Carmel closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she tried to steady herself. She could feel the pressure of the mermaids’ gaze on her, their golden eyes watching her every move. But more than that, she could feel the weight of her own past calling at her, the importance of the moment not being lost to her, Carmel understood how important the current situation is.
Yet within her heart sone kind of calling came, a representation of sort, whispering into her mind that perhaps this might be a pivotal moment in her life where a change could happen, the foreign connection she felt with the boy in front of her coming forth. This wasn’t just about appeasing the mermaids—it was about something deeper. It was about finding herself, about understanding the connection she felt with the boy in front of her.
The first few words came out as a whisper, soft and hesitant, but as the harp melody enveloped her, she found her voice growing stronger, more confident. She began to sing:
“In shadows deep, where dreams take flight,
A heart in chains longs for the light.
Through paths unknown, I walk alone,
In search of peace, a place called home.”
The boy’s fingers danced across the harp, weaving her words into the music. The notes wrapped around her voice, lifting it, giving it wings. As she sang, Carmel felt the weight of her own fears and doubts lifting, carried away by the melody. The words were her own, pulled from the depths of her heart, and as they spilled out, she felt a sense of release, of catharsis.
“Though storms may rage, and skies may fall,
I’ll find my way, I’ll heed the call.
For in the dark, a flame will rise,
A beacon true, to light the skies.”
The mermaids watched, their expressions unreadable, but there was a shift in the air, a subtle change in the energy around them, the song being accepting to them. Carmel could feel it, a softening, a warmth that hadn’t been there before. The boy’s music grew more intense and powerful as if he were pouring his soul into the harp, matching her emotion with every pluck of the strings.
“And in this world, where shadows play,
I’ll find the strength to face the day.
For though I’m lost, and all seems bleak,
I’ll find the courage that I seek.”
The music swelled, filling the space around them, echoing off the golden water, resonating through the air. The mermaids began to sway, their eyes closing as they lost themselves in the music. Carmel could see it—she could feel it. The song was reaching them, touching something deep within their locked hearts.
The boy’s voice joined hers, soft at first, then growing stronger, more certain, the connection between the two growing stronger, it was as if the two of them could understand each other, their emotions seemingly connecting at a level beyond the physical, Carmel and Carmelia felt as if they were meeting another part of their heart, a lost piece coming to them:
“With every step, through night and day,
We’ll find our path, we’ll make our way.
And though the road may twist and bend,
Together we’ll find peace, my friend.”
Their voices blended together, creating a harmony that was both haunting and beautiful. It was as if their souls were singing, not just their voices. The song was a reflection of their journey, of the pain they had endured, the challenges they had faced, and the hope that still burned within them.
Carmel felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as they reached the final verse. She could feel the boy’s emotions in his voice, the sadness, the fear, the loneliness, but also the strength, the determination, the courage. It was as if the song was a promise, a vow that no matter what happened, they would face it together.
“And when the night is cold and long,
We’ll find our way, we’ll sing our song.
For in our hearts, the fire will burn,
A light of hope, to which we’ll turn.”
The last note hung in the air, echoing in the silence that followed. For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of their breathing, the gentle lapping of the golden water against the boat. Then, slowly, the mermaids began to move. Their tails flicked, sending ripples across the surface of the water as they began to hum, a soft, melodic sound that resonated with the song they had just sung.
Carmel watched in awe as the mermaids’ eyes glowed with soft golden light, their faces serene, almost peaceful. They were no longer the fearsome creatures she had been so terrified of just moments ago. Instead, they seemed… content, as if the song had soothed some deep pain within them, and had reached a part of them that had long been forgotten.
The boy placed the harp down gently, his hands shaking slightly from the intensity of the performance. He looked at Carmel, his voice soft, his expression unreadable beyond the mask.
“You did it,” he whispered, his voice filled with a certain mix of emotions hard to catch. “We did it.”
Carmel nodded, her heart still racing, her mind still reeling from the experience. She had never felt anything like that before, had never poured so much of herself into something. It was as if the song had unlocked something inside her, something she hadn’t even known was there.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “For playing. For being here.”
The boy shook his head, the mana around him seemingly trembling in a certain way as he spoke. “No, thank you. the words you sang somehow affected me too, as if you sang for both the injustice we have lived through.”
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the connection between them stronger than it had ever been. They had shared something in that song, something profound, something that went beyond words. It was as if the song had created a bond between them, one that couldn’t be broken.
As the boat began to move forward again, guided by the gentle current of the golden river, Carmel felt a sense of peace settles over her. She didn’t know what lay ahead, didn’t know what challenges they would face, but for the first time, she didn’t feel afraid. She had faced something inside herself, had confronted her fears, and her doubts, and had come out stronger.
And as she looked at the boy beside her, she realized that she wasn’t alone in this journey. They were in this together, and whatever came next, they would face it side by side.
The mermaids watched them go, their humming fading into the distance as the boat carried them away. The golden river shimmered under the light of the unseen sun, a path stretching out before them, leading to whatever awaited them next.
In the silence that followed, as the boat glided smoothly over the golden water, Carmel closed her eyes, letting the peace of the moment wash over her. The boy remained silent beside her, his presence a comfort, a reassurance that they were not alone.
And somewhere deep within her, a new song began to form, one of hope, of courage, of friendship—a song that she knew they would carry with them, wherever this journey led them.
