Our fatigue from yesterday caused us to sleep later than usual. The sun was half a hand above the horizon when we woke. The terrestrial dragons had decided to return to Demagram during the night. Notes were left to say good-bye, good luck, safe travels, and thank you. A report was also left. Konfatuta's body had completely dissolved but left a fine greenish-white sand in a near perfect formation of his shape on the ocean floor. For reasons unknown, the current was not moving the particles, even though they were powder fine. Seven small jars filled with the powder accompanied the report. Lifting one, I noticed it was heavier than a jar that size filled with sand would be. Through the thick glass of the jar, I could still feel his essence. We put the jars into our gear and went to find food.
Varlan and his crew were finishing up when we joined them. They told us that the Clapper was nearly fried channeling all of that power and might have to be scrapped and rebuilt. Likewise, the lightning items that were attached were melted, burnt, or otherwise ruined. Thankfully, no one was expecting them back as they were all donated. A few of the largest surviving staffs not made of wood were sent to the coral barrier for more protection. The holes were being repaired as quickly as it was safe to do.
Varlan and his crew left, taking some of the terrestrial people who were ready to return to land. We walked with the ship until it caught the wind and sped away.
Free of anything pressing, we set about exploring Arvocan. The streets, like the windows, tried to be as straight as the rock and coral would allow. No fruit nor vegetable stands could be found. Dried herbs were available. The majority of plant products were water plants, both fresh and saltwater. Some were from the deep waters and completely foreign to us. We relied upon our companions to let us know if any were palatable to them. A few refused payment, expressing their honor at providing them with a bit to eat. Others were strictly business. We did encounter a couple who refused both us and our companions. Their emotions were muddled and their reasons confused.
Around mid-day, we were looking down from the highest point that we could reach by walking. We realized how little of the upper half of Arvocan we had been frequenting by staying near the outpost. We stood there for some minutes. A mental call from Sarkin let us know Sarah's tutor had arrived and was waiting in the outpost. We agreed that I would pop her back and allow the rest to make their way back normally.
The tutor was startled when we appeared. Set's appearance broke him out of his silence.
"Ah, Sarah, is it? I am Thom, your ritual tutor. This is, oh, let me think, Kara?"
"Kayla," I gently corrected, "and this is Sarroset, my partner."
"Right, right, Kayla and Set. Now, Sarah, let us retire in privacy to go over the ritual and your part."
"We can't watch?" Set asked sadly.
"What? Who? Oh, right, he mind speaks. No, not this. It is a private matter for now. You will get to watch the actual ritual, however."
"Alright, I'll wait," Set resigned as he sat near my leg.
Thom and Sarah walked off. Set and I waited for the others to join us. We watched the other riders and sea dragons go about their duties. We noticed a very young pair riding with another set. The aquatic female, physically, looked only to be ten to twelve years of age. The sea dragon paired with her was too small to carry her. Both of them were scared. Their mentors, fortunately, were very patient, supportive, and kind. Set was curious, so we went over to them. The youngsters were skittish, but Ronic and Wave Racer assured them we were friendly. Set and the young sea dragon took to playing in the shallow area of the ramp. Ronic introduced me to Seria, the newest rider assigned to Arvocan. Before I could speak, Seria, who was sitting on Wave, placed her hands on both sides of my head.
"Purple! Her eyes are purple! How? How are they purple?"
"I am of the Faerie. It is that blood that gives me purple eyes and this red hair."
Seria looked intensely at my face and hair. She looked behind me. She guided me to turn.
"Where are your wings? Fairies have wings, don't they?"
I giggled, "Some fey, called fairies by some, do have wings. I, however, am what is called Faerie, a very ancient race that lives near the gods and cares for their creations.
She tilted her head and thought a moment. It took her a second, then she asked, "Ve hye may Oceania?"
I smiled and replied, "Oceania du un gaea mi hye."
Seria, Ronic, Wave, Tide Runner, and Set stopped in their tracks at my reply. Ronic was the first to gather his thoughts.
"Your voice. When you speak your race's tongue, your voice gains much power. I dare say such a voice could shake the entire ocean."
"Sir," I began nearly in a whisper, "you grant me powers I do not have. My voice is but a note in a chorus. Faeries have done much with their voices, but I am far from such power."
"We do great and wonderful things, though," Set told them as I hid my blushing, "Meanies are no match for us."
"Set..." I tried, gently, to stop his bragging.
"It is true," Lisa said as my other sisters entered, "With and without us, you two have done some wonders."
My cheeks were so hot, I feared my face would melt.
Talk of our "greatness" ended when Sarah and her tutor Thom returned. Thom seemed annoyed while Sarah was fearful and teary-eyed.
"What's wrong? What causes you such fear?" I asked, going to Sarah's side.
"Thom claims I am 'unfit' for the ritual. Being bonded with Lust, it seems, is 'unacceptable'," Sarah told us as she tried not to cry.
We seven, our companions, the riders, and their dragons stared at Thom in disbelief. He dug out a book made of pressed water plants and began reading.
"'Candidates for transformation must be of sound mind, with a singular focus on becoming aquatic. No bonds, legal or otherwise, can remain intact between the candidate and any other entity if the ritual is to succeed.'"
Thom snapped the book shut, punctuating his claim. The riders and sea dragons slinked away, having no help to give either side of this dilemma.
"Sir, Lust is a part of Sarah and a mermaid as well. Does that still bar her from her heritage?" Alice inquired.
"Lust is a sword, not a mermaid or any aquatic. That...thing must be cast aside for the ritual to work. No exceptions."
Sarah burst into heartbroken wailing. Lisa gave Thom the deadliest of looks, which actually made him cringe. We tried consoling Sarah as her crying echoed in the dock area.
Up the ramp, Aoushlunia and Merroc swam so fast they nearly shot out of the water. Merroc changed first and stormed over to Thom.
"What is this I hear about Sarah being unfit for the ritual? Do you not know who she is?" he yelled.
Thom grabbed for the book to read Merroc the same rule he had quoted to us. Aoushlunia snatched it out of his shaking hands.
"If you had any sense, you would see that they are one, inseparable as tides and water. Your leaders will hear of this insult," she slammed the book down to make her point.
Thom stammered, trying to regain some dignity in the face of these elder aquatics. They would not hear his excuses. Grabbing him, the pair plunged back into the water and dragged Thom at top speed. We were left bewildered.
We all went to the eating hall to sit and get Sarah something to ease her sob-induced pains. Our confrontation had become hot news and we received a variety of strange looks. They stayed back from us to not insult us further and to make up their minds on the matter.
An elder, who looked a bit like a turtle, shuffled over to us.
"Sarah? Which is Sarah?" she asked in a voice that sounded ancient and little used.
"I am," Sarah answered between sobs and sniffles.
The turtle woman looked her over critically, eyes squinted so tight and covered in wrinkles to the point she looked half asleep. Finally, she clicked her tongue and shook her head.
"Thom is a fool or stupid. A soul bond is exempt from the rule of singularity. If he had truly studied the rules for transformation, he would not have upset you with false claims."
"So I am not 'unfit' for the ritual?" Sarah asked.
"No, my dear," the turtle woman chuckled, "Thom is unfit to tutor you. The Matriarch and Chief Cleric will straighten him out. Worry not, my dear."
The whole room seemed to sigh in relief. Sarah hugged the turtle woman and thanked her over and over. When they parted, she gave me the strangest look and winked at me. My confusion was quickly replaced by "knowing" her identity. I kept myself from giggling as she shuffled out of the room. I felt her leave and knew we would be seeing her again.
With that solved, the rest of the aquatics expressed their pleasure at Sarah joining her new family. We got lunch.
During our meal, a frog-like person joined us.
"Beg pardon, Sisters. I am Jondric, a historian. I am charged with recording candidates' histories so, should their terrestrial families come looking, I can tell them if, when, or where the candidate passed this way."
When Jondric was ready, Sarah told him her history as much and as far back as she could remember. He recorded her words accurately and completely. He thanked her and us and left.
Aoushlunia, Merroc, and a handsome male entered a moment after Jondric left. I heard many females inhale sharply when they saw him. The trio walked over to us.
"Ladies, this is Fabian, Sarah's new ritual tutor," Merroc explained.
Sarah rose to introduce herself. Fabian took her hand to help her stand. Their auras mingled for a moment, as if deciding, then smoothly became similar up their arms and to their shoulders. As if shocked, Fabian released her suddenly.
"Forgive my forwardness," he said in a soft voice, "I hope I gave no offense."
We all chuckled and let him know he had done nothing wrong. The two of them left to go over Sarah's part in the ritual. Behind them, looks of jealousy and envy followed them out the door. Aoushlunia and Merroc, observant as always, noticed the pointed looks. They shot equally sharp looks at the women, many of whom found "something important" to attend to and left quickly.
"Songs are sung the world over of the beauty and desire mermaids possess. None tell of the drawing effect of the males of our kind," Aoushlunia noted.
"Understandably," Anna remarked, "as most of the songs are written by men. Also, not many women are sailors, so there is a great lack of experience."
"Your race is not the only one that only receives attention on its females," I added, "Many people do not know there are male Faerie."
The elder aquatics "humphed" and nodded. They told us Thom was being "re-educated" as to what was and was not "fit" to go through the ritual. They excused themselves and left.
We met up with Sarah just before sunset at the outpost dock. Fabian was bidding her good-bye with a light kiss on the cheek. Our eyes followed him as he slid into the water and vanished, a flip of a tail the only sign of his real form. We had to nearly drag Sarah a few paces until she snapped out of her state. She walked beside me, trying to ask, either verbally or mentally, what I saw when they touched. I eased her mind and let her know of their sharing. Her squeal caused many to shoot us questioning looks.
As we had dinner, she told us about the ritual. The "special water" was not actually water. It was a potion that would turn her into a mermaid. While he could not say what questions the gods would ask, Fabian gave her the general idea: Why she was doing this? What was she leaving behind on land? Did she understand this was not reversible?
Sarah prattled on until we laid down to sleep.
