There was a folklore very well-known when Aefia first came to Nikoan.
Ms. Avry had told the entire class about it. That myth can be dangerous when it is brought to reality. In Greek mythology, Hercules was strong to no limits. It could be true or it could be not, since limitless strength wasn't a true thing.
Even after learning that you are strong, you will still internally regret it saying there is still a thing or two that you can't fight even after having so much power. Hercules took the weight of the cosmos on his shoulders from the Titan Atlas. But he still had two to three weakness that one of them everyone who knew this mythology, knew.
He had extreme, explosive temper. Struggles with his pride, and then, the Hydra Poison that took his mortal life eventually. Although he may be strong, he wasn't strong enough to fight off his own emotions and the poison that took his life.
That was the dark side of myth, the beautiful things were all overshadowed by a true dark side. In a story, you can expect four types of people, and all depending on their actions of course.
One, the people who have good within evil. Two, the people who have evil within good. Three, the people who are purely good. Then there is four, people who are purely evil.
Although it is hard to determine which category someone belongs to after listening to their back stories, there is one common trait that everyone of them shares—a human mind which has multiple flaws that sometimes can't be fixed.
We all have at least one problem. We all have a tendency to make mistakes. Sometimes we learn from them other times we don't. But one thing we never learn, is to not believe the stories that happens to end with a 'happily ever after'.
We all saw in the Cindrella story ending, that she escapes her sisters and step-mother. But we failed to realize that she had to succumb to marrying her stalker just to stop being chased. The step-mother and step-sisters were trying to save Cindrella from that cruel faith.
Cinderella herself was in total isolation of human feelings, she was not aware of the trap when she fell into one. Children stories are made that way to seem less and less creepy. And when we are all kids, we don't catch on details much to check on when we grow up. That is why we end up believing myth is a beautiful thing. That fantasy is a world without danger.
Aefia herself, believed that life would flow in the style of a myth after one huge problem flows by... But reality got her early on. When she saw those beasts laying on the ground, it made her realize... Somethings that are wrapped in plastic and glitter, don't always shine on the insides too.
Well yes, fantasy is an escape from reality. But the idea of wanting a life of fantasy, never leaves someone's mind as they grow older.
When she was younger, she used to believe mermaids were harmless creatures who were pretty and loved children. They loved interacting with humans and were always soft-hearted. Until she met one in real life, she couldn't believe her eyes or the rumors that were said. That people who interact with mermaids, eventually die because of them.
If only she had realized this earlier... But no, the human mind only functions well at the end of the situation. After you are caught up in it, after you are suffocating in it. After you are being treathened in it.
She used to believe mermaids helped humans out of the sea if they ever drown. These ones... They are trying to drown her.
As her head lulled to the side, the tentacles let go of her limps. She was unconscious to think of anything, or to see it either.
However... Evil supports evil. And those evil didn't want her to die. This is one thing that myth and reality almost share at the same time. Depending on the situation of course.
Swoosh!
A hand covered over Aefia's mouth, immediately dragging her back to life as she gasped into the air pocket.
What is going on?!
She glanced up, the mermaids looked tense and irritated, multiple of them of looking at her direction with hostility. Behind her, was another fish like body. Their hands were attached with lengths of extra skin. Allowing for finger movements, but acting as fins.
Another one of the same hand, but different skin tone, placed on her shoulders. Her head moved to the side to see who it was.
Sirens?!
Beautiful looking woman's with mermaid tails, but sharper features than mermaids. She felt like she immediately fell in love with them.
Faces coated with rhinestones that shone due to the light coming from the surface of the water. There ears curving into a sharp point. Which mermaids obviously didn't have.
The siren smiled at her.
"Have you got lost somehow? Guardian of Death?" She asked.
So they are aware?! No wonder...
Aefia nodded her head, unable to speak. But something in particular caught her attention. The air pocket, how was it possible?
"Ah! About that... We are using one of our own artifacts on you. It will keep you alive however long we use it and wish it." She answered back, her voice was sweet, almost dizzying. It felt like honey was melting inside Aefia's ears as they spoke. It was very soft-spoken, a low and high pitch at the same time, like they were singing right there.
Sirens were known as evil for a feature they were born with. As Aefia had read in one text about mythical beasts, sirens only lure humans into their den because they want a review of their songs. And it also made Aefia realize... It is not their fault something like that happens.
Humans always do something which is their fault, and try to blame it on others.
Apparently, the only people who have ever fallen into such a 'trap', were men. Given Aefia was from a modern day Earth... She already understood why they would die due to their ships sinking. They want to flirt... But end up trying too hard to do so. That they forget their is a literal boulder standing right in front of them.
While reading it, Aefia felt pity for the boulder. It was as if it was saying;
'Am I really not that 'pretty'? Am I that ugly?!'
She giggled to herself all night, letting the wild imaginations of the author turn the entire fantasy world inside her mind into something she hadn't thought in a long time.
Seeing the sirens, she suddenly got recalled of that particular line. She looked down at the hand at her mouth, restricting her from speaking. But if she could, she would compliment them for their voices. It was soothing for her to listen to.
However... How did sound travel through water—oh! Whales make sounds too! Ugh! How come I forgot... Oh wait!
Her eyes travelled to the bottom, the panic attack of her thalassophobia returning.
