Cleo stood by the large window in her room, the moon casting a gentle glow on the water below. The events of the past days weighed heavily on her mind, and the subtle struggles with her mermaid powers echoed in the quiet of her thoughts. She hated the water when she was first turned but by now being a mermaid was such a big part that she didn't wanna let go.
With a deep breath, Cleo closed her eyes. She extended her hand towards a small bowl of water on her desk to test out her power once more. The liquid responded hesitantly, forming gentle ripples but lacking the usual grace and responsiveness.
Frowning, Cleo concentrated harder, recalling the moments when water had danced effortlessly to her command. She willed the water to obey, to weave into intricate shapes, but it was getting harder every time she tried.
Opening her eyes, Cleo sighed.
Determined not to be defeated, Cleo paced around her room, recalling the lessons she learned about the intricacies of water manipulation. She experimented with different hand gestures, whispered incantations, and even tried focusing on the memories of the moon pool. Yet, the water remained unresponsive, as if resisting the commands that had once been second nature.
In a moment of frustration, Cleo glanced at the necklace she wore. The crystal glinted in the dim light. Clutching it tightly, she closed her eyes once more, hoping to somehow make the magic that was stored inside the crystal work for her.
As Cleo concentrated, a faint shimmer surrounded the pendant. The room seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with anticipation. For a short moment, the water in the bowl responded as usual, mirroring the pendant's subtle glow but it was over after a few seconds.
Cleo released a frustrated sigh, realizing that her attempts to rekindle the magic were met with only partial success.
After a few moments she turned her attention back to the crystal around her neck. Even if it only lasted a few seconds, the glow of it it did bring her magic back somehow.
Realization settled within her, the crystals of the moon pool held the key to restoring their powers. They had to find a way to restore the magic.
The next day, Cleo woke with a renewed sense of purpose. Determined to share her discovery with Lewis, she reached for her phone.
Dialing his number, Cleo paced her room, the anticipation building with each ring. Lewis answered, his voice calm but concerned. "Cleo, what's going on?"
Excitement tinged her words as she explained, "I think I've figured something out. The crystal from the moon pool - it made my powers stronger. It's like the crystal still holds a trace of the magic."
There was a moment of thoughtful silence on the other end. "That's incredible, Cleo. Maybe we're on the right track."
Encouraged by Lewis's support, Cleo decided to share the discovery with the others later. Before doing so, she decided to take a relaxing bath to calm down a bit after everything that's happened. As Cleo submerged herself, the familiar sensation of transformation surrounded her. However, she couldn't ignore the subtle differences. The change took slightly longer than usual, and when she inspected her scales, they seemed to be even more pale than the day before when they were doing the power tests.
Determined to focus on the positive, Cleo reminded herself of the pendant's response and the potential it held for their powers. With renewed resolve, she stepped out of the bath, feeling a mixture of anticipation and apprehension about what's to come.
After Cleo's phonecall Lewis spent the day in the library immersed in research, scouring through ancient texts and mythology books that might hold clues to the mysteries surrounding Mako Island and its connection to the mermaids' powers. Eventually he delved into a particularly promising book on mermaid folklore.
His eyes scanned the pages, absorbing the tales of enchanted waters and mystical realms. As he flipped through the pages, a gasp escaped his lips when he stumbled upon a faded illustration that seemed eerily familiar. The image showcased a moonlit pool surrounded by mystical symbols, and crystals embedded within its structure glowed with ethereal light. Lewis's heart raced as he read the accompanying text. It said that the crystals are the source of the mermaids' powers, drawing energy from the moon's influence.
A sinking feeling settled within Lewis as he read on. The book explained that when the pool was destroyed, the connection to the crystals would gradually fade. Every mermaid who gained their powers from the magic of the pool, would begin to lose their powers after 10 days. The timeline aligned with the noticeable changes Cleo, Emma, and Rikki had experienced.
He continued reading, discovering a haunting revelation: The only way to restore the connection and reactivate the crystals was through a sacrifice. "What kind of sacrifice?" he asked himself. When he turned the page, he was about to find out.
Lewis quickly dialed Cleo's number, his voice trembling with a mix of excitement and concern. "Cleo, you need to gather everyone. I've found something important. Meet me at the cafe. We have to talk about the moon pool and what it means for your powers."