The Song of Mira Seasinger

Chapter 3

          Welcome back folks! Before we begin, I need to add a quick heads up. I'm pretty sure this was the chapter that caused my DM to cry, so yeah.

                       ⚠️TW: Involves loss of a loved one. It doesn't actually have the death itself, but it is highly implied. If you yourself have problems with this particular topic, I vastly recommend skipping this one. I'll have a brief summary of this chapter in the next one. That being said, let's get on with the angst!⚠️

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          By 15, Mira was growing restless. She knew the sacrifices were wrong and that the only way to appease the goddess Sirena would be for Queen Umina to die, but she couldn't say anything for fear of repercussions. To make matters worse, Mira's own mother, Miriam was a part of the pool of women that the sacrifices were chosen from. So far, much to her family's gratefulness, she had always managed to escape this fate.

          This year, however, that luck would run out.

          When Mira heard the name "Miriam Seasinger" called out, she felt her world start to crumble. She was dully aware of her father and brother's gasps, as she watched in horror as her mother swam to the sea-carriage that would take her away forever. With every flip of her mother's tail, Mira saw countless memories pass before her eyes. Happy moments of her family when she was young, the lessons she was taught as a young mergirl, tender moments between her and her mother. She rewatched her home deteriorate around her under the tyrannical rule, the countless people taken to the dungeon (or worse, executed) for speaking their mind, the hundreds on the streets, the people she and her mother had helped.

          As she watched it all for a second time, every fiber of her being screamed out for her to do something, anything!

          She snapped.

          She rushed forward, calling for her mother in a pained, desperate voice, begging her not to go. Her father and brother rushed to pull her back, shouting at her in slightly panicked voices to get a hold of herself, that she was making a scene. She watched, tears flowing out of her eyes, mixing with the sea water around her as her mother, already in the sea-carriage, turned to face her.

          Even from a distance Mira could see the pain, sadness, and fear in her mother's eyes, as she said with a sad smile "It's for the best Mira." She watched as her mother began to speak in their special form of sign-language "Remember everything your father and I taught you and Seward as children. Never forget that I love you." And with that, Mira was dragged back into the crowd, her view of her mother blocked making her unable to reply.

          That was the sea urchin that killed the kelp forest (aka straw that broke the camel's back) for Mira. Her brother, seeing the rage, heartbreak, and sorrow growing on her face and knowing her sharp tongue, quickly took her yellow sash and used it to cover her mouth before she could 'say something she might regret.' With that, she was dragged back home (all while throwing up a certain hand gesture), the crowd looking at her in annoyance, pity, and contempt.

          Once home, her father and brother made sure to close all the blinds and shutters before she was ungagged and berated by them. She knew the law, this had to happen.

          "It's for the best M."

          This comment from her brother sent her over the edge. She screamed at them for doing nothing, for allowing them to take Mother away, for forgetting the lessons they [her father and mother] tried so hard to teach them [her and her brother], for blindly following those tyrants as the kingdom falls to ruin. She glared at her brother in loathing as she remarked on his longing to be just like the people who took away their mother, all for a foolish, temporary 'fix' when it's painfully obvious that Sirena won't call off her beast until Umina is dea-!

          At that, her brother tackled her to the floor, eyes wide with fear as he reminded her what would happen if she was heard. Murphy quickly looked around, making sure her rant wasn't heard.

          That night, Mira ended up going to bed without supper, crying herself to sleep, mourning the loss of her mother.

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          Okay, so we're done with the first angst-chapter, I'm sorry if I made anyone reading this cry. So yeah, like I mentioned, there's gonna be a summary of this chapter in the next one for the people who skipped. Also, the next chapter's gonna be kinda short, soooo yeah. 

          I hope you all have a lovely day/morning/afternoon/evening/night, and I'll see you next week. Bye!