Was that even legal around here?
"Fear not, poor soul. Your salvation has arrived."
Aerisse said, snapping the countless chains off the miserable creature.
How could anyone feel less miserable after being treated like that? Hadn't she suffered enough in her past life—betrayed by her entire family? Was history repeating itself?
"Who… who are you?" muttered the little siren, weak as a drowned rat but still trying to look fierce.
Aerisse had forgotten to keep her memories, unlike with the fairy. So, this little incident would hit her harder than expected—even for a superior being. Oops. She felt a twinge of guilt.
"You may calm yourself, child. What do your people call you?"
"I have no family," she spat. "The deserters who left me here… they called me all sorts of names."
Hatred was practically visible in her sharp little eyes.
She was already sick inside. Aerisse knew it would take a lot of effort to heal this lost soul.
"If you allow me," Aerisse said, arms open wide, "I'd like to help you. In return… someday in the future, you'll owe me a favor. How does that sound?"
The siren looked suspicious.
"How can I trust you?"
"You can't. Really," Aerisse admitted with a shrug. "But… do I look like a bad person? Okay, probably not the best way to judge, I know. Then… do I feel like a bad person? Your eyes might lie, but your gut won't. And honestly… what other choice do you have? Better take the help now than cry about it later."
Apparently, Aerisse's brilliant reasoning—or maybe sheer exhaustion—won.
Her eyes fluttered shut, and the siren fell into a deep, untroubled sleep.
No time to waste—the healing process began.
Aerisse must have scrubbed away all the scars going back twenty-five generations or so. The siren emerged a masterpiece of rejuvenation.
When she woke, she was completely renewed. Clear complexion, memories restored, a soft glow surrounding her whole body. Rested like a newborn.
Ready for the work ahead, they now had to execute Aerisse's carefully crafted plan: restore the primordial siren to the power of the celestial waters of the planet.
This girl would be a fair and just leader, grow the Water Kingdom sustainably, and serve as Aerisse's loyal ally in her grand universal peace project.
Every detail of the plan had been accounted for. Aerisse left Caelus in charge of assisting her in any way necessary and returned to her tower for immediate rest—she was utterly exhausted.
Blood spattered everywhere. Pale as a vampire from some American TV show. She collapsed onto the sofa, thinking.
Tomorrow is another day. Other matters await.
And sure enough, when she woke up, she spotted little Mirith swinging his sword in the palace garden—already a teenager.
Time had flown.
And what had his "vacation" been like so far? Aerisse could hardly wait to find out all the juicy details.