Across the distance, farther than the Capital City of Gloria and extending beyond the boundaries of Rocky Cliffs…

A young [ Mermaid ] swimmingly approached the Abandoned Beach and flopped on the sand. She let out a sound of relief, "Ah here at last." She clutched her seashell purse and looked at her items to be traded.

Seaweed.

Her purse was filled to the brim with Seaweed.

It wasn't just any kind of Seaweed though, these were in exchange for Sage Grass. Now all she needed to do was to get to their meeting place. She didn't exactly have a teleportation scroll unlike the others, but she might be able to get some help from a certain [ Wood Elf ].

She pulled up her communication thingamabob. It was akin to a rippling and shimmering water in the air, the letters that formed on the surface were in her comfortable language.

She sent a message.

Mermaid: Mister [ Wood Elf ], I'm nearly at your [ Enchanted Forest ] and I brought something you might like? [ Black Pearl ] in exchange for transportation perhaps?

Wood Elf: Oh, goodie! Thanks dear, do you need some help? I can drop by there if you want.

Mermaid: I'm fine! I can get there~ I think if I heard it correctly, you're not fond of the salt?

Wood Elf: Well, if it's a beautiful maiden—I wouldn't mind~

Odele sighed for a moment and shook her head in dismay, the Earth Dwellers were always a strange bunch for her. Once again, she kindly denied the [ Wood Elf ]'s offer and advances before she pulled out a fine dagger from the same seashell purse. This purse had a lot of space. And the dagger was a key component. A Witch's Bargain.

She wondered how different it would have been if she had approached the [ Sea Witch ], nevertheless, she held up the blade in her hands and glanced at her tail. It really would be an odd thing to walk on two fins.

Legs.

Her blade touched the back of her neck, carefully avoiding the chance to draw blood needlessly.

It would really be a swift thing.

The dagger swept through her hair as she watched it land to the sand. Red met white. Odele quickly collected her hair and tied it with some seaweed before the wind could get it. She then turned towards the swishing water screen hovering before her.

[ A Witch's Bargain ]

Locks of Mermaid Hair

< Exchange >

72 Hours for Human Transformation

[ Please Confirm Your Trade With A Yes / No ]

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

She recalled what the others had said in the [ Universal Chatroom ] about how bad it would be to make a bargain with the [ Witch ] but in all honesty… this would be the term that they call a 'rip-off'. Hair did regrow back, but it took a long time for it to grow and she ended up exchanging it for just a mere seventy-two hours.

"I'll have to make it worth my time. Trade Accept Yes."

Fins were exchanged for legs.

Simple as that.

"Alright, time to head towards the Enchanted Forest."

. . .

There were not a long of things that troubled someone as advanced in years like him. So when the Wood Elf noticed the presence of another [ Player ] entering his territory. He wasn't bothered at all.

He had complete sovereignty over his controlled territories.

Which mind you, the land that he occupied wasn't a lot, but still a good deal for some other [ Race ] living in the [ Human Kingdom of Yegarian ].

That was until you counted that pesky [ Goblin ] starting to gain more territory.

The [ World Map ] was displayed before him and he could see that his [ Human ] friend had gathered back the road area and even [ Oaken Ashwood ]. He was still hoping that his good friend had given it to him instead.

Ah, maybe next time.

He saw a weird neutral zone in between the [ Human ] and [ Goblin ] territory… some kind of landmarked inn? "Ugh, don't [ Humans ] try to bother culling them?" He rubbed his face and awaited his peer.

And finally she arrived. A beautiful girl with short red hair and dazzling green eyes stumbled through his spot and offered a quick bow.

Or maybe she was just trying to gain her footing.

The young mermaid was really unsteady with her feet, it reminded him of a young fawn trying to stand up without its mother. He bit back a smile and dismissed the menus before him, with a quick snap of his finger—the ambient mana around him sprouted a tree stump before her.

"Please have a seat, I know you've come a long way. Would you like something to drink? I can imagine that you need a lot of liquids, I've got fruits and flower nectars. In the mood for honey some rain dew?"

"Ah, I'm fine, thank you for your hospitality. I do not plan to stay too long, I've brought the [ Black Pearl ] and I was hoping for some of your assistance."

"Dear, just gracing me with your presence is enough for me to answer your plea." He chuckled.

The young [ Mermaid ] simply looked at him and managed a smile. "I kind of need to meet up with Lucia, Bleu and Tierra at the City of Gloria."

"Wow, you young folks really are active [ Players ] here huh?" The Wood Elf propped a hand underneath his chin, "Imagine the events that could transpire when all of you converge."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing to worry about, I suppose I could always drop by at the Kraelonia Academy and perhaps visit a certain someone."

"Oh, do you mean the new [ Player ]? That [ Human ]? Are they staying at the Kraelonia Academy? It does make sense that the first thing that they'd do is go attend a premier institution." The young [ Mermaid ]'s eyes were shining in curiosity.

He grinned, "Perhaps."

The [ Wood Elf ] got up from his wooden throne and stretched his arms, "Among the elements that an [ Elf ] of my nature possesses, it may or may not surprise you."

With a motion of his fingers, one of the trees offered their trunk, the [ Wood Elf ] meshed and melded it to his whims. Vines and leaves joined it to produce his desired piece. He had seen it before in a book, a creation of wood and ingenuity.

A testament to a heart that sought adventure beyond lands and distance.

"This is… this is a boat?" The young [ Mermaid ] managed to get up and approached his craftsmanship. She ran her fingers through the wood. "There's no water in the city of Gloria as far as I'm aware?"

He laughed and offered a hand as he helped her into his work, "We do not need water at all young waterfolk. All we need is the wind." A breeze gathered around them, a refreshing and playful gust of air swept through the forest.

Until the wind grew stronger and stronger, a tumultuous tempest that began to lift his creation above the earth. The trees gave way as they ascended into the air.

He managed a short bow, "This is a [ Zephyr Boat ] and a courtesy of the [ Lord of the Winds ]." He lifted his head when there was no thunderous applause.

The young [ Mermaid ] was gawking.

Well, they could always clap afterwards. "Do hold onto the rails," The [ Wood Elf ] snapped his finger. "And off we go."

They zipped through the sky.