Powerless, Annshera closed her eyes mortified. She wrongly accused Xenora and badly failed saving her. She should know better than that by now. Things weren’t always as it seemed with Ascians. A high-pitched voice shouted her name. Dylane, the young mermaid. She looked awfully worried.

“Are you okay Annshera ? I heard you scream.”

“From the castle ?” she wondered suspicious.

“You screamed vet loudly. Oh Xenora !”

“Step aside Dylane, I handle this.”

Solene showed up. She carried Xenora’s body. Annshera was surprised by her calm, she was stoic and focused. She had an inexpressive glance for the scarlet woman and ordered two young women to go back to Krystalinda. Annshera didn’t feel to reply anything so she simply carry out. 

Once in Mermaidise, Annshera visited Krystalinda. She had to be the one informing her about Xenora’s demise. She feared Krystalinda's reaction, she came to be very attached to her and refused to disappoint her. The Queen never doubted of Xenora’s innocence and Annshera completely ignored her guidance. She owned her an apology.

“Linda…”

“I know.”

She let herself go to her distress and cried. She also was very relieved to know that Krystalinda didn’t resent her. All those mixed emotions unleashed Annshera’s echo and made her experience her first vision since she arrived in Mermaidise. 

She could see Dylane, terrified, surrounded by a dark aura. The Ascian attacked her but somehow she resisted. The little one didn’t say anything about it. Maybe it was recent, maybe it just happened. Annshera recovered from her vision, Krystalinda and her looked at each other in the eyes “Dylane is the next target !”. Indeed, Dylane stromed in Krystalinda’s quarters. She threw herself at the two women in front of her.

“The Ascian said he would attack me next. I’m scared ! Help me. I don’t want to die.”

“Dylane calm down. Annshera will stay with you okay.”

“Annshera will you protect me ?”

Dylane called her for help with her eyes. She was very cute and frightened. It moved Annshera. Obviously she was a very young and innocent mermaid. She felt the need to protect her.

"Yes, of course, stay with me sweety.”

Dylane nestled against Annshera and fainted. Annshera gasped. The mermaid queen carefully checked the young mermaid. She was alive, very exhausted however.

“Protect her Shera. I couldn’t stand losing her. She is such a ray of sun and so young. Please protect her, I won’t be able to handle another loss. I’m counting on you.”

Annshera wiped Linda’s tears and nodded. She returned to her quarter with Dylane still in her arms.

Few days passed without Mermaidise being touched by tragedy. Annshera wasn’t leaving Dylane's side, she enjoyed watching over her. She was amazed by her ability to keep it up despite the threat surrounding her. Dylane was very playful. ”She is so carefree. She reminds me Sharil when she was little. I won’t let that one die. I will protect her from the Ascian.” Annshera promised herself.

“Annshera !”

“Hmm yes ?”

“Do you think I can go to your country ? When everything will be over ?”

“Can you ?”

“If Krystalinda say yes, yep !”

“Awesome ! I will introduce you to my husband and my baby.”

“You have a baby ! I have never seen a baby. I want to see your baby !”

“You will. Go to sleep now.”

“Alright. I love you Annshera.”

Dylane kissed in her the forehead which unleashed several visions, they were particularly powerful. Afflicted, Annshera put her hands on hand and fainted.

***

Dylane woke up without Annshera by her side. She went through all over Mermaidise but her new friend was nowhere to be found. Concerned, she alerted the Queen. Krystalinda reassured her. “Annshera told me she has a serious lead on the infiltrated Ascian, she is taking cares of it as we speak. Worry not my child. I have a good feeling that soon all our troubles will be over. Wait for her sweety, Shera will be back soon.”

Dylane declined, she felt the urge need to find Annshera. Her first intuition was to search for her where they liked to challenge each other for races those past few days. Sadly Annshera was nowhere to be found there. “Did she leave Mermaidise for good ?” worried Dylane. With a voice full of sorrow the little mermaid started singing with her soft voice. A song she improvised for Annshera. Remembrances of moments they spent together came to her mind. Her voice couldn’t contain her emotions, she wept in the middle of the chorus.

“You left, without saying goodbye. You left me as well. Everyone leaves me. I don’t want to be alone, not anymore.”

A hand poked Dylane shoulders. Still on tears, the young girl didn’t notice it. Next, she heard a familiar deep voice calling her name.

“Annshera ! You’re back !”

Dylane joyfully bounced in front of her dear fear. Annshera didn’t return her enthusiasm.

“That is a very powerful voice you have Dylane. Oh wait you probably prefer being called Ascian Gyldaen.”