I loved mermaids so much I dreamt of being one. I had so many daydreams about my tail swinging all over in the water, bringing me far into the sea. Unfortunately, I could only think of these as dreams, something entirely out of reality. I'd watch videos about fish and even ask it to be played on the big screen. I lie in my hospital bed as I switched through the channels on my own sometimes. I was there because of a disease that slowly ate away at my body from birth. It gradually paralyzed me, slowly eating away at my body. The devastating reality that I had a "special" disease that would travel all the way to my brain until I'd slowly die made me helpless. My heart was empty for years after my realization that I'd be stuck in that hospital until I'd eventually die as expected. Allowed to go outside, I'd regularly pace around the garden in my rolling chair and glance at the plants. It made me happy the first time I was able to grow a few things but later on I began to think it was pointless. Nature outside the building and aquatic life on the screens, they were the only things (other than my parents) keeping me alive in that depressing space.
On the internet I saw beautiful women in mermaid suits swimming around in the water as if it were their home. If I wasn't disabled, I would've signed up to join those women. I might not have been pretty enough but my dreams stayed true. I often wondered why I was allowed to live, why my loving parents chose to try their hardest to edge my rotting body. As a kid I was confused why I couldn't walk as much as I'd been able to the day before. When it just got worse, so did my spirit, on the inside I was broken. One morning came the usual routine with my nurse, medical check-ups and the regular questions on what I'd like to do for the day.
"I will let you know, Lydia, They said there will be stormy weather today so I won't be allowed to let you outside in the garden." Nurse Kate put all her tools away and switched the Tv channel to my favorite. "You can watch until brunch and I'll be back before you know it." She smiled, exiting the room.
After that morning I never expected it to be the last visit with my family or the last night I'd struggle falling asleep. When I opened my eyes, there was pure darkness, a void. It was confusing, I wasn't sure if I'd been asleep or not, my body felt nothing, in fact; it didn't feel like there was anything at all. Was I already fully paralyzed, did I sleep for too long and my body had finally given up on me? My questions were soon answered in time. I could only rely on patience to set myheart right. Once calm, I felt this soft and fuzzy feeling, able to slightly move my head and arms, I could see that my body was glowing inside the darkness. A woman's voice spoke as if played like a pre-recorded message.
"Lydia Goufet, age 19, confirmed." The woman's voice echoed in the void like a robot. "Height 5'4, brunette hair, hazel eye color, and pale skin tone."
"Hm-" When I wanted to speak, my mouth felt like it was closed shut. Then the woman said something long the lines of giving permision to speak. "Oh, thank you. Who are you and where am I…?"
"I am called Flotic, you are in what is known as 'The confirmation Gate'." Flotic began.
"Hi…? Um, is there any reason why I'm here?" As confused as I was, I tried my best to keep composure.
"You have been brought to the confirmation gate to choose what you can be in your next life."
"Im sorry? Does that mean… I… died?" Still tyring to grasp the situation, I listened.
"Yes." Flotic spoke accordingly, "Your heart had stopped beating due to poison."
"Poison… but I was close with everyone, that doesn't make any sense…" I thought long and hard for a moment until speaking once kore. "Could I at least know who it was?"
"Past issues are to be forgotten to continue on with your path to your next life." Flotic adds.
"… Oh, I guess that sounds understandable." Something clicked inside my spirit, allowing me to let go for a second than dwelling on my past. "Well, in that case, can you tell me here everyone goes from here?"
"Most who come through my Confirmation Gate are placed within the world of Soltica Lands, Artirias Lands, and Dark Lands."
Flotic proceeds to follow along a long list that appears in text directly in front of my view. It was like reading subtitles as she spoke, explaining what resided ahead.
"This world is full of magic and power." Flotic says. "Some can be kings, queens, lords, angels, demons, trolls, goblins, ogres, elves, fairies, witches, wizards, dwarfs, or humans. All have available routes of royalty and leadership, such as, kings, queens, and lords. Often available routes of adventurous specimens, such as, guilds, quests, and heroes. Trolls, along with goblins and ogres, take over sections of lands in destructive motives. Elves, along with fairies, with various skills and magic, controlling the forests grounds, some individually. Humans are known to take over much open and larger lands. They have progressed alongside dwarfs as rulers and much more that can be known throughout all species. Witches and wizards, with the use of various knowledge for magic and spells, along with mages. Angels and demons are ruled by gods and devils, though often do not take part in this world. Creatures like dragons, mermaids, and much more, are found further away in caves and lagoons."
My eyes jumped around the words until it came around my most interested race. "Mermaids?!" I could feel the joy and excitement building up as I realized what that meant. I could live my old dream of having a tail of beauty and swimming around carefree in the seas. "I would like to be a mermaid! I've always dreamt it…"
"You are allowed to choose mermaid. Do you wish to customize your appearance?" Flotic mentioned this as a mirror began appearing inside the void.
