Developmental Potential

There really isn't that much for one to marvel at throughout one's life. I believe that the average human being only ever manages to fulfill some part of their ambitions, but wound up with a satisfactory life anyway. In turn, high achievers always manage to contribute largely to society in some manner, regardless of the topic of achievement. It just goes to show that not everyone experiences things in the same manner and that some people may wound up living a different life than what they had expected. Once these people acknowledge their differences comparing themselves to those who had succeeded in bringing out the best of themselves, they indulge in whatever they have left, to which they continue to live at the present— leaving their original, high-achieving ambitions unresolved.

I myself, am currently wound up with this aforementioned "different life than what I had expected". How did I end up here? Here I am, lying down and staring up at the face of a woman I'd never seen before— not to mention that she looks like she came straight out of a fairytale.

"Um excuse me, where am I?" I asked the woman who was looking down on me. She had nice aqua-teal blue hair and seemed to be wearing nothing but a bikini top. It tickled my hormones.

I then noticed what seemed to be ear fins on both sides of her head... Not to mention that she seemed to bear a fish tail instead of legs; a mermaid, as Andersen's story would entail, like the beings depicted in fantasy and mythology. That old man knocked me out well. I certainly hope that I'm not subject to any repercussions.

"You're on Sea Spirit Island, Mr. Human!" The mermaid girl exclaimed, seemingly glad that I was conscious. "I found you lying down unconscious on the shores near the waters here... Are you alright...?" She said softly, addressing a sense of concern.

I have no clue as to where Sea Spirit Island was on the world map. I don't take Geography, but I am certain that such an island did not exist. Perhaps she's mistaken? She is dressed up like a mermaid, after all.

Before I could respond however, a small piece of paper slipped out from my pocket. Picking it up, I noticed that it was inscribed with a message, written in faded ink.

"The one fated to be with you is of another origin... And hence I have called you here. Enjoy your new life."

I flipped the paper.

"I have left some things from your world with you... Use them to start a life with her."

I really could not comprehend everything. The words on the paper sent a shiver down my spine, and my mind raced with a thousand questions. What did it mean by "another origin"? I thought to myself, thinking about who had called me here. Most importantly, who was the "her" they were referring to?

My gaze shifted back to the mermaid girl in front of me. She looked at me expectantly, waiting for my response. I stammered, trying to find the right words to articulate my confusion.

"Um... T-Thanks for looking after me. Mind if I ask about who you are?"

The mermaid girl's expression softened. She sat up and then began to introduce herself.

"My name is Luminara," she said, her voice soothing like a gentle wave. "I am a mermaid from the underwater city of Athens, and I'm moving to land today."

"Moving to land? So you are a mermaid then, huh..." I remarked, scratching my head. It's hard to make sense of anything that's happened so far. "Can you walk, Luminara?"

"I have a potion that provides me a human form right here in my bag... Wait, where's my bag?"

Luminara seemed to have immediately lost her composure. Looks like she's the forgetful type... 

Come to think of it, the note said I had belongings that came with me to this island. Looking around, I noticed a small pouch lying near me, seemingly stuffed with lots of things in it. Opening said pouch, I received a shake-charged flashlight, some matches, and what seemed to be a combat axe. There were also pamphlets that detailed recipes of basic dishes, such as french fries or curry rice, with ingredients that can be easily cooked and made into dishes. At the bottom of the bag was a wallet, with coins within it that I did not recognize.

Carrying my pouch, I stood up, bracing myself for whatever may come. The mysterious note is probably from the old man who knocked me unconscious and I can assume that he's also the one that brought me to this world, so I should probably just listen to his words for the time being. Not like I can do anything in retaliation anyway.

"Uuuu, it looks like I lost my bag..." Luminara sighed, disappointed in herself. She was gazing down all depressed-like.

I felt pity for her, and seeing that she was someone who was nice enough to take care of me while I was unconscious, I made a decision to help her.

"Do they sell that transformation potion somewhere? I can help you buy one if need be, Luminara." I said, as I knelt down and looked at her. "Would you like to come with? Though I doubt that'd be possible, since you can't walk right now..."

"They do sell that potion, but I couldn't possibly let a stranger do me such a large favor..."  Luminara remarked, her webbed fingers tapping each other in embarrassment.

"It's only right that I repay you for what you did," I stated, with a light smile on my face. "Let me help, alright? I'll come back with what you need, so return to the waters and just stay in the area for now, okay?"

"Thank you, Mr. Human... I'm no good when it comes to self-management, which was why my peers sent me here in the first place anyway..."

"Don't beat yourself up over it. I'll come back soon, alright?"

