Page 103 of The Noble's Merman

“Don’t tell us!” trilled Pazi from her stall next-over, a smile on her face. “You’ve learnt to become human yourself?”

And of course, Pazi said it loud enough for other merfolk in the bazaar to turn their heads.

“Ah, uh, well, yes…”

“How in all the seas? I don’t believe it!” cried Mahs, flailing their hands in front of themself, red forearm fins waving.

“Well, you see… it is possible,” Mo said in a small voice. More merfolk started to gather round, listening in on their conversation. Oh, no. Mo didn’t think he could deal with all the attention, especially when discussing a topic that was so foreign, almost taboo, to other merfolk. “Listen, I’m sorry, but I don’t have much time to talk about it, and I would like to just sell these items I have here, if I could.” He paired his words with a kind smile.

Mahs rolled their eyes. “Yes, yes, fine. But could you at least tell me how? I’ll appraise your goods while we talk.”

Pazi got up from her stall and swam closer to them. “Yes, I’d like to know, too.”

There was no way out of it, was there? He sighed, and pulled out the first item from his carry-bag, a spoon, setting it on Mahs’s table. “All right. Well, I met a human, and we fell in love. That connection we share activated the magic within me, and allowed me to transform.”

“Oh, how delightful!” Pazi cheered. “True love… that sounds like it could be a legend itself.” A couple other merfolk behind him gasped in awe. His stomach started to bubble with anxiety from the increased attention, but he persisted still with a smile.

“Being a siren, I suppose you are able to get closer to humans,” Mahs mused, counting coins on the table. Mo was grateful that even with this shocking news, Mahs didn’t chastise him for it, for being as intimate as he was with a human, and Mahs actually seemed quite interested.

It wasn’t long before they exchanged what they needed, and Mo put his coins in his spare carry-bag. He’d left his original one with Noon, to which… he needed to find her still. Perhaps if he ever found a reason to come back to Portica, he’d meet with Mahs and Pazi again. They were always kind to him, Mahs’s snarky comments aside, and it warmed his heart to know they enjoyed his company when he was here. They would always remain in his memory.

“Stay safe out there,” said Mahs, grinning. “It’s a whole other world.”

“I will,” he said. “Thank you for everything, Mahs. And to you too, Pazi.”

“You’re very welcome,” said Pazi with a shy laugh.

Swimming out of the city, he went into the open waters around Portsmouth, morning sunlight gleaming in bright yellow streaks through the blue. He wanted to meet Noon again. If she even was here at all… he could only hope. He knew he must at least try. He was near the underwater mountain that housed his grotto home, far enough away to where it was in sight, but not close enough to encounter other merfolk.

So he cleared his throat, and called out a whale call, low and smooth and steady. He called out Noon’s name in the same way he’d heard other whales sing, hoping that she could hear him. While he didn’t see any other sorts of whales nearby, perhaps they were hiding, away from view behind other distant mountains and cliffs reaching high from the ocean floor.

Despite hearing no response, he tried again. He called Noon’s name a few more times—if she’s not here, perhaps I should just accept the fact she left. She might not even live around here, and I’m just some hopeful fool, thinking such?—

“Mo, is that you?”

A whale’s voice, rumbling, low and deep.

He knew of no other whale that would remember his name.

“Noon!”

He turned around, and there she was, swimming at him from around the bend of a nearby mountain. His heart beat frantically, his face stretched in a huge grin, and he swam up to her to meet her in the middle. He couldn’t even describe how happy he was to see she was still here, and she was safe. He wrapped his arms around her giant head, giving her a tender embrace.

“You really do live here!” Mo nuzzled his face onto her smooth forehead. “I thought I’d try to call for you, but wasn’t sure if you were even nearby to answer…”

Noon hummed something of a chuckle. “I nest around Portica, around where we first met. It was a good idea to search for me here.”

Mo backed up, and swam by her eye so she could see him. “That’s wonderful. I’m glad to know that, especially when I’ll still be living near here as well, except… Well, I won’t be underwater much at all anymore.”

Noon huffed a low breath, bubbles coming out of her blowhole. “Oh, were you able to achieve your wish? Of how you wished to become human?”

“Yes, I did.” Mo petted her side. “After I climbed the side of that ship, I used the Siren’s Song and saved Kent’s life. When we landed on shore, I told him the truth. And… he forgave me. Our love caused the magic to stir, and I became human.”

“I am happy for you,” said Noon. “And you are able to switch between forms, I see? As you are a merman, now.”

Mo nodded. “You remember Wenta? She’s become a human as well, and told me more in depth about shifting. I’m so grateful and appreciative of her knowledge. And I’m glad we met again back on land, so we can continue our friendship.”

“I am glad, too. You have a friend from the sea who can also accompany you on land.”

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