Chapter Three- The Quest
Amara walked into the marketplace that was the center of her kingdom. She had talked to several people asking if they knew a magician or sorcerer they would recommend. They had directed her to the marketplace and told her to look for a red and white striped tent that was the home of a sorcerer named Rubeus. She found the tent she sought in almost no time and quickly entered to see a young man with red hair and eyes standing behind a round table.
"I am honored by your presence, princess," Sorcerer Rubeus said with a bow.
Amara sat across the round table from him and he followed suite. "You came highly recommended by townspeople I've talked to."
"Indeed? How may I be of service, Princess Amara?"
"I require a spell or potion."
"I would be happy to provide you with either, but I need to know what effect you desire."
"I want to become a mermaid."
"Oh?" Rubeus rose and headed to a shelf, shuffling through filled bottles. "For how long?"
"That depends on what you have."
"Well, I have one that lasts a week, but the drinker would die after changing back. Another one lasts a month, but death results while still a mermaid."
"Is there one where the drinker doesn't die?"
"There is. It must be taken the first night of the full moon, and then be a mermaid for that night and then the next two days and nights. It wears off at dawn after the third night."
That sounded good to Amara, but nevertheless asked, "Is there a permanent way?"
Rubeus turned away from his potions, one bottle in his hand and a shocked expression on his face. "Permanent?" he repeated. "Why would one want to be a mermaid permanently?"
"No reason," Amara replied smoothly. "I'm just asking out of curiosity."
"Ah, I see. I don't have a way but I have heard of the legendary Mirror of Neptune. The legend goes that the spirit of the sea, Neptune, had a physical form long ago. He created a magical mirror that could create storms above and below the waves, had the power to change humans into sea creatures, and possibly vice versa. Neptune hid the mirror before losing his body and told only merpeople its location."
"I see. An interesting story. Of course, such a mirror doesn't exist."
"Of course."
Amara reached into a pocket and produced a handful of coins that she put on the table. "I'll take the full moon potion. Since tonight is the first full moon, it's perfect."
Rubeus pushed the bottle across the table and gathered up the money. "A pleasure doing business with you, princess."
"You're welcome." Amara took the bottle and left, eager to use it that night. She intended to use the limited time to find the mirror so she could stay a mermaid.
Surely, Michelle knows where the mirror is, seeing as she is connected to Neptune. I'll need to send a letter to Princess Mina telling her that my kingdom is now in her hands for I have found my destiny. I'll write the letter right away and send it off soon after that.
Rubeus smirked once Amara had left his tent. His plan was working; a plan he started concocting the moment Amara asked about a permanent spell or potion. He knew the mirror was real and that only merpeople knew its location. He desired the mirror for the power it possessed; power that he would use to fulfill his greatest wish. Since the princess seems to have fallen for a mermaid or merman, she will naturally want to seek out the mirror in order to remain a mermaid. However, she will have to surface and get to land before the potion wears off and that is where I will be waiting and hopefully the mirror will be there for me to snatch it.
Michelle sighed softly as she reclined on a rock, a light breeze ruffling her hair and tickling the back of her neck. She closed her eyes before tilting her head up at the moon. She loved the light of the full moon and how the surface looked under that same light.
She lowered her head after a little time and opened her eyes to see Amara approaching another similar rock. She slipped into the water and swam over to the rock, not appearing until Amara was seated upon it.
"Amara, it's nice to see you again. What brings you out here?"
"I met a sorcerer today and he sold me a potion." She held up a bottle of white liquid. "If taken on the first full moon, the drinker becomes a mermaid until dawn after the third full moon."
"Just three nights and two days?" Michelle's disappointment was evident.
"The sorcerer also spoke of an object called The Mirror of Neptune," Amara continued, watching Michelle's face. The mermaid's face lit up. "Yes, the mirror does exist and if we find it, you could stay a mermaid!"
"Yes, that would be great! So, let's do this." She uncorked the bottle and held it up to the moon as if toasting it before bringing it to her lips and draining it in one gulp. Her legs began to glow white before her pants vanished as her limbs began to merge together. They combined together to form a blue tail and her feet formed light blue fins. Her shirt faded away and pair of gold seashells appeared as a type of bra.
"Oh, Amara, you look beautiful," Michelle sighed. She took one of Amara's hands. "Come on. I want to teach you to swim, mermaid-style."
Amara grinned as she allowed her lover to pull her into the water.
It didn't take Amara long to learn how to use her tail to swim and she found that she could swim faster than Michelle which was a surprise considering Michelle had been born a mermaid. Only when she had mastered every move did her attention return to the mirror. "So, Michelle, any idea where the mirror is?"
"I've heard rumors and tales that its location is that way." Michelle pointed to the east. "However, the way is dangerous and not many merpeople are willing to brave it to retrieve the mirror."
"Well, I'm willing to risk it," Amara stated. "This is for our love after all."
"You're right, Amara. Well, let's get started. We only have three nights and two days to find it. I need to tell my sister that I'm leaving to go on an adventure, first." Michelle started swimming with Amara right behind her.
"You have a sister?" she asked.
"Yes. An older sister named Trista. She's usually swimming around, avoiding mermen who wish to marry her."
Amara giggled slightly. "I feel sorry for her."
Suddenly, a dark green blur shot past them and both of them whirled around to stare after it. Michelle gasped and sped after the blur, calling at the top of her voice, "Trista, wait up!"
The blur came to a halt to reveal itself to be a mermaid with a dark green tail and black hair with green highlights. Ruby red eyes crinkled up as she smiled at the mermaids who approached her. "Sorry, Michelle. I was avoiding another suitor."
"That's all right. Trista, I want to you to meet Amara. She's the special someone I met a few days ago."
Trista held out a hand. "It's nice to meet you, Amara. My sister's lucky to find someone like you."
Amara took the proffered hand. "Nice to meet you, too."
"Trista," Michelle said as the other two released their hands. "Amara and I are setting out on an adventure tonight and we'll probably be gone for the next two days and nights. Could you tell Father?"
"Of course. I look forward to hearing about your adventure when you get back, but please be careful."
"We will. Goodbye," Michelle waved as Trista swam home before turning eastward and setting off with Amara behind her.
Amara wondered what dangers awaited them as they headed east. Would the mirror be hidden in some deep cave where many obstacles and possibly a vicious sea creature barred their way to it? If that's the case, this quest could not only be dangerous, it could also be exciting.
The quest will have three obstacles to it and the first one is coming up in the next chapter. I want to point out that I got inspiration for two of them from a movie and a fanfiction.
