---Echo’s POV---
The cafe was a little more crowded at dinner than usual. It was usually only used by students and a few teachers. But today with the start of the tournament parents also came to eat with their kids. This would be normal throughout the remaining days of the tournament as well.
The school accommodated for this by having more and a better variety than normal. While most of the students grew up here in the city that surrounded the academy, there were a few who came from different parts of the sea. The Academy thought it would be best to offer some foods that didn't come from around here, which was nice.
Eyeing the food as soon as Silves, my mom and I made it in, there were so many kinds of fish, kelp, and coral. My stomach growled as soon as I saw them. It was the fish that did it specifically. With me being only half sharkmer I didn't crave fish all the time, but I would every now and again. Today was one of those days, While my mom didn't mind seeing me eat fish, I knew Silves had a slight problem with me doing so. It took me back to the first and only time he saw me eat it. It wasn't a pretty picture, and I vowed to spare him of the sight in the future.
The smell of the fish tantalized my tastebuds teasing me, knowing that I was unable to eat it in front of Silves. The closer we got the stronger the smell, causing my mouth to salivate. Taking a deep breath and forcing myself not to grab any, to just grab some of the available kelp. Turning from the food, Silves stopped me. Having seen my struggle.
“If you want some fish, you can get some. Don't skip getting something just because of me.”
I turned to look at Silves and my eyes lit up. Grabbing the first biggest fish I could find and plopped it on my plate I was happy, almost humming my way to our table. My mom sat across from me while Silves sat next to me.
I was busy cutting the fish up into pieces when the conversation started. I wasn't fully paying attention to what my mom and Silves were talking about. All my attention was on the fish I was about to consume. The first bite was heaven, slowly chewing I wanted to savor the flavor.
I didn't notice at first that Silves took a small piece to try for himself. My eye caught wing of what he was doing just before he put it into his mouth.
“Silves, what are you doing?!” My eyes were wide and I was pretty sure I just yelled at him.
“I was wanting to show you that I don't mind when you eat fish.” He said looking at me, as he dropped the piece of fish back on my plate. His tone was sad. I had never yelled at him before.
“I’m half sharkmer so I can stomach fish your full mermaid and therefore cannot. I wouldn't want you to get sick because of you trying to accept my eating habits.
“Yeah”
It wasn't seconds later Silves parents, brother and sister saw us and came to sit with us.
We all ate together, talking and enjoying our food. I got to get to know Silves family a little bit better and they got to know me better in return.
Dinner ended shortly and it was time for the parents to say goodbye for the day. we were out by the front gate when Silves said goodbye to his family. I also would have to say goodbye to my mother too. That's when I had an idea.
Saous was the one watching the gate and she had taken a liking to me and Silves ever since that first day.
I made my way over to her, just before my mom was about to pass through the gate.
“Saous, Do you think it would be possible for me to see my mother back home? I want to make sure she gets there safely.” I looked at saous with doe-like eyes, trying to charm her into getting my way. “ And could it also be possible to take Silves along with me. I want to have my battle buddy with me just in case something happens.” My stare continued.
“Alright but only cuz I know you two can handle yourselves. But promise me you both will be back before it gets too late.”
“We promise,” a sly smile played on my face. “It will be like we never left.”
I waved Silves on and we followed my mother home.
---
“Wow, this is where you live?” Silves looked at our little cave.
My mom went inside first, then Silves followed her. I showed him the layout quickly, then stated it was time for us to leave so we could get back to the academy I. Time. Hugging and kissing my mother goodbye, we left to go back.
“Hey Silves, you want to stop by the cave for a second. Not for very long, just enough to look at the stars for a little while.”
“I don't think that's a good idea, but I guess it should be okay for us to look at them for a few mins.”
So instead of us heading back to the academy, we took an unnoticeable route to the cave. I didn't want to be spotted by anybody. Especially any of those at school. If they saw us outside any one of them would probably have a fit because we got to go outside side and they didn't.
We got to the cave and I didn't stop until I was at the surface. I drug myself on to the shore, quickly flipped over and let out a long breath. Silves was right behind me doing the same.
“Isn't it great to look at the stars again.” I closed my eyes on for a moment then reopened them. The stars were as beautiful as ever. Silves didn't reply back to me, but I felt like talking to him. Even if he was only lending an ear.
“I think we did great today, and I hope we do better tomorrow.” My arms back underneath my head as I continued to look at the stars.
Silves must have fallen asleep because I felt him pressed against me, with one of his arms around me. His head was almost resting on my chest. I went ahead and placed it there myself. He snuggled up to me more.
He must be pretty tired from what happened today. I wanted to wake him, to tell him that we should go back and sleep in our own beds, but I didn't feel like moving either.
Looking down at Silves, I kind of snuggled into him too. Though if someone brought it up I would probably deny that I was starting to like such a thing. This would be my little secret for now. I might tell Silves someday but for now, it could wait.
Closing my eyes and hushing my last thought ls, my arms wrapped around him.
'Just for tonight’ I thought, drifting off to sleep.
----
I awoke to find Silves staring at me funny. It wasn't until I was fully awake I noticed that we were still in the same position as last night.
My face turned red and I quickly stopped holding Silves, backing away from him.
Opening my mouth to explain myself, a strange sound stopped my talking.
We both moved into the water as quickly as we could. I stayed with my head above the surface while Silves went completely under. We both swam closer where, what I thought were voices, were coming from.
I was right, my eyes widened when I first looked at the strange creatures. Slives looked only for a moment before he was back under the water again. I followed, still hearing the sounds they made under the water.
“In all the beauty of this world, I have never seen such a place. We shall board here for the night.” I heard strange voices, not that I could understand most of what they said.
“Echo, what are those things? They look dangerous.” Silves coward behind me. He was very wary of them and had every right to be.
They were humans, dangerous beings or so I have been told by my father, long before he disappeared.
He told me he saw one once when he was younger. He told me to never go near one, but he also said that if one should ever attack me to stand my ground and use what he taught me to fight back.
“Humans,” I spoke in a quiet tone. “We must not let them see us, but there is no backing down if they attack us.” I wanted to get a closer look at them and see if they were like my father said.
I swam closer just trying to get a better look at them. Feeling an urgent grab at my tail fin, I paused and looked behind me.
“Echo don't, you said they can be dangerous right? Let’s get back to the academy and get some more rest. we still have a big day ahead of us you know.” His voice was urgent as the garb to my tail.
A part of me wanted to listen to silves, to go back home but I had this nagging curiosity. A curiosity pulling me closer to the human. Like a siren sing an enchanted song.
I followed blindly, Silves wasn't able to grab me this time.
“Echo,” He paused for a minute seeing if I would acknowledge him. I didn't and he started up again. “Echo, what are you doing? We should be getting out of here, and you're not even listening to me.”
The humans were very close now. Too close for Silves liking. He didn't follow me anymore, I too had also stopped.
Poking my head out of the water, I got a good look at the humans. Most of them had their backs turned. But there was one, a young boy, who saw me. I quickly ducked under the water and started to swim away, motioning for Silves to follow me.
“We need to get back now. One of them spotted me. I’m sorry Silves. I didn’t mean to put our lives in danger. I don’t know what came over me.”
We were swimming at a fast rate, to get away from the cavern. We both knew we would have to be careful around that place now. And we certainly wouldn't go back during the tournament.
Both of us got back to the academy and to our dorm room safely.
“We can’t tell anyone about what happened. No one must know.” Turning to look at the Silves in the eyes. “I promise to never put us in danger like that again.”
I wanted to see what silves would say, what he would do, hoping he wouldn't totally be mad or upset with me. If one thing was for sure Saous would probably give us a long talking to about being out so late.
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