The song of the Mermaid Saint
Stunned silence lay over the scene as the dragon leaned down and the Predor Mermaid climbed heroically from his back. Her clothes were torn and her hair floated around her in long strands. There was something steely about her figure, as if she had gained many experiences in the Realm of Transition. Immediately the creatures and immortals of the Endless Sea kneeled before her. For a moment, Yu Lian's gaze rested on her followers in amazement. Then she straightened her back, and hurried forward to the forelegs of Long Wang, which still held his claws together protectively. Carefully, he opened his claws, revealing Yan Da's battered body. Her armor was badly damaged. She was covered with blood, cuts, and dirt, and her arms hung lifeless by her side. Ying Kong Shi stared at his lover. His hand searched for Piang Feng''s shoulder, who helped him to stand up and approach Yan Da.
Huang Tuo was already hurrying to the motionless figure. When he realised that there really was a huge dragon in front of him, the healer hesitated. But when he looked into the dragon's eyes and saw the creature's approval, he and Yu Lian pulled the Fire Queen out of his claws.
Ying Kong Shi fell on his knees next to Yan Da, and took her hand, his gaze completely fixing on her face. "Is she…?" "No, my prince, luckily not. Her heart is beating steadily, at least for the moment. But her life might be in danger. She definitely has some broken bones and I can't say for sure if her organs are injured as well. Please, give me some time to examine her thoroughly to judge her condition." Ying Kong Shi's eyes took on a strange color, a light turquoise that his friends had never seen before. His voice was a faint whisper. "Please ... I can't loose her. Not again. Not her, too."
Long Wang gently blew smoke from his nostrils. The black dragon's head sank down, nearly touching the Mermaid Saint. "It is time to reveal your power, Queen of the Endless Sea." Yu Lian looked up at the King of Heavens in surprise. "My power….? Ridiculous! I never ... " The dragon brought its eye very close to her body so that she was forced to look at her own reflection. "The power of life is in the water. And the water is in you. You are at the bottom of the endless sea, at the center of your realm. Your song, sing it." "But if I fail ...?" The dragon shook his head. "There is a first time for everything. Nothing can prepare you for your song. If you want to save her, if you want peace, sing your song. Let's all hear it. Let the phoenix hear it."
The Predor Mermaid nodded shyly, and turned to face the crowd. "Stand back!" A ring of underwater inhabitants and immortals formed around Yan Da, Ying Kong Shi, their friends, Long Wang and Yu Lian. The Mermaid Saint bowed her head, and slowly raised her staff. Then, she hit it down to the ground. An unimaginable vibration drove through the sea floor and picked up a sound that was transported through the water as bright as silver. Yu Lian started to sing. Her eyes shone blue and glistening. Her mouth formed a sequence of tones that strangely and powerfully penetrated ears and mind equally. The sounds were meant for the water, and the water listened.
Tiny particles began to glow and moved through the circle in bright veils. Again, she slammed the staff to the ground, waking up the Endless Sea. The particles floated around the dragon Long Wang, who raised his forelegs in amazement. His many bite wounds closed. Ying Kong Shi also stared in amazement at the tiny points of light that enveloped him, and slowly made all pain disappear. Xing Gui felt the arrow wound Hye Quian had inflicted on her contract and close. And Yan Da ... the light particles covered her. Blue and soft, they slipped into her mouth, her ears, everywhere, like a glowing blanket. Cracks and bleedings, bruises, abrasions and broken bones, everything healed. As the last note of the royal song faded, a proud smile played around Yu Lian's mouth. She knew she had sung her song well.