A/N: Hyunjin and Seungmin are 12 years old in this chapter. Same timeline as the first chapter.
------------------Hwang Hyunjin-----------------
3rd Person POV
OCTOBER 13, XXXX
8:00 AM
Hyunjin always wondered why he seemed different from all the others. Living in the island of Catallena, all the mermaids have such bright, vibrant tails and shiny scales. His was a dark shade of purple. His parents, the king and queen, said that it's because they found him washed up on the shore near the castle, almost on the brink of death. He wasn't taken care of properly by his real parents, or should he even call them that? It seemed that they didn't even care but deep inside he knew he longed to meet them. Hyunjin was an orphan but he’s thankful enough that somebody adopted and took care of him like their own child. Plus, his sister, Yeji has been nothing but kind to him.
He sat on the seashore in his "human" form as he waited for a friend. Hearing the familiar crashing of the waves. The sound of the waves, he watches as the water collides with the sandy surface of the seashore. His friend is from another country called Gardenia. Hyunjin's mother told him that he's a fairy which he thought was really nice. They have these things attached to their backs they call "wings". They even have druids and pixies. Both Hyunjin and his friend are children of the rulers of their own country so their parents thought it might be a good idea to have them form a strong bond at a young age. Years ago, the Kingdoms of Gardenia, Caelesti, and their kingdom, Catallena, formed an alliance. According to Hyunjin’s teacher, it’s because among all the countries, the three were the ones who didn't want bloodshed. After all, the country of humans or humans to be exact were not to be trusted.
Accompanied by Yeji, they continued to sit near the shore as they idly waited for their arrival. There he is! Hyunjin excitedly stood and anticipated their arrival. Yeji followed close behind him. The royal guards came down first to protect the family. Most of the people that appeared had blonde hair and some were brunette. He smiled at them to show courtesy and immediately turned to Seungmin’s direction.
"Minnie!"
Seungmin looked up at his parents, asking for approval if he could play with Hyunjin and they agreed. Seungmin ran towards them with excitement clearly painted in his face.
"Princess Yeji it's nice meeting you again" Seungmin smiled and looked over Yeji’s shoulder. "Hyunjin, you're here too."
"Seungmi-"
"Prince Seungmin, it's nice to see you again too." Yeji intervenes.
"Princess Yeji, we will excuse ourselves now. It seems that your brother is waiting for me." Seungmin smiles.
Seungmin passes Yeji with a bow and walks over to Hyunjin immediately earning a Hyunjin Clinging on to him, they are stopped by Seungmin’s parents. Their parents just told them to behave and don't stray too far away from the guards. But they didn't follow his mom's instructions. Honestly, when did they ever listen? They escaped the guards assigned to them by distracting them with a little magic and Hyunjin brought Seungmin to his favorite spot of the palace. It was a pond. No one really goes there or knows it for that matter so it's not so clean but he tries his best to make it look better since he goes there often. They played for hours. They watched the fishes swim around and splashed each other with water forgetting the fact that their clothes will get wet. Soon, exhaustion seeped into them and so they laid on the grass feeling the cool breeze of the air. Seungmin closed his eyes and soon Hyunjin closed his eyes too, feeling his body relax in the green grass.
"Hyunjin," Seungmin called.
"Hmm,"
"Listen to the wind. Do you hear them whisper?" Seungmin asked.
