Wherever the waves would take her

The origins of the merfolk

Ehuang was a Guardian too. Evie realised, blood pounding in her ears as she sat back in her seat reeling from the information that Ana provided.

A possible ancestor who might have single-handedly engineered the origins of the merfolk and the kingdom of Oceania in her lifetime.

That realisation was enough to start on the whiskey. Evie pulled out two glasses with an ice cube each and poured a shot for her and Ana before downing her drink. The whiskey warmed up her chest and loosening her tense muscles before handing Ana the letter that she had shown the others.



"Who else knows about this?"

"Just the both of us so far." Promised Ana. She cautiously sipped the whiskey and made a face before leaving the glass on the countertop. "This is what the humans call alcohol? Why do they like it so much?"

Evie poured a couple more shots each for them. "It leaves the humans in a state of mind that feels compelling at times."

"Despite its offensive taste?" Ana did not hesitate to gulp them down too, wincing at the taste as Evie chuckled.

Ana eyed the empty glass before reaching for the kombucha. "How good is being in this state of mind to have to trade it for taste?"

"Give it a few more seconds." Evie crossed over to the kitchen and grabbed the nearest cup before filling it with water.

Focusing instead on reorganising the papers in the box, her hand wavered slightly in mid-air before securing it away as Ana tried to refocus back onto Evie's face.

"Ooh, now I know why."

Evie passed the girl a cup of water that Ana downed as quickly as she could before Evie could caution her.

"We are usually more tolerant of these types of drinks but go easy on your first few times."

"A little late for the lecture, but I'm good now." Ana shook her head before reaching out for the letter in front of her again and clearing her throat to read.

"From my readings we can assume that Guardians have been around much longer than Oceania, even way before any historical accounts of The Relocation."

Ana read the letter Evie had given her, taking in the ship insignia of black and red as Evie filled her in on their recent findings.

"Where did you find this then?" Evie indicated towards the book as she sat back, nursing her drink after she finished.

"The information shared here were found amongst King Oceanos' personal items that we have been working on restoring for the royal archives. I have to say however." Ana paused to regard Evie with a soft smile. "It is an honour to meet a real-life Guardian, if that is what you are."

"Now I think you're drunk." Evie grinned at the historian over her glass who shot her a matching grin.

Ana scanned the label of the whiskey bottle before gingerly setting it down to one side. "Never been better if I do say so myself. This liquid the humans call alcohol on the other hand seems to make me want to be a lot more honest."

"Mmm. That's alcohol for you."

"I suppose I'll learn how to appreciate this drink. Eventually." Ana smiled as she made the final checks to her bag before she stood up to go.

Evie found herself liking Ana a lot, taking comfort with the mermaid whose eyes did not trace her back and arms like how some tended to do when they first met Evie. The mermaid seemed singularly determined to find out as much as she could about the group who called themselves the Guardians.