"It had to be the war, right?" Emma posed to the group.
"What do you mean?" asked Rikki.
"The war, the War of Land and Sea, eight hundred years ago. That's why there are no royals. They died in the war," Emma clarified.
"Maybe," Ash replied," But we don't know that for sure. Even if it is true, we don't know who they were fighting, where they were, or how they died."
"I wish Arethusa didn't have to be stuck in that fountain," Cleo pouted.
"I'd feel almost bad asking her." said Emma. "You saw how she reacted the other day."
"Maybe we don't have to." Zane spoke up from across the room where he had been shuffling through a paper-strewn desk. "Check this out."
"What is it?" asked Lewis.
"It's a letter from the royals, I think. I mean, check out the broken seal."
Emma leaned over to see a piece of rolled parchment with the remnants of dark wax on the edges. It looked old and official, and Emma could not help but notice a few stains on the paper as though someone could not hold back tears while reading.
"What's it say?" asked Rikki.
From the Royal houses Virteas, Mizuno, and Lunea, Royal Sextet, Servants of the Gracious Moon, Guardians of the Great Ocean, to the standing court of Marinia, and mer everywhere: Greetings.
We send to you with this letter: joy for your safety in these troubled times, and sorrow for the terrible loss we all face. We pray that our hearts may live on past our time and bring you comfort.
The past three full moons we six have gathered privately in her great presence to ask her will. Her people on all fronts are being slaughtered and we, though gifted as we are, have remained unable to put an end to the bloodshed. It was on this third moon she revealed to us her plan by which she might save her people. We as her first servants accept our place in her plan, and so willingly pay the price for Marinia to live on.
If correctly performed, the spell will take immediate effect removing all memories of mer existence from the minds of humans. Those that have hunted us, taken us captive, and sought to bring us harm will have no more ideas of mer. Traces may remain in literature and in art, but the stories that they tell of us, will be nothing more than myth without witness. However, for the spell to take its fullest effect humans cannot catch glimpse of transformed mer for seven cycles, lest the memories return.
It is for this reason, and with heavy heart we make our final proclamation, to be carried out by mer everywhere.
...
By order of the Gracious Moon and Her Royals:
For the duration of one year:
Any (new or continued) emotional association (familial, allied, friendly) with a human is an act of treason punishable by imprisonment.
Any (new or continued) violent association (hostile, confrontational, homicidal) with a human is an act of treason punishable by imprisonment.
Any (new or continued) physical association (sexual encounter) with a human is an act of treason punishable by imprisonment.
All mer must take full residency in the ocean. Failure to do so is punishable by imprisonment.
Exceptions to include residency on temple grounds and surrounding lands:
New Marinia and the Central Temple
Mako Island and the Southern Temple
Lunar City and the Eastern Temple
Until redacted by the Gracious Moon:
Any revelation of mer existence is an act of treason punishable by death.
Any revelation of mer identity is an act of treason punishable by death.
Any human with such knowledge of mer existence/identity is to be put to death.
...
To those who will not understand, we give our sincerest apologies with the promise that this was the only way. We were given visions of a future where we continue the fight, with the toll, too great a price, paid in Marinian blood. The great nation of Marinia, Mother Moon, Father Ocean, and even too the humans who have turned their hearts to destroy us, suffer. It is for this reason we have made our choice. As Royals we are not gods to live forever, but champions to give our lives in service. Be assured that new champions will rise up after us and take up the mantle we have left.
It is with this we give our final thanks and love to our families, friends, and supporters who will take up the weight of our loss with the same responsibility we have shown in our lives. And to the royals after us we pray that you may have blessings and wisdom beyond our own.
To be delivered to the temples and beyond upon our passing
King Warin and Queen Arabell House of Virteas
King Afuru and Queen Derya House of Mizuno
King Omo and Queen Ivett House of Lunea
Emma stared at the letter Zane had now placed on the table between them barely able to grasp what she had just heard. The others appeared to be at just as much of a loss as she was.
Rikki spoke, "So… let me get this straight. Humans knew about us? About mer?
"There was a war between them and the humans that they were going to lose. And they made a sacrifice…" Lewis trailed off.
"…They died." Ash spoke gently, "The spell they cast to change everyone's memories, to make the humans forget… It was so big they knew they would die performing it."
"But why would they do that!?" Cleo nearly shouted very visibly upset.
"Cleo, it sounds like it was the only way." Emma spoke unable to control her wavering voice. "They had to, and they were okay with it. They did it and put all those rules in place so that their sacrifice would not be in vain."
"It still doesn't explain why there are no royals today." Lewis spoke a bit darkly. "They died eight hundred years ago, you'd think there would be some sort of succession."
"Lewis is right," words she never thought she'd say. "I hate to upset her, but I think Arethusa's the only one who could answer that one."
There was a moment where they all just stood there, looking at each other. Emma couldn't help but think there was a shadow of sorrow lingering over the group. At first it seemed like grief over the loss of those six ancient royals who gave their lives for their people. But the more she thought about it, the more silly that seemed. They died long ago, and as sad as it was, her and her friends had no real part in the history of these people. It was then that Emma realized the dark feeling was not a regret for those lives lost, but from the innocence that they as a group were quickly losing. No longer were they ordinary humans, no longer were they even carefree mer. The weight of years of war and violence between a world they now belonged to and one they were quickly leaving behind, was a burden none of them were prepared to bear, yet were now required to.
She looked over to Ash, who seemed to be bearing the most of that burden as the one who found the temple in the first place. She couldn't blame him though; she didn't think anyone in the group did. He hadn't know that any of this was here or of the life altering adventure his curiosity would put them on. She hated all that she was losing and all that she now knew. But, despite everything: the weight of the truth, the loss of innocence and humanity, and even the sick feeling that there was something even bigger on the horizon; she understood that they were all where they were supposed to be. This was right. She knew it. They knew it. And they were all were terrified by it.
There was a silent consensus, a few nods of agreement. And with that, the group made the slow quest back to the fountain hoping to get the answer they hadn't yet found.
A/N: Hey everyone, It's been a while hasn't it?
I've had this idea for the Royals from the beginning but was unsure how to make the group aware of it. I've also been writing a lot of the history for the mer people and trying to find the right places to put it in the narrative.
I am going to TRY to update more frequently, we'll see what happens. As always Reviews are always welcome!
Thanks,
Odd Lady :)