The Mermaid Princess's Wish

Mermaid Princess Ariel led Rhine and Aurora, riding on a large fish, weaving through the ocean currents. During this time, Rhine refreshed the Transformation Spell on the fish that Dog had become, to prevent the spell's duration from expiring.

They passed through swirling, foamy whirlpools and steaming mud flats, entering a grotesque forest made of coral.

Those humans who had drowned at sea, and even a few mermaids who had died in accidents, hung as skeletons in the Coral Forest.

Whenever aquatic creatures passed through this forest, the coral polyps would come to life, extending their "arms" to try and seize them, wanting to keep these creatures there forever.

"This place is truly terrifying. Anyone living in such a place wouldn't be considered a good person," Rhine thought.

Mermaid Princess Ariel also felt fear, her heart pounding.

She kindly reminded her two human friends, "The Sea Hag has a strange temper. When you meet her, speak carefully, be polite, and don't offend her!

"She wields terrifying Black Magic; even my father—the ruler of this sea—is unwilling to provoke such a dangerous Sea Witch!"

Ariel worried that the two humans from the land underestimated the Sea Hag's terror.

The Mermaid Princess didn't quite understand the speed of human aging, but these two children seemed even younger than herself, so she felt a sisterly concern.

She wanted to protect these two children, not wanting them to be eaten by the Sea Hag because of a slip of the tongue or some other mistake.

—Although Ariel wasn't sure if the Sea Hag would do such a thing, since everyone said the Sea Witch was so terrible, it wasn't impossible.

"What's so special about that? Who doesn't know magic? Who isn't a big shot valued by a ruler?"

Aurora couldn't help but want to retort after hearing the Mermaid Princess's words. But glancing at her silent teacher beside her, she suppressed her competitive nature.

"Although I only know a few little tricks myself, my teacher's magic is definitely more exquisite than the Sea Hag's!" Aurora thought.

From the previous conversations, Aurora sensed that the mermaids' mastery of magic didn't seem to be stronger than that of humans on land.

—This fact was quite different from the legends! The so-called legends of "mermaid songs summoning storms and destroying ships" and "mermaids luring sailors to their deaths on reefs" seemed to be just a misunderstanding.

Mermaids were far from the evil creatures recorded in human books, but were creatures as kind and as weak as most humans.

Was it possible to let mermaids and humans understand each other more? Aurora couldn't help but think.

"Ariel, why are you looking for the Sea Hag? You're a princess of the sea; you must have encountered a great difficulty, right?"

Aurora asked the Mermaid Princess swimming ahead.

Ariel raised her chin slightly, her eyes revealing infinite warmth, as if recalling beautiful memories.

"After I turned 15, I was allowed to float to the surface, and since then, I've fallen in love with your human world, and with you lovely humans.

"Your world is much bigger than ours. You can sail across the ocean, climb towering mountain peaks, and you have boundless forests and fields."

Speaking of this, Ariel revealed a bit of loss, "Unfortunately, I can't truly enter your world. You can ride a big fish into the sea, but I can't go to land."

She continued, "Not long ago, I fell in love with a human. He is a noble Prince, a handsome young man. Well, he is a bit older than you.

"I saved him from a shipwreck caused by a storm, but I had to leave him.

"I want to be with him forever! I want to share his soul.

"But my Old Grandmother told me that this is absolutely impossible, and told me to give up this idea and abandon this futile fantasy. How can a mermaid in the sea be with a human on land for a long time?

"I think, since conventional methods won't work, the Sea Hag's magic might be able to help me, turning me into a real human!"

Aurora understood the situation after hearing Ariel's answer.

I wonder if teacher can help her? If so, Ariel wouldn't need to ask the Sea Hag for help, would she? the blonde girl thought.

Aurora carefully considered the Mermaid Princess's predicament, suddenly widened her eyes, and asked quite seriously:

"Ariel, why can't mermaids in the sea and humans on land be together for a long time?"

That's a strange question, Ariel thought.

She was just about to answer, but she choked, almost stiffening in the water.

That's right, she hadn't thought carefully before: [Why can't mermaids in the sea and humans on land be together]? "What is the core obstacle preventing me from being with a human?"

"It should be the fishtail, right? Old Grandmother said that humans think tails are extremely ugly, and only 'legs' are normal."

"Is that really the only reason?"

"Can't humans accept mermaid tails? Or rather, because I don't have legs, I can only stay on the shore, but can't go deeper inland?"

"Does that mean, if I fell in love with a sailor who travels the sea year-round instead of a Prince, we could be together?"

Ariel felt a bit overwhelmed, but fortunately, they had arrived at their destination—a sticky clearing in the Coral Forest.

Here stood a house made of bones.

"This is where the Sea Hag lives."

The Mermaid Princess introduced, speaking to her two human friends.

—Although it was actually her first time here as well, she acted like an older sister.

"In a moment, you guys should tell the Sea Hag your wishes first. Afterwards, it'll be my turn." Ariel said, "You just want to ask her a question, so you probably won't have to pay too heavy a price."

Thinking of this, Ariel couldn't help but feel a little worried.

The wish she sought was not simple; what price would the Sea Hag demand?

I never thought there'd be a day when I'd seek another Magician to fulfill my wish, Rhine thought, finding it a bit comical.