"Excuse me," said Arisa, swimming through the crowd. "Sorry."
The merman glared at Arisa as she swam through the crowd. She apologized again and returned her view to the two mermaids that were swimming in between the many different types of beings filling the area, looking for a better place to see Caris and hopefully stop her from giving up her powers. Arisa tried to follow them, having difficulties swimming in between the merpeople around her.
"Wow," said Kazuya, swimming by Arisa's side. "I expected a huge crowd to be here, but not this big."
"Right," said Garoh by Kazuya's side. "Judging from the people we saw in the streets, it seems the whole city will be here."
As they tried to follow the mermaids, Arisa remembered the many beings she saw on her way to their destination. It was unbelievable how many people wanted to see Caris losing her powers and from the whispers, she heard on her way, it seemed that the People of the Sea were looking forward to seeing the prince receive his stolen powers.
The two mermaids stopped as the beings standing in between them didn't allow them to swim further.
"Unfortunately this is as far as we can go," said Camille, looking around as if she was making sure everyone was there.
Arielle sighed. "It's not a bad place, but it's still far from the area where Caris and the Royal Family will stand. I wanted to be as close as possible."
Upon hearing Arielle, Arisa examined her surroundings. Besides her companions standing by her side, she saw various merpeolple of different species filling the area. Looking at her front, she saw that they were several steps behind the people standing by the improvised barrier. Even so, she still could see the spacious zone not far from them.
She could see large corals of various colors awarding a special detail in the middle of the plaza. Steps away from that large decoration, Arisa saw an arched building with many white pillars decorating it.
Behind the barrier that kept the population away from the main area, Arisa saw large mermen with bronze helmets, plates and shields protecting their most vulnerable spots. They watched the crowd, holding spears and swords.
"I wonder where Malu and Lala are," said Arielle, looking around.
"Since they left the house early," said Camille, "they must have found a nice place close to the barrier."
Arielle rubbed her arm. "It would be better if they were close to us, in case of trouble."
As Camille patted her niece, telling her that everything will be alright, Arisa gazed at the scene in front of her, fidgeting her fingers. Although part of her was excited that she would finally see her friend again, another part of her couldn't help but worry.
She felt something rubbing her scalp. She looked by her side and saw Kazuya.
"You look as if you're the one who'll give up her powers," he said.
A nervous chuckle escaped Arisa's lips. "Do I? Well, even though I'm not the one who will give my power, I still can't help but worry about her."
"You and that personality of yours. You've always worried about others instead of yourself." Kazuya folded his arms.
Arisa chuckled. It wasn't the first time she was hearing that. No matter where she was or what the situation was, she always thought of others before her. Even though she was told it was okay to be selfish sometimes, she still couldn't help. Her compassion was stronger.
"It will be alright. Don't worry." Kazuya gazed at his front. "If she really gives up her power, we'll stop her. She's our friend after all."
Arisa exhaled, hoping that everything will be alright with no need of them interfering. Before she could return her view to the main area, she heard someone warning another to watch where they swimming.
"We've been here only for a few minutes and this place is already packed," said Thelma, her tone amazed. "It really looks like the whole city will be here. Even if they won't be close to the scene, they'll make sure to be here."
Arisa noticed that Thelma was examining the crowd behind them. Arisa turned around. Her brows raised seeing that a lot of beings had gathered behind them. She could barely see part of the colorful tall buildings, which she realized had their lights lit up as the environment was darkening.
"You don't see a Guardian giving up their powers every day," said Garoh, his tone calm. "I guess everyone wants to witness this historic moment."
"Just to be disappointed in the end," said Kazuya. "Pisces won't give up her powers."
Garoh gazed at him. "Of course."
Despite her companions being optimistic about what would soon happen, Arisa still had a bit of worry flowing in her veins. Deep inside she knew that Caris wouldn't abandon her powers easily, but with her people's freedom at stake, Arisa doubted that the little Oceanian would keep them.
Loud cheers washed away Arisa's thoughts. Arisa gazed around, seeing the excitement in the merpeople that stood beside and behind her. Most of the crowd was cheering in a language she couldn't recognize, but she could understand others that hailed the Royal Family, with some shouting that the family was finally here.
