Lunacanta Forest

Marie, the mermaid, had been caught by mercenaries.

She was enclosed in a small glass box filled with water, the size which can be carried easily by 2 men. Marie had to bend her body to fit inside the glass, and that was unpleasant. Not to mention that she was wounded because of her capture. Seeking freedom, she had resisted and fought her captors, but thinking back; she should have just surrendered peacefully. If she did, then she wouldn't have gotten herself an ugly slash wound from her right shoulder to her left waist.

Humans were despicable creatures. To catch Marie: they had someone act the part of a lovable human. Marie was careless to think that the human's feeling for her was true. Other mermaids had warned her, but she was foolish to not listen to her friends or elders. Deception, even on their own kind, was something humans use on a daily basis.

Marie hated humans after what they did to her. Deceiving her feelings, slashing her, and imprisoned her inside a glass box. Whenever she saw humans from inside the glass box, she would burn inside with fiery rage. They were all-- despicable.

Right now, Marie was being carried through a prairie near a lake. The lake was the mercenaries' landmark to pass through the grass prairie. Fearing that slight chance of Marie escaping, they kept at some distance from the lake. An unnecessary fear, as Marie herself doubted she would be able to swim with her wound. Her wound had been treated poorly with bandages; if she swam, the bandages would unravel and she would bleed to death.

As she was thinking of her impossible escape, Marie's glass box was put down roughly by the two men carrying it. The sun almost set in the horizon and the mercenaries were preparing to spend the night. By accident, Marie's eyes gazed at a young man's eyes who was unpacking his bag. She quickly averted her eyes. The young man's name was Watte, and he was the person who had tricked Marie. If she could kill anyone from the mercenary group, Watte was first on Marie's list.

Knock. Knock. Marie turned her head to see who was knocking on the glass.

Old looking with wrinkles on his face and gray mustache, partially white hair, the knocker was none other than the captain of the mercenary. His face sicken Marie. Without glass separating them apart, she would spit on him.

'Now, now,' the captain said. 'There's no need for that bitter face. Smile and be sweet, you'll sell better that way.'

Sell... The captain didn't sugarcoat his words. That was Marie's fate as a captured mermaid. Be sold for a good price and who knew what would happen after?

From the tales she were told when she was little, the elders would tell stories to scare young mermaid from being too adventurous. The elders explained how precious a mermaid's tear was to other races. While mermaid's tear was useless to mermaids themselves, the tears was useful for other races, as it could heal the worst of wounds.

When a mermaid was sold, there would be two possible outcome. Either the buyer was a collector and the mermaid would be kept in a giant water tank, or the buyer was a merchant and invests on mermaids to get their tears. The first case, although the mermaid's freedom would be limited, was wholly better than the latter. To produce mermaid's tears, torturous method might be used to make mermaids cry. Wicked tools, magic to break minds, they could be used. So horrible were those methods, that any mermaid would wish she wasn't alive. That she sees death as an escape from her suffering.

'It's best to be sweet before they turn you ugly,' the captain said. From that, Marie could tell that she was going to be sold to merchants. A cruel fate.

If only she listened to her elders and obeyed their warnings. If only she wasn't so gullible, being deceived by love. If only, humans weren't wicked. So many ifs, all rooted from Marie's regrets.

'Blasted mermaid,' the captain cursed. Marie had responded to him with silence. He must've felt irritated by Marie's attitude. Not that Marie had any reason to be polite to humans anyway.

Marie lifted her head up, getting herself a good look of the sky through her glass box. The sky was turning to dark blue and she could see some stars floating about that sea of darkness. That might just be her last time seeing the sky, so she had to burn the image to her mind. She then turned to see the lake which was about 20 human steps away. Marie wished that she could at least swim freely one last time.

'That's lake Giratia, largest in the continent and located right in the middle,' someone said.

Marie looked beside her to see Watte sitting beside her glass box. Why was he there?

'Are you comfortable being inside that glass box?' He asked.

That question enraged Marie. If she got herself a trident, she wouldn't hesitate to stab Watte. If only she had a trident... 'Do I look comfortable being inside here?'

'Right...' Watte averted his eyes from Marie and looked at the lake. 'My bad...' He then scratched his messy hair.

Marie was silent after that. She cared not for the person who betrayed her. If his feelings were true, then Marie wouldn't be in that glass box. They could've lived together happily. But, that was just a dream within a dream. She placed her faith onto him and was betrayed. The world which was all colorful like rainbows to Marie, turned black and white in a single moment.

'We're now passing the prairie called Gold Route. Named after the gold colored grass when the sun shines on it at a certain time of day. Used by merchants, travelers, and the likes for going from country to country. With no landmark around to indicate our position, following the lake's perimeter is a must.'

Marie didn't respond. Why would she?

'... Marie, I'm sorry,' he said with wavering voice. His apology sounded sincere and Marie almost gave in to it. However, she was reminded that she was there inside the glass box because of him. She didn't respond. He continued: 'Is there anything I can do to help you?' He asked.

'Why do you care?' Marie finally spoke.

'Because... I love you Marie. I do admit that I approached you with the intention of capturing you. I acted like a perfect gentleman who seem able to connect with you. All of it was a deliberate act. Overtime, as I wake up in the morning, I realize that I look forward to meeting you. That I wanted to see you. That I was no longer acting when I spoke to you.

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'I am guilty. For getting you into this mess and for being powerless to prevent this predicament. But, allow me to make up for it. Please. If you cooperate with me, I can at least get you to the lake. Lake Giratia is not an ocean, but it is wide enough for you to swim leisurely. It would also be better compared to being tortured by merchants in order to obtain your tears. It will be risky, but I'll place my life on the line for yours.'

'Watte...' Everything he had said sounded true. Marie didn't sense any lies from his words. Looking at his sad expression, with tears brimming in his eyes, Marie wanted to give the man a second chance to proof his feeling. But she shook her head.

He was the person Marie had given her trust to. Someone who she believed would make her happy, that she would cast away herself from her kind to live with a human. The betrayal kept resurfacing in her mind. The slash wound on her body pained. How could she ever again trust human after all that had happened? Especially the person who had betrayed her. Marie wanted to believe him again. But her heart refused. The invisible scars he had inflicted on her, was too big to ignore.

'This...' Marie almost cried, but she stopped her tears. 'is just another lie isn't it? Another act, just to get my tears. Good acting, but I'm not falling for it Watte.'

'What? No! Marie, this isn't an act! Believe me! Please...'

'Just-- go away. I don't want any involvement with you anymore.'

'Marie...'

At that moment, both Marie and Watte could hear screams. Of terror and anguish. Made by mercenaries.

Distracted by the sound, both of them looked at the direction of the screaming. To the west, they could see mercenaries, including the captain, running towards Marie and Watte. Their expressions: horrified and desperate. They were running away from something. But what?

In an instant, Marie saw something appearing from beneath the ground, impaling the captain through his body. The unlucky captain let out a weak scream and died on the spot. What stabbed him was as thick as a trunk, and looked like wood. Whatever it was, it was coming fast at Marie's direction.

If Marie had legs, she would run. That-- thing... would kill her. Out of desperation for her life, she called out Watte's name. But he wasn't beside her. For fear of losing his own life, he had made a dash and ran, abandoning Marie.

So that was how Marie would die, being killed by the unknown. At least, Marie was glad that she was able to confirm one thing. 'He's a liar after all...' She said to herself.

Looking at the direction of the terror once more, Marie could see the mercenaries being stabbed left and right by the unknown entity emerging from the ground. Soon it will reach her. Soon it will be her turn. Soon everything will be black.

There was nothing Marie could do. It wasn't as if she could get out of the glass, turn her tail into legs, and outrun the entity. Everything was hopeless. She was doomed.

Marie could see the ground near her glass box shaking. Everything seemed slow to her at that moment. It must be one of those 'time stretches out moments before your own death'. In that short moment which felt like forever, Marie remembered her life. One memory that stuck out the most to her, was when she went against her friend in a swimming race. Feeling the gap of skill, Marie had given up before reaching the finish line. But why did that memory resurfaced at such dire time?

Her life would end. With her giving up.

No. At least, if she were to die, she should die trying. Her last act of resistance.

In that slow world, Marie could see the movement of whatever it was, appearing from the ground. Skillfully, inside the small glass box, she twisted herself in a way to dodge the stab. The unknown made a scratch on her right cheek, but Marie was able to dodge it.

She dodged the first. But she wouldn't be able to dodge the second. She could tell a second stab was coming from the way the earth near her shook.

By miracle, she flew upward. No. It would be more correct to say that she was lifted upward. The thing which almost stabbed her, pierced the glass box she was in. As it kept growing from the ground, it lifted the box, which also lifted Marie who was also inside it. The box held its shape for a while, until it finally broke from the pressure. Marie, who was up and above, fell down.

The thing which stabbed the box, had sprouted in a slanted manner. Marie had thought she was going to splat to the ground. She looked down and saw no earth. She saw water instead, and was expecting a splash now instead of a splat. The thing had carried her above the lake. A lucky outcome.

Splash! Marie fell into the lake, no longer a captive of the glass box.

The slash wound she got granted her enormous pain when she splashed into the water. So much that her consciousness felt like fading.

She didn't give in to the overwhelming blackness just yet. With all her remaining strength, she made sure the bandages binding her wound was tight and secure. She also swam close to the edge to find a crevice. She didn't know how deep the lake was; and if she kept falling down, there was a possibility that she could be crushed by the water pressure. Marie was fortunate to find herself a crevice. It was small, but beggars can't be choosers. At least it was big enough to fit her. So she swam and rested there. Her wound hurt badly. So she closed her eyes and let the darkness in her mind consume her.

Everything went black for her after that.

***

Marie didn't know how long had she passed out.

When she opened her eyes, at least she felt safe being inside a large body of water. Her wound didn't disappear nor did her fatigue. Perhaps she had slept for a day, as she felt her stomach hungry. All in all, she was glad she didn't wake up being inside a glass box. No more captivation. No more desperation. No more humans around her. What a great thing to know!

Marie stretched her body as she woke up, making sure that she didn't pain her wound in the process. Through her fins, she could inhale the fresh water. It was amusing how fresh the water was. So fresh, that she felt her wound pained less. That she felt healthy. Not that she was, but at least she felt healthy. And that was a good start.

She was alone, but she was happy. Loneliness wasn't as bad as being surrounded by humans.

Although Marie could be satisfied living all by herself; exploring the large lake, hunting who-knows-what aquatic creatures living there, make herself a home, and live a peaceful life, she was curious. She wanted to know what happened above water. About the unknown which decimated the mercenary crew. And saved her.

The elders had always warned her about this emotion called 'curiosity'. Often times, it led to great discovery. Often times it led to nothing. And often times it led to death.

Their methods of warning her might be harsh and cruel. But, Marie learnt that what they said were truths, and truths were always hard to accept.

Like it or not, Marie had to admit that she got into the mess she was in, because she was curious of a certain human. Someone who had made her fell in that illusion called love. So intoxicated was she that she abandoned her kind. So blinded was she, that she did not see his lies. What started all of that? Curiosity.

At least she was at peace knowing that Watte died because of the unknown.

All that aside, Marie wondered if she had to go to the surface. She wanted to know the unknown, but there were so many risks. Should she risk going to the surface? Or be content being inside the lake for the rest of her life? Could that still be considered living even?

Nothing would happen if she were to peek right? Marie wouldn't turn to stone just because she peeked. She needed to know what happened to the prairie after all. If she were to ignore it, then she would be running away from her problems. And it would come back to her at a later date.

Convinced by her own self, Marie decided to see for herself what had happened. She tightened the bandages wrapping around her body, making sure it wasn't loose. She tried listening to the voices inside the water; there was nothing disturbing that she could hear. Slowly, she got out from her crevice and swam up. Her heart thumped like a drum, wondering what would await when she popped her head.

When her head was out of the water, she was greeted by mist. The mist wasn't there before. And when she looked through the mist, she could see trees; many of them. The unknown, Marie came to realization, was a sprouting forest.

Little did the mermaid know, that that would be a famous morbid forest known and feared by all in the future:

The Lunacanta Forest.