Silas had never known such a wonderful feeling. His entire body vibrated with an unknown energy as he was floating in the water. Every muscle moved with perfect precision driving him forward with unprecedented strength and speed. He wanted to dart out like an arrow, but the sirenians had warned him to be careful about pushing himself too hard. His transformation had been accomplished with other's memories, this meant that if he overdid it, his mind would be overloaded and those same memories could quickly fade away, causing him he to lose control of his new form.

But it was not easy to hold back. The temptation to test the limits of his body was very strong and his excitement, instead of calming down, seemed to be increasing as he slid through the water and adapted to the currents.

Although he also liked to stop and observe around, enjoying the feeling of his huge body hanging in the void. Before saying goodbye, Numi had taught him about echolocation which consisted of causing clicks whose echoes bounced off the surroundings creating a detailed mental image of the rock formations, fish and other sea creatures.

As they continued their journey, the aquatic landscape became more colorful. The vast green meadows of seaweed were dotted with reds, oranges and violets. Near the surface, the sun's rays filtered through the water, creating a pattern of light and shadow. Shoals of silver fish moved in perfect synchronization, changing shapes that faded as quickly as they appeared.

Every now and then they also came across curious animals: turtles, eels, crabs, eels, octopuses, even funny sea urchins. Some he knew how to identify, others he had no choice but to ask Olivia since she might have read about them in one of those books of hers. The jellyfish had caught his attention the most. They looked like little ghosts floating indifferently in the dark, and everytime he saw them he was tempted to cause little swirls with his tail that made their transparent tentacles take on weird shapes.

He couldn't wait to see what other strange beings he might encounter once they left the gulf behind, though the sirenians had also warned him that when he reached the Freedom Sea the currents would become stronger. However, instead of being frightening, he felt excited as he tried to imagine what it would be like to find himself in the vastness of the open ocean.

But there was something that had been bothering him ever since they had left the lake's mouth behind, and the cause was rooted in none other than Olivia.

Perhaps the word best suited to describe his mood was disappointment. He had thought she would share with him the incredible joy of being underwater, but the girl had barely uttered a word since they had said goodbye to Numi. Every time Silas spotted a new animal and pointed it out to her she nodded not at all surprised. She was more occupied with her own mysterious thoughts.

He decided to give her space, and even slowed the speed at which they swam so that she wouldn't tire as much. The gills on her neck seemed to be holding up well, but her legs remained human. Numi had told her that if she didn't want them to disappear she should stay in the water at all times and avoid dry land.

They had been traveling for two days with several breaks. Without a map it was impossible to know their exact location. The only problem, in Olivia's case, had been the food. All he had to do was open his mouth to catch fish and crabs, but she refused to eat anything other than seaweed as all other options made her sick to her stomach as she couldn't cook them over a campfire.

She must feel weak, Silas thought, maybe he should hunt something for her, but he doubted she would want to eat it. He figured that with his new teeth he should be able to hunt larger animals, even though Numi had warned him not to hunt anything that looked like a seal. He didn't know what a seal really looked like, so she explained that it resembled a water dog, only with flippers.

But he hadn't seen any of those creatures. Maybe they must have been hiding as soon as they saw him. Well, of course, he thought proudly, he had become the terror of the seas and all marine creatures treated him with respect. Even a huge, rather ugly, toothy fish, which Olivia told him was called a shark, had passed close enough without doing anything to him.

Other than that, the few times Olivia spoke to him now was to tell him to come to the surface to look around or when she warned him about the shadow of an approaching ship so they should dive deeper just in case.

Seeing her so discouraged, he had even offered her to sit on his back so she wouldn't have to exert herself so much. He had to insist for a long time until she finally accepted.At that moment they were slowly moving forward, with Olivia holding on to the base of his dorsal fin and letting herself be dragged along as she floated in a horizontal position.

What on earth had happened in the lake? From what Silas had understood, the attack had been perpetrated by the wizards of Shadowrock Castle, but the Count was there as well, so he didn't understand anything. A betrayal, for sure, and it was obvious that the nobleman had been very affected, because he even allowed his daughter to continue her journey with the chimera.

