Stella's body ached as the water surged around her, the transformation taking a toll on her. Her legs, now fully fused into a shimmering tail, felt heavy, as though the weight of the sea itself was pulling her deeper. The ache in her bones was unbearable, and yet, the feeling of becoming whole again was undeniable. But confusion and panic clouded her thoughts—what was happening to her?
She turned toward the shore, where Simon sat calmly, his gaze fixed on her with an expression that was both knowing and proud. The look in his eyes made her blood run cold, as if this moment had been planned long before.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" she screamed, the panic clear in her voice. She panted for breath, her chest heaving as she tried to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions and physical changes.
Simon remained unshaken, leaning against a rock with a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Happy Birthday, little fish," he said softly, his voice dripping with an eerie satisfaction.
Her mind raced, the words not quite registering at first. But then, as if a switch flipped, realization struck her with brutal clarity. Today... today she was turning 22.No - she just turned 22.
The waves around her began to intensify, and her eyes widened in horror as she felt the power surging through her. "It can't be..." she whispered, the weight of the truth sinking in as the tides grew heavier and more tumultuous. Her eyes, once green, flickered back to a bluish-green hue, permanently shifting with golden flecks now scattered throughout her irises. She could feel the magic—the power—coursing through her like never before.
"You're officially turning into the mermaid of the ellipse," Simon's voice floated across the water, cool and unbothered. "You're gaining your powers, sweetheart."
Stella's eyes fluttered shut, her body succumbing to the weight of the overwhelming sensations. As the water enveloped her, she felt a sharp pull in her mind, dragging her deeper into an abyss. Her thoughts scattered, everything around her spinning in an endless whirlpool. The pain in her chest grew unbearable, as though her very soul was being torn apart.
And then, as if on cue, her eyes snapped open.
She found herself standing in front of an imposing structure—Alloan, the sacred place of mermaid legends. Before her was a massive crystal box, its surface shimmering with an ethereal glow. Written in an ancient mermaid script was the phrase: "Mermaid of Cosmos." Her hands trembled as she reached forward, the anticipation building as she opened the box.
But when the lid lifted, she found nothing. Empty. She stared at the void inside, confusion clouding her thoughts.
Before she could process what she had just seen, her surroundings shifted again, and she was no longer in Alloan. She blinked, finding herself cradled in Simon's arms. The warmth of his embrace enveloped her, a stark contrast to the cold emptiness of the place she had just been. Her eyes instinctively glanced down at her body, and to her surprise, she was no longer in her mermaid form. The sleek tail had transformed back into her human legs, and the strange scales that had once adorned her skin were now gone.
Simon gently wrapped her in a large towel, his touch soft but firm as he held her close. Stella looked up at him, still disoriented. "I was in Alloan, how—"
Simon's eyes met hers, a mixture of concern and pride in his gaze. "You were here, but your soul went there. You received the three powers a mermaid of the eclipse gets."
"Powers?" Stella echoed, trying to comprehend the gravity of his words. "How long was I out?"
"Two hours," Simon answered, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable edge. The revelation shocked her to the core. She had been in some kind of limbo for that long, enduring the transformation, and yet time had passed so quickly.
Before she could ask more questions, Simon gently picked her up, his movements careful as he carried her back. Stella's body felt drained, every fiber of her being aching from the ordeal she had just endured. She closed her eyes, unable to fight the weariness that overtook her. It wasn't just physical exhaustion—it was the weight of the powers she had inherited, of the destiny that had just been thrust upon her.
The pain, the fear, the uncertainty—it all seemed to fade as she drifted into a deep, tired slumber in Simon's arms.
As Stella drifted into a deep sleep, she found herself back in Alloan. The air shimmered with a strange glow, heavy with silence yet alive with an unseen force. She stepped forward cautiously, her bare feet touching the cool stone floor.
Before her, three symbols began to form one by one, glowing softly. The first was the caduceus—a mark of healing and balance. The second was a flickering flame, burning strong and untamed. The third was an hourglass filled with swirling mist, as if time itself was uncertain within its frame.
She stared at them, trying to understand, but before she could, the vision faded, and she was pulled back into unconsciousness.
When she finally woke, warmth surrounded her. The soft morning light filtered through the windows, casting a golden hue across the room. Blinking, she found Simon standing over her, watching her closely.
He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Happy birthday, my little fish," he murmured, his voice low and warm.
She smiled sleepily, and something in Simon's eyes softened.
"I'd kill for that smile," he admitted, his lips curving into a smirk as he leaned in.
She met him halfway, their lips brushing in a slow, lingering kiss.
"Thank you, my beast," she whispered, her fingers tangling in his hair.
He chuckled, his breath warm against her skin as he hovered over her, stealing another kiss. And then another—like he could never get enough.
"I had a dream, you know," Stella said, slipping out of his grasp.
Simon's body tensed instantly as he looked at her. He already knew what her dream was about. His gaze flickered to her greenish-blue eyes—eyes that would remain that way forever.
"Three symbols, I guess?" Simon asked, sitting beside her.