Dear Prophet

"Or so the story goes," exclaimed a fair maiden, more widely known as Lady Sea or Mixciu. The children, captivated by her tale, leaned in closer, their eyes filled with wonder and curiosity, eager to hear the next part of the story.

Mixciu explained that the story had been passed down through generations in her family, but with the passage of time, some details had been lost to history. The children, undeterred by the gaps in the narrative, urged her to continue.

One of the children, their imagination ignited by Mixciu's words, asked if everyone in her family had fish tails for legs. Mixciu's eyes sparkled with delight as she confirmed that her family and all the people in her city possessed fish tails, a secret world hidden beneath the waves.

The children's fascination grew, and they expressed a burning desire to visit Mixciu's hometown. She gently explained that only great warriors could gain access to her city, as it was a place reserved for the chosen ones who could enter the realm of mermaids.

Mixciu, however, offered a glimmer of hope. She had been tirelessly training the young ones, and she believed that with their dedication and hard work, they could achieve greatness and earn the right to enter the city of mermaids.

The children's eyes widened with determination, and they pledged to train diligently, dreaming of the day when they would set foot in the Kingdom of Mermaids and become the stuff of legends themselves. Mixciu chuckled at their ambitions, wished them luck, and returned to her duties of tending to the cavern's other orphans.

The cavern, which Mixciu had transformed into a refuge for orphans, was expanding with each passing day. She scarcely had a moment to herself as she dedicated her time to caring for the children. She knew she would have to discuss this with Sonngild when he returned.

While Mixciu nurtured the next generation, she also reserved a brief moment each day for her own reflections. This was crucial for her to gauge if any impending disasters loomed on the horizon, as safeguarding these young souls was her paramount duty.

One day, as she peered into her crystal ball, seeking threads of fate to unravel, an unexpected message or rather, an illusion, engulfed her. Her consciousness was abruptly transported to another world, a realm bathed in stars, where a divine entity awaited her.

The god delivered an answer, albeit not the one Mixciu had hoped for. A revelation of a distant calamity cast its shadow upon her. Just as she returned to her senses, a distressed wail echoed through the cavern, drawing Mixciu's attention.

A young boy had appeared at the cavern's entrance, his cries of distress reverberating through the underground refuge. Mixciu, guided by maternal instincts, embarked on a frantic search for the source of the wails, accompanied by her eldest son, Rien.

Rien offered his assistance, and soon the entire cavern was mobilized in the search for the distressed child. However, within their sanctuary, where every child was treated with care and kindness, it seemed impossible that anyone would be in such distress.

Rien suspected that the source of the cries might be from above the cavern. Mixciu thanked her son and made a quick decision: she would temporarily assume human form to investigate the matter further.

Hurriedly, she dressed herself, as her clothes were prone to disintegration, leaving her unclothed. Dressed and ready, she joined the older children outside. Their excitement was palpable as they beheld the world bathed in the radiant light of the sun, breathing in the fresh, natural air.

For most of them, this was the first time they had seen the sun since they were taken into the cavern for safety. Their joy was boundless.

However, their revelry was short-lived, as a young boy, covered in scars, his frail body bearing the weight of suffering, stumbled upon their group. He sought help but collapsed from hunger and exhaustion.

Mixciu rushed to his side, checking for signs of life. To her relief, he still breathed, but his condition was dire. She instructed Rien and the other children to carry him to the cavern for treatment.

As days turned into weeks, the young boy slowly began to heal, but his body bore the visible scars of his past torment, with cuts, bruises, and burnt skin marking his fragile form.

Mixciu, desperate for answers, gazed into her crystal ball, but it yielded cryptic messages, like "Distant Calamity," which only deepened her concern. How could such a fragile boy be linked to a catastrophe?

One aspect of the boy troubled Mixciu profoundly: a scar that covered his right eye, a grotesque mark of black that emitted a faint violet glow, exuding an aura of death. It intrigued and frightened her in equal measure.

Night after night, the scar would glow brightly, drawing the children's attention like a beacon. Mixciu saw it as a warning, a signal of potential danger, prompting her to investigate the source.

Rien, curious and brave, attempted to touch the scar, but Mixciu intervened, cautioning him against it. She confided in him, revealing her suspicions that the boy harbored an energy far more perilous than that of a demon.

Rien agreed to keep the boy's secret, vowing to protect him from unwanted interference. Mixciu thanked her son for his understanding and went to her room.

Once again, she consulted her crystal ball, but its revelations remained enigmatic, with messages like "Gorgeous Flames" leaving her perplexed. The boy's condition remained critical, his body ravaged by sickness, malnutrition, and injury.

Mixciu couldn't help but wonder about the horrors he had endured to reach such a state. The children, too, pitied the young boy, especially Rien, who felt a deep sense of duty to watch over him.

Weeks passed, and the boy still lay asleep, his body resisting the healing process. Mixciu blamed herself for not being able to do more, but she persisted, hoping against hope that he would wake up one day and forge a path to his own legend.

Then, one fateful night, the scar on the boy's eye began to glow with a vibrant red, rather than its usual violet hue. The children rushed to his room as the boy's entire body became engulfed in flames, his cries of agony echoing through the cavern.

Mixciu, alerted by the commotion, rushed to his side, but the intense heat kept her at bay. She refused to be deterred by the searing pain, enveloping herself in water, and, with the help of the older children, struggled to quell the blaze that consumed the boy.

As the night wore on, they battled the inferno, extinguishing the fire that threatened to consume both the boy and the cavern itself. Finally, as dawn broke, the flames receded, and the boy awoke, confusion and gratitude in his eyes.

Mixciu gently laid him down, and Rien watched over him with a sense of purpose, knowing that this young boy held the key to mysteries that extended far beyond their understanding.

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