Arisa focused her view to the front. Not far from the improvised barrier, she saw two carriages. One of them had golden details while the other had silver features. Arisa could see a large symbol garnishing the carriages' door. The silhouettes in the drawing that were gazing at a glowing crown, had a figure of a merman and a mermaid.
As the carriages floated closer to the plaza's decoration, which contained countless large corals, Arisa thought that the creatures moving the carriages looked like those scarlet dolphin-like creatures with long soft dorsal fins she saw in the small town on her way to the city.
Sounds of trumpets filled the atmosphere as the carriages stopped in front of the plaza's main attraction. Arisa saw a small number of mermen with white helmets, plates and a shield that had the same symbol as the one drawn on the carriages' doors. The soldiers quickly approached the carriages.
"People of Maré," said a slim merman standing close to the golden carriage, "please welcome His Majesty King Netu and his wife, Queen Sara."
The crowd clapped and cheered at the mention of their leaders. Soon after the merman introduced the Queen and King, Arisa saw someone leaving the carriage. It didn't take long for her to see a merman with a long silvery blue tail, holding a golden trident. Despite being underwater, the crown stuck on his silvery blond hair that had signs of threads of gray.
The Queen, holding a long golden stick that had a small number of corals garnishing it, followed the King as he swam a bit forward. She really looked small standing by his side. Arisa could barely see the Queen's tiara on her short white hair as she shook her silvery white tail and nodded at the cheering crowd with a smile.
"And now People of Maré, please welcome the bright future of our country," said the slim merman as another being opened the silver carriage. "Crown Prince Atlas and his younger sister Lena."
Not long after the slim merman announced those names, Arisa saw a well-built merman leave the silver carriage, moving his silvery-blue tail with pride spreading across his face. By the dark-haired prince, who looked to be in his early twenties, swam a young woman with long white hair and a silvery blue tail that had multiple caudal fins. The crowd cheered at the sight of the siblings who waved at them and smiled.
"The Royal Family have guests," continued the slim merman. "Please welcome the Children of the Sea, Caris Linteum and her legal guardian Rayanne."
Arisa straightened her shoulders upon hearing Caris'name. Her heart sped as she watched the scene not far from her. She didn't take long to spot a marine blue armored figured leaving the carriage with a slim lady that had her arm curled on Caris' shoulder.
"Caris." Arisa heard Arielle call with a quiet tone.
Arisa glanced by her side. She saw Arielle watching the scene in front of them anxiously.
"Look at that creature, she dares to wear the armor at a moment like this." Arisa heard one voice say in the crowd.
Another voice chuckled. "I guess she wanted to wear it for the last time."
"But that's disrespectful." Arisa heard another voice say. "Those powers belong to the prince."
Arisa gazed at her surroundings, not believing what she was hearing. She curled her fingers, feeling a bit annoyed with the crowd's words.
"I wonder what they would say if they saw what she went through to get those powers," said Garoh, shaking his head. "The star chose her, not the prince."
"They would probably still say that those powers don't belong to her." Thelma sighed. "Remember those thugs the girls and I fought to help her?"
Garoh nodded. "Yes. It's really sad that these people look so down on her and her people."
Arisa agreed with Garoh, remembering that encounter with those bounty hunters in the Forbidden Forest. They were hunting Caris in order to avoid her to become a Guardian. She remembered them mentioning that it would be embarrassing for their people if a half breed became a Guardian.
"My people," said a male voice not far from them.
Arisa focused her view back at the scene in front of them. She saw the King slowly swim on one side as he spoke.
"I'm happy to see that most of you are here to see the Crown Prince inherit Pisces' powers," said the King, his tone proud. "Powers that were mistakenly given to someone who doesn't deserve them."
Arisa frowned. "Doesn't deserve? What is he talking about?"
"Nonsense," said Kazuya.
Arisa glanced at him, a quick chuckle escaping her lips. Despite finding Kazuya's reply funny, Arisa still couldn't help but feel annoyed by the King's words. After everything that they went through in the Forbidden Lands, Arisa thought that Caris deserved her powers. Not only because she survived the trials and the Guardian's threats but she also deserved them for being a kindhearted individual.
"We tried to be peaceful and ask the creature who had stolen my son's powers to return them to him," said the King. "But as it didn't agree, we had to use force. It turned us into villains and made us kidnap the people of her kind and the savages of the surface."
Arisa saw the marine blue armored Caris gaze at the floor as if she felt bad. Clenching her fist, Arisa felt the itch to swim forward and comfort the young girl.
"Can he stop referring Caris as an object or animal?" asked Thelma, her tone annoyed. "Otherwise I'll trespass that barrier and punch his face."
Kazuya gazed at Thelma by Arisa's side. "Keep calm. We can't interfere unless they attack her, otherwise, we will cause more trouble for her."
Thelma took a deep breath and nodded.
"It took several days, but the creature has finally agreed to return my son's powers in exchange for her people's freedom," continued the King, glancing over his shoulder to look at Caris. "But the deal to free her people wasn't everything it demanded."
Silence fell in the atmosphere for a moment as everyone gazed at the King curiously.
"We'll stop hunting down the Children of the Sea and," said the King, taking a deep breath, "they will have equal rights as us."
Protests sparked the atmosphere. Part of the crowd expressed disappointment that the Royal Family would no longer get rid of the creatures staining their pureblood.
Another said they couldn't believe they would have to coexist with them. The being mentioned that they were already disgusted catching them swimming around, they couldn't imagine how they would feel if they took the same public transport, went to the same school, worked in the same company or simply saw them in the streets more often.
Arisa's heart sank as she heard some merpeople saying half breeds were animals, that they didn't even need rights as they would only bring trouble.
How can people sharing the same world feel this way?
"Calm down, my people," said the King, his tone calm. "We didn't have any other choice. If the Child of the Sea kept Pisces' power greater trouble would fall in Maré. With the prince having the astral powers, you won't have to worry about the danger they will bring as the prince vowed to protect you."
The crowd gazed at the King, whispers of doubt and protest still floating around.
"We both signed an accord that will make sure they won't cause troubles," continued the King, "and of course that will guarantee their freedom and equal rights. If they break that accord, we'll make sure they won't bring any more trouble ever again."
As cheers filled the atmosphere, Arisa gazed around, not understanding the People of the Sea.
"Why do I have a feeling that they'll cause mysterious trouble and blame at Caris' people?" said Thelma, her tone suspicious.
"After seeing how the citizens hate them," said Kazuya, "I won't be surprised if that happens in the near future."
Garoh rubbed his chin. "Yeah. That would be an easy way to get rid of them. I wonder if Caris and her legal guardian knew this or they didn't read those documents properly. I would certainly not sign that accord."
Arisa returned her gaze back at the scene in front of her, worry getting the better of her.
"And now we shall witness this historic moment," said the King, signaling the prince to come forward. "The Crown Prince will receive his powers and he will use them to serve and protect our world."
Another cheer fell in the atmosphere as the prince swam forward, followed by Caris and Rayanne. As the marine blue armored Caris gazed at the bright floor, Arisa couldn't help but feel bad. She could see that Caris was going through a series of emotions. She couldn't imagine how painful it must be to be forced to lose the powers given by one of the stars.
Arisa saw Rayanne whisper at Caris before she hugged her tightly. It took Rayanne several seconds to free Caris from her arms and swim away from her and the prince.
Almost a minute passed as Caris gazed at the ground, curling her fingers. Voices filled the silence, telling her to hurry up and give the prince Pisces' powers. As voices kept chanting for her to hurry up, Arisa saw Caris' armor slowly dissolve as if it was joining the water around them. One blink and Arisa saw a young girl with long black-blue hair floating around her and hiding part of her face.
Caris took a deep breath and looked at her front. Arisa saw her dark eyes that didn't contain the white parts. Looking at Caris' round face, Arisa's heart sank. Caris looked as if she would cry, but something in her was holding back her tears. Arisa covered her mouth, questioning why the People of the Sea were torturing a young girl like this.
Caris raised her silvery arm. "Alrescha."
The water by Caris' hand bubbled and formed a long shape with three pointy details. A few seconds passed before the object materialized into a silver trident with marine blue details.
The crowd gasped.
"So that's Pisces' trident," said a male voice, his voice amazed. "I can't believe that I'm seeing a real one right in front of me."
As the crowd whispered their amazement with the astral weapon, Caris gazed at it, rubbing her fingers on it. It was as if she was saying farewell to a precious item.
"We have to stop her," said Arisa. "Caris will really give up her powers."
