain, old mermaid!” Mae stood forward. “That gem is a family heirloom of my clan passed on generation to generation. That gem belongs to me, give it back.”
“A family heirloom?” the elder suddenly became quiet. She then gave the sacred gem back to Mae. “This village has a gem similar to that one.”
“Great elder,” Maisur suddenly intervened. “You should not tell them of its existence,” the elder raised her hand and Maisur became silent.
“Centuries ago, an angel and a vampire came to this island. The two of them gave the gem to the village saying that it should be well hidden in a place where merpeople songs are sung without sound. No one in the village understood what they said, but they told us to take it up the mountain. Mysteriously, the gem seemed to be leading us somewhere on top of the mountain. We stumbled upon a cave which…”
Suddenly, Selena came rushing inside the cave. “Great elder!” she hyperventilated and looked like something gruesome occurred. “A giant serpent bit Sera.”
The elder spoke no more and hurriedly went outside along with Maisur. The three followed them and saw a part of the village ravaged. Merpeople were all in the lagoon holding hands singing a serene calming song. Maisur and the elder joined them jumping into the water swimming towards them. In the middle of the group, Sera floated unconscious.
“What happened?” Viethra asked Selena calming her down.
“A giant serpent attacked the village we tried to fend it off but it took us greatly by surprise. We all swam for safety but Sera, she… she faced the serpent and was bitten.”
The elder then approached them bearing sorrowful news. “Sera’s legs were bitten. Poison is circulating her body as we speak. Our songs cannot remove the poison from her body but could only slow it down.”
“She will die?” Selena burst into tears. “There was to be a way. There has to be something that could save her.”
“There is,” the elder answered. “In the mountains of this island is a blue flower which can heal any poison. The flower is in the cave where we hid the gem that the angel and the vampire gave to us. However, the journey is dangerous for mermaids like you.” She stopped and looked at Viethra and the rest of the party. “If I may…”
“You don’t need to tell us, elder,” Myles spoke. “You rescued us from those serpents before. We would be glad to return the favor.”
“I’ll go with you!” Selena blurted.
“No, you will only get in their way. Maisur shall accompany them.”
The elder went back to the lagoon telling Maisur of her decision. Selena looked helpless. Tears streamed slowly down her face as her heart was crushed with the inability to help her friend in any way. Viethra told her to join the merpeople but she revealed that she could not sing. Myles and Mae thought it was a joke and laughed at the thought. But Selena was serious, she could not sing and that is why she plays the harp extensively and carries it everywhere.
Maisur approached them and asked when they will be departing. Myles and Mae looked at Viethra. They wanted her to decide as she was the leader of the group. Viethra thought that they must go as soon as possible and declared that they will depart immediately.
The party prepared their things. Mae got her dual swords, Viethra equipped her staff and Myles wore his armor and got his sword ready. With their equipment ready, the three along with Maisur and ascended the mountain.
They got deeper into the forest continuing their ascent. They encountered creatures of decay along the way but it wasn’t something that they couldn’t handle. Mae and Myles quickly slashed down the carnivorous plants, while Maisur with his trident pierced cockatrices.
Everything went well until they suddenly heard a scream from behind them. They quickly ran to see who it was. When they finally came to, they saw cockatrices attacking Selena who were following them. The four went to her rescue defeating the creatures that attacked her. Maisur scolded Selena for following them deep in the mountains. Viethra intervened and was glad that nothing happened to Selena while she followed them.
Maisur wanted Selena to return to the village but Myles intervened, saying that the journey back alone is dangerous and insisted that she join them. With Selena on their party, the five of them continued their ascent. With Mae, Myles, and Maisur as the vanguard and Viethra and Selena as support, no creature of decay could halt their progress. Selena is a bard. With her harp, she rejuvenates and boosts both offense and defense of her allies.
They suddenly reach a dead end in the forest. There was no other way to go because all of the paths were blocked. Viethra bade the group to remain alert while she thought of what the elder said, “A place where merpeople songs are sung without sound.”
Viethra thought hard of the riddle until it struck her that Selena was a songless siren. She realized that Selena was the second soul that the elder in her village referred to, “Find the songless siren of the depths.” Viethra then told Selena to play her harp. While Selena was playing, Viethra asked her, “Why do you play your harp?”
Selena did not answer but continued to play her harp. Viethra continued to ask her, but Selena remained quiet. Suddenly, her playing attracted creatures of decay. This time three giant serpents appeared.
“We’re in trouble,” Mae equipped her dual swords. “You better know what you’re doing Viethra, or else it’s over here.”
Maisur and Myles went to face the other serpents. Still, Selena continued playing ignoring Viethra’s question. Again, Viethra asked the question. Finally, Selena answered, “I don’t know okay? I play because it is the only thing I can do! I can’t sing.” Suddenly, Selena’s harp glowed and an opening appeared to where the dead-end was.
“Let’s go, guys,” Viethra shouted and they all retreated continuing to the cave that appeared.
- Writer
