Meanwhile, as they neared the palace, Pegasus and Kisara stopped. "This is where I leave you your highness," Pegasus said, "I need to get home myself, but let me know how the concert went, all right?"
"Okay," Kisara said, "Thanks again for bringing me home."
"Oh don't thank me," Pegasus said as he was swimming away, "Thank Atemu Boy for rescuing you."
When Pegasus was out of sight, Kisara swam towards the palace. He's right, Atemu has done so much for me. Kisara thought, smiling. Approaching the palace, Ishizu and Marik came into view. "Kisara!" exclaimed Ishizu, glomping her baby sister, "Thank goodness you're safe! Where have you been?"
"I'll tell you about it later," Kisara replied, "Am I late for the concert?"
"Not really." Marik smugly answered, "The concert hasn't started yet, BUT you're on in just three minutes."
"THREE MINUTES?" Kisara wailed, shocked at the time that had passed by. "I'd better get ready while I still have the time!" shoving past her two siblings, she rushed into the dressing room.
The light within the Royal Theater was dim, save the one shining on the stage. The audience applauded wildly as Kisara swam up from behind the curtain. Up in the balcony, the royal family watched as the young princess began her performance. The regal and godlike King Akunumkanon smiled with pride as his youngest daughter sang. No one in the balcony noticed at first, but soon, Atemu quietly made his entrance, sitting by his father. It was then that they all turned to see the worn out Crown Prince, for he was absent when the concert began. "Atemu, there you are!" Akunumkanon whispered, "You're late, and that's not like you to be late. You got me a bit worried because of that. Where in the ocean have you been?"
"I'm sorry Father." Atemu said sheepishly, "I had a swim-in with some sharks when I went to retrieve Kisara. They gave me quite a challenge."
"Good Grief!" Solomon quietly gasped, "No wonder you got hurt! I'm going to get one of the Cure Mermaids to heal you as soon as we're finished with the concert!"
"Thank you Grandpa." Atemu said.
As the concert went on the King struck up a little conversation to his family. "I am glad to have you as my father," He said to Solomon, and then turning towards his children he continued, "And I am proud to have you four as my children. Tomorrow Kisara will finally turn fifteen. It's going to be a grand celebration indeed."
"I couldn't agree with you more Father," Atemu mused, "It brings back memories…" And Atemu began to reminisce about his past.
Deep Dwellers, in contrast to humans and the Dolphin Folk, are egg layers, and fertile mothers lay as many eggs as possible, because sadly the infant mortality rate is rather high due to the dangers of the sea. Some eggs never even hatch at all. So laying a large number of eggs ensures that at least a few of them survive to see their first days. So when the wife of King Akunumkanon only managed to lay four eggs one day, the King was disappointed. His heart ached, knowing the possibility that all of them might die before they were even born. But his disappointment slowly vanished within the span of a single year as one by one, all four eggs hatched into four healthy babies. First came Atemu, the eldest child, whose birth brought hope to his parents. Three months later Ishizu, the eldest daughter, was born. Three months after that, Marik came into the world. Finally, in springtime, the youngest child, Kisara, hatched, and the King's disappointment vanished entirely and turned into joy. The years passed by, and each child expressed a distinct personality. Atemu, the heir to the throne, was the living example of chivalry, the merfolk's equivalent of a knight in shining armor. He is also a champion when it comes to playing games. Ishizu was the motherly figure of the family. She helped her parents in raising her siblings and so they see her as a second mother. She is gifted with the healing arts, and she is more than happy to care for the sick and the injured. Marik, in contrast to Atemu, was a complete scoundrel. He's the one who almost always gets into mischief. Although he loves his brother, he is jealous of him, because he wanted to be king. In their younger days, Marik often teases the Crown Prince, annoying the latter to no end. As a result, it was Marik who usually gets bonked on the head via a stone thrown long distance by his brother. Last, but not least, was Kisara, the most adventurous of all of them. Even in her childhood, she loved to explore. Atemu is envious when it comes to her freedom, because in all honesty, he never really wanted to be king.