Kazuya nodded. "Let's go."
Before the team could forcefully swim through the crowd blocking their way, Arisa saw Caris looking at her front, tightly holding the weapon.
"I-I Caris Arihi Linteum." Caris took a deep breath. "Daughter of Rangi Linteum and an unkown mermaid..."
"I'm sorry, my daughter." Arisa heard Arielle say quietly.
Arisa gazed at her for a second and saw her wipe away something on her face. Arisa gazed back at the young girl not far from them.
"...with the People of the Sea before me," said Caris, looking around. She then gazed up. "And the stars that are brightening on the surface's sky. I sur—"
"No!" shouted a voice. "Don't do it Caris."
Arisa saw something wrap its arm around Caris. She didn't take long to recognize the brown-haired little merman.
"Hey," said a voice in the background. "Where did that kid come from?"
"Malu," said Arielle, her tone surprised, "h-how did he pass through security? Where did he come from."
As everyone wondered the same, Arisa saw a few soldiers trying to move the boy away. He tightened his arms on Caris' arm.
"Ma-Malu?" Caris gazed at him surprised. "Please leave. You'll get in trouble."
"No," protested Malu. "I won't leave. Not until you promise me that you won't give up your powers."
Caris gazed at the boy, blinking repeatedly. As the soldiers tried to move him away, he tightened his grip on Caris' arm even more.
"I can't promise you that, Malu," said Caris, patting his head. "I have to do this for people like me to be free."
"Then I'll stick here with you," said Malu. "These powers are yours and no one else. I'm sure the people like you will be sad to know that you gave up your powers in order to free them. After the news that you became a Guardian spread around, I saw hope in some children like you. They said they were happy that a star had chosen someone like them to become a Guardian."
Caris's eyes widened. She then glanced at the trident, looking as if she was trapped in a dilemma.
"Who's child is this?" asked the prince, gazing at the crowd. "If a family member of this child is here, please come and pick him up before he gets in serious trouble."
Arisa saw Arielle ask the beings in front of her to let her pass to approach her child.
"We should follow her until the barrier," suggested Garoh, swimming forward. "In case our help will be needed."
The team followed him, fighting to swim through the crowd. It took them several seconds to reach the improvised barrier where they stood and watched the mermaid with a silver tail approach her children.
"I apologize for my son's behavior, Your Highness." Arielle bowed.
"Take him away from here before he angers our people," said the prince, not looking at her.
Arielle nodded. "Yes, my prince."
Arielle swam towards Malu, who had his arms locked around Caris. As Caris gazed at her, Arielle blinked twice and focused her eyes on her son.
"Malu," she called. "Let's go."
"No." Malu hid his face.
Arielle exhaled. "Don't make me angry, Malu. Let's go before I lose my patience with you."
Several seconds passed before Malu let go of Caris' arm, swimming towards his mother with his eyes gazing at the floor.
Arielle held his hand and looked at Caris. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth as if she was trying to say something, but failed. As Caris gazed at her with wonder, the guards surrounded Arielle, trying to escort her away from the area.
"Wait," said Arielle before the soldier could help her move away. "Caris?"
"Yes?" Caris blinked her eyes.
Arielle exhaled. "Please don't give up your powers. Please think about your father. Don't do it."
Caris' eyes widened as Malu gazed at his mother surprised. The prince quickly swam towards Arielle.
"You're a traitor," he said, his voice loud. "Soldiers you know what to do."
Malu wrapped his arms around his mother as she shielded him.
"N-no," said Caris as the soldiers around Arielle prepared their weapons. "Stop."
But as no one listened to her, Caris closed her eyes as one of the soldiers attempted to strike Arielle with his spear. A scream of pain broke the atmosphere.
"What was that?" asked one soldier. "It looked like a glowing arrow."
"Never mind," said another soldier. "Treat him. I'll take care of the traitor."
Clanking sounds pierced the background as the soldier's sword met a crimson blade.
Arisa slowly deflected the heavy blade. "This is troublesome. It's really difficult to maneuver a weapon in this world."
"Tausa warned us," said Kazuya behind her. "We'll have to get used to it."
As Arisa prepared herself for a possible attack, she saw Caris swimming towards them.
"Arisa? Is that really you?" Caris gazed at her with widened eyes. "What are you doing here?"