With that, I pat her head and stood up again, and she crawled back into the ocean, her tail gracefully gliding across the waters. She then dove back into the sea and disappeared from my sight, like a dove that had just flown away after being startled. Somehow, I felt like being patient and gentle with her. She was delicate like a flower, and her personality felt warm and embracing.

As I turned around, I heard the sound of the waters crashing against the shore again. Luminara had her head out, and a gaze that seemed to yell "Please don't leave me behind", making me feel all the more obligated to return to her as soon as possible.

"Before you go, can I have your name, Mr. Human?" Luminara called out to me, her voice genuine and precise.

"It's Arden. Remember it well, okay?" I yelled back in response, waving at her. "I'll be back!"

With that, Luminara disappeared into the ocean once more, and I set off to find her the potion. A human life awaited her, and it's only fair that I provided the opportunity, as a means of paying her back.

***

Walking into the depths of the forest, I walked as I left a trail of rocks that led back to the ocean. I had no other way of knowing where I was at the moment, and all I could do was wander the forest until I had found some sort of civilization. The sky slowly began to diminish in its vibrant brightness, leaving me with nothing but growing darkness.

"This ain't good... I should head back to shore and rest there for now. I'll try again tomorrow." I told myself, to which I then returned to the shores, following the dimly lit rocks that I threw on the floor.

Returning to the shores, I was met with a familiar sight, and Luminara sat by the shore, waiting for my return.

"How did it go, Arden...?" She asked precariously, in a bit of a sorry way.

"Not so well. For one, I had no clue as to where we are, which means I can't navigate well. Sorry for that." I reported, bowing slightly.

"Nonono, it's okay, I was the one who lost my bag in the first place, so you don't have to apologize for it, Arden!" Luminara expressed, her tail flapping against the sandy shore as she shook her head.

I couldn't help but smile at Luminara's innocence and the way she dismissed my concerns. Her optimism was refreshing in this unfamiliar and bewildering situation. I reached into the pouch that had mysteriously appeared with me and took out the pamphlets with the basic recipes.

"Well, since we can't find the potion right away, how about we make the best of our current situation?" I suggested, holding up the pamphlets. "I have some recipes here, and I'm sure we can whip up a delicious meal together."

Luminara's eyes lit up with curiosity and excitement. She scooted closer to me, her tail splashing in the shallow water as she sat down beside me. "That sounds like fun! I've always been curious about human food."

With that, we began gathering driftwood and stones to create a makeshift fire pit. Luminara used her mermaid agility to retrieve some seaweed and other sea vegetables while I rummaged through the nearby forest to find ingredients for the meal. There were some plants that looked like potatoes and I had taken those as a means of supplying starch for our bodies.

After spending a decent amount of time gathering, we regrouped back at the shores. I had created a makeshift campfire and table, allowing me to fry and cook the ingredients.

"Hey Luminara, you're completely fine with eating food like this, right?" I inquired, as I had no idea as to what the diet of a mermaid would be.

"Our dietary habits are practically identical to human ones, so I think it should be fine. I'm not great with meat though..." Luminara responded, in a somewhat flustered manner.

"Well it should be fine then. There's no meat in this meal, so eat up and rest up alright? I'm certain that a big day is ahead of us tomorrow."

As the aroma of the vegetable stir-fry being cooked continued to fill the air, I could sense Luminara trying to contain her excitement. It was obvious that she had not experienced human cuisine before, but I would not have imagined that a stir-fry was able to rile her up as such.

We sat by the fire, sharing the delicious meal we had prepared. Luminara savored every bite with enthusiasm, occasionally asking questions about the taste and texture of the food. I answered to the best of my ability, though sometimes struggled to find words to describe certain flavors.

"Thanks for the food, Arden!" Luminara expressed, with a wide smile on her face. She seemed to be genuinely happy from dining on land.

"Was it your first time eating outside of the sea?" I asked.

Luminara nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. "Yes! It's my first time eating food on land. Everything tastes so different and delicious. I never knew vegetables could be so flavorful!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her childlike wonder. It was refreshing to see someone appreciating the simple joys of life that I, along with everyone else on Earth, often took for granted.

"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it," I said with a smile. "Food has a way of bringing people together, no matter where they come from. It's one of the things that make us human."

"Humans really are interesting, aren't they?" said Luminara, as she gazed upward towards the sky, which had turned dark. 

After a brief moment of pondering, she then moved closer to me, leaning her head against my left shoulder. She then silently whispered in my ear, her webbed hands brushing gently against the sand:

"Hey Arden, can you show me more of what it's like to be human?"

I found myself captivated by her request. She spoke of it in an alluring manner, making me feel as though I was the only one suited for fulfilling her desire. At that moment, I felt my heart tingle, if only for a short, instantaneous moment. It was something that I had never felt before.

