Tales Of Pristinia

We reached Marlene the culturally-diversed southern city of Fluere. Marze and I looked for and entered the blue coral. However, things got an intriguing turn of events. She smacked me in the head after my Transformation spell dispelled and I quickly wore my mage uniform but she still saw me n.a.k.e.d.

Now we are resuming our journey as we exit out of Marlene's west gate. We continued heading down south. Marze just kept quiet ever since we exited Marlene. She hasn't talked to me since that 'blue coral incident'. Why should she not talk to me? It was her fault anyway. I mean the Transformation spell wouldn't have been instantly dispelled if she let me be. We continued down south. She seem to be able to tell the direction just by swimming. Is this another merpeople instinct?

She was leading the way. Then she suddenly stopped.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Lance! For your crimes against purity, I shall punish you here and spill your promiscuous elven blood here." She held the five-bladed spear and pointed it against me.

"Wha...wha....what is the meaning of this?" I demanded. "It was your fault that the spell was suddenly dispelled. I had nothing to do with it! You were the one who never left me alone. It was your fault." I blushed

"Bu..bu...bu....but, I just wanted to help as a valkyrie. It was my will!" Her face became redder by every word that she said. "A..a..anyways, I won't spill your promiscuous elven blood. However, I will still rid you of promiscuity!"

"Pro...pro..promiscuity! That's such a miscreant word!" I blushed in turn. "Loo....loo...look, that was all in the past okay? Let's continue our journey and forget that ever happened!"

"Bu...but as a chaste valkyrie, I cannot tolerate your actions. You must swear by your life to not do such a thing ever again!"

"I swear okay! Just stop pointing your trident against me."

"Okay let's go!"

That went well, I hope. She calmed down for now and I hope can too. That was really embarrassing for me. Anyway, we came to a wide sandy plain and a village can be seen at the edge of the plain.

"That's Neraer!" she pointed at the village. "Starting from here, everything is gonna get shallow, since were close to the border."

"What are we waiting for?" I said. "Race you to the village."

I swam fast towards Neraer. When I looked back, I saw Marze doing a really funny stance. Then suddenly, she zoomed through the whole plain and reached the village.

"WHAA! Cheater!" I exclaimed.

I swam as fast as my tail could carry me. Halfway to the village, fatigue dominated my body. Perhaps I swam too much I can handle. Anyways, I just considered it as an exercise. Swimming in mermaid form requires much exertion from the abdominal muscles.

"Working out my abs, yeah!"

I continued on my way. The village seemed near but every kick that I made with my tail feels so tiring that made the village still so faraway. When I reached the outskirts of the village, I felt eminently exhausted and Marze was there making a pose in the village gates. I reached the village tired but it seems my abs were toned up.

"You're so slow!" I heard Marze called out to me.

"It was my intention to go slow!" I defended myself. "Because you know, you got to let your opponents win sometimes."

"You're such a good liar!" Marze replied.

"Anyways, welcome to Neraer! The village near the border to Aenia," she exclaimed.

We entered the village. Inside I saw a lot of mermaids and mermans playing stringed instruments. They were in the middle of chanting. Just hearing the mermaids' and mermans' song melted my fatigue away.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Marze patted my shoulder.

"Just hearing it made my fatigue disappear," I replied.

"Aha! So you were tired from swimming all the way here," Marze exclaimed.

I just laughed. "Look, I'm not a Fluerian. Of course, It would be difficult for me to swim," I explained.

Marze laughed back. "I could teach you how to swim sometimes. As a valkyrie, it is my duty to aid you in any way," she acted up like that again.

"About what happened at the blue coral, could you forgive for what happened?" I pleaded.

"Of course! It was partly my fault. So I'm no exception. I'm sorry too," she replied.

At last, I felt light like a feather drifting through the fickle wind. We have forgiven each other.

"Anyway, that song was really relaxing!" I shifted the topic.

"That is what southern seas are famous for! Beautiful mermaids and handsome mermans collaboratr on an exquisite enchantment of harmony and sound."

Just beside us, I overheard two merpeople forgive each other for the mistakes they did to each other and other merpeople followed.

So this is the power of the merpeople's songs when sung by a group. It heals the soul, the mind and the body, and also heals your connection with the people around you.

I took a swim around the village. I admit the southern seas are beautiful. Just past the village is a very vividly vibrant coral reef. However, the water was getting shallower the farther it is from the village.

So the sun is high up in the sky and we are in Neraer, the village near the border to Aenia. While I was swimming around, I saw Marze just sitting there a distance from the singing merpeople. She leaned against a wall on her side. I saw her black hair hanging down from her circlet. Some of it were braided, some were just let hanging.

I approached her, it seems she was already dozing off. She was beautiful while asleep and my heart beat fast again. Suddenly, she changed position and she was going to fall off. I caught her as quickly as I could. I caught her back and held her waist. Then she slowly opened her eyes and I saw her beautiful hazelnut-colored irises in her eyes that glittered of purity, bravery, and love.

"Lance, what are you doing?" She woke up.

"You were going to fall off and I caught you just in time," I helped her stand.

"Thank you!" she smiled. Her smile made my heart beat even faster.

"We can take a rest for today. We are not in a hurry anyway," I said to her.

"Thank you Lance!" she hugged me. "I was sad because for the first time I am going to leave home but I am also thrilled about this adventure."

"We can leave tomorrow so just take your time," I replied.

Marze let go of me and went on her way around the village. To my surprise, a mermaid with black scales approached me and gave me a piece of paper. The paper was not wet and felt as dry as the driest desert. It said:

"The darkness shall consume you and your companions. You shall fail to purify the eight treasures. I shall make sure of it."

When I turned to look for the mermaid she vanished. This time an enemy has presented itself to give us more difficulty. Will we be able to overcome this enemy? How did they know of our journey? And who is this enemy?

My heart feared for Marze's safety. I did not care for mine, I want to protect her with all my life.