div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"The young mermaid stared in stunned silence as the crowd began to applaud and cheer with delight. Though she was still reeling over with doubt, she couldn't help but smile alongside them. The Sea King smiled and waved his hand slightly, six beautiful mermaids swam out from under a large archway and halted before the king. They curtsied in unison, looking up at Nymphia with a rather calm smile. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""I would like to introduce you to your new sisters," the king said gently. "These are my daughters, each a part of the seven borders of our kingdom. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"The eldest swam forward, a beautiful young mermaid with long flowing braids, her dark skin shining like the purest gold as she gave a gentle smile, her golden fins flickering gracefully with the bearing of a true queen. She bowed, giving the young girl a gentle handshake. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"" We've heard so much of your arrival Nymphia," she spoke in a dignified tone. " I am Aisha, Queen of the Mediterranean." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Another mermaid swam forward, with wild dark blue locks and bulky armor set upon her strong shoulders. She gave the young girl a salute and nodded quickly. " Bellona, Princess of the Aegean Sea and Captain of the Royal Guard, welcome to the team." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"The third mermaid swam forward, a wide and gentle smile on her face. She reached out to the young princess, pulling her into a large hug, her hibiscus flower fluttering in the soft current. "Hola mí hermanita. I am Hyperia, Princess of the Caribbean Sea. Mucho gusto." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Nymphia smiled, waving back quietly with a chuckle as another mermaid swam forward. A mermaid with long dark green hair that seemed to cover her face. "It's nice to meet you Nymphia, Gemini is my name." she spoke quietly as if she were almost afraid but she slowly retreated back to the line of mermaids. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Suddenly a flash of white tackled the young mermaid to the ground shaking her hand quickly, "Oh my gosh! I've been sooooooo excited to meet our newest Child of the Sea! There's been a lot of buzz going down here of your arrival! We've been waiting for such a long time! You could have come sooner ya know?" The mermaid spoke rather fas, but Aisha gently nudged the young mermaid away. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""Invernia! Manners! We're here to introduce ourselves, not scare our new sister to death." Aisha nudged, as the white haired mermaid cleared her throat to introduce herself. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"She smiled excitedly from ear to ear. "I'm so sorry! I'm Invernia, Ina for short, and I'm in the Arctic Ocean."/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"The King looked around suddenly, almost as if he seemed as if he had forgotten someone. Suddenly another mermaid swam out from behind the archway giving a curtsy before the young princess. The look on her face seemed less than interested in the young girl. The mermaid's pink and blonde hair fluttering gracefully despite her rather intimidating facial expression. The silence remained for a good couple minutes, until Nymphia was the first to speak. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""It's nice to meet you sister," Nymphia smiled shyly, extending a hand for a handshake. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"The pink haired mermaid looked down at the open hand, then back up at Nymphia. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""Tch…" came the sound out of her lips before the mermaid swam briskly back into the palace. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"The crowd of merpeople gasped, slowly swimming away from the scene. Nymphia was stunned, sighing sadly. Had she done something to upset her? They had only just met, and it seemed too early to make enemies. Hyperia swam to Nymphia's side, giving the girl a gentle pat on her shoulder. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""Don't mind her hermana, Calyssa can be a bit…..difficult." Hyperia said reassuringly. "Come! We'll give you the grand tour" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""You girls have fun." The King called behind as the rest of the mermaid sisters followed behind Nymphia and Hyperia. He turned to swim back into the palace as the sea horse spirit swam alongside him. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""Your Majesty? Is Princess Calyssa alright?" The seahorse asked, puzzled from the scene. "Remember, you have to meet the dignitaries from the kingdom of the Baltic Sea in a few hours. Shouldn't you be preparing?" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""I'm aware Thalassa, I'm aware. I will meet with them soon." The King replied in a concerned tone. " I need to speak with Calyssa alone. You can stall for time can't you?"/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Thalassa gulped, but he cleared his throat bowing his head. "Yes your majesty…." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"_/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"The girls spent the rest of the day venturing around the undersea grounds, exploring every nook and cranny of the castle from spires to grande staircases. Bedrooms, to the royal dolphin stables and the beautiful undersea gardens that surrounded the castle grounds. The formations glittered with pearls and semi precious stones and most of the castle facades featured large murals of sea creatures and beautiful abstract swirls, almost as if they were staring at an Art Nouveau painting. All the while, Nymphia could hardly speak, taking in the beauty before her and playfully bantering with her new sisters as they began the piling of questions. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"" So is it true you were once a human?" Aisha asked curiously. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""Of course, I was a human before I came down here." Nymphia responded./div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"" Where did you live? Did you actually have feet?" Hyperia asked excitedly. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""W-well yeah I did. I lived in a fishing village not too far fro….." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""What did they feel like? I'm sure having ten toes would feel really weird." Ina interrupted loudly. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""I-I suppose they would feel a bit….."/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"" What kind of strange fish did you have in you kingdom?" Ina continued rambling on. " What was your favorite? You know I've always been fascinated with those creatures called cats! Did you have one?!" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"" I-I….uh," Nymphia gulped, a bit at a loss for what to say next. The young mermaid thought for a moment until Bellona, halted their younger sister. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""Ina! I think she's had enough questions to last her a lifetime." Bellona chuckled with a scowl. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""I had a question for you all actually, i-if you don't mind me asking." Nymphia began. She looked at Bellona with a rather serious expression. " What is a Child of the Sea, what am I supposed to do once I'm crowned."/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Bellona sighed, scratching her head. " This is going to take a bit of explaining. Gemini, I'll let you take this one since I'm awful at explaining it." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Gemini cleared her throat, sitting on a nearby rock as all the other sisters began to gather around her. "You see Nymphia, The Child of the Sea is one we'd like to call a protector of sorts. They hold the responsibility of keeping their respective sea in balance and making sure nothing bad happens to it. They are also responsible for guarding the enchanted treasure of their respective ocean from the hands of humans and thieves who may want to steal them for themselves."/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Aisha chimed in. "Often times, most of the Children of the Sea are born with the title, however they probably wouldn't realize it until the child turns 18. however this is probably the second time a Child of the Sea was chosen from outside our realm. That's why it was such a big deal, we never get humans that are chosen." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Nymphia nodded, taking in the gravity of what her role may endure. "Sounds like a dangerous job to do alone, especially if you don't already know what's going on. "/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Aisha continued on "Oh no dear, as the princesses of the Seven Seas, we also help aid the Children of the Sea as their advisors and confidants. It's not an easy task but we do our utmost to uphold it in any way we can and of course we supply our magic should the need call for it."/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""That probably explains why Calyssa was in such a huff at the introduction ceremony this morning." Ina chimed in. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""Ina! Now is not the time and place for that." Hyperia scolded. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Nymphia raised an eyebrow for a moment, a sorrowful sigh escaping the young mermaid's lips. "I haven't done anything to upset her have I?"/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Hyperia sighed, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. "It's not your fault dear, Calypso has been brought up to follow in the Child of the Sea's destiny for years. She was supposed to inherit the powers that went with it when she came of age."/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Bellona intervened," She'd been looking forward to her inheritance ceremony for months. But sadly she wasn't chosen. On the day of her coronation, Thalassa, the guardian sprit of the Pacific Kingdom declared her unfit for the part. She was so embarrassed that the poor fish didn't leave her quarters for weeks. "/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Nymphia gasped, the guilt flooding back to her heart. "That's awful…"/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Gemini sighed. "When she saw you at the ceremony, it probably triggered that memory of her failed ascension." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Nymphia felt a stark tug on her heart as her sisters went on. Looking back at the palace with a heaving sigh. Poor Calypso, she thought, wishing there was something she could do to at least make her sister feel better. To imagine that a beautiful mermaid like Calyssa would have had such traumatic experience was something that she wouldn't have ever imagined. Gemini looked on at Nymphia with a frown. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""I know what your thinking," Gemini spoke, breaking the silence of her thoughts. " Sometimes it's best to just leave Calyssa be. She's a big guppy, I'm sure she'll grow accustomed to you as the new Child." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""I don't know about that Gems…" Bellona said with a shudder. "Calyssa's known for her grudges. Remember the hairbrush incident while we were growing up? She would never let me live that down. "/div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Suddenly the toll of the bells broke the girls thoughts as they swam upright to face the tower. It's large boom echoing through the palace gardens like a full scale orchestra choir. The mermaids smiled, basking in the beautiful sound. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" "Looks like the sunset mass is starting to ring. We should probably swim back to the palace soon." Aisha declared./div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Nymphia stopped for a moment. " Actually….Would you guys want to see the sunset? I've never seen the sunset on the open sea before." /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"The sisters all stared at each other in confusion./div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" "But the sunset looks the same wherever you are, silly," Invernia chuckled. /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;""Come on girls, who knows maybe Nymphia has something special planned for us." Hyperia chuckled. "Isn't that right hermanita?" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;" /div
div style="font-family: -apple-system-font; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 16px;"Aisha hesitated as the other girls agreed, but finally gave in as they started swimming upward toward the light. " I'm sure father wouldn't mind if we were a few minutes late.."/div