4th Wave - A Soundless Song [2]

It had been a few days since Okihiro had seen the mermaid. Deep down, he wanted to believe she had lost interest, yet he knew better. She would come back.

…she always does.

He shuddered, unable to get rid of the trepid thoughts that kept haunting his mind.

Underwater, Eirin almost couldn’t she had found the boat. She let go of a deep breath, pure relief spreading within her chest.

He didn’t leave yet…

Some days the man would sail until the last rays of light disappeared, while others he would be gone before noon. And though there were still some hours until sunset, Eirin feared the scenario where the sailor would be gone for the day. Yet he hadn’t left yet.

He was still there.

For a reason she couldn’t understand, her heart was racing more than usual. More rapid, more nervous, more hesitant, more expectant.

Soon…

Soon the shiny trinket will be mine.

For she was still misjudging the real culprit for such feelings.

On the boat, Okihiro touched his pendant almost on instinct. Seeking a warmth and comfort he would find nowhere else.

Perhaps I should start hoisting the sails...

And even though he thought that, Okihiro did not move from his place, his gaze continuing their search despite himself.

When the mermaid surfaced, it took only a few seconds for the man's furry beast to spot her. Okirin barked joyfully at her, wagging his tail with speed. Somehow, she was happy to see the beast. Perhaps she still had a chance of having the animal get the trinket after all.

No...not today. Not now. I need to focus.

Eirin took a deep breath and swam closer. Yet before she was ready, the man turned her way.

They both froze in their place.

Okihiro held his breath, unsure if he was relieved or scared. Eirin controlled the urge to bite her lip, her cheeks burning.

What will she do today? How can I even apologize?, he wondered, unsettled.

A communication…Their way to communicate…I can find it. I can do it, she thought, heart racing.

Eirin grabbed and pulled the boat’s border, making it tilt a bit to the side due to her weight, and locked eyes with him.

Today. Today is the day I succeed.

Okihiro’s heart almost stopped.

It's today. Today is the day I die.

But then, the mermaid did what she always did, and Okihiro never understood.

Something completely unexpected.

Princess Eirin took the starfish still stuck in her hair and handed it to him.

…what?

Is she…giving this to me?

It took Okihiro almost two entire minutes to finally accept the gift. Almost two entire minutes of him debating with himself and questioning his own sanity and sight.

Perhaps the next thing I’ll lose is my vision. This makes no sense.

But…that’s what she’s doing, isn’t it? She is giving this to me.

He accepted the starfish reluctant, with caution. It fitted right into his palm, its body softer than he would think as it moved and tickled his skin. It was pretty.

She let out a shaken breath, opening and closing one of her hands repeatedly before taking the next step.

When Okihiro looked at her again, Eirin was extending her hand toward him.

As if she wanted to greet him.

The man blinked. Then he rubbed his eyes and blinked again.

Yet after staring at the mermaid for almost two entire minutes and accepting her gift, for the first time, Kojin Okihiro saw Princess Eirin.

He saw the determination in her gaze, and the tension on her shoulders. He saw how her hand trembled and the way she pressed her lips together.

He saw her not as a vengeful mermaid but as someone who was as nervous as him.

So he reached out to her hand.

The second they touched, Eirin gasped. His touch was so warm. Perhaps too warm. And before her heart could explode out of her chest, the man slowly shook her hand. And when he did, Princess Eirin felt all the nervousness melt from her and get replaced by a deep sense of accomplishment. Of joy.

Since the day they first met, Okihiro saw Eirin smiling for the first time right then.

And though Kojin Okihiro had been deaf since he was twelve…

Was she…always this beautiful?

He swore he could hear his heart racing.

                                                                    𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼

At a different sea, with its own currents and waters, certain words were being spoken.

Within the walls of the Palace of Cobalts, two mermen carefully listened to those words.

Yet the emotions those words evoked in them were quite different.

“I hope my failed attempts at arranging a proper meeting between the two parties won’t get in the way of our negotiations.”

As both mermen listened to the seahorse and the message they were perfectly conveying, one of them had a joyous glow in his eyes.

The other had the painful expression of someone who was suffering from congestion.

They were both in their youth—their bodies strong, their presence powerful and regal. Their hair was of a deep and rich blue, their tails of a darker shade, yet just as mesmerizing.

Their skin was not tanned, it was dark—a tone that captured the coldness and richness of wet sand and its unique blend between gray and brown.

“As I do not wish to delay things any further, I propose a new approach which, I believe, will satisfy both Palaces.”

And as the words were spoken, and the message’s content was revealed, the two mermen listened until there was nothing more to be heard, and the seahorse awaited their reply.

Prince Seikan felt something die inside him when his brother opened a big smile and raised his eyebrows, waiting for his answer—eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.

“What do you even expect me to say?! The way she spoke, it’s like she’s selling her own daughter to an angler fish! Honestly, how am I even supposed to be happy about this? I'm aware why Father asked me to follow through with this, yet… Truly, brother, if the daughter is half alike her mother, I will die in that place. Ah, please don’t add this to our reply,” the prince quickly added, turning to the messenger who still waited patiently.

The seahorse was, without a shred of doubt, adding that to their response.

“Please, Sei, you can’t possibly be comparing yourself to an angler fish. Even in your worst days, you still have your charm.”

The youngest buried his face in his hands, letting out a long sigh.

“Please, tell me this was not all you took from what I just said?”

The merman swam closer, wrapping his arm around his brother’s shoulder.

“Yes, the way she speaks is…quite something, and considering how everything started, I can see why you would be reluctant. But don’t try to swim against the current before knowing where it will take you! We only ever communicated with the queen herself, so as far as we know, the princess may be her complete opposite.”

Or someone even worse…

Seikan closed his eyes and let out a groan, resting his back against the extravagant chair.

Then he glanced at his brother, still trying to hold onto the last remnants of his will to love and life.

“If we are to agree with this new proposal, we need to depart soon. It's a long way to the Undisonus Sea.”

The older merman let out an excited cheer, slapping his hands together in a sign of victory. Then he turned to the seahorse, the brightest smile on his face.

“You can relay the following to the queen: We happily agree with the new arrangement. We shall start preparing for our departure as soon as the messenger leaves these walls, so you can expect us to arrive right on time for the big event.”

The seahorse bowed, asking them to provide their scales to prove the receipt of the queen’s message.

Once they were alone, the elder brother once again grabbed the youngest by the shoulders, doing his very best to ‘shake’ some excitement into Seikan.

And failing.

“Heed my words, little brother. You will be kissing my fins and thanking me one day. Hate this as much as you want now, once you meet her, I know you will change your mind. I can feel it in my gills.”

Seikan was certain his brother was wrong.

Because if there was a thing the second Prince of Cobalts loathed more than the idea of marriage—

Was everything the Palace of Pearls represented.

Which included its very queen and princesses.