Nixxia was disappointed when she started to see some mermen along the way.
She dodged and hid behind rocks and houses, trying to stay out of people's sight. If she was spotted, the news would reach her father's ears immediately.
She was currently swimming behind a huge house when she suddenly realized that it was the kingdom's common house where they held their meetings. And beside it, the kingdom's witch, Neireda lived not far away.
She instantly got an idea, instead of traveling in hiding like a thief, she would go to Neireda for a spell, or potion, or anything that would just make her invisible until she left the border of the kingdom.
She quietly knocked on the white shell door adorned with ancient runes that seemed to whisper secrets to the water waves. The gentle tap echoed through the still waters, a quiet plea to the occupant within.
As she knocked again, she lowered her face to hide from any potential passerby. Her eyes, however, remained fixed on the door, filled with a mix of hope and trepidation.
She was lucky; no one ever visited Neireda except on the 'wish day.' And, today wasn't the 'wish day', but for her, it would be.
This was the only time she was going to appreciate her father's decision in the kingdom; today, she would choose to vanish with her wish.
The door smoothly opened to reveal a beautiful and very fair mermaid.
Her long white hair complimented her blue tail fin and her smooth, glowing skin. The runes on her left arm were identical to the ones on the door.
The witch fixed her eyes at the young Princess, not a bit surprised at seeing her there.
Nixxia had always admired Neireda's beauty since she was a kid, and even now, she looked so gorgeous, looking exactly as she did twenty years ago. Mermen were blessed with longevity and youthfulness, but she believed Neireda's had to be different because she even looked to be getting younger by the day.
"Come in, young princess," Neireda said in a soft voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Nixxia murmured and quickly entered the house.
She almost forgot her purpose while staring at the beautiful and ethereal witch.
This was her first time entering her abode; she had thought it would filled with all sorts of witchy stuff, but the house was just...clean.
The room was plain, a crystal table with a crystal ball floating an inch above the table. There was a small seaweed bed at the corner of the room and a white shelf beside the bed; it was closed, so she didn't know what was kept inside it, but she believed it must be where she kept all her potions and other magic-related elements.
"Come, sit, young princess," Neireda gently beckoned on her to come closer.
Nixxia moved closer, wondering if she meant for her to sit on her bed; that would be a little weird, but as she neared the table, a white chair materialized in front of her.
She paused for a second before she went ahead and sat down, anxiously flapping her tail.
She watched as Neireda swam over to her shelf, opened the upper part, and brought out a silver cup, a strange glowing leaf, a book, and a silver knife.
Nixxia was right; it was where she kept all her stuff. She watched Neireda curiously as she placed the objects on the table, but just like the crystal ball, they didn't touch the table surface, just floating an inch from it.
"Coming to me, I believe you want what every mermen wants, a wish?" Neireda asked, floating behind Nixxia.
Nixxia nodded, "Yes, will you grant me my wish? Even if it'll affect the kingdom?" Nixxia asked, feeling unsure.
Neireda was a strong figure in the kingdom; she doubted if she'd still be willing to grant her wish when she realized that she was planning to abandon the kingdom...the throne.
Neireda smiled and swam fluidly to the other side of the table and lowered herself onto the chair she had materialized.
"I have no control or opinion over your wish, young princess; my duty is to grant you your one wish," Neireda stretched her hand upward above the table, "Give me your hand, young princess," She said to her.
Nixxia slowly lifted her hand and was about to place it on hers but Neireda withdrew her hand.
She looked up at Neireda, confused; Nixxia was already starting to feel like she was deliberately keeping her there so her father could find her.
"Your left hand, young princess," Neireda said, stretching out her hand again.
"Oh, okay," Nixxia quickly gave her her left hand.
She relaxed a bit. Neireda only wanted her left hand, nothing more.
"Now, tell me your wish," She said, bringing her hand above the cup and picking up the silver knife.
Nixxia gulped. She never knew that a knife was involved, but she wasn't scared. She was a pureblood, she'll heal immediately.
"Um..." She said, looking at the witch's serious face.
She felt frustrated; suddenly, she couldn't come up with a wish.
"Take your time, young princess," Neireda said calmly.
She racked her brain, recalling all she had ever thought about; suddenly, a thought came to her mind. She remembered not long ago when she was standing in front of her window and looking over at the kingdom's people; she had wished to be free like them, or like the humans...yes, a human.