Now that Silas thought about it, in the kingdom of Terrarkana, both he and Olivia were unusual creatures. She even more so, since he was not the only one of his kind. Perhaps that was what the Count had meant when he said she couldn't stay there.

Silas was sure Olivia had looked happy when her father agreed to let her go. Things had begun to change after her last conversation with Numi, as they were about to cross the mouth of the lake.

“This is where we split up,” the sirenian announced.

“Won't you come with us?” asked Olivia.

Numi shook her head.

“I can't leave without knowing what will happen to my grandfather. It will take some time for him to heal. Besides, I think it's a journey you'll want to make alone... with Silas, of course,” she winked. “I've also sometimes wanted to keep my distance from my family, at least for a while.”

“ I...”

“But now I must stay. Any day now, the news will reach the capital. There will be a huge mess. I have to stay with my people now. I'm sure you'll be fine. All you have to do is follow the gulf, and when you get to Misty Dream just keep heading east without losing sight of the coast, until you get to Stormbrace. Once there you will have to go into the Freedom Sea, and go straight to the island.”

Numi made it sound so easy, but Silas had his doubts. After all, she was a sirenian, and could not fully grasp how difficult it could be for someone who was not.

“Numi, I'm sorry,” Olivia said.

“Why are you sorry?” the other asked in confusion.

“Your village, the promontory...”

The sirenian's eyes darkened.

“It is not your fault. It was the wizards. They will pay for what they did,” she looked Olivia straight in the eyes. “Our father will see to it.”

Olivia didn't respond, and Numi sighed before continuing.

“Once you get to the island, I will pay you a visit, you can count on that... once this settles down, of course. I hope it won't be too long.”

“Have you ever been there?”

“Sometimes, but I prefer the northern islands, they are much warmer.”

“Have you met any hybrids?”

“Yes... but I won't tell you anything. It will be more fun if you meet them yourselves... Well... we must say goodbye now... I hate long goodbyes... I hate them... every year when I have to leave the lake it's my least favorite part. Silas, take care of my sister, or I'll make you pay.”

As a reply, Silas splashed her with a wag of his tail.

The sirenian laughed, and began to swim away on her back.

“When we meet again, we'll have a long sisters' talk!“ she shook her hand. “I trust you with my heart, to be returned!”

After a few seconds, Olivia replied, though with some hesitation:

“I trust you with my heart... to be guarded!”

The sirenian laughed again, and after taking a leap got lost in the current on her way back towards the lake, as Olivia and the orca crossed the mouth.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

When Silas asked her what was that about, Olivia explained it was how the sirenians said goodbye to their loved ones who stayed the long way through the winter.

Now remembering all that, Silas couldn't help but think that maybe Olivia was feeling homesick. There couldn't be any other reason, unless she truly felt guilty about what had happened at the lake.

That gloomy person was not the Olivia he knew. He had to shake things up a bit, maybe that would wake her up.

Without saying anything to her, Silas began to gradually increase his speed, until she herself noticed and took a tighter grip on his fin. The orca felt how she placed her legs on both sides of his back to hold on better.

“Silas, what are you doing?”

He didn't answer her, and accelerated even more, which gave him the impression that he was flying, or, at least, he thought he was, because he had never flown before. Each flapping caused powerful ripples through the water in a way that he barely sensed the density of the water. The underwater landscape was passing by very fast, the colors of the coral mantles were blending together, and shoals of fish were scattering before the flashing passage of the killer whale.

“Silas!” her screams sounded muffled by the water.

Suddenly, he had an idea. Instead of moving forward he began to swim in circles and thousands of bubbles enveloped them forming columns.

“Silas, I'm getting dizzy!”

He ignored her, and then flipped his body, so that he was belly up, while Olivia was upside down. He repeated the action several times, creating a whirlpool behind him.

“Stop it! I hate you so much right now!”

