echoed through the cave seemed to fade away, leaving only the sound of water slapping ag

pale green scales and big, dewy eyes. She stared right at

voice shaky. Tell us your love st

weren't hungry for food but for sad stories that would feed themselves. And, he was a little asham

was the only person who ever looked at me... not l

m closer, their

do anything. She promised to wait for me while I trained and fought to become someone. But when I came back six years later, healed and stronger...

up of mermaids. A few covered

I took lives, and I spilled blood... but I w

oke the

face. She kissed him, soft and trembling. The kiss

stared,

r mermai

ral. I-I'm sorry! she stuttered, tears rolling down her face.

sed. Why... Why did you do that? His voice

. I just wanted to make you feel a

id, Luo Yin, snapped, Enough! This is a waste of ti

gh a dark tunnel. He barely noticed, his head still

out, what he sa

e coral formations! Those walls were super high, and mermaids that wore armor guarded them, plus they have b

at the gates made Lia

. The scales, which used to be bright, were gray! They dumped them at the ent

voice now horrified. This is

we must to survive, landwalk

in his neck. A needle, too fast to dodge, pok

id you do-?

o you can breathe and get used to our water... but it also marks you.

up. The water seemed clearer, and he could breathe

gate, and as they did,

is captors

ce that's dripping with excitement. A rare man that i

Maybe we'll get a favor! We'll b

f to remember the name. A person who enslaved hi

ns. Where am I? he snapped

him, pullin

y're all mermaids and they're eyes widened and they spotte

at

after s

... he has

ng felt disgusted. He had fought monsters befo

t guard. Where do your prisone

t his ribs, ste

s, sneered. Quiet, prisoner. You'll get

e-he was able to break into the Iron Pits before. He could do it aga

rmaids entered their names into these glowing orbs in

is face, her ch

Tell me. Please. Where do they get their priso

tarted to open her m

w. But not forever. Help me

red, From the outer reefs. The smaller tribes. They take the weaker, sick, and d

felt c

. Whether you're a prisoner or not... you have to work

ened. No. I don't

t, the chains je

ghts flickered - purple and blue - and chee

. The crowd made space for him, staring at his face and

a great a

for the son

s hair...

ite the chains. He stumbled, forced forward by poke

been