When he was three years old, a strange sort of mermaid family came to visit in a festival. They had no gills, no scales either, and they had actual hair much like humans do. All over there were unique patterns similar to that of orcas and hourglass dolphins. These are some of the Dolphin Folk and among them Mahaado, his first friend. His long hair and the dark parts of his body were a dark purple, a recognizable color whenever they visit. It was he who first told Atemu about the Realm Above, and he was astounded. Upon hearing of the tales told by the Dolphin Folk, Solomon also began to share stories of the Realm Above, for in his younger days, he actually traveled there. He told the siblings of the strange but wonderful sights he had seen, and of creatures called humans. Unlike the two different types of true merfolk, the humans had soft skin ranging from a sun kissed brown to a pale cream, hands whose fingers are not webbed, soft hair like the Dolphin Folk, and round ears. The most profound difference of them all was, instead of a fish tail, they have two strong limbs called legs, that allow them to walk upon the land on which they live. He told them of the many differences between the two races, and the similarities that are just as numerous. The four siblings are fascinated by this Realm Above, but it is both Atemu and Kisara that were the most interested. Now it is a tradition among Deep Dweller royalty that children are not allowed to visit the Realm Above until the age of fifteen. The children of commoners and lesser nobles can make their first visit at the age of five, while the children of Dolphin Folk have always visited it. But the royal children were considered too precious and too vulnerable to the dangers of the sea in younger stages to make such a visit until they come of age. And so Atemu and his siblings waited for that special day. Kisara especially anticipated it, because since she was the youngest, she had to wait the longest. Atemu, on the other hand, didn't have to wait as long…
Summertime came, and with it came great celebration because it was the day Atemu has been waiting for. It is his birthday, but not just any birthday. That's right, he is now fifteen, the age when merfolk of royal lineage can visit the Realm Above for the first time in their lives. And after that, they are free to visit the Realm Above again and again, anytime they desire. Atemu had just swam into the hall where a feast was being made in his honor. It so happens that his grandfather and his siblings are among those who are preparing the grand party. "Well now, here comes the birthday boy!" Solomon laughed heartily. The Crown Prince gave the kindly old merman a gentle smile. "My aren't you a happy prince!" Ishizu mused, "Normally, Grandpa's comments tend to embarrass you to no end since you went past ten."
"I know Ishizu," Atemu replied in excitement, "But I'll humor him today. Besides, this birthday put all the others to shame!"
"Of course," Kisara said, "You finally get to see the Realm Above!" And happily, she gave her brother a big hug. "Tell me all about it when you get home!"
"Don't worry Kisara, I will."
"Hey Bro!" Marik called out, and the moment Atemu turned towards his feisty younger brother, his smile quickly faded. For Marik was surrounded by seven golden oysters snapping their shells. "Before we get this party started we've gotta get these oysters on ya!" Of course, Atemu recoiled at the sight, for this is the only part of his birthday that he does not like at all. You see, for the royal merfolk who are coming of age, live oysters of gold are the latest…uh, 'thing' in fashion. They are fastened on the tail, and the number of said mollusks vary in the order of age from eldest to youngest. More often than not, the eldest gets the largest number of golden oysters, which is seven, signifying their status as heir to the throne. But the shells clamp onto the tail so hard that they actually hurt. The Crown Prince backed away, saying, "Marik, there's no way you're going to make me wear those…those things!" But Marik swam closer to his brother, as did the oysters.
"Aw C'mon, don't go guppy on me now! It's part of the tradition!" Marik insisted. To Atemu's dismay, Solomon pushed him towards the seven golden mollusks.
"Grandpa!" Atemu yelled in protest.
"As much as I hate to admit it, your brother is right." said Solomon, "It's your fifteenth birthday after all."