Her mother always told her that humans were so free, free to move and do whatever they wanted to do; she believed that humans had no restrictions, no laws biding their everyday life, and certainly, no rule that states them to carry on a legacy they don't want to.
But...she didn't wish for it, she knew without asking that her wish would never be granted.
One of the rules of the kingdom forbade them from going above the oceans, and from ever associating with humans, terming them as dangerous creatures.
She let the wish go, she would just focus on escaping from the kingdom.
"I wish to escape this kingdom, without being spotted," she said to the witch.
Neireda smiled, even without her magic, she knew what her wish was.
"Is that your final wish, young princess?" She asked.
Nixxia nodded, determined.
"Then I'll ask the waters," Neireda whispers softly and gently slices her palm open.
Nixxia winced slightly as the knife sliced into her smooth skin, and she watched as her golden blood swirled right into the silver cup.
Her wound instantly closed up.
Neireda returned her hand to her and then picked up the glowing leaf; she muttered a spell, and the leaf smoothly fell into the cup in the form of a paste, mixing with the golden content of the cup.
She looked with interest and curiosity as her blood mixed and swirled with the green paste. Suddenly it turned Chartreuse, the glowing yellow-green liquid hypnotizing her.
"Now, young princess, look into the crystal ball," Neireda spoke in a soothing tone.
Nixxia obeyed, turning her face to stare into a crystal ball. But the moment she saw the image showing in the crystal, her eyes widened, disbelief evident on her beautiful face.
"This, is your real wish, young princes," Neireda said.
Nixxia was too shocked to speak as she stared at herself, 'walking' the firm sands of the human world.
She slowly looked at Neireda, "How did you know?" She questioned curiously, looking back at the crystal.
But Neireda suddenly waved her hand over the crystal, causing the image to disappear.
Nixxia blinked rapidly as she couldn't see the image anymore, returning her full attention to the witch.
"The magic of the water knows our hearts, young princess. Now, I'll ask again, what is your wish?" Neireda asked once more, staring at Nixxis's face.
Nixxia didn't hesitate this time; she knew her wish would be granted; since the witch wasn't surprised or annoyed, then she had no reason to hold back.
"I wish to become human," She looked with determination into the witch's eyes.
This time, there was no holding back; she was leaving and leaving for good.
"Then, allow the power and magic of our waters to grant you this wish," Neireda spoke up, taking the cup and offering it to Nixxia.
"Drink, young princess, for your wish has been poured into this cup; only when you drink shall your wish be granted," She spoke softly.
Nixxia gulped and took the cup from Neireda's hand, she hesitated for only a second before raising the cup to her lips.
As she drank the liquid, she heard Neireda softly muttering some enchantments and placing her hands over the crystal.
She finished drinking the tasteless liquid at the same time Neireda stopped her enchantment.
"Your wish has been granted by water spirits; sad they might be, but they've granted you your wish," She smiled at her.
Yes, she got her wish, yet she felt strange, her decision getting at her as she realized that she was going out into a totally different world with different people, different beliefs, and cultures. But she was determined, she slowly nodded at Neireda and stood from the chair.
"Go, young princess, your strong tail shall be replaced with two legs the moment you surface up to the human world, mind you, the moment you turn human, you shall lose most of your abilities as a Mermaid," Neireda spoke in her usual gentle yet chilling voice.
Nixxia thought about it for a second, "Thank you for your help," She replied, her mind made up.
She didn't care if she lost everything that connected her to the kingdom, as long as she remained human, she wouldn't mind.
"Hurry, young princess. I sense them near, they're coming for you, and remember, always follow the path of the eaters," Neireda gently placed her hand on her shoulder.
Nixxia became alerted immediately; she had to leave; she quickly thanked Neireda once more and headed for the door.
"Young princess, take this; it will guide your path; just listen to it," Neireda gently placed a silver locket around Nixxia's neck.
"Goodbye, Neireda," Nixxia said and quickly swam out of the opened-shell door.
Nixxia swam, faster than she'd ever swam. Luckily, not many people visited that area, she navigated through stones and high sculptures, sculptures of her mother and father.
Seeing her father's sculpture, she swam harder, renewing her motivation for escaping.
Just as Neireda instructed, she followed the path of the eaters and swam higher, higher into the unknown...