"Oh, absolutely, thank you!" My eyes trailed around my bare body. The void was between worlds to it made sense if I wasn't wearing clothes to see myself properly. I could see whatlooked like my long blank tail as well and began."Um, I want to be a pink scaled mermaid with a tint of white. Also a few fins here and there for blue and yellow. My tail will have blue on the top and pink underneath. Then my hair, I'd it long and light silver with a magenta sort of gradient. My eyes would be purple, pink, and blue. A top would be nice to cover up my chest… It would match my tail and give decent coverage along with a set of blue fins surrounding my neck and shoulders. Oh yeah, I would like to have some small vines and flowers for accessories in my hair, please."
"Confirmed look." Flotic's words finished up my entire description. "What beginner skill and magic spell is that you desire?"
From memory I knew the basics of what mermaids can do, especially when they're related to sirens. Holding half the strength of abilities I was comfortable with that knowledge. "I'd like the skill of telekinesis. The magic spell would be… to freely grant wishes."
"Confirmed skill, telekinesis." Flotic says. "In order to continue customizing your magic spell 'wish' you will need to elaborate on how you intend to use this magic spell."
"Ah, well… I was thinking these would have like a cooldown each month. I can grant myself these wishes three times a month and a singular wish can only be used once during any week. If another person asks me to grant a wish they must have a strong connection with me and they are limited to a wish one a week. All wished cannot shift reality, nor can they induce drastic changes to emotions or living/deceased beings in general, all possible wishes must be small and flow to assist in casual situations."
Once I was finished explaining, Flotic finally continued."Confirmed magic spell, wish. Do you wish to specialize in any activities to claim your name?" Flotic asked not long after my mind tried keeping up.
"Well I have loved flowers… could I be a flower mermaid?"
"Confirmed, flower mermaid, specializing in nature activities." Flotic proceeded with the final steps. "Would you like to choose your name and surname?"
"Oh, Lixlore, I don't feel like needing a last name for now."
"Chosen, Lixlore, spelled, L-I-X-L-O-R-E." Flotic spelled out in letters I could understand as they appeard in front of me before vanishing. "Confirm this?"
"Yes." I could tell she was technically all knowing with whatever passed in my mind at that point.
"Confirmed name, Lixlore." Flotic's voice echoed, meanwhile a subtle dot of light was forming in a distance. "Before entering the new world, would you like to become an immortal being?"
"An immortal being?" I knew I wasn't exactly scared of death but dying again just because of an illness like that was painful to recall for a moment. "Sure, how does it work?"
"Few have chosen the option to enter the world as a new immortal being." Flotic speaks as the light grew larger in time. "Immortal beings are allowed to use their ability to live more than three lives, for an impure soul, the 'immortal curse' blocks this path, each time a being dies it becomes harder to gain back their body. If the being can surpass the immortal curse, they will live freely as a true immortal being."
"Did I have an impure soul? I don't know if I did anything worng in my past life…"
Flotic's voice surrounds me. "Your soul was pure in your past life, as you wish it before you enter to become an immortal being you are allowed to live freely."
"Ah, I see, thank you very much." I obviously didn't see her as a physical body, nor did I ever but I bowed inside that void. The void quickly became brighter as the light engulfed me.
"Confirmed, new immortal being entering 'Artirias Lands'." Flotic's voice finally faded out. "Lixlore, Immortal flower mermaid, entering the caves and lagoons of Artirias."
In the sudden moment, all went white, and I opened my eyes. Blue was all over, fish swam above and beside me. Reaching out, I see my arm, my hand, feeling my palm with the other. Underwater, my back lying against the soft sand, acompanied by an odd feeling of someone watching me.
"Beautiful…" A grown man's voice was heard almost right next to me. The tone of his voice felt disturbing as I lifted my body to look around. The face of a devilishly handsome merman was floating above me. Golden shining hair followed and blazing hot pink eyes popped out in contrast. This was odd, I could sense the danger this stranger woukd be. I wondered why he suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "Who are you…?" I cautiously asked, slightly pulling myself backwards.
"I am Ufret, your future husband." His smile he gave sent a shiver down my spine. "You have been summoned to be my wife."
I was too shocked to speak, my mind went blank as the merman slowly reached out to touch my silky hair. I thought to myself that I could've swam for it, but I knew if I did he would be faster and easily catch me. It would be safer if I had someone looking out for me, yet every inch of my body refused this stranger. Attempting to swim backwards a bit, I managed to get some distance between us. I collected my thoughts before opening my mouth again. "Ufret, was it? What if I refuse this?"
"Then I will try my hardest to win your heart, beautiful mermaid." Ufret swims closer, his fingers grazing my cheek.
"Coulily, my name is Coulily." I gently moved his hand away and I knew well not to give my real name.
"Such a pretty name…" Ufret chuckles. "You will soon be my wife, Coulily."
