Days passed into months and by the fourth month another knight died on the beach. Eyes now turned to the Mermaids and I was free! But the house still felt wrong; after talking with Master Theo, we agreed to turn it into a clinic, where the villagers would be taken care of instead of at the mansion, something that Master Theo didn’t really like, which was people coming into his home and ‘disrespecting’ his 'student', there where he wanted everyone to feel equal, safe and at peace…

With Knights keeping watch near the beaches of Seayer, it seemed more people were dying, and without any hint to it now being a murderer, the Knights came to the conclusion that it could be a disease! And thus Master Theo was requested to inspect every body, and he had me take samples alongside the beaches to test for any illness that might have infected the soldiers… and villagers as even a handful of fishers was washed up on the shore.

Restless with thoughts about the unknown deaths haunting me, the cause for my mother’s death, I decided on a stroll through the streets, but found myself looking out to the depth of the seas, songs danced on the waves that washed ashore, lulling me asleep as if calling me to follow it back into the sea… As soon as the icy cold waters brushed up against my legs, I snapped out of the trance only to see I man in armor, brandishing a sword step in deeper.

“Stop!” I screamed, running and pushing him down into the sand, a wave crushing over us and the man seemed to come to, with a swipe of his sword I was able to dodge just before he could cut slash open my chest, instead I gripped my arm, blood staining the receding water red.

“You tried to kill me!” The lowly ranked soldier barked, alerting other Knights.

“No… We both almost walked to our death!” I forgot my position as a Halfling, snapping back at a soldier in the army of the king…

“Take her!” Another Knight order, and before I could defend myself I was hauled up into town, and tied to pole. With the rise of dawn, I saw Master Theo enter the square, and not just him, all the villagers were gathering and by the time the sun was fully warming my cold skin a man started to speak, telling them of my ‘deed’, the punishment therefore, death!

“Wait!” Theo shouted, stepping thought the crowd.

“You said she tried to drown that man, standing there beside her, a man twice her size, and perhaps three times her weight? I don’t believe it! You, how did you end on the beach in the first place?” Theo asked, hoping to find I way to safe me from being executed right there and then.

“She lured me, using some spell!” He bit back on his lip. “Lured you?” Theo seemed at odds, as the only one to know I could use Magic, he didn’t want to reveal it, knowing that it would cause more harm in my case than good…

“So far as everyone knows she’s a Halfling, and with Human blood running in her veins, incapable of learning Magic. Describe the spell’s effect to me!” Theo ordered the man.

“I heard voices, singing, it made me…” He stopped as he saw Elves look towards each other.

“The Mer Folk… Their songs, it’s almost Winter’s Day, the Mer Folk would always start to sing around this time… But… They’ve been restless the last few months, always singing at night… Their songs are hypnotic.” An elderly Elf spoke up, not happy to be sparing a Halfling a chance at life, but I could see he’d rather tell the Knights this now than later when more people die and one of them ends up being executed next.

“We didn’t know their songs were echoing this far into land, we’ll send someone to ask them to sing further out to sea.” An Elf, one of the Elves that are allowed to use Magic under supervision and to venture out to sea to ‘care’ for the Mer Folk informed the Knights. This all happend 5 years ago when I was sixteen.

Things were slow to return to normal, but it was made clear that I was a ‘monster’ that day. Walking through the streets I was scowled upon and fear drove me to remain in the safety of the manor. Rarely leaving the top of the cliff unless certainly necessary, on one such a day, Master in need of an Elven Charm, I headed into the village only to find myself face to face with an outsider Elf…

“Day, I’m Cetcily, I’m looking for an inn I can stay at?” She looked at my with the same kindness I remembered Master… Theo Looking at me the day in the Forest behind his Manor, there was no judgement in her voice and I couldn’t but help smile at her. She seemed confused the same confusion I felt when I first met Theo; and it clicked, she’s been through a lot, if not more than me...