God help! Where is the land?!
She squirmed in their right grip, but they soon after, reassured her but holding onto her properly. Tightening the air pocket at her face, which as they pulled their hand away from her mouth, was a air-filter stuck between Aefia's teeth. Somehow, it was a perfect fit inside her mouth. It was squishy, like a piece of chicken, but she couldn't close her mouth or chew it. And it tasted terrible!
She watched forward as the sirens and mermaids entered a conversation. One of them still held onto Aefia.
"You do know that you are protecting an intruder who can kill you right here, right now." The mermaids shouted, tightening their grips on their spears.
"Yes. But she is just a child. She probably came to explore or retrieve an artifact!"
"She has a blade on her!"
"So what?! It could be for self-defense!"
"Have you forgotten what happened before we had a protector?!"
"Those were men! She is a kid who isn't even eighteen yet! She probably doesn't even know that this lake is this deep! You saw how she was panicking after seeing the depth?!"
"What if she is acting!"
"You can't act that terrified! She doesn't even know how to swim properly. She used a ghost to lead her down to the base!"
Aefia listened to the shouts, guilty that two cousin species were fighting over her.
"I will have to inform the Prince of the Lake." The mermaids finally declared. "We were sent to retrieve the Orb of Life, and this girl just wasted our time. She isn't going to make up for the damage when we get scolded!"
The Prince of the Lake? Damn... There is such a thing? Aefia thought to herself while tilting her head to the side slightly. Amused that somethings will always be awkward for her to hear.
"Then go alert him. But you will not lay a hand on her." The siren who was arguing interjected.
Suddenly, a mermaid held a spear in front of the siren's throat, leading to the entire horde to corner the mermaids. That also included the one grabbing onto Aefia. As the support fell away, she flapped her limps for dear life, looking up to see the shore.
I have been inside this lake for quite the time now. Luckily I got my breathe back and my heart is beating at a normal rate, that I can use my fire element to keep me warm.
Suddenly, while she was checking her hands, a mermaid reached her, holding a sword. It sweeped up in an arc, and because water slows people down, she was about to block it with her hands, causing a dark stain of blood immediately erupt from her palms.
Her jaw snapped on the artifact, but it didn't break. It shifted, that alone is a massive problem. She couldn't breathe anymore. However, that didn't stop her from reaching into her sleeve and pulling the short sword out.
With it, she held it out in front of her, which she tried to veer backwards in the water.
Have I... Ever fought inside water?
She gritted her teeth to allow no air from escaping, finding no time to adjust the artifact. She blocked another strike to her chest, where her heart was. Her tied hair flew across her face. She was constantly pushed backwards, with every dogde. And she couldn't attack back or it would seem like a threat to them.
The sirens tried to intercept her, but they were caught up in their own battles with the mermaid. However, she gave them a reassured glance before tilting the blade in a streamline, stabbing the place beside the mermaid's head, distracting them for the time being. Within that same second, she pulled her knee up to her chest and kicked herself away, out of the next swing of the blade.
She used the heel of her bare feet to push on the sword's flat surface, it acted as a moment of leverage that pushed her upwards. The next blink of an eye, she utilized her finger and her skills to tie the blade into her control.
Aefia pulled her fingers into her palm and yanked her elbow into the water beside her head, pulling the sword along with it.
One down... Ten more to go.
She thought to herself while finding it difficult to breathe. She reached inside her mouth to adjust the artifact between her jaw, but while she tried, another one came up to her and sent the blunt end of the stick into her stomach.
The pain made her immediately drop the artifact and grab onto the spear's handle, trying to push it away. A nearby siren watched the artifact drop from her fingers, and raced towards it. Knowing well that they would need it again to keep her breathing. But within that time, she was already starting to lose consciousness again.
The mermaid grinned, pushing the handle deeper into her. Making the air inside her lungs bubble out all at once. Her organs felt compressed as she let go of the handle, unable to fight back. The most she could do, was push herself away from it. While also... The pressure drew blood out of her mouth.
At that last second, she stored the short sword away at her inventory. She shut her eyes, for a moment to think.
Where have I done it wrong?
The mermaids and sirens turned confused and concerned at the same time. Seeing as how she suddenly gave up, there must be something up with her. But the siren didn't stop trying to put the artifact back inside her mouth.
Aefia opened her eyes.
However, the area she was in, was only water and not a single species expect herself. She could breathe, move around like floating in air... it felt like she died.
Aefia looked down at the ground, that now turned visible. It was shallow again, but she didn't swim to touch the ground with her feet. Her mind in a moment of complete silence.
"Hello Aefia." A voice whispered at her ear, pressing her hand at her mouth while pulling her backwards into a body. The other hand wrapped around her torso, while she stared vacantly at the base of the lake.
"Do you know who I am?" The girl asked with a familiar voice. She removed the hand from Aefia's mouth, allowing for her to speak.
"I don't."
The person immediately let out a sigh of disbelieve. "I can't complain about it, but...
"I am Daphne. The devil you impersonated without knowing." She answered while leaning her chin right onto her shoulder. Leaning closer to her ear. "Because of you, I have gotten a human form. And because of you, I will get your body too."
"..."
Aefia listened in silence. She didn't say a word, didