Chapter 44: Keys to Kaliber! (Part 2!)

This place was no sanctuary for mermaids. Neon glowing plants light the hallways. Tubes clearer than crystal water connecting into alleys and highways. As Ren led them to a great gate, mermaid writing was sculpted over it. “Lake’s Air” in a violet lettering, in a royal fashion that intimated. This was a underwater city.

Buttresses supported the walls and carried the shape of a strong man holding an avalanche back. On the doors were spheres of amber, each with an ancient animal inside, like containing some prehistoric danger. And the handles to the door were of coal black and reflected the expressions of whoever looked into them. Sophisticated and suspenseful were the words Skaldi thought.

“~Ya get any visitors?~”

“~Back a month ago, yeah. Now, it's just those damned pirates.~”

“~Don’t worry I doubt they’ll be giving ya any more trouble.~” Vega held tightly onto Ren’s arm in an affectionate manner, prompting him to brush his hair and to blush.

“Do you think she can date people?” Skaldi held a hand to his mouth and spoke aside to Bolato. A wisp of air blew some hair in his face, forcing him to brush it with his thumb.

“Skaldi, I’m not even sure Vega has that same motivation that makes people date.” Bolato said, sneezing soon after.

“Well, she did call me pretty. She even hired me because of it.” Florato joined in as they continued up the steps, pulling her clothes as a shiver came to her.

“No. I hired ya because ya I wanted ya to stay-stay with me.”

“Isn’t that buying friendship?” Bolato squinted at Vega, tugging at his sleeves when a cold breeze passed from the door.

“Yeah. I guess that would be it-it.”

“Hold on, you treated me with respect and dignity when all the other guys didn’t. That counts for something Vega.” Lifting her finger to her, Florato maintained a calm argumentative tone.

“Didn’t she say she liked your boobs?” Skaldi made a circling gesture at Florato’s chest before she slapped his hand.

“There's a very different way a man wanting to use you talks about boobs, versus a friend who talks about your boobs. Trust me, I would know the difference.” Florato crossed her arms and shifted on her hip to stare down Skaldi in a proud manner.

“Is the difference in size?”

“Oh shut it!” The actress in an amused outrage slapped Skaldi’s shoulder, making both Bolato and Skaldi chuckle in response.

“I got you there.”

“Vega is a kind friend, and if she likes my tig bitties in that manner, good. She treats me with human decency and that’s that.”

“There’s an elf and a mermaid here.” Valiato pointed out.

“Oh, sorry. She treats me with sentient decency and that’s that.” Florato raised her head high, satisfied with her justification of her friendship with a living scarecrow. “Just be glad I’m in such a good mood. If this conversation took an hour early, I would have made Skaldi blind.”

“Even with my ruined eye, you wouldn’t get the chance girlie.” Playfully bumping her hip with his, Skaldi knocked her slightly off balance, making an annoyed smile.

“That still doesn’t answer the question though. Vega, do you like girls or guys?” Bolato raised one eyebrow, ready to hear her answer.

“I have to choose one?” The scarecrow replied in sudden shock, just as a hurricane-like wind blew open. Hair flew back and covered eyes, clothes shook and rippled, and everyone struggled to get a footing.

Everyone except Ren, cause… he doesn’t… whatever-anyway, a blizzard cold took everyone, bringing goosebumps and chattering teeth as the wind slowed.

“~Is everyone good?~” Ren swam down to the party after opening the gate. Their feet had frost connecting to the ground along with strained expressions as if their faces were being pulled back.

“~Never-better!~” She gave a thumbs up as the last vestiges of her legs had blown up in the wind.

Shaking the cold off briefly, a beam of light came in view. From between the opening of the gate, an almost wintery shine broke through. No one remarked at its elegance or how foreboding the light really. The party actions were that of moving forward and keeping their dry eyes open.

Passing through the gate, a spiraling depression surrounded by flights of streets both on the ground and the ceiling revealed themselves. A jagged and pore filled lantern floated in the certain of what seemed to be a hall of governance. Fabrics of fish leather made carpets and banners, with the carapace of large clams making tables and shelves, holding sheets of salted stone tablets.

A stairway leading down revealed that this very staircase went down the spiraling hole, as if that very hole held a monstrous secret. All of them could feel the great

Above and below, there were merfolk of all sizes and races. Some with crablike lower halves and jaws of incisors. Others had flexible bodies that of eels, with slimy spines that looked like the wild hair of tribals. And yet, their clothing of polymer glass hats along with robes of intertwined fish skin. Perhaps the mermaids they saved were victims, but these were the rulers of this underwater world.

Surprising and much to their comfort, the Iozians that they had saved from the port all sat together in one long flight of chairs. The soldier broke off from the group and bowed to the folk.

“Hello people. Don’t worry, you all are in good hands now.” An old mixed race woman walked jittery up to Bolato when he finished. Her skin was of segmented plates and her lips were an unnatural and weak orange.

“Thank you for your kindness, dear boy. Tell us, what do the merfolk have planned for us?” She knocked her finger knuckles togethers, making a wooden chittering. Bolato looked around, glad to see that the children weren't shaken up much. Their efforts had stopped the making of more ghosts.

“I don’t not yet know ma’am. But I assured you, we’re working with them.”

“Bola, there are a lot of merfolk here.” Valiato yelled out.

“And?”

“Nothing, just wanted to let you know.”

“Right…uh, you have a good time miss.” Bowing quickly, the soldier returned to the party’s side.

“This place is so-”

“Weird?” Skaldi stuck his neck down to the kid.

“I was thinking cool, but weird can be cool too.” Valiato looked up at Skaldi but her head craned up to the ceiling. Skaldi followed suit and soon found what caught her eye. Recorianism and its symbols were glowing on the ceiling. This put Skaldi, Valiato, and Amir at mild discomfort, for they believed that the mermaids were not an Iozian people.

“Welcome, dear visitors!” A gravely and haunting voice shot out from the spiraling hole, sounding like the very words were twirling. “You have done a great deed for us…”

“I’m starting to think we should leave.” Valiato tugged on Amir’s robe, but the Tripolian didn’t move. His eyes were trained on the lantern, which shook in the same fashion Sabere’s lamb did. Instead of smoke, a whirling pool of liquid exitted the the hole and went towards the lantern, enveloping it. All of the merfolk bowed their heads and started to chant.

“~...Could it be? The first time I’ve ever seen one face to face?~”

“~What are you talking about Amir?~” As Valiato pleaded with her father to answer, Ren swam closer to the lantern, bringing Vega closer to it.

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“Yay! I get to go to the front!”

“For your service, Bolato…”

“How do they know my name?” The soldier was finally off put, stepping back slightly. He turned his head to the merfolk, as their chanting grew louder and ever more devoted.

“Skaldi…” The voice began to come only from the water and lantern.

“I just fought a giant smoke guy yesterday, I’m not doing this today too!”

“Valiato…”

“Hi?” Sheepishly, she waved her hand at the lantern, as it now became a ball of magnificent powered water.

“Amir…”

“~What? How did I understand that?~”

“Florato…”

“...hmm? Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

“And finally… Vega!” With triumphant shouting, a great feminine voice broke out, as suddenly the ball of water and lantern took the form of a marvelous beauty. A woman of dazzling wavy hair, eyes made of precious pearls, and the skin of statueques scales formed out of celestial water. Around her eyes and gills were wrinkles that of middle age, and on her shoulder was a beefy lobster, seemingly an old pet.

“~Hi ma!~” Ren gave her a sweet hug around the shoulders. The woman brought him close in a maternal and tender manner.

“Hello sweetie, how was saving the people from becoming slaves?” She talked like the event was a school trip or a playdate with friends.

“~Good. I told you about my new friend right?~” Aiming his hand to Vega, he smiles in an introductory fashion.

“Hello, how are ya doing?” Vega pushed back her hair, ready to impress.

“Oh. It’s-I mean- she’s a scarecrow. Delightful.”

“Thanks and I get that a lot-lot.” Vega pulled Ren and pointed back to where her party was. Letting go, Ren let her fall into Florato’s arms. No one had even begun to even respond.

“I know you all might be a bit unorthodox-”

“Unfucking orthodox?!” Skaldi shouted, his composure broken. “Who are you and how do you know us?”

“Listen close sweetie. I’m not your ordinary lady, I am the Nymph Yukos!”

“~Surprise! My mom is celestial.~” Ren scratched his head, as if he were embarrassed by such an incredible honor.

“~So ya knew what Soul Gems were the entire time?~”

“~Yeah, I kinda wanted to see how you would explain… you did, in your own way.~” Ren chuckled, glad to see the shock in her face.

“She’s…perfect.” Florato fell to her knees and reached out to the nymph, as if touching her would grant such immaculate beauty. Not that is exploited, but commands others.

“I don’t know about that-that. She doesn’t have as big as boobs as Florato.” The scarecrow pulled her out of her stupor, leaving her both charmed and slightly annoyed.

“And…?”

“She always doesn’t have the same care of her hair, makeup, and ultimately doesn’t care-care about me the way ya do buddy.” Vega added, hugging Florato tightly. For a moment, the actress had been frightened that Vega was just going to refer to only as eye candy.

“You really should say more than people’s appearance when talking about them.”

“Yeah. I’m very insecure about my appearance.” Vega stopped smiling, revealing a doubt in herself.

“What was that Vega?” Florato tilted her head in concern.

“Want to get some free-free shit?” Vega ignored her and turned her head to Skaldi.

“Free shit? Don’t mind if I do.” Skaldi brushed himself off and threw his hair over his shoulder.

“As for your rewards, we will gladly grant you any request from our catalog.” Yukos palmed her hands together as the merfolk cheered and threw confetti all around. The staircase around them wobbled and broke off from the floor, making the whole party crouch and hold onto each other.

“I’m so confused. But I’m also really glad we get magic shit now…” Skaldi whispered to Bolato, as he held his back.

Divine and demonic powers can shape the world. But for the common sentient being, Soul Gems are but a droplet to a waterfall. A powerful droplet, yes, but as insignificant and erasable as a droplet.

Skaldi realized he was but one person in a world full of people. Yet, the chance for magic was right here, right now. It means power. It means might. It means the power to do what's right. Floating just before the Nymph Yukos, Ren swam to their side, allowing them to get used to this event.

“Wow! We are so high up.” Florato peered her head over the edge, seeing the merfolk were a hundred feet below her, becoming specks and circles of colors. “Are you going to let us fall?”

“Don’t be silly sister!” Yukos swam above her head and shoved her face into her’s. “If I wanted to hurt any of you, I would have done that already…”

“~Mom! They saved me and our family, remember?!~” Ren pushed her away from the actress and held a spooked expression on his face.

“Oh right. I’m sorry sister-”

“I’m not your sister.” Florato turned her back on the nymph and shook her head, swaying her golden hair around. She was already annoyed by the Nymph’s antics, like how a woman puts on an easily noticed false persona.

“I’m sorry Florato-”

“Don’t call me that, that’s weird that you know our names!”

“Okay, okay. Miss?”

“That’s a lot better. See?” Florato, although practiced the religion of Recor, treated this nymph like an intrusive mother, one that you might read in children’s novels.

“Miss, I guarantee none of you or your mortal friends any harm. In fact, I wish to give on to you the best gifts I can provide. Honey?” She bumped her head on the lobster that stood on her shoulder. It first went over her back and trotted back over to view with a book encrusted with barnacles and algae.

“From this very book, is all that we can provide.” The lobster spook in an elderly and tired manner, like a farmer that had just finished work on a hot day. His voice too was understood by Amir and Ren, despite speaking in Iozian.

“~Wait… this your dad-dad?~” Vega lowered her head to the lobster, inspecting its orange carapace form.

“~Yes. Is that a problem?~” Ren swam above her, ready to defend his father.

“~No-no silly. But I am wondering what type of spirit he is. Is he-he also a nymph, or some kind or fairy?~”

“Oh, you are just adorable. My husband is only a lobster. The oldest lobster in all of existence!”

“Oh. Okay.” Vega accepted it, as if she were only talking about the weather.

“What? But… how do you… have a… what the fuck?” Skaldi couldn’t wrap his head around the concept.

“Yeah and how the fuck?” Florato added, looking back towards the elf.

“~Religion is weird. I don’t get it.~” Valiato grabbed her turban in sustained disgust and confusion.

“~If this makes you feel any better, the Gods of Tripolia aren’t anymore normal.~”

“~No, it really doesn’t.~”

“Calm down you all.” Yukos lowered her arms and shoulders and put up a voice that made her seem hurt. “You don’t wish to hurt my husband’s feelings, do you?”

“Can you at least explain it?” Skaldi gestured back to her husband in a circling fashion.

“I can handle this.” Bolato snapped his fingers at Yukos, upon which she nodded and let him go ahead. “You don’t need to have, how to put this… ‘mortal sex’ to have a child. So long as one of the parents is a celestial being, they can have a kid with anything.”

“That also includes inanimate objects and none sentient creatures.” The lobster joined in the lecture.

“Just imbue my essence and my husband’s together, head over to the Optima Matai, wait nine months, and blam! We got a beautiful mermaid son.” She squeezed Ren in her arms in a genuine showing of motherly love.

“So that’s the idea.” Bolato finished, leaving Florato and Valiato modestly satisfied with the answer.

“Okay, that makes some sense.” Skaldi raised his finger and stepped cautiously to the nymph. “However, why a lobster?”

“Well, he gives just the best back scratches. And also remembers all of merfolk history, but the backscratches are really a must.”

“~Question Nymph.~” Surprisingly, Amir spoke up, holding out his journal with a pencil in hand. “~Are sirens and mermaids related and do mermaids eat people?~”

“Oh, honey. Do you mind?”

“Certain sweetie. I am witness to the times when sirens lured humanoids to the waters. But sirens existed in the sea and sky, rather than being a purely aquatic being.” His tone took that of a professor, using his claws to point at whatever subject he was teaching. “And no, the mermaid eating people myth is just a bit of shame they hold over from the siren days.”

Amir took all of it and seemed to both write down and scratch out notes. Not only this, Vega seemed to be joining him in recording this bit of knowledge and event.

“~Thank you wiseman. Sorry if I and our company have offended you sir.~”

“No need. This interaction is something I am used to. It is funny really, that people are more amazed by our relationship rather than the fact I can speak.”

“~Well, birds can speak too.~”

“I suppose that is true.”

“Can we get on with the whole free stuff? Show us the catalog!” The elf bounced with excitement, ready to both leave the uncomfortable topic behind and onto riches beyond mortal comparison.

“One more thing-thing!”

“Come on Vega, I want to get out of here!” Skaldi yelled at her, sore at the building tension.

“It will be a quick one Skaldi. Why didn’t ya just eat-eat the Tripolians? Or fight them?”

“Oh. Well…” Yukos seemed a little embarrassed, as a pink blush took her entire face.

“A nymph doesn’t have the same powers when it leaves a holy place. Unlike spirits, sprites, or fairies, nymphs are not as mobile.” The lobster clarified, explaining the reasoning for his wife.

“And… my grandma had an accident with a ship once. An oligarch rammed the ship’s nose into her belly and ended up killing her. He didn’t even mean to do it, he was just drunk and thought that grandma was an island he could land on.” Yukos appeared more humiliated by that event rather than because she wouldn’t survive a fight.

“Yes…” The lobster conceded but still continued. “And we merfolk are not fighting people. We sport no fangs like werefolk, no speed like demons, and none of the weapons that Iozians have. When the pirates first came, they caught us off guard. Our only escape was to hide in our homes and hope that someone could free them. And those people… are you.”

“Huh. You sure know how to make someone feel warm inside.” Skaldi cooled, letting his excitement go and recognizing their act was more about any monetary benefit. But about the lives they saved and protected.

“So, allow us to grant your grand gifts!” Yukos swirled around the whole hall, gaining cheers and jubilation from the merfolk and the Iozians, who put on smiles and whistles.