"We will see…" I swam off into the opposite direction. My tail felt like second-nature as I swam as fast as I could. I still felt a little on edge but after exploring around for a while it seemed dazzling. The lagoon was bustling with merfolk of various kinds. I glanced above and started swimming up out of curiosity. The water was much less thin and I noticed something glowing as I got closer. I slowly swam up and felt air flowing in my face as I quietly peeked my eyes out the water. Looking around, I saw nothing but glowing rocks with moss and dark stone in every corner, seemed like a cave, just as Flotic told. I swam closer to the edge and placed my hands on the rough textured stone, pulling my heavy body out of the water. I slightly dragged my tail along with me as I brought my whole body avobe the water to sit on the stone. "Hello!?" I yelled, hearing the echoes of my voice bounching on the walls. As I wated for a response, I sighed and dragged myself across the cave away from the water. "Lets see if this works…" I mumbled and stareed at my tail to dry off, feeling the cold muddy air seeping into my scales. Instead of transforming into legs it stayed wet after so long and I gave up. I sat there hoping that anything would happen and I wished I could find a way out of there soon. The clear water showed the familiar stranger merting me up at the surface. He emerged from the water and easily transformed while walking out of the water towards me. "You…" I tried leaning backwards as he knelt down in front.
"Why are you trying to leave the lagoon, Coulily?" Hid eyes scanned around before pulling me back into the water. With the amount of strength he used it was pointless
"AAH!" I screamed just before he managed to submerge me back into the water. "What the heck?!"
The transformation back to his tail was swift and he turned back to me. "There is no one in the caves and lagoons of Artirias, except for the merfolk of course." Ufret grinned, holding my arm tight. "You must come with me my dear, I will treat you like a queen!"
"No… let go." I realized how horrible this merman would truly be. "I want to leave this place!"
"The merfolk must thrive; you cannot leave this cave without your tail." Ufret's grip quickly tightenedwith a hint of annoyance. "Come with me, Coulily, you must bare my children, the Kingdom will thrive!"
"No, let me go!" I tried in all my trength to pull away, yet it felt impossible. "You're a creep! Someone help me!"
"You will not escape me; I am the strongest of the merman in this lagoon." He laughed as he swam, forcing me along with him. "You will bare my children!"
"Help!!!" I kept yelling, gradually turning into screeching. "Help me!"
"Shut it with all that screeching!" He closed my mouth and muffled my voice the rest of the way. "No one will be taking you from me, you will be my bride!"
As we seemed to get closer to the people of the kingdom around us, the other merfolk chose not to bat an eye towards my suffering. I was guided by gaurds into a secluded room so then I was kept an eye on. I felt the stares of each merfolk we passed along the way. Then, placed in the room, I cried quietly, longing for the nightmare to end. Couple of hours pass and I noticed one of the guards unclocking the door, swimming to me with his hand out. I rubbed my eyes and looked closely, confused as to why he was there. A guard with deep blue hair and eyes, yet tanned skin, an odd thing for a merman who lived inside a cave.
"What are you…" I was soon shocked as I could tell his intentions were harmless.
The guard swam a few inches closer. "Allow me to take you far from here. You must not become his wife."
"Why are you doing this?" I asked him as I placed my hand into his.
"This kingdom is corrupt; you must leave this lagoon of the caves." The guard spoke in a calm tone, gently pulling me toward him. "As you hold my hand, I will take you to the surface to escape." His grip stayed firm; instantly pulling me out of the room. This kind guard speedily swam through the water for me. Then he came to a stop, letting go. He turned to me and handed his golden staff. "Please, even if you must, drag your tail along the stone ground of the caves, you need leave this place." His words empowered me as I listened silently. "Use my staff, it is a weapon but also can be use as a simple tool for walking on legs such as other races do above the surface."
"Why would you help me?" I accepted the staff and held tightly onto it.
"I have helped many mermaids escape Ufret, he cannot be stopped, but you must leave, he will be here soon." The guard insisted I rushed; pushing me out the water. "Now go, use the staff and keep grabbing your tail, I wish you luck into the surface world."
"Thank-" I turned back to thank him but he vanished. "You…"
The guard was gone in an instant once he finished helping me out. My breath suddenly wavered and yet I began pulling myself further and further away from the water. The cold air seeped into my body once more, making the feeling difficult as I go in the direction of the gushes of wind. The stone was rough as it consistently scraped bits and pieces away from my scales. Nonetheless, I pursued the direction of the air fliwing towards me, pulling myself sticking the staff onto the ground. Eventually I was able to see a light peering in from not too far ahead. The adrenaline boost help me endured the pain in my body. I rested for a second until moving again and took deeper breaths. Since I was disabled, I'd gotten used to the feeling. Plus, it wasn't too hard to drag myself with how strong my body made me, the weight from my tail didn't make it any easier though.
"Gosh…" I sighed midway, still going the same direction of the bright light. My lungs were constantly screaming for a break. "Why does life… as a mermaid… already… have to be so challenging?"
While I continued to drag myself along the cold scraping stone floor, my tail began burning. Each scale felt like they were getting torn off one by one the more I moved. There was an odd warm feeling in the air once I manged to reach the large exit of the cave. The light turned into the view of green, trees, grass, the nature outside this cold and depressing cave! I was exhausted while, the adrenaline wore off from the journey and started shake as I reached my arm out. The rest was a blur, my fuzzy vision had seen green wrap around my arm and then everything faded into pitch black. I passed out right at the exit around vines pulling me outside of the cave.