Chapter 23
“Tonight, we—the Order of the Seablade—embarked on our first and final mission to put an end to our folk’s suffering. The Wraithsong could not be allowed to haunt us any longer!"
Thalassios’ voice was strong and resolute, echoing in the silent waters around them. His golden trident caught the dim light, the water around him glowing in reverence.
"As part of the crown’s efforts to fight against this curse, our forces had paid with their own blood, sweat, and tears, and finally, we were close to a breakthrough. Our research team based in Tsuvia had produced promising results, and our reconnaissance team had found evidence of the curse originating from the Achethis region, specifically the grand rocks of Varem."
His male partner held a map out in front of him and his female partner mapped out their route as he spoke. The route she pointed out actively avoided any other civilization except for Tsuvia, and though Achethis nor Varem were labelled, the rock formations seemed distinct enough.
"Our journey will be perilous," Thalassios continued, "but we must succeed. The curse has taken too many lives and caused too much pain. With this mission, we strike at its very heart. Be prepared for anything. Trust in yourselves, trust in each other, and together we will prevail."
He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in. The group stood in silent solidarity, each member understanding the importance of their mission.
~~~~~~~
Using their pearl torches as the sole source of light, they travelled a respectable distance away from the capital, far enough to no longer be able to make out its silhouette. During their travels, the group surely noticed the inadequacy of Ron’s swimming, but, apart from a few whispered snide comments from Melanthius and Aegeon, they did not say anything about it. Finally, they reached a cave where they set up camp.
By some unspoken unanimous decision, they sat around in a circle facing each other. At first, they were silent before the Prince’s two companions finally introduced themselves. Nereus, the male, had a light blue tail. His eyes were sharp and perceptive, constantly scanning their surroundings, and he was positioned closest to the entrance. Pleione, the female, had a silver tail. Her demeanour was both commanding and protective, and she seemed to have an eye locked on the crown prince at all times. She sat next to Ron with the crown prince to her left.
As they sat around the camp, the cave glowing from a mixture of bioluminescent plants and their pearl torches, the group chatted and learned more about each other. Halcyon shared stories of his home, Eurybius talked about her love for underwater flora, and even Melanthius and Aegeon, despite their arrogance, revealed bits about their pasts. Ron listened intently, occasionally sharing his own experiences, though he avoided mentioning his human origins.
The camaraderie helped ease the tension, and for the first time since his transformation, Ron felt a sense of belonging.
Early the next morning, the group got some training in with their tridents. Ron was paired up with Melanthius, who took the opportunity to pummel him. Despite the bruises and the humiliation, Ron remained determined. He refused to let the others see him as weak.
After their training and breakfast, they set out once again. This time, the atmosphere was a bit more relaxed, which Melanthius and Aegeon seemed to take as permission to single Ron out.
"Look at the guppy struggling to keep up," Melanthius sneered.
"Come out to die like your seafather, have you?" Aegeon added with a cruel laugh.
Ron gritted his teeth and did his best to focus on his mission, the pair managing to keep their actions from reaching the rest of the group.
They broke to rest and eat before continuing their journey. The next day, during another training session, tensions reached a boiling point. Aegeon brutally attacked Ron, enough to break his trident. With anger and frustration boiling over, Ron retaliated by snapping out his wand from his waist pouch and blasting Aegeon away.
All eyes were now on him and Aegeon.
Aegeon looked terrified. "Freak," he spat.
Nereus quickly stepped in to calm the situation. Eurybius and Halcyon both smiled tensely at Ron, their brows furrowed, but didn’t say anything. Melanthius rushed to Aegeon’s side, and they glared at Ron together. The prince and his companions were locked in what seemed like a tense debate.
Thalassios finally turned to the group, his expression stern. “Enough,” he said firmly. “We cannot afford to be divided. Ron, I need to know what that was.”
Ron swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their gazes on him. “It’s... it’s magic,” he admitted. “From where I come from. I didn’t mean to cause trouble, I just...”
Pleione interjected, her eyes narrowing. “We need to ensure that this... magic does not put the mission at risk.”
The prince shook his head, his eyes narrowed with something Ron could not identify. “I have come across magic once before… they never used a stick.”
Ron remained silent, unsure of how to explain the complexities of his world’s magic to those who had only known the ocean and its mysteries. He shrugged, trying to convey his sincerity. The atmosphere remained tense, but the conversation ended there.
From that moment on, Ron was mostly left alone by Melanthius and Aegeon. Whether they were too scared of him or planning something, he did not know. Thalassios looked back at him more frequently, his eyes curious and lips parted as if to say something. Each time, Pleione narrowed her eyes at Ron and pursed her lips to the prince, causing him to look forward again.
Eurybius and Halcyon were the only ones who treated him normally. Halcyon freely asked some basic questions about Ron’s life and his experiences, though Ron carefully avoided mentioning anything about his wand or the broader aspects of wizarding magic. Despite their curiosity, Ron kept his wand hidden, not wanting to provoke any more fear or mistrust.
Days passed, and they drew closer to their destination. One evening, two days’ travel away from Tsuvia, Ron found himself cornered by Melanthius and Aegeon. The two mermen blocked his path, their expressions hostile.
Melanthius sneered, his dark purple tail flicking aggressively. “You think we trust you, guppy? We knew there was something off about your magic.”
