Chapter Text
Have you ever heard of the merfolk?
Across the universe, they are known by several names: ningyo, sirens, sirena, fishmen, waterfolk, nymphs, and in our language? The matsya-kanyas - the eternal protectors of the luminescent seas across the Xianzhou Fleet. Some do love the feeling of the currents against their scales and fins while some relish the feeling of the air on land. It was safe to say that whoever you may meet could be a merfolk.
Their songs have different abilities - ranging from making every coral glow to controlling the tides. They can also communicate with any lifeforms in the sea, whether they may be the jellyfish that stings oblivious travelers to the fish that color the seas to the sharks that prowl around the darker waters. Last of all, their beauty encompasses all beings born in the seas as their hair and fins flutter amidst the tides while their tails and scales are as vibrant as any rainbow.
Gone were the myths of merfolk luring unassuming fishermen to their deaths; Instead, they rose as guardians - unrepentant and heedless to the wills of any authority from any land-dweller. They were vibrant and beautiful, but such qualities were weapons in so many ways. Lastly, the ocean belongs to them - like an unclaimed territory.
Merfolk are trained to fight any invader using their unique form of underwater combat. It was said that most incidents happening in the sea are not caused by whales, sharks, rays, or even jellyfish - but by the merfolk that vowed to protect the seas. With their seashell spears and their shark tooth daggers, the merfolk ruled the depths just as the Vidyadhara assumed reign in the land and skies.
However, due to the lack of evidence, papers supporting their existence dwindled in existence. The Vidyadhara - who grew up alongside them - took an oath never to tell their secrets to anyone. In the end, they were reduced to fairytales of old, spread across the galaxies while hoping their protection will once again bring light to the seas.
Warnings do carve the seas of old and new: If the seas become vivid just as the skies become cloudless, the merfolk make their mark. You may either witness the beauty of the boundless seas or the doom that the tides might greet you with.
“Is that really true, general?” A young Vidyadhara high elder named Bailu asked, eyes wide with wonder as the plates of buns stayed forgotten on the corner of her desk. She rested her chin on her propped hands on the table. “Honestly, I find it hard to believe that there are other creatures of the sea other than us.” She added as she waved her hands off dismissively.
The matsya-kanyas had to be the weirdest story the general had told her since it was unheard of. Of course, she heard fairytales about merfolk luring humans to their deaths and mermaids giving up their tails to live alongside humans. However, none could prepare Bailu for the hugest bombshell the general dropped on her.
She knows General Jing Yuan tends to tell stories of old; It is just up to the audience if they perceive it as true or just one of his lingering memories. She always thought that the general had grown so old and senile that his stories became even more so. Even then, no one could deny the words of the Xianzhou General, especially if he was serious.
But does he look serious at this moment? Absolutely not.
“Ah… People do tend to assume that myths will stay myths,” The general wondered aloud, looking at the skies aimlessly with a yawn as he ruffled his mane-like hair, “But remember this; If dragons exist, what makes you think that the merfolk couldn’t?”. His golden eyes stared right back at her own mint green orbs with mirth.
Bailu froze; He did make a very compelling argument. Everyone knew that the Vidyadhara are dragons descended from the Aeon of Permanence, bestowed with the gift of rebirth. The merfolk - like any dragon - are considered as creatures of myth. Foxians also exist walking alongside humans in helping to keep the fleet standing.
“Fine,” She scoffed, crossing her arms, “I suppose I can take your word for it.” However, she could not admit that she was wrong in her own arguments. “But! Only because you’re the general.” She added as she looked away from the sly general. For someone who is human, he sure knows how to corner someone in an argument.
Suddenly, she perked up when she felt the warm breeze of a certain someone’s Cloudhymn magic, accompanied by the scent of minty and fruity perfume. She turned around to see the familiar faces of the Astral Express: the former exile Dan Heng and the enthusiastic photographer lady March 7th. They had saved the Luofu recently from Phantylia. Since then, many now see Dan Heng as a hero instead of the sinner they once viewed him as.
“Greetings, Dan Heng, Miss March.” The general politely bowed to them, “How is the Luofu so far?” He asked - a poor attempt at starting a conversation with travelers from beyond. It was a known fact since the general mostly spends his time working, fighting mara-struck, training Yanqing, playing checkers, and if he is free, napping on the porch of his estate and on his desk in his office.
“It’s been a blast!” March exclaimed excitedly, “The clothes here are so pretty, the food here is delicious, and even those educational rants Dan Heng had with me are interesting!” As always, March is always excited. After all, she likes to gather as much information from every planet she visits; She even had a camera to help with that goal.
“They are not rants, March; They are educational lectures.” Dan Heng corrected, crossing his arms, “I do recall you falling asleep while I was telling you-” He was then cut off when March screamed and covered his mouth.
“I told you not to talk about that anymore!” March exclaimed as her face turned as red as a tomato, still covering the elder Vidyadhara’s mouth.
Dan Heng sighed before removing March’s hand from his mouth before looking at Bailu and Jing Yuan, his eyes almost questioning and curious. “I could not help but overhear your conversation earlier,” He said, crossing his arms, “So, what’s this about the matsya-kanyas?” He asked. Just great. He heard about our talk; He’s officially a gossip.
“Don’t tell me you actually believe him-”
“I know the general would never lie,” Dan Heng replied, resolution clear in his eyes - one that is determined to find out the truth to these legends, “... Even if his intel may sound questionable sometimes.”. Bailu actually snorted at the older’s words since the general would sometimes say the most dubious thing known to man, especially if he had an agenda.
“Hey.”
“Ughhhh…” He groaned, flopping on the mossy rock while playing with the crabs using his golden tail, “I am so bored.”. He could not think of anything to do since the seas could get pretty boring; There was no jellyfish bloom to play in nor are there schools of fish he could rearrange. He could only flop, groan, complain, and simply hope for the best. “Long forbid.” He cursed.
“Caelus.” A familiar stern voice made him turn around; It was none other than his older sister Stelle, whose arms were crossed. Caelus could also guess that she was just as bored as he is. After all, as much of a hoarder he was, Stelle was even more so. “Get your tail off that rock.” She groaned that sounded more like a complaint, “I’m also bored.”.
For someone who’s the older twin, you sure are a baby.
“Can’t we have a job or some shit?” Caelus asked with a groan, sitting up as his tail slapped against the mossy rock, “Aeons forbid the corals die before we get to do anything fun.”.
“Unfortunately,” Stelle swam towards him, sitting below the rock he sat on to play with the anemones and the clown fish living in it, “The elder wasn’t too happy when she saw that stunt from Scalegorge Waterscape, said something like Imbibitor Lunae running amok.” She used her hands like puppets as if she was imitating the elder’s speech and gestures, “Then again, since when have we ever cared about the affairs of land dwellers?”.
“Even the others from land didn’t deliver us something fun…” Caelus added, referring to the others as the merfolk who chose to live amongst the land-dwelling inhabitants of the Xianzhou Luofu - which are either humans, foxians, vidyadhara, or even the heliobi - while maintaining minimum time in the ocean, “... Except for the one where they said the Imbibitor Lunae and his mighty friends defeated a Lord Ravager.”.
Caelus got off the rock with a bored sigh. “You know what?” He looked at his sister tiredly, “I will go for a swim. I am too bored to sit still or else I will smash the nearest shipwreck right now.”.
Just as Caelus swam away, Stelle never stopped him as she knew better than to stop him. After all, they were twins; Just as Caelus knows his older sister, Stelle knows as much about him. At this moment, he was itching for an adventure. Hell, he could even greet those Astral Express people that everyone is making stories about.
How could he even greet them? “Hello, I’m your resident local merman.”? No, that is way too direct; They would faint before he could even finish that sentence. “So, the Luofu has merfolk.”? That is a huge bombshell to drop - at least to travelers who literally saved their world. Caelus only shook his head as he swam further.
He stopped swimming to see what was on the surface, only to see the splintered docks of the Alchemy Commission. He heard that the mara-struck had attacked the Commission recently. It caused the death of a foxian girl who was possessed by the very Lord Ravager the Luofu and the Astral Express fought against before they - along with the Imbibitor Lunae - revealed Scalegorge Waterscape and launched an attack against that same Lord Ravager.
It was clear that Phantylia was no joke because all the songs Caelus heard were nothing short of melancholic as they grieved the lives lost to mara and in the war.