My mother spent most of her days making potions and practicing magic. She took many trips to the surface and sold magic potions, charms, and many other hand-made goods to the humans in the town market. Her goods were quite popular, especially when it came to her love charms and potions. Though they mainly acted as a small confidence booster to get them to confess their feelings to the one they love. Of course, she sold those items with a disclaimer that she was not liable for any failed attempts made with the use of her potions or charms. Although most of what she sold to humans were placebos. Giving real magic to humans is dangerous unless they are willing to pay the price and can find their way to her cave that is. The town she set up shop in was known as Lezennet, a merchant town located on the shore near the cliff where her cave could be found. This same town is located on an island that is about 3 days’ sail from the kingdom Tirulia, which Prince Eric’s family rules.

***   

           “Aria what are doing?” asked Jenna as she walked into the room.

           Aria answered, “I’m recording the story of you and Papa with a device I created to keep spoken records using magic stones.”

           “Oh, and it works?”

           “Yeah, finished working out the bugs last night.”

           “Wonderful, truly fantastic, you have a great gift,” Jenna said with awe while marveling at Aria’s handling work. “You truly have a talent for creating tools.” She then looked over at Aria. “You said you were making a recording of my story using this.”

“Yeah, why?”

Jenna smiled, “I see. Then do you mind if I tell the rest of this story seeing that it is mine to begin with?”

Aria beamed, “Yes! You would tell it better than I ever could to begin with anyway.” She got up and switched places with her mom and sat on the floor.

“How far did you get into the story?”

“Oh well, . . .”

***   

I was about sixteen at this time in my life. My human form isn’t that much different from my sea form. My physical features were still the same, it’s just that my skin was practically white, and I had human legs. I was running a booth and conversing with a few traveling merchants when they showed up. A group of roguish men were making their way through the market. They all had tan skin, wore shabby garb, and smelled of the sea. They were loud and boisterous and most likely looking for a bar. “Pirates” muttered a man who was shopping at my booth with his wife. “I’d advise you to close the shop early today Ms. Jenna. There’s no telling what such dangerous men may do when they notice such a young woman like yourself running shop all by their lonesome here.”

I gave him my best saleswoman smile and said, “I thank you for your concern Mr. Davis, but I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.”

“Don’t worry sir we’ll be looking out for her,” said Old Man Masan. Who ran the stand next to mine selling uncut gems and accessories. “Ms. Jenna couldn’t be better protected than by those of the Merchants Association.”

 “Well of course she is one of the most talented businessmen in the guild.” Mason’s son, Chris, added to the conversation. He had brown hair and a slim build. He wore glasses and had a clean-shaven face.

“Her Businessmen? Hogwash. If there’s any reason to protect her it is because she’s the rumored Calla Lily. A beauty that attracts so much attention to the market. Just look at her she’s practically the reincarnation of goddess Aphrodite herself.” Said the weapons merchant, Kaleb, who was taking a small break leaving his apprentices to run the stall.

When he said that I choked back a spiteful laugh and thought, oh, I am no goddess I assure you. I found their words more insulting as the conversation continued around me. Men, I thought, were all so immensely boorish and despicable. “Well, as flattering as it is to hear that you all so desire to keep me safe,” I said grinning ear to ear, “You may not worry too much, for I am quite capable of looking after and protecting both myself and my business.”

***   

Apart from that unpleasant conversation, I had already planned to close the shop earlier that day anyway. I wanted to buy some fabric to make some new clothes since the color of my current dress was beginning to fade. So early that evening I packed up my things and headed over to the fabric stall. A young man was trying to sell some fabric off to the merchant. As I was looking at the fabrics on display

“Sir, this is eastern silk.”

“The fabric is beautiful, but the color. . .”

“What is wrong with the color?

“This fabric looks expensive how do I know if it will even sell well here.”

I saw the silk, it was perfectly dyed red, I remember wondering if the texture was as smooth as it looked. It was a high-grade item. Indeed, it wouldn’t sell well to the common folk in the area because of how luxurious it appeared, but having messed with a bit of fortune-telling magic in my lab I was aware of a few interesting facts that were to come to pass. “I’m sure it would sell quite well depending on the customer. Especially in a few weeks.” The comment escaped my lips subconsciously. Oops.

The stall owner looked surprised at her. He cleared his throat, “why do you say that?”

“Ah w-well,” I stammered, “I heard some rumors from some of the young noble ladies that visit my stall. They seemed quite excited about it.” My gaze met with the young man selling the fabric. His eyes were a crimson red color and messy short blond hair with a braid hanging past his face. His right ear was pierced, and the earring he wore looked to be from a far-off land. He had a lean muscular build with sun-kissed skin and wore a long-sleeved white shirt that exposed part of his uber chest with baggy pants tucked into his tall boots along with a black coat that stayed draped over his shoulders. I cleared my throat and looked back at the stall owner. “Though I’m sure that local nobles will take interest in it as well.”

           “Alright, if the lovely Calla Lilly of the market says I’d be able to sell, then consider it sold young man.” He handed the stranger the money and took the silk.

           “Thank you, kindly miss. I’m not sure I could’ve made that sale without your help.” He smiled kindly at me.

           I scoffed at him, “Really, then you must not have much confidence in your trade. Perhaps you should think of a career change.”

           “Ah, ye wound me,” he responded pacing his hands over his chest as if he was just stabbed, “but perhaps you will allow me to show my gratitude and purchase the fabric of your choosing.”

           I quickly retorted, “That is not necessary, for I am more than capable of paying for myself.” I turned to the stall owner, “I would like to purchase this, please. The usual cut.”

           “Yes, mam.”

           “Then perhaps you will be willing to join me for a meal.” He asked, but to no avail. 

           “I am flattered that you feel the need to repay me, but honestly I am not interested, nor do I see any reason for you to feel indebted.” I took the fabric and began to walk away.

           “a wait,” he called out while chasing after me, “may I at least know your name?”

           “Why?”

           “Because I have never met such a stubborn, intriguing, and beautiful woman,” he said in a curious manner, “And when I’m asked how it went selling the fabric by my boss, I would rather use your name, so I may keep your beauty a secret.”

           “And why would you need my name for that,” I asked irritably. I had no intentions of getting involved with this man any further.

           “I see flattery is lost on you,” he said a bit disappointedly.

 “Now that you’re aware, perhaps you will finally take your leave,” I said as it tried passing him only for him to move and block my path. I soon found that he had a talent for growing persistently annoying with every passing second.

           “Don’t most women like getting the attention of a handsome man like me.”

           “Ah, he thanks himself handsome now does he?”

           “Am I not?”

           “That’s beside the point,” I tried to move around him, but he kept step blocking my every step. “And I am not most women.”

           “I can tell. The fabric seller even called you the Calla Lily of the Market. It sounds like you are quite famous.”

           “Your point?” I said begrudgingly, giving up on passing him.

           “My point is you can either tell me your name yourself, or I can ask around and figure it out myself.”

           I sighed, “You don’t know how to give up do you?”

           “Sadly no,” he said leaning in close.

           I gave him my best business smile and said, “Well I guess you’ll have to ask around for it.” Then slipped past him, and left him behind in the bustling market, muttering words. “What a truly incorrigible man.”

***   

           I returned to my cave and fixed up some dinner while mulling over the events that happened that day. The cave was a lot homier than it once was. I had a room coming off the right for sleep with a seaweed curtain for privacy. A small kitchen on the left. My cauldron sat in the center of the space, and I had a few shelves lined with ingredients, finished potions, and talismans. “Men are so dumb” I muttered angrily. “They’re all such total blowfish.”

           Then an eerie vice spoke, “If it makes you feel better I have yet to come across a man that can’t be considered a fool at some point in his life.” This voice came from a Magic Mirror that I had hung on the wall of my cave. It was said to have once belonged to an evil queen from the Magic Kingdom back in the 16^th century. I had taken it as payment from a traveling noble for healing his wounds. I didn’t mind him much at first, but I soon grew to like the Mirrors company.

           “Preach,” I exclaimed as I got up to put away the dishes, and made my way over to the caldron. “Should I make a poison cure-all potion today, or something fun like an Invisibility potion.”

           “I suggest the cure-all you never know what could go wrong with an invisibility potion.”

“Usually, what goes wrong is usually due to some seagull that can’t follow instructions.” I declared as I began to reach for the ingredients for the cure-all poison potions with my tentacles. “You sure you don’t want me to fix up a potion to free you from the mirror instead.”

“Heavens no,” the mirror exclaimed, “I have way too much fun living my life out spying on people, plus you’d be surprised what some people do or say in front of a mirror it can be quite scandalous.”

I laughed while mixing the ingredients. “Really? Then what’s the latest scandal that has your attention then.”

“Oh, the chef from the castle is currently dating the head maid,”

“And how is that a scandal.”

“I caught him practicing asking her out on the salmon he was preparing for the king’s dinner banquet. He even went as far as kissing the fish.”

I burst out in laughter. “I see why you like being a mirror.” I began to bottle up the potion and label it.

“Find anything interesting in that spell book you required the other day?”

While whipping away a tear from my eyes I replied, “Not really, if anything they seemed more nefarious than anything. One spell for bottling up magic and another to bring back the dead. I honestly don’t see how it will be any use.”

“Hmm . . . Sorry for the change in topic, but I noticed that a group of pirates came ashore today.”

“Yeah, and I noticed that they were kind enough to dock not too far from the cave,” I responded. “I won’t be surprised if we have some troublesome visitors showing up tomorrow morning.”