Fantasy Tales Series: Rise of The Merfolk

Chapter Thirty-Two

I showed him to the private cosy spot on the beach where I always came to transform or practice my magic. I hadn't been able to come here for a while to practice, so it felt nice to visit the spot again. As always, no one was around because no one came up the beach this far.

'Nice place.' He muttered. 'Nice and private.'

'It's where I came to practice my powers when I first found out who I was.'

The sky was washed with a golden glow from the setting sun, there were pinks and purples mixing together to make a gorgeous sky. I placed the stone on a rock and stared at it. 'Now what?'

He made a humming sound as he thought it through. 'We should touch the stone to channel our energy. I mean, how else could we do it?'

Fair point. I placed my hand over the small stone, feeling the rough stone poke my palm.

'Now, close your eyes and concentrate.' I did just that and let his words guide me. I thought of what I wanted in my mind's eye- I wanted to see the truth of what happened, to be able to show it to others. I wanted to achieve this so that years from now I could live in a harmonious kingdom full of magical Merfolk and fully learn, and embrace who I was. I wanted to master my powers. I wanted to learn how to speak the languages fluently, to know our history back to front. I wanted a life under the ocean. Of course, I would have to find a balance between my mortal world too, perhaps a beach house so I could come and go.

This was why I wanted peace, so lives could be lived and people could have the future they deserved.

'Aqua look,' Noah whispered. I opened my eyes and gazed in wonder at the scene in front of me. The stone had agreed with me, it wanted to give me my future. Before me, I saw a wispy fog with a faded viewing of events. It was like watching an old movie, but more magical. I saw everything that happened and how they had all grown up to hate each other. 'You did it. You barely needed me.' He smiled. 'We can use this to expose the truth, make people see reason.'

I took my hand off the stone and the vision disappeared. I held the stone tightly. We were so close to winning this. 'Thank you.'

'For what?'

'Helping me.'

He smiled. 'I can't wait to show everyone this. But we have to do it while everyone is in the same place, on the battlefield.'

'So right as both sides are staring at each other, ready to battle. How will we get everyone to listen to us?'

'We don't. We let the stone do the speaking and then explain ourselves afterwards. If everything goes according to plan, they'll see reason, drop their weapons and make peace right then and there.' Noah had a happy gleam in his eye and grin on his face.

A thought popped into my head. 'What about Kalum?'

'I'll warn the elders about him once the war is over.' I knew this was a promise, and I believed him. I known him a short time only, but I believed him.

~

It was a funny feeling, knowing I was almost victorious in my goals and yet I had to wait till the end of the week. Noah and I had agreed that the morning of, we would meet at the private spot on the beach and swim to the battle ground. We would hide out and at the right time, spring up and the rest was history.

Until that time though I was grounded. I didn't dare go into the water for fear of encountering Cora or Wisteria or anyone really. I was avoiding them as long as possible. I knew Cora would eventually seek me out but until then I would hide in the house and try to enjoy my time with my friends. It was hard to keep my mind off of the war, so, the next day I decided it was pointless and instead chose to focus my mind into practising my skills with magic. I went to the private spot on the beach and made doubly sure no one was around. I also never left the house without the stone.

First, I wanted to master my magic over basic water states. I was good enough, but I wanted to be better. I spent the next hours making streams of water float, swirl, and coil around objects. It felt freeing, like I was dancing and going with the flow. Then, I made ice balls and had some target practice with them. Ice rained down everywhere, melting almost instantly out in the sun. I froze the foam the ocean churned up on the shore and then melted it, watching it evaporate and swirl into the sky. I would use my magic to make wind blow water in my direction and then freeze the droplets or evaporate them. If anyone ever threw water at me again, I was prepared. I turned the rock pools to jelly and back to a state of liquid. I wanted to summon lighting or thunder but I also knew it would draw attention to my spot on the beach. That would have to wait.

I didn't realise how much time passed by until I got a call from Naomi asking where I was because it was dinner time. I was sad to have go back my normal life, but I would come back tomorrow. Hopefully. If the girls wanted to do something tomorrow, I wouldn't be able to get out of it without sounding rude and entitled. I needed all the practice I could get, I had to distract myself from my nerves and over thinking. The war was three days away.

On the way home Naomi talked to me relentlessly on the phone about minor gossips the girls had found out. It was good for a giggle, but useless information. When I passed a small bookshop, I froze. 'Actually Naomi, I'll probably be another hour or so. I found a small library.'

'You and your books.' She laughed. 'Have fun then.'

'Bye.' I hung up and entered the shop.

If I could find more information about the artefacts Kalum was after, it might prove to be useful to know.

Perhaps I could turn its power against him? If it even had any to begin with. I know it was glowing when I found it but that didn't mean it had magic infused in it.

The bell rung as I stepped inside, but I noticed no one was around or at the desk. I double checked the opening hour times and it should've still been open so I went straight to the mythology section. The books were dusty and old, the covers plain and hardcover. All the books were labelled with a number to help organise them.

There were books about mermaids, spirits, gods, vampires. Basically, any mythical creature you could think of. I was about to select one about mermaids, since that's what I came here for when a book titled 'Faeries' caught my eye. I was curious, Cora and Gwen had said other mythical creatures were also living among mortals but I hadn't seen any. It was getting darker, so I would check the book out along with the one about mermaids and read it back at the house.

When I walked past all the shelves back to the front desk, I resisted the urge to sneeze from all the dust. There was a man at the register. The librarian. He looked middle aged, with a red sweater best and a blue formal shirt on underneath. He had a gold watch on his wrist and squinted eyes. What got me thinking he was strange looking was his pointed nose and ears.

'What can I do for you today young lady?' he had a gruff voice.

'I just wanted to rent these books out.'

He nodded and examined the books. I heard him chuckle. 'Interested in fairy tales, are we?'

I nodded enthusiastically. 'Very. I love to read about them.'

'You know, some people say they're real.'

I looked up at him with a hesitant look on my face. What was he implying? I knew it was real, but how could he, a regular mortal, know?

'Hadn't heard. How much?'

He chuckled like he knew something I did not. 'Ten dollars each. Please sign this waver with your name and address. You have a week with them.'

I reached into my purse to get out the money.

'How's the beach lately? I was never overly fond of water myself, then again, I'm not a water dwelling creature.'

My head snapped up again and I handed him the money. His gaze was intense and I took a closer look at him. He did seem strange.

'Then what are you?' I dared to ask.

He smiled secretly and tapped the faerie book. 'I like this one, personally. It has the most fantastic creatures, have a nice day.'

With that being the end of the conversation, I left confused and intrigued.