The Mermaid Undercover

"Hey, disaster bearer, I'm glad you came to me!"

Azura shuddered, she knew that she had problems far worse than being imprisoned at the bottom of the sea for 80 years.

"W-who are you?"

"Me? Hahaha...didn't you come here to meet me?"

"Lioti? S-so you're Lioti?"

"Yes I am, Young mermaid." She smiled broadly, showing her sharp teeth like the shark that nearly killed her moments ago.

"Really?"

"You came here to get a pair of human legs, didn't you?"

"How do you know?"

"Of course I know. Anyone who tries to come to see me, I can see and read their minds including you, Azura. A cursed creature that has made hundreds of mermaids captured and slaughtered by humans. Isn't that right?"

"If you know the reason I came here, can you help me?"

"Help you? Why should I help you?"

"Only you can help me, Lioti! You are my only hope!"

"Your only hope? Hahaha..."

"You are right, I am a despicable being. I don't even deserve to be released. The sin I have committed is too great and cannot be forgiven. Therefore I beg of you, lend me your strength." She said hopefully. This was the only hope she had of moving on with her life. If she stays here, she will continue to receive the hatred of all beings.

"Hmm...well, I'll help you."

"R-really?"

"But of course there are more conditions that you must fulfill."

"Conditions? What conditions?"

"I know you've had that thing, haven't you? The emerald gem you found in the remains of human civilization that sank at the bottom of the sea. You have it, don't you?"

"Emerald gems?"

"Yes, my prophecy says you once owned the gem and I want it!"

Azura was stunned, she knew the emerald gem Lioti was referring to was the one she gave to Ethan 80 years ago before they parted. Ethan tucked the gem into the pendant he always wore.

"I used to have that gem, but now I don't have it."

"What...? How come you don't have that gem anymore?" Lioti snapped at her loudly. It was clear that she really wanted the emerald.

"I gave it to Ethan."

"Ethan? Your human lover?"

"Y-yes! I gave it 80 years ago."

"Oh shit! How could you give that thing to a human?"

"I don't know. It's the only one I have. Is that the condition you want?"

"Yes, that's the condition. I want you to give the gem to me!"

"But I don't have it anymore!"

"You have to get it back! You have to give it to me!"

"I can't give it to you, I can't!"

"You damn mermaid-"

"I'm so sorry-"

"Alright, I'll give you the potion!"

"Potion?"

"Go to the surface of the sea on a full moon and say your wish while drinking the potion. Ask for a pair of human legs and you will get it!"

"Is that true?"

"You must listen carefully to my terms, you understand? Find the gem and give it to me! I'll give you time until the next full moon, if you don't give the gem, you will suffer the consequences!"

***

Azura looked at the darkening sky, she began to doubt even though Lioti's potion was already in her hands. She had swam this far and was back where she and Ethan had parted.

A bay surrounded by lush trees, but she felt this place was a little different. It used to feel like being surrounded by a very dense forest. Azura shuddered, the memory of the incident 80 years ago made her start to doubt her intentions.

"Meria, I haven't even told her that I managed to have Lioti's potion. What if she looks for me and doesn't find me anywhere?" She thought. Lioti had told her not to tell this to anyone.

Lioti is a seabed mage who is considered a slave to the demon lord of the ocean, Leviathan. Because of that all the inhabitants of the ocean condemned its existence.

Azura had no choice, if she wanted to become a human then she had to leave her life as a mermaid forever. Her eyes turned to the sky, she saw millions of stars glittering in the sky. The beauty that captivated her eyes. It had been a very long time since she had last seen the stars in the sky and the fondest memory she had was of seeing her with Ethan.

"Ethan, wherever you are, I will definitely find you! I hope you remember me."

Azura opened the bottle cap of the potion, her hands were shaking, she didn't know if this potion would really turn her into a human. She knew that she didn't know any human other than Ethan and it would be very difficult for het to adapt in the new world. But staying at sea and trying to mingle with other dugongs won't be easy either.

Their hatred for her was too great and even if she had her punishment, it would never be enough to pay for her sins. Above the sky, a flying object flashed very fast. Azura saw with her sharp eyes, a flying object.

"Iron bird? But, why no wings? Has it changed now?" She thought. What she witnessed forced her to postpone the wish she was about to make.

Azura began to drink the potion with her eyes closed, her heart praying that one day she could be reunited with Ethan, someone she loved very much.

"Leviathan the lord of the seas, lend me your power. Give me a pair of human legs to walk on. In exchange, I will give you my soul after I die."

Azura opened her eyes, she saw the ocean around her. The sun was shining above her head, she felt nothing and when she tried to observe herself, she realized that nothing had happened to her. It still has flippers instead of legs.

"No! This can't be. Nothing happened to me, how could that be? I already cast my spell and wish as Lioti said. But why-"

"What are you doing there?"

Someone asked her, Azura flinched and immediately turned to the source of the voice. On the white sand by the beach, a man looked at her with a very cold face. He was tall, his hair and eyes were as black as the night sky. Azura didn't move, the man walked up to her with a very gruesome murderous gaze.

Azura had just realized that she was too close to land and if she tried to swim deeper, it might be a little difficult considering the man seemed to have bad intentions. In his hand he held a black object, slightly similar to the weapon some humans used in the past when trying to catch and kill mermaids.

Azura began to fear, she thought that this human might kill her because she had seen her form which was considered a disaster.

"It turned out to be just a weak little monster. You really disgust me! After everything was destroyed, it turns out that even in a place like this there is still a keeper. How about I just end it now?" He said while pointing the gun straight at Azura's head.

Azura was limp, she couldn't move her body at all. She realized that this human wanted to kill her with that weapon. Azura panicked, she didn't want to die before meet Ethan.

"Ethan, help me!" She mumbled with tears flowing from her eyes. This man gasped, he looked surprised to hear Azura talking like a human and calling a name.

"Ethan?"

"Ethan, help me...! Ethan...!"

Bang...

***