The Mermaids

Chapter 6 : The Lyonasse Kingdom

Will was beginning to awaken. He blinked several times till his cloudy eyesight cleared up. He stood up and took a look around. I realized how odd the place was. Stone walls with green moss and vegetation he didn't recognize. It was even stranger because each breath he took became a bubble. He yelled out in surprise, but his voice was a little muted. When on land, however, this is not the case.

Nothing had changed when he looked at his hands. He try to pinch his self, but he still can felt pain. Will shocked. This is real!

"Hey!"

"Aaaah!"

"Are you awake?"

Will was really taken aback this time. He was really taken aback by what he was witnessing. A gorgeous girl in front of him had gleaming scales and a fishtail. The legend of the mermaid turns out to be true. But that wasn't the only thing that had taken him by surprise. The mermaid's visage is quite similar to Isabella's.

"Isabella?!"

"Who?"

"Y-you?"

Will inched backwards as he continued to feel uncomfortable.

"Don't be frightened. I'm not going to hurt you."

However, witnessing the woman's look made him feel uncomfortable and he was terrified of offending her.

"I am sorry. I don't mean to-"

"It's all right. I understand," She turned around, "Humans like you aren't used to seeing us."

"Do you think the mermaids are real?"

"As you see it? You've seen me and are still inquiring."

He couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

"What is this place?" Will wondered as he gazed about, "Is this on the deep of the ocean?"

"Yes. I was the one who brought you here. You are in my kingdom, Lyonasse."

"Lyonasse? I can't believe this. How is that possible?"

"With my blood," she says.

"Your blood?"

"Yes. My blood might be able to get you here. It appears that that human has a problem with asking too many questions, huh?"

For a little period, Will was deafeningly quiet. He followed the mermaid as she swam away.

"Hey, I'm don't know what's your name is yet."

"Ashley."

"My name is Will."

Ashley took a seat in front of a table-like cobblestone. Will had never seen anything like it before. It was perfectly arranged with various types of aquatic plants.

"I'm not sure you'll like it or not. But you have to eat to survive." She explained as she bit into a fruit that looked like an apple but was coated in small hairs.

Will took a step forward. Sit on a rock and eat a fruit that resembles a grape but is dark green in color. The flavor is strange, acidic and sweet in equal measure. Ashely had a good giggle at her expression.

"So, where did you come from?"

"Royal Caribbean."

"Doesn't it look lovely up there?"

"I'm not sure. It all relies on your way of life."

Will fixed his gaze on Ashley. He has a striking resemblance to Isabella. He looked as if he was seeing a reincarnation of his own wife.

"How come you're staring at me like that?"

"Oh, no ... nothing."

"I sincerely hope you do not leave this location. If the mermen discover you, you may be slain."

"Is it true that the mermaid kingdom exists?"

"What do you think you're doing here? You can't get out of here, anyway. I'll take you back to the island after you've recovered."

"I'm sorry, but I have to leave. Remember! Just keep put and don't cause any trouble."

Ashley rose up and swam away without waiting for Will's response. She emerged from the marine cave where she had been living and reached a valley where the mermaid palace was located.

It's not dissimilar to the human-dominated territory. They — the mermaids – are under King Arthur's command and control. He is a King of Lyonasse. The mermaids who do not reside in the palace will construct cave-shaped houses to round the palace valley. Carry on as usual, keeping each other safe, and defending the castle from enemy attacks.

Despite this, they are averse to appearing in other creatures, particularly humans. Thinking that humans are only mortal entities that are continuously wreaking havoc. That is why King Arthur crafted a three-pronged golden scepter. Half of his strength was invested in the stick. Place it in the heart of the palace to control storms, rain, fog, and whirlpools that occur around it. It was all designed to prevent any creature from entering Lyonasse.

One of them, though, had made a critical error. Ashley has lured humans into Lyonasse on purpose. Without understanding it, this marks the start of the impending tragedy for the entire mermaid realm.

"I'd like to see him. Did he handsome?" ask Maria, a mermaid who was swimming alongside Ashley.

"Could you just down your voice? I was scared that it might be heard!"

"I'm sorry. You're quite courageous. If the mermen discover out, King Arthur will sentence you to death."

"I understand. But I'm not going to let him die."

"You're like that all the time.  You're so nice to everyone that you forget about your own safety."

They swam towards the palace as a group.

The mermaids formed a ring around the throne, which was visible above the open palace hall of the Lyonasse Kingdom. The mermen had also been stationed around the palace, spears in hand, to ensure their safety.

The throne was occupied by King Arthur and his daughter, Princess Laura. They were all expecting a rare visitor who came just once every ten years.

Will walked around the cave in a circle. Other than modest stone tools, he couldn't locate much. Until Will manages to find a way out. He remembered Ashley's remarks, which forbade him from leaving that location.

Will had a peek around. It was quite silent. It appeared as if all of the mermaids had abandoned the area. Will took a stride forward and then came to a halt. He couldn't decide whether to go in or out. Will, who was headstrong, elected to go away despite the fact that no one was there. Corals and strangely shaped tiny fish pass by. He kept strolling, his feet inadvertently drawing him closer to the palace.

He came to a halt behind a giant boulder large enough to hide behind. Hundreds of mermaids were neatly lined up around two other mermaids, he noticed. Will assumed it was the group's leader. He was soon engulfed by a dark shadow.

Will raised his head. A giant ship with a black flag emblazoned with a cross skull flying over it. The ship's sides and mast had been entirely destroyed.

Oh, no! It is the ship that made the ship of Will and their friends was sinking, not the ship that was sinking. Will had a good idea who he was. His two friends died in the middle of the ocean by that ship.

The ship of the Flying Dutchmen!

Will had no notion that he'd get a second chance to see the ship. The team descended one by one, guided by a captain. Will couldn't see properly due to the distance. He walked forward slowly, becoming slightly clearer, though they couldn't see him up close. He got the weird sensation of seeing the captain's face. He felt similar, but he can't remember where he saw him.

"Hey, who's there?"

A mermen guard yelled. He and a group of other guards swam over to him. All of the mermen, including the king, were staring at them. Will became frantic right away.

Stupid! He has no right to be there. Ashley, on the other hand, was nervous, as if something horrible was about to happen.