A Mermaid's Legacy- Sebastian Sallow x MC x Ominis Gaunt

Chapter 41- Restricted Section

I stirred from slumber, drawn by the sound of voices in the hallway. As I glanced out the window, I realized it was nighttime.

Could it really be that late? How long had I been asleep?

Part of me wished to remain hidden beneath the covers, but I knew Ominis couldn't shield the outside world forever. Across the room, I noticed Ominis dozing off with a textbook draped over him. There was an undeniable sweetness in the way he looked when he was lost in sleep.

My attention was drawn to an owl that had been delivered to me, its presence evident on the side table. Sebastian's letter beckoned, requesting a meeting in the restricted section. The idea of being alone with him felt like flirting with danger. But then again, how much trouble could one truly stir up in a library?

Heading towards the library, a growing sense of anxiety accompanied my steps. I never knew what kind of reaction to anticipate from him. Upon entering, memories of our initial venture into the restricted section flooded back—how he had taken the blame when Peeves had caught us. It baffled me why he would go to such lengths for someone he barely knew.

It's hard to believe how long ago that feels.

As I strolled past the familiar bookshelves toward the back, I could almost visualize the echoes of our younger selves. Those were happier times, prior to Ranrok, Isidora, and the other events that had left their mark on our friendship.

Continuing past the gate and down the steps, I spotted Sebastian engrossed in the archives and various types of literature. He had situated himself on the floor in a lounge area complete with a fireplace, a place seemingly secluded from the rest of the world.

"There you are," I murmured.

"My dear, there you are," he responded, his voice carrying a soft smile as he closed the distance and pressed a lingering kiss to my cheek.

But that wasn't enough for him. He gently set down his materials, cupped my face, and deepened the kiss, sending a thrilling shiver through me. "Come sit with me, kitten," he beckoned, his voice a velvety whisper.

As we settled down, he delved into the texts he had gathered, his fingers occasionally brushing mine as he flipped through the pages. His focus was on mermaids and any potential connections to the Realm. It became evident that he had pieced together the significance of the journal he had previously shown me – it was intertwined with Morgana's story, and Malachi emerged as the one who had betrayed her.

"Malachi was the origin of the wizarding world?" I exclaimed, taken aback.

"Our magic originates from yours, love. It's no surprise that you were able to effortlessly overcome challenges like Ranrok, aurors, poachers... anything that opposed you," he explained while still engrossed in his reading.

"I struggle to grasp even the basics of my magic. Who knows what it will be like once I've completed the ceremony," I said, sitting up and hugging my knees, a sense of discouragement washing over me.

"What does the ceremony actually entail? What's its purpose?" he inquired, looking up from the texts.

"The Mariana Consecration Ceremony serves to officially crown me as the next Realm Queen," I began explaining. "By doing so, it signifies that my powers have reached their full potential. And with these powers, we fulfill the divine will of Poseidon through the sacred tasks of protection, regeneration, and enlightenment. I think my mother will oversee the actual transformation, or perhaps one of our sorcerers will be involved." I paused, collecting my thoughts as I recounted the details.

"It all begins by putting me into a deep sleep," I explained. "The transformation process is a fierce trial, restructuring my magic amid excruciating pains. They prefer to induce a coma-like sleep, sparing me the ordeal of awakening agony. Yet, I'm uncertain if enduring such torment awake is possible. A piece of myself must yield, making room for the divine essence my mother will summon. Through her spell, Poseidon himself is invoked, bestowing divinity upon me. My body and soul shall both be reborn, readied for my new purpose. And then, there's another layer to this - the concept of the three gates..."