Ishizu swam to her panicking elder brother. "Don't worry Atemu," she reassured, "It's only going to be for one day." Atemu sighed in defeat. Soon the golden oysters swam to the Crown Prince, and one by one with a snap, snap, snap, the oysters clamped hard onto his tail, three on the left side and three on the right. As each oyster fastened itself, Atemu's eyes widened in a painful sort of shock. He clamped his own mouth shut to keep from screaming. But when the seventh and final oyster clamped its shell right on the very tip of his tail, he could hold it in no longer.
"YEEEEEEEOOOOWWWWWWWWWWCH!"
That scream was so loud that everyone in the palace heard him from miles away. And after that, he began to swear and swish his tail wildly. To the onlookers, it was the most hilarious thing they had ever seen. "Now, now, there's nothing to complain about," Ishizu giggled, "Besides, you look handsome with those oysters on you."
"WELL I DON'T FEEL HANDSOME!" Atemu yelled in pain and anger, "THESE DAMN OYSTERS ARE KILLING ME, I TELL YOU! GET 'EM OFF!"
Marik gave a sadistic grin, and called out, "Heh, heh. Bro, you're the legendary Coral Snake Lionfish, able to shrug off the pain of a thousand battle wounds, yet you couldn't even handle a bunch of measly mollusks pinching you on the butt."
"THIS IS DIFFERENT!" Atemu roared. Kisara winced, but in pity of her suffering brother.
"Uhh, Marik, I think it's best you keep your mouth shut," she said cutely, "unless you want him to bombard you with a shower of rocks." Marik shut his trap, but he couldn't resist cackling.
"All right now, that's enough fun with the oysters." said Solomon, just as his eldest grandson began to calm down, "Let's concentrate on the feast, because well, it's all ready." Upon hearing this, Atemu smile returned. As he took his seat, he gave Marik his infamous glare.
"You think it's funny now," he growled, "But let's see you laugh when you turn fifteen…"
It was a fantastic feast, and the entertainment was well performed. Finally, the time came to prepare for his first journey to the Realm Above. Atemu was outside the palace looking upward. This was the moment he was waiting for. Just then, Kisara swam up from behind him. "Atemu!" she called out. The Crown Prince turned and smiled, just in time to receive a hug.
"I'm so happy for you." She said when she broke from her hug, "Not only are you free to visit the Realm Above, you also get to see your Dolphin Folk friend more often!"
"I know." Atemu said, "Up until now, I only get to see Mahaado only once or twice a year. I'm happy for the change. Oh by the way, he's going to be my main guide."
"Oh that's wonderful!" Kisara said. Before Atemu could say anything else, Kisara took out a decorated scallop shell. "Before you go, I want you to have this." She handed the shell to him, and he stared at it in amazement.
"Go ahead, open it!" Kisara said.
He did, and his eyes widened in awe. Inside was a beautiful golden circlet, with a large Sennen Eye decoration marking the center. "Kisara!" he gasped, "Where did you get such a thing?"
"I asked one of the goldsmiths to make it for you." The princess said, smiling. "Do you like it?"
"Like it?" Atemu replied, "I love it! Thank you so much!" With that, he took the crown and put it on his head, so that the Sennen Eye was seen right on his forehead.
"Please be careful, OK?" Kisara asked, "Since you're the eldest child, you'll be going up there alone, and who knows what dangers might come your way."
Now this tradition goes for royal Deep Dweller families with multiple children, like the one Atemu is part of. When the eldest child makes their first trip to the Realm Above, they must go alone. When the next sibling turns fifteen, the eldest accompanies that sibling. In other words, when a younger sibling comes of age, all those who had already had their fifteenth birthday join the celebrant, until finally, all of the children go on a grand adventure to the Realm Above. Atemu gave his sister a strong but gentle hug, giving her warmth and comfort.
"Don't worry Kisara, I will." He said. Then he released her and held the hilt of his spear. "I'm capable of taking care of myself, and that's why I'm bringing this, just in case I encounter trouble." Kisara smiled as Atemu began to swim upward.
"I'll be sure to tell you when I saw when I get back." He said. And after they waved goodbye, Atemu continued to swim up to his journey.