The girl of the river

Preface part 1.

I run to my room and I grab my expedition bag. I sneak to the beach making sure I'm completely alone, I do the siren enchantment.

I submerge into the water, and I swim as far and deep as I can. The sea of crystals is one of the most beautiful sites, but this is not what I went swimming for, I went swimming to see humans.

It isn't forbidden to go out of the island, nor talk to humans, but the consequences of it are your own responsibility… Humans are a wild and violent race that cannot be trust it… At least that's what Mom says.

An hour of swimming under water later I arrive to a place humans call port.

I'm fascinated by the human life style, especially by their artifacts. Like, the bubbles of light they use at night in their houses, or the magic mirrors where you can see all kinds of things.

I return to my normal self and I walk among the people. The market is full of interesting things; I don't know what most of the objects are for…

The sunset reminds me that it's time to go.

I'm swimming in the middle of the ocean when I get trapped in a storm. The sea current is strong and gives me no choice but to swim with it. I find myself in unknown waters, I make sure my crystal necklace doesn't get lost, it is the only communication I have with home. But then, a giant black wave swallows me up.

I wake up with the sun shining in my face. I rub my eyes and I try to sit up.

"Are you a mermaid?" An innocent voice asks.

I look to the little girl that just talked to me. She can't be more than 3 years old. She has black glossy hair and curious eyes. I smile at her. It's all that I can do when I'm under the siren enchantment. My vocal cords get blocked by the gills on my neck. Luckily the gills get hidden under my long brown hair.

"Can… I touch it?" The little one points at my tale.

I nod with a smile.

"Teehehe! Its feels like fish!" I silently giggle with her.

Someone calls the little child's name and with a big grin in her face she runs after the voice. That was the perfect time for me to hide.

I return to my formal self again and I walk inland. After a few minutes I find a small community. I ask a few question and they tell me that I am the River Country and if I keep going north I would find the main city.

Now, I know I should make contact my family as soon as I can, but, going to a big human city was something I had to see.

I dive into a river and I go up north. Within minutes I make it to Tenigakure no sato.

After I buy something to eat, I realize that the only currencies I have are a couple of circles and some astra from my country.

I ask the man of the food where I can get currency fast. Nervously he tells me about this place where you play 'poker'; he writes the address, and tells me to be careful.

I go to the place, but the human there does not want me in, he says I don't have enough ryo to play. I give him one astra hoping to have some value here. The man nervously says to be careful with those stones. He lets me in and takes me into a separated room.

I go inside and, the first thing I see is a table with 2 men sitting at it; they are wearing black cloaks with red clouds, one of them has a giant sword and his face reminds me of a shark. While the other one looks normal, he has a weird look in his eyes… I know, my 9 spiral pupils are not a very normal thing either.

They stare at me, and look attentively at my eyes.

2 other man joins us, breaking the silence. One of them sits in between the other 2 making the shark guy sit next to me.

The game starts and I have no Idea of what's about.

"Excuse me, How do you play this game?"

Everybody laughs at me, something that I hate. I'm royalty, nobody laughs at me.

"Who let this little girl come here?" Says one of the men, who I learn later on, is the owner of the place. "Well, at least we'll have a free diamond…" And he kept laughing.

They are upsetting me. I know I look young, but I'm much older than all of them together. I try to calm down. I don't want my pupils to shine and bring more attention to me then I already have.

They explain me the rules and I win the first 5 games. Reluctantly, they give me the money and let me go.

I walk to the river side, as far away as I can get from the city. I concentrate my mind making sure there's not human activity nearby.

The moon comes out reflecting her light in the water. I walk along its surface. I close my eyes and I let the moon light do her work. Soon, I'm in deep relaxation, hanging my head back, and floating a few inches above the water. My whole body emits a silvery glow.

Little did I know then, that I was been watch.

Please, let me know what you think! O.~

Thanks for reading!