He would much rather she got angry with him than continue to be sad. Still, for a moment he seemed to obey her, because he stopped turning and stood with his head looking up at the shimmering surface under the sun's rays. Another thought crossed his mind, and before Olivia let go of his fin he accelerated again, this time towards the bottom, to take up the run, and before he hit the sand he turned to climb back up.

Throughout the whole operation, Olivia kept shouting.

“What are you going to do? Stop! Don't be childish, what's the matter with you?”

Silas continued to ascend while propelling himself with the force of his tail movements, until suddenly he felt his body break the surface of the water and fresh air wrapped around him. His body curved in a perfect arc, and as he took the leap he surveyed the width of the vast gulf and the distant coastline at both ends.

He fell back into the water, his head pointing down to keep Olivia from being hurt by the impact and again the dark blue filled his vision.

Surrounded by bubbles, the orca stopped and remained still, floating quietly to take a break from all the spinning.

Olivia, who until then had clung to him as if her life depended on it, suddenly let go.

“Why did you do all that?” she asked breathlessly.

“Because I could, and it was fun, don't you agree?”

“Well... yes, a little, but...”

“You've become boring.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“When I met you, you crossed an entire castle, jumped out of a window from several meters high, went through a forest, got inside a tree, met a dark elf and became friends with sirenians. Since the attack, you seem different.”

“Didn't you see that the village was destroyed?”

“Yes, but why do I sense that you feel responsible? You couldn't have prevented it.”

She was silent.

“We are traveling to the island,” Silas continued. “If all goes well, we will meet the Archmage. There is nothing to stop us. Your father is not looking for us, your mother is far away locked in her forest, the wizards who attacked the lake must already be receiving their punishment.”

“Why do you care so much about how I feel?” Olivia asked suspiciously.

Now it was Silas who kept quiet. She was right, why did he care? Why had he gone to so much trouble to make her feel better? Why was he feeling disappointed again? He knew she would be angry at those unplanned somersaults, but a part of him hoped she would end up laughing too and would have enjoyed it as much as he had.

That half human was driving him insane.

“What I mean...” Olivia continued. “You have changed too.”

The orca turned his head.

“Nonsense, I'm still the same, it's you who's changed. You used to be a chattering magpie ,and now you hardly talk at all.”

“I don't understand, Silas,” Olivia rubbed her forehead. “Before, it bothered you that I talked? And now it bothers you that I don't talk?”

“I don't like either. Can't you just not talk too much or too little?”

“Ah, sorry, dear Mister Chimera, I'll try to be more perfect for you,” Olivia scoffed.

“I don't understand why it's so hard for you to find a balance,” growled the orca.

“If I bother you so much, then we can continue our journey separately.”

“I promised your father, and also to Numi, I would take care of you.”

Actually, no, he had never made such promise. He had just let them think he would, but luckily Olivia didn't seem to remember that small detail.

She folded her arms.

“And since when do you care about my father and Numi?”

“It's not about them, it's about keeping my word... a chimera's word.”

“You just made that up, didn't you?”

“You think we chimeras have no honor?” he said accusingly.

“Well... no, I didn't mean that.”

“I feel offended.”

“Silas...” Olivia sighed wearily, and several bubbles gathered around her face. “I'm tired.”

While they were having that conversation, Silas had hoped that he had brought back the old Olivia, but the effect had not lasted long as she was showing that sad face from the beginning. Next time he would come up with more tricks, but for now he would leave her alone. He turned around, and wagged his tail, indicating that she could get back on his back.

“I promise to go slowly," he said. “Chimera's word.”

A small smile tugged at Olivia's lips, and she sat back on the orca.

Silas kept his word, and moved forward at a turtle's pace enjoying again the pleasant sensation of floating in the dark water. They were silent for a while until, Olivia spoke suddenly:

“Silas, do you have siblings?”

The chimera was bothered by the question, but feared that if he didn't answer, she would withdraw into herself again.