"I... I suppose I can show you more of what it's like to be human, Luminara," I whispered back, my voice filled with uncertainty and anticipation. "But I must warn you, it's a world filled with both beauty and hardship. Are you sure you want to venture into it?"

"I came here onto the shores in order to learn about humans, remember?" said Luminara, as she smiled in response. "With you helping me Arden, I'm definitely going to be fine on land."

Her trust in me sent a jolt of disbelief and wonder through my being. How could someone I had just met put such faith in me? But I couldn't deny the undeniable connection that had formed between us, transcending the bounds of rationality. Perhaps this fantastical world had its own way of weaving destinies, bringing together souls from different origins.

"If that's the case, let's embark on this journey together," I said, my voice laced with a mix of determination and trepidation. "But first, let's rest for tonight. Tomorrow, we'll begin our exploration of the human world— not to mention, we still have to find a store for that potion."

I then proceeded to pick her up, ready to send her back to the ocean for some shut-eye. It must be inconvenient for her, seeing that she had to crawl up on the shore every time we met up.

"H-Hold on, Arden!" Luminara quickly yelled, in a somewhat flustered manner. "What are you doing?"

"I thought mermaids slept in the ocean... Was I wrong?"

"N-No, it's not that..." said Luminara, as her voice softened. "I forgot to tell you, so it's not your fault, Arden, but I plan on sleeping on land tonight."

"Are you sure about this, Luminara?" I asked, placing her back down on the sand. "It might be rough to sleep on the shores for your first night, n-not to mention that... I'm a guy." I remarked, somewhat flustered.

Luminara blushed, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. She nervously twirled a strand of her aqua-teal blue hair around her finger, avoiding eye contact with me.

"I... I trust you, Arden," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I feel safe with you, and I don't mind sharing the shore with you for tonight."

Her words caught me off guard, and I felt a mixture of surprise and warmth spreading through my chest. It was a strange sensation, knowing that someone had placed their trust in me so completely, especially in this unfamiliar world.

"Alright, if you're sure," I replied, trying to hide my own flustered state. "We can stay here together for the night. I'll go find a comfortable spot."

I walked along the shore, searching for a suitable place to rest. Eventually, I found a soft patch of sand under the shade of a large palm tree. The moonlight cast a gentle glow over the surroundings, creating an ethereal ambience. I gathered some leaves around that area, forming a makeshift tarp against the sand.

"This seems suitable," I commented to myself.

Running back to where Luminara was, I excused myself and picked her up, cradling her in my arms. Her tail was still moist and slippery, and I did my best to ensure that I wouldn't drop her by accident. I then gently laid her against the leaves I had placed around the area, and then laid down next to her.

As we lay there, gazing up at the starry sky, a sense of tranquility washed over me. It was a moment of calm amidst the chaos of the unknown. Luminara turned her head towards me, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Arden, what's it like to sleep on land?" she asked, her voice filled with innocence.

I chuckled softly, finding her question endearing. "Well, on land, we usually lie down, close our eyes, and let ourselves drift off to sleep. It's a way for our bodies and minds to rest and rejuvenate after a long day."

Luminara nodded, absorbing this new information. "And what about dreams? Do humans dream like mermaids do?"

I thought for a moment, reflecting on the nature of dreams. "Yes, we do dream. Dreams are jumbled versions of our memories and experiences, usually to help sort information within our head. They can be strange, exciting, or even scary sometimes."

Luminara's eyes sparkled with wonder. "I wish I could see what humans dream about. It sounds magical."

I smiled, reaching out to brush a strand of hair away from her face. "Who knows, Luminara? Maybe one day you'll experience a human dream for yourself."

She smiled back, her eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity. We lay there in silence for a while longer, the rhythmic sound of the waves lulling us into a peaceful state.

"Anyways, it's probably time I nodded off. If you really can't fall asleep, tell me and I'll carry you back to the sea, alright?" I said, in a calm and reserved manner.

"Goodnight, Arden. I'll try my best..." said Luminara, as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Man, I've really landed on something big, huh? And I keep wondering about the "her" mentioned in that old man's note. Could it be the mermaid that he was referring to? Many thoughts on the situation surrounding I found myself in swarmed the perimeters of my mind.

Yet as I glanced at Luminara's sleeping face, I could not help but feel at ease. Even though she was part fish, she was cute and humble, and was willing to place so much faith in someone that she did not know.

As I continued to stare into the boundless night sky, I slowly felt my eyelids getting heavier. I hadn't felt at peace in a very long time since I started college, but despite the rough shores of the sandy beaches and the eerie, combined sounds of many beings within the forest, it was a moment where I could truly let go of my worries, and soundly drift off to sleep.

Then without much more wondering, I closed my eyes, and let the day end. Whatever will come, will come, but I'm sure it'll all turn out okay.