Nixxon was disappointed when he started to encounter more mermen as he tried to escape from behind the castle walls.
He dodged and hid behind gigantic rocks and houses, trying to stay out of sight. If he got spotted, the news would reach his father's ears immediately.
He was currently swimming behind a huge house when he suddenly realized that it was the kingdom's common house where they held their meetings, and beside it, the kingdom's witch, Neireda, lived not far away.
He instantly got an idea: instead of traveling in hiding like a thief, he would go to her for a spell, potion, or anything that would just make him invisible until he left the kingdom's border.
Nixxon quietly knocked on the white shell door adorned with ancient runes that seemed to whisper secrets to the water waves. The gentle tap echoed through the still waters, a quiet plea to the occupant within.
As he knocked again, he lowered his face to hide from any potential passerby. His eyes, however, remained fixed on the door, filled with a mix of hope and trepidation.
He was lucky; no one ever visited Neireda except on the 'wish day.' And, today wasn't the 'wish day', but for him, it would be.
This was the only time he was going to appreciate his Father's decision in the kingdom; today, he would choose to vanish with his one wish.
A tense silence followed before the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit chamber shimmering with bioluminescent corals. The scent of aged parchment and crushed seaweed filled the space.
From the shadows emerged Neireda, the infamous sea witch. Her white, swirling tendrils of hair floated around her like ink in water, and her piercing silver eyes locked onto Nixxon with an amused smirk.
"So, the runaway prince dares to seek me out," she murmured, her voice velvety and dangerous. "Tell me, child of Nereus, what desperate wish brings you to my threshold?"
Her long white hair complimented her blue tail fin and her smooth, glowing skin. The runes on her left arm were identical to the ones on the door.
The witch fixed her eyes at the young Prince, not a bit surprised at seeing him there.
Nixxon had always admired Neireda's beauty since he was a kid, and even now, she looked so gorgeous, looking exactly as she did twenty years ago. Mermaids were blessed with longevity and youthfulness, but he believed hers had to be different because she looked to be getting younger by the day.
"Come in, child of Nereus," Neireda said in a soft voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Nixxon murmured and quickly entered the house.
He almost forgot his purpose while staring at the beautiful and ethereal witch.
This was his first time entering her abode; he had thought it would be filled with all sorts of witchy stuff, but the house was just...clean.
The room was plain, with a crystal table with a crystal ball floating an inch above the table. There was a small seaweed bed at the corner of the room and a white shelf beside the bed; it was closed, so he didn't know what was kept inside it, but he believed it must be where she kept all her potions and other magic-related elements.
"Come, sit, child of Nereus," Neireda gently beckoned to him to come closer.
Nixxon moved closer, wondering if she meant for him to sit on her bed; that would be a little weird, but as he neared the table, a white chair materialized in front of him.
He paused for a second before he went ahead and sat down, anxiously wagging his tail.
He watched as Neireda swam over to her shelf, opened the upper part, and brought out a silver cup, a strange glowing leaf, a book, and a silver knife.
Nixxon was right; it was where she kept all her stuff. He watched her curiously as she placed the objects on the table, but just like the crystal ball, they didn't touch the table's surface, just floating an inch from it.
"Coming to me, I believe you want what every mermen wants, a wish?" Neireda asked, floating behind Nixxon.
Nixxon nodded, "Yes, will you grant me my wish? Even if it'll affect the kingdom?" Nixxon asked, feeling unsure.
Neireda was a strong figure in the kingdom; he doubted if she'd still be willing to grant his wish when she realized that he was planning to abandon the kingdom...the throne.
Neireda smiled and swam fluidly to the other side of the table and lowered herself onto the chair she had materialized.
"I have no control or opinion over your wish, young prince; my duty is to grant you your one wish." Neireda stretched her hand above the table. "Give me your hand, young prince," She said to him.
Nixxon slowly lifted his hand and was about to place it on hers, but she withdrew her hand.
He looked up at her, confused; he was already starting to feel like she was deliberately keeping him there so his father could find him.
"Your left hand, young prince," Neireda said, stretching out her hand again.
"Oh, okay." Nixxon quickly gave her his left hand.
He relaxed a bit. She only wanted his left hand, nothing more.
"Now, tell me your wish," She said, bringing his hand above the cup and picking up the silver knife.
Nixxon gulped. He never knew that a knife was involved, but he wasn't scared. He was a pureblood, he'll heal immediately.
"Um..." He said, looking at the witch's serious face, her silver eyes staring right into his soul.
He felt frustrated; suddenly, he couldn't come up with a wish.
"Take your time, young prince," Neireda said calmly.
He racked his brain, recalling all he'd ever thought about; suddenly, a thought came to his mind. He remembered not long ago when he was standing in front of his window and looking over at the kingdom's people; he had wished to be free like them, or like the humans...yes, a human.
His mother always told him that humans were so free, free to move and do whatever they wanted to do; he believed that humans had no restrictions, no laws binding their everyday life, and certainly, no rule that forced them to carry on a legacy they didn't want to.
But...he didn't wish for it; he knew without asking that his wish would never be granted.
One of the rules of the kingdom forbade them from going above the oceans and from ever associating with humans, terming them as dangerous creatures.
He let the wish go, he would just focus on escaping from the kingdom.
"I wish to escape this kingdom without being spotted," he said to the witch.
Neireda smiled; even without her magic, she knew what his wish was.
"Is that your final wish, young prince?" She asked.
Nixxon nodded, determined.
"Then I'll ask the waters," Neireda whispers softly and gently slices his palm open.
Nixxon winced slightly as the knife sliced into his smooth skin, and he watched as his golden blood swirled right into the silver cup.
His wound instantly closed up.
Neireda returned his hand to him and then picked up the glowing leaf; she muttered a spell, and the leaf fell smoothly into the cup in the form of a paste, mixing with the golden content of the cup.
He looked with interest and curiosity as his blood mixed and swirled with the green paste. Suddenly, it turned Chartreuse, the glowing yellow-green liquid hypnotizing him.
"Now, young prince, look into the crystal ball," Neireda spoke in a soothing tone.
Nixxon obeyed, turning his face to stare into a crystal ball. But the moment he saw the image showing in the crystal, his eyes widened, disbelief evident on his beautiful face.
"This is your real wish, young prince," Neireda said.
Nixxon was too shocked to speak as he stared at himself, 'walking' the firm sands of the human world.
He slowly looked at Neireda. "How did you know?" He questioned curiously, looking back at the crystal.
But Neireda suddenly waved her hand over the crystal, causing the image to disappear.
Nixxon blinked rapidly as he couldn't see the image anymore, returning his full attention to the witch.
"The magic of the water knows our hearts, young prince. Now, I'll ask again, what is your wish?" Neireda asked once more, staring at Nixxon's face.
Nixxon didn't hesitate this time; he knew his wish would be granted. Since the witch wasn't surprised or annoyed, he had no reason to hold back.
"I wish to become human." He looked with determination into the witch's eyes.
This time, there was no holding back; he was leaving, and leaving for good.
"Then, allow the power and magic of our waters to grant you this wish," Neireda spoke up, taking the cup and offering it to Nixon.
"Drink, young prince, for your wish has been poured into this cup; only when you drink shall your wish be granted," She said softly.
Nixxon gulped and took the cup from Neireda's hand, he hesitated for only a second before raising the cup to his lips.
As he drank the liquid, he heard Neireda softly muttering some enchantments and placing her hands over the crystal.
He finished drinking the tasteless liquid at the same time she stopped her enchantment.
"Your wish has been granted by water spirits; sad they might be, but they've granted you your wish." She smiled at him.
Great! Now, he got his wish, yet he felt strange, his decision getting at him as he realized that he was going out into a different world with different people, different beliefs, and different cultures. But he was determined; he slowly nodded at Neireda and stood from the chair.
"Go, child of Nereus, your strong tail shall be replaced with two legs the moment you surface up to the human world, mind you, the moment you turn human, you shall lose most of your abilities as a merman," Neireda spoke in her usual gentle yet chilling voice.
Nixxon thought about it for a second. "Thank you for your help," He replied, his mind made up.
He didn't care if he lost everything that connected him to the kingdom; as long as he remained human, he wouldn't mind.
"Hurry, young prince. I sense them near; they're coming for you, and remember, always follow the path of the eaters." Neireda gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
Nixxon became alerted immediately; he had to leave. He quickly thanked Neireda once more and headed for the door.
"Young prince, take this; it will guide your path; just listen to it. I must warn you, child of Nereus, your fate as a Mermenis is different from that as a human; brace yourself for what is ahead." Neireda gently placed a silver locket around Nixxon's neck.
"Goodbye, Neireda," Nixxon said, his hand clasping around the locket.
He gave her one last nod and quickly swam out of the opened shell door.
Nixxon swam faster than he'd ever swam. Luckily, not many people visited that area, he navigated through stones and high sculptures, sculptures of his mother and father.
Seeing his father's sculpture, he swam harder, renewing his motivation for escaping.
Just as Neireda instructed, he followed the path of the eaters and swam higher, higher into the unknown...