Tales of Pristinia: The Six Sacred Gems

Mermaid Tears

                 With Sera healed from the poison, the whole village was thankful to Myles, Viethra, and Mae. The three showed the sacred gem that they found inside the cave to the elder. The elder nodded and told that they could have the gem. The night after the whole village threw a feast at their success.

                 The three were served with seafood. There was also music with the beautiful voices of the sirens. Sera personally thanked them. She gave gifts to each one of them keep. To Viethra, Sera gave her pearl hairpin which helps in magic control. To Myles, Sera handed a scale from her tail which contains the power of the ocean. With it, Myles would be able to exchange her legs for a tail. To Mae, Sera gave a pearl bracelet that could call out the strength from inside her.

                The feast ended and the three went to rest inside huts that were specially prepared for them to stay in. With two of the sacred gems in their possession, they must continue to find the third sacred gem. They already have the sacred gem of Terra and the sacred gem of Suilihn.

                 Viethra recalled the guidance of the elder, “Forge an alliance with the dwarf loved by flames.” Their next destination would be Montiule the kingdom of dwarves on the western part of the continent. The dwarves have a friendly relationship with the humans and both the Human Federation and Montiule have citizens of the other visit the other. The three finally went to sleep as they were going to leave early in the morning.

                 As the three were asleep, the elder talked to Selena and Maisur. She inquired about their adventure to find the flower. Selena and Maisur told every single detail of their journey, starting from when Selena was attacked by cockatrices to their fight with the giant crab. Their stories entertained the elder. Finally, she revealed her intentions and told the two of what she thought.

                 “I think it is time for you to venture out of the village and go on an adventure of your own,” the elder said to them. “Travelling with friends is fun and it teaches us a lot of life lessons worth learning.”

                 “Great elder?” Maisur was puzzled at what she meant.

                 “Hearing what the two of you said made me remember the time when I went on an adventure with my friends. Those were times when I was at my prime, a mermaid with her trident off to help a friend return to her land.”

                 The two remained quiet surprised at the elder’s sudden decision to let them join Myles, Viethra, and Mae. What the elder told them was tempting, but the two firmly believed that their duty was to the village and the merpeople of the village. So, they gracefully refused what the elder told them.

                 The morning then came and the three woke up early to prepare for their departure. They loaded the supplies that the village gave them. Before departing, they visited the elder to thank her for the accommodation. They also inquired about the location of the island that they were on and the fastest way to arrive at Montiule. The elder told them everything she knew and the fastest route to the western dwarf kingdom.

                 As they were about to depart, Maisur and Selena got near their boat to say goodbye. The three disembarked and meted the two. Viethra then revealed her wish for Selena to go with them. Selena thanked Viethra but she refused the offer again. Viethra then asked Maisur but she also had the same response.

                 They finally said their goodbyes and the three sailed westward towards Montiule. The sea was friendly in the early morning. The waters were clear, pristine, and beautiful. The ocean principality of Pacifica has remained untouched for centuries which made the ocean continuously exquisite. The wind kisses the sea with its cold embrace as it pushes the sails of the boat.

                 Mae was at the wheel, Viethra was on the lookout, while Myles was on standby for any orders. The peaceful morning gradually turned noon. They then ate their lunch. Mae and Viethra ate their fill while Myles ate little as usual. They continued their voyage. Viethra turned back to Isla Del Sillens but it was already far, almost consumed by the endless horizon.

                 Myles and Mae sparred. Myles worked and trained as much as he could to improve his sword art. The creatures of decay that they encountered on the way made it possible for him to increases his speed and accuracy. Their smooth sailing continued until Viethra who was on the lookout noticed something from behind them on the pursuit.

                 They could not identify whether it was a merman or a mermaid or a creature of decay, but the only thing they knew was that it was approaching them at an extremely fast speed.

                 As it got closer, the three prepared for battle. However, when it got near, the sunlight had a golden reflection on the water. Then it suddenly popped its head up and to their surprise it was Selena. They pulled the sails letting Selena on the ship.

                 Selena hyperventilated when she came to. She had bruises and scratches. Viethra healed her and asked her what happened. However, Selena only told them to continuously head west. Myles asked why but Selena fainted. The three let her rest. Viethra made a little shade on the boat using her magic.

                 Following what Selena said, they sailed as swiftly as they could westward avoiding islands that could be inhabited. Before they knew it, the sun was already setting on their front. The sky and sea became sunset orange. The scene made the horizon disappear making the boat look like it was sailing in the sky.

                 Selena then suddenly woke up. The three then inquired of what happened on the island. Selena could not stop but let her tears flow from her eyes. She looked terrified and even the breeze of the wind shook her greatly. Mae asked her again and she only replied with the word, “Angel.”

                 They suddenly knew what happened. The angel who was following them must have made its way into the village. They were shocked and sad at what Selena and the entire village experienced.

                 “Af…af…ter you left,” Selena finally spoke. “An angel descended upon our village. He demanded that we give him the gem that our village hid. We were shocked that he knew of the existence of the gem. We told him that such a gem does not exist and he deemed us to be liars. He slaughtered everyone in the village. I was about to be next but Maisur and Sera sacrificed themselves for me to escape. I wanted to help them, but Sera told me to escape or she will never forgive me.” She burst into tears.

                 Under the crescent moon, a mermaid sheds it tears for the fallen, while the hearts of others fill with sorrow, sadness, anger, and vengeance.