"On my mother's side, no. On my father's side, some, although I didn't end up getting along with them. As cubs we could get along, but then things changed."

“What happened?”

“What you already know. I couldn't grow my powers, and I became the shame of the pack.”

“I'm so sorry about that. It must have been very difficult.”

“It doesn't matter anymore.”

“But, um... what about your parents? I can't believe that...”

“I'd rather not talk about it.”

She didn't insist, and Silas thanked her silently.

“Oh... by the way...” said Olivia after several minutes. “How old are you?”

The orca stopped suddenly, startled by the question.He didn't feel like answering that either, but he thought that if he kept refusing Olivia would stop talking to him.

“Since I was born... it's been... sixteen springs.”

“Sixteen?” Olivia was really surprised. “You're younger than me?”

“Yes...” Silas didn't like the sound of that, he should have lied. “Only by a year, though... You thought I was older?”

“Well, I had no idea... How could I tell? Besides... Springs you said? You mean it's just been your birthday? Or maybe it will be soon? We have to celebrate!”

Oh no, the old Olivia seemed to be back. But it was his fault he had brought it on himself.

"Chimeras don't do stupid things like that!” Silas shook himself remembering some scenes in the castle kitchen when they sat the servants in front of the table to sing them a foolish song and force them to blow out a small candle that had been placed on top of a cake. He didn't understand why they made such a big fuss about it, it was ridiculous. He wasn't willing to go through such an embarrassment. He could already imagine Olivia singing and clapping like a fool as she handed him a turtle shell to make up for the lack of a cake.

“As soon as I can, I'll bake you a cake,” she said determinedly.

“What for?”

She ignored the question.

“My birthday is in winter by the way, I think...”

“You expect me to bake you a cake?”

“Anything will do.”

Insufferable half-human...

The subject was settled there, and they continued to move forward in silence, although Silas was then left curious as to what kind of cake she could bake him. The ones he had been allowed to try in the kitchen, while being in his cat form, were delicious... especially the apple ones.

He heard again that she was sighing on his back. He couldn't see her face, but she sure looked sad again.

What a frustrating situation.

However, this time she didn’t stay silent.

“Silas… I need to talk to someone about this… what happened at the lake…”

Suddenly, Olivia let out a scream.

Silas stopped just in time to feel something sharp pass very close to his belly.

“What was that?” he asked, looking into the dark depths.

“A harpoon!” she shouted. “They’re trying to hunt you!”

Silas raised his head and saw it. A ship. Quite large. Did they want to capture just the whale, or maybe a wizard had discovered him?

“Hold on tight!” Silas yelled, and without wasting any more time, his body sped away from the vessel at maximum speed.

This time, despite Olivia’s screams, he continued forward like a gust of wind to ensure the ship was left behind. It shouldn’t be much farther to Misty Dream, and they might encounter more ships like that one. He had to go as fast as he could; they couldn’t prolong their journey any longer.

“Silas!”

“We have to get away!”

“No, Silas! Wait!”

He felt her hold on tighter to his body. Then he began to feel something strange at the back of his body, a tingling sensation.

“Your… your… tail!” she screamed. “It’s gone!”

His tail had disappeared, and now he was hurtling forward like a projectile with no control over his body. He tried to move his fins, but then the same sensation invaded the rest of his body.

He was losing his form.

“Silas!” Olivia had let go of him, and her voice sounded distant.

Suddenly, his body stopped, and ended up suspended in the void, but this time it didn't feel good.

Like a slow internal drum announcing disaster, each heartbeat reverberated through the rest of his body.

He wanted to call out to Olivia, but he had lost the ability to breathe. The water that had made him feel so free in the recent days was now killing him, filling his nose and mouth, trying to reach his lungs.

“I was drowning,” Olivia had told him in the forest, “don't you know how that feels?”

His body had shrunk, but felt heavier. It was as if invisible hands were emerging to drag him into the depths. The sunlight above his head turned off until everything went dark.

He could no longer hear Olivia.

He wished he could hear her one more time before his mind faded away forever.