"Why does it always have to be me?" Lewis asked, not sure how he always ended up in these situations.
"You are the scientist here mate," Ash pointed out. "Thought you'd be all for some experimentation."
"Not when I have to drink magic water enchanted by Rikki! Who knows what it could do!?" He shouted unashamed of throwing shade at one of his best friends.
"I have full confidence in the Lady Rikki's spell-casting. Even if the spell were to fail, you would only drink regular water. Certainly nothing that would harm you."
Cleo reached over and grabbed his arm, pouting just a little, "Come on Lewis. Don't you want to have the first crack at all these books?"
He hated to admit it, but her appeal to his curiosity worked. He craved answers to the questions he had been compiling ever since he had learned about the supernatural world. Not only that, but it was Cleo. How could he say no to Cleo!? Especially when she held his hand and gave that adorable pouty face… Oh… he was in so much trouble.
"Fine! Pour me a glass!"
Arethusa handed him a goblet she had filled with the magic water. He took it and looked down at the unassuming liquid. "How long will it take for this to work?"
"From my understanding, the effect should be instantaneous."
He took one last look at the water before knocking it back in a large swig. After swallowing it he asked, "How will I know if it worked?"
Arethusa went back to the stack of books and pulled one with gold-leaf binding. She set it on the table in front of him turning to a book-marked section. "Here. See if you can read this."
He looked at the pages full of unintelligible characters when suddenly it just clicked, and he understood every word as though Marinian, as Arethusa had called it, were a language he had spoken all his life. Excitedly he began to read aloud, his brain translating the words to English for his friends.
"Rise of New Royals: The Love of Galten and Levenia"
Arethusa sighed. "Oh! How I love that story! But I cannot. The spell has worked and there is much for me to do yet." She made a move to leave when she was interrupted.
"What do you want us to do?" Emma asked a bit of trepidation at being left alone in the palace.
"There is still more water. Drink. Read the histories of your people. I recommend the books with the gold bindings. Those detail the history of the Royals. Be sure to read of Galten and Levenia. I think you would particularly enjoy that part. I will be at the fountain if you need me." And with that she was gone.
Cleo then took the goblet and refilled it, passing around the enchanted water so that everyone could take a sip. Though curious as he was of the story Arethusa had recommended, Lewis was drawn to mer science and the abandoned subject of mer classification. He located the book Arethusa had read from the other day, and once again, found he could understand it easily.
"So, who are these Royals she keeps talking about?" Ash asked as he began reading some of the book titles.
"I was thinking the same thing," Lewis said, "She mentioned them when she was talking about rankings. I'll pick up where she left off."
Lewis sat down while the others paused their browsing and listened. "So, we covered Newborn and General mer. Then there are Gifted mer. He began reading directly now that they could all understand the language 'Gifted mer are usually Land Born or Sea Born mer who have special abilities from birth. The most common example: some twins that share a psychic connection allowing for reading of the others thoughts and passing on information through visions.'"
"So mer twins are psychic. Who knew?" Rikki commented.
Lewis continued, "'Twice blessed mer are born seemingly human, but have unpronounced mer heritage. They then go through the same process of Moon Blessing. Due to having already possessed a touch of moon power (hence the name twice blessed), their powers are often stronger and enhanced. It is not uncommon to have an array of powers from the three main sets…'"
"Wait! That sounds like…" Emma started before cutting herself off looking to Cleo.
"Charlotte." Cleo finished. "Her grandmother was a mermaid. Gracie gave up her powers, but a little bit must have passed to Charlotte."
Rikki laughed, "So, she really was some super-mermaid. Imagine that."
"Hey Em," Lewis asked ignoring Rikki, "Can you find Chronicles of Marinian Royalty Volume 4, page 52?" There's a reference note here."
Emma found the book and the page and began reading: "'Callisto Leads the Century.' It says here that in the year 231 BC, Queen Callisto led an army made up of one hundred Twice Blessed mer to attack a fishing village of almost three thousand people. Some men of the village had netted and gutted two mer children, displaying their tails in the center of town as trophies. Aided by the powerful magiks of her company, Callisto had the humans completely outmatched. The village was completely destroyed in a matter of minutes, and the dozen or so men responsible for the atrocity were fed to Callisto's pet sharks."
"That's horrible!" Cleo reacted her hands over her mouth.
"Those monsters got what was coming to them." Rikki stated with a hint of anger.
"So, Twice Blessed mer make the best warriors. Don't mess with them." Zane put in.
"Okay, but who are these Royals?" Ash asked again.
Lewis went back to his book to read the entry on the last and most powerful ranking. "Okay, Royals. 'Chosen exclusively by the moon, the six royals (three royal couples) serve as High Priests and Priestesses to the Great Moon Goddess. In times of war they are her generals enacting her will, protecting and avenging her people. Their powers are extreme, the peak of which are unknown. To cross one is to taunt death. At the time of writing, royalty have come from all types and ranks, adopting common gifts including the ability to maintain legs when wet, otherworldly beauty, and a lifespan prolonged further than that of other mer.'"
"Okay, cool, but why aren't there any royals now?" Zane asked.
"Well there were eight hundred years ago. Arethusa talks about missing them…" Cleo pointed out what they had picked up from their unusual friend.
"But what happened to them?" Ash asked.
Lewis sighed, "Something tells me that we need to find out."
A/N: Some more lore, but I think it's important our crew get as natural an introduction to all of this as possible. I happen to like history, especially the more aside stories. Be prepared, there's some more to come.
As always leave a review if you enjoy!
Much Love,
Odd Lady :)