The streets of Tattered Winds City remained bustling, filled with the salty scent of the sea breeze. Though yesterday's conversation had left Leo and Luna feeling uneasy, they had no time to dwell on their worries—their goal was still the ocean depths, where they would seek out Dan and uncover the secrets of the merfolk. And tonight, they would leave the city quietly, stepping into a dangerous, unknown world.
As they walked through the streets, their steps were light, avoiding unnecessary attention. Though unfamiliar faces weren't uncommon in this busy city, they couldn't shake the feeling of an unseen pressure, as if someone was watching them from afar.
"This place really gives me a bad feeling," Luna murmured, scanning her surroundings for anything unusual.
Leo didn't reply, only giving a slight nod. Their destination was a hidden place—a small apothecary on the city's outskirts. A potion that could transform humans into merfolk seemed to be their only hope of reaching the merfolk territory.
The apothecary was nestled in a narrow alleyway, where the dim lighting and damp air carried the scent of herbs. A worn wooden sign hung above the entrance, bearing the words "Franz's Magic Apothecary." The faded lettering suggested that the shop hadn't seen many visitors in a long time.
Leo pushed open the door and stepped inside quietly. The dim yellow light cast shadows over shelves filled with potions and dried herbs. Dust had gathered in the corners, giving the place an aged and abandoned feel.
Behind the counter stood an elderly man in a faded robe. His face was lined with deep wrinkles, his brow furrowed, giving him a mysterious and shrewd appearance.
"Welcome," the old man said in a low, raspy voice, carrying an air of authority that was hard to ignore.
Leo and Luna stepped up to the counter, and Leo spoke first. "We're looking for a potion that can turn humans into merfolk. Do you have any?"
The old man froze for a moment, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes. "You're planning to go to the depths of Tattered Winds Sea?" he asked, his tone filled with both curiosity and caution.
"How do you know that?" Luna and Leo asked almost simultaneously, exchanging a glance filled with tension. This potion was crucial to their plan, but they hadn't expected the shopkeeper to guess their intentions so easily.
The old man let out a soft sigh, as if he had long anticipated this moment. "Only those who intend to reach the merfolk's territory would seek this potion," he said slowly. "But it's been a long time since anyone last asked for it. This potion is neither popular nor safe for casual use. What exactly are you planning?"
"We just… want to learn more about the situation," Leo replied vaguely, not wanting to reveal too much.
The old man fell silent for a moment, then turned and disappeared through a small door at the back of the shop. He returned after a while, carrying several bottles coated in a thick layer of dust. Inside each, a green liquid shimmered faintly, like a piece of the ocean trapped in glass.
"This is all I have left," he said, placing the bottles down with a more serious expression. "Each dose will allow you to maintain a merfolk form for one day. The effects will wear off by the following morning." He paused, looking directly into their eyes, as if searching for hesitation.
Leo took one of the bottles and examined it in silence. He noticed the complexity in the shopkeeper's gaze and felt a twinge of unease. He couldn't tell whether it was concern or a warning, but he knew that this potion might be their only key to uncovering the truth.
"Thank you," Leo said simply, placing a few gold coins on the counter. "We also need information. Can you tell us anything about the merfolk?"
The shopkeeper's eyes lingered on the coins for a moment, but he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gazed out the window, as if carefully choosing his words. "If you're heading to the merfolk's territory, you must be extremely careful," he finally said, his voice carrying a clear warning. "The merfolk do not like humans—especially those who dare to trespass in their lands. If they catch you, they will kill you without hesitation. Many have tried to reach the depths before, but none have ever returned."
"You're right, we understand the risks," Leo nodded, his voice calm and resolute. "We're prepared."
The shopkeeper frowned, as if reluctant to let them go, but he said nothing more. He only let out a quiet sigh. "Fine. If you insist, I won't try to stop you," he said after a pause. "But remember, if anything happens, I won't be responsible."
"Thank you," Luna said softly, taking one of the potions.
Leo and Luna left the apothecary, stepping into the deepening night. The streets, once bustling with life, had grown quiet. They walked lightly, careful not to attract attention. Leo gripped the bottle in his hand, the weight of it pressing against his palm. A sense of unease settled in his chest, but he didn't stop moving.
They made their way through the city and arrived at a secluded cove outside the walls. The area was far from the crowds, the surrounding rocks worn smooth by the relentless tide. The ground was slick, and the salty sea breeze carried a sharp chill.
"This is where we'll begin," Leo said, his voice low as he gazed out at the dark ocean. His heartbeat quickened—not just from the anticipation of the unknown adventure ahead, but from a growing pressure that seemed to rise from the depths of the sea itself.
Luna nodded slightly as she stood beside Leo, gazing at the rolling ocean with a determined look in her eyes. "We have to be careful. The potion can turn us into merfolk, but it's only temporary."
Leo nodded in agreement. He took out the vial and was about to open it when he suddenly felt a wave of unease.
He spun around sharply, his gaze scanning the surroundings as if searching for something. "I feel like someone is watching us… Do you feel it too?"
Luna furrowed her brows and looked around but saw no suspicious figures. "There's no one," she said in a low voice. "Maybe you're just too tense."
Leo hesitated for a moment but remained on guard. "Maybe I'm overthinking it," he muttered before finally uncorking the vial, preparing to drink.
Even though there were no obvious signs of danger, Leo couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The presence lingered somewhere in the shadows—unseen but palpable. He couldn't tell if it was an illusion or reality. Regardless, there was no turning back now.
"Are you ready?" he asked, his gaze unwavering.
Luna nodded, her expression solemn. "We've come this far. We can't back down now."
Leo took a deep breath, raised the vial, and poured the green liquid into his mouth. The moment it touched his throat, a cold sensation spread rapidly through his body.
The potion began to take effect, sending waves of unbearable pain coursing through them. Leo clenched his fists tightly, trying to suppress his agony. Beside him, Luna bit her lower lip, doing her best to remain silent. As the transformation took hold, their bodies started to change in astonishing ways.
"Ah—" Leo groaned softly, feeling his bones and muscles contorting violently. The pain was excruciating. His eyes grew sharper, as if the world around him had been magnified—colors became more vivid, and every detail stood out with startling clarity. As the pain intensified, he sensed his retinas shifting, his vision adapting to an underwater environment.
Luna was undergoing a similar transformation. She looked down at her hands, watching as her fingernails cracked and gave way to shimmering, metallic scales. Then, the skin near her jawline began to bulge slightly. After a few convulsions, two perfect gills unfolded on the sides of her neck. With each breath, they fluttered open and closed, as if already drawing in the ocean's water.
She frowned, adjusting to the strange sensations overtaking her body. The pain surged again as her legs began to change—the muscles and bones reshaped themselves, fusing into a single, powerful tail, perfectly designed for underwater movement. Each shimmering scale reflected light, making her look both strong and otherworldly, like a true creature of the deep.
Once the pain subsided, Leo and Luna finally stood still on the shoreline. Their bodies had undergone a complete transformation, yet their resolve remained unshaken.
"We did it," Leo murmured, running his hand over his newly formed tail. His voice carried a hint of awe.
"Yeah," Luna said, glancing down at her own tail with a newfound lightness in her tone. "I was actually worried the potion wouldn't work on me since I'm a mechanical doll." She tried to make a joke to ease the tension.
Leo chuckled. "Most of the time, I don't even think of you as a mechanical doll. You feel like a real person—you have emotions, you can feel pain, you even cry. Whoever created you must have been incredible." He looked at her seriously, his eyes filled with deep respect.
Luna's expression grew complicated. She lowered her gaze, her voice turning quieter. "But… I've forgotten who created me. It's like those memories are lost in a fog." A trace of sorrow lingered in her words, as if the absence of her past left an unhealed wound deep within her heart.
Leo remained silent for a moment, then gently patted Luna on the back. "Maybe one day, we'll find those lost memories and discover who created you," he said, his voice gentle yet firm.
They exchanged a small smile before diving into the ocean together. The moment he entered the water, Leo felt an exhilarating sense of freedom—his body seemed to merge with the sea itself. His tail fin moved gracefully and powerfully as he swam in circles, reveling in the newfound sensation.
"The water feels amazing," Luna's voice resonated through the sea. She had already adapted to the underwater environment, her movements becoming smoother with each passing second.
"Yeah… this feeling of freedom… it's like coming back to life." Leo looked around at the vast, blue ocean, overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of comfort.
However, just as they were lost in the joy of swimming, an unexplainable tension crept into Leo's heart. A strange sensation—like the weight of an unseen gaze—made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"Luna…" Leo halted his movements, scanning the water around them. "I think someone's watching us."
Luna stopped as well, glancing around cautiously but seeing nothing unusual. "Are you sure? There are plenty of sea creatures here. Maybe it's just—"
"It might be my imagination." Leo nodded, though unease still lingered in his mind. Either way, they couldn't afford to stop.
Picking up speed, Leo and Luna swam forward, gliding through the underwater world. They passed through a vibrant coral reef teeming with marine life, where schools of colorful fish darted between swaying anemones. The seabed was a breathtaking tapestry of movement and color, yet their gazes kept flickering toward the shadows, wary of any hidden threats.
After a while, the scenery suddenly opened up. The currents around them grew calmer, the water still and serene. They had entered a massive underwater expanse—an entire city beneath the sea.
At its center stood a colossal Tide Sanctuary Tree. Its trunk shimmered with a silvery glow, and its branches swayed gently with the ocean's rhythm, emitting a soft luminescence. The tree's roots stretched deep into a great underwater trench, where countless blue lights drifted like stars flowing through a cosmic river—mystical and awe-inspiring.
The city itself surrounded the Tide Sanctuary Tree. Its halls and buildings were constructed from living coral, their surfaces adorned with glowing moss that pulsed with a faint light in sync with the ocean currents and the distant echoes of merfolk songs. Intricately carved reliefs depicting battles between merfolk and ancient sea beasts lined the pillars, adding an air of antiquity and solemnity to the city.
Leo and Luna swam toward a massive entrance, where a grand archway made of silver coral loomed before them. Standing guard at either side were several imposing merfolk warriors—tall, strong, and armed with razor-sharp weapons. Their keen eyes scanned every passerby with unwavering vigilance.
As they approached the checkpoint, Leo and Luna made a conscious effort to remain calm. Though they had fully transformed into merfolk, a primal sense of caution lingered in their instincts. They knew that even the slightest mistake could spell danger.
Just as they were about to pass through, one of the guards at the gate furrowed his brows, staring at them for an unusually long time.
"You look unfamiliar," the guard remarked, his voice deep and impassive, yet tinged with suspicion.
Leo and Luna's hearts pounded. They stopped in their tracks, a wave of unease washing over them. The guard's piercing gaze seemed to see past their disguise, as if sensing something was amiss.
"Who are you?" the guard asked again, his eyes narrowing with cautious scrutiny.