Aegeon nodded, his brown and red tail swirling in the water. “The prince made a huge mistake letting you come with us. We should have banished you a long time ago. You’re a liability, and we couldn’t afford any risks on this mission.”
The hostility in their voices was palpable. Ron’s heart dropped as he listened to their words.
He had grown up in a household where magic was commonplace, accepted, and celebrated—a thing of wonder. He had known distantly that there was a time when magic was hated and hunted, but he had never faced it himself. Ron felt despair creeping in, the weight of their hatred pressing down on him.
He started when Halcyon and Eurybius swam up from behind him, taking their place in front of him, the act of shielding him almost natural to them.
“Leave him be,” Halcyon said firmly, his dark blue tail glinting in the dim light. “We’re all here to stop the Wraithsong. Ron’s magic is part of that, whether you like it or not.”
Eurybius nodded, her sage green tail glowing softly. “None of us fully understood his magic, but that didn’t mean we should distrust him. We needed unity, not division.”
Despite their defence, the argument continued to escalate, voices rising and hissing with anger, gills flared.
Just as the situation seemed about to boil over, the prince and his companions arrived on the scene. Nereus and Pleione swiftly moved between the two sides, holding them apart with firm but calm expressions. Thalassios stood alone, still and silent, his golden trident gleaming in the glow of the pearl torches. He opened his mouth, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
“Will you hear my confession?” Thalassios’ voice was steady but filled with an underlying sorrow. The sudden shift in tone caused everyone to fall silent, their attention now focused on the crown prince. “The truth of the mer behind the curse. I blame myself.”
He took a deep breath, his eyes distant as he began to recount a painful memory. “In my youth, I made a mistake that I believed started all of this,” he said, his voice heavy with regret.
“One day, while exploring a secluded part of the ocean, I had stumbled upon a mer who was unlike any I had ever seen. He was different, mysterious, and had an aura that intrigued me. We quickly formed a deep bond after he saved me from an intricate assassination attempt orchestrated by rivals of the crown. He had used magic to save my life.”
Ron kept his head down despite feeling the gaze of the group on him, while the prince continued staring into the distance as he painted a vivid emotional picture.
“He and I had become inseparable. I had taught him how to swim with the grace of a prince and shared with him the rich history and culture of our folk. In return, he had taught me about his elemental magic. It was fascinating, powerful, and seemed to flow from him as naturally as the currents themselves. But as the months passed, I noticed a restlessness in him, a yearning for something more.”
His expression grew troubled. “He spoke of a purpose, a destiny he felt compelled to fulfil. He believed his magic was the key to something greater, something beyond our understanding. I had tried to help him, giving him missions and tasks, hoping to quell his restlessness. But it was never enough. He grew increasingly desperate, his magic becoming more volatile.
“Years passed, and despite my curiosity about magic, I had no real need for it—not like he insisted. It only took one day for it all to crumble down. While out on a mission, he had used magic without my command and had harmed our party. In my anger and confusion, I had banished him, wishing earnestly that he would find what he sought, but knowing that it would not be in the capital.”
Thalassios paused, his expression pained. “I had started the Order of the Seablade because I received intel that it was that very same mer who brought the curse upon us. But even now, I believe it was not his magic that caused this harm. It was my ignorance and my failure to understand him.”
He looked directly at Ron, his eyes filled with remorse and determination. “Ron, I do not blame you for having magic. Magic itself is not the enemy here. It was my own ignorance, my failure to see the pain and longing in my friend’s eyes, that led to this. We must learn from this mistake and use all the tools at our disposal to end this curse.”
The silence that followed was heavy with the weight of Thalassios' confession. Each member of the group was lost in thought, grappling with the implications of the prince’s story. Thalassios’ vulnerability and honesty had cast their mission in a new light, underscoring the personal stakes and the depth of their quest.
Eurybius was the first to speak, her voice soft but resolute. “We understand now, Prince Thalassios. We’ll do whatever it takes to end this curse and set things right.”
Halcyon nodded, his expression thoughtful. “We’re with you, your highness. Together, we can overcome this.”
Even Melanthius and Aegeon, though still wary of Ron, seemed to soften slightly in the wake of Thalassios’ confession. They exchanged glances but said nothing, their previous hostility muted.
Ron, feeling a newfound sense of purpose, met Thalassios’ gaze and nodded. “I’ll do my part, your highness. We’ll end this together.”
Thalassios’ expression lightened, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Thank you. All of you. Let’s rest for now. Tomorrow, we continue our journey!”
~~~~~~~
The flame lit inside each of them by the vulnerability of the night before, however, was not long-lived, quickly quelled by a missive sent from the capital.
The fish had found them during that morning's training session.
Ron had partnered with the prince to practise with his magic and was in the middle of demonstrating his Protego when Nereus guided the fish to Thalassios.
Upon spotting it, Thalassios immediately reached for the shell attached to its body, bringing it up to his ear to hear the message it held.
The group had gathered around, watching the prince as his face fell, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“The capital has been attacked, with many casualties and infected from the curse before it was successfully contained.” They gasped at the news, worried for their family and friends. “Unfortunately, my seafather, our seaking, who had fought in the front lines, has been infected as is currently one of the contained. My younger seasister has temporarily taken up the throne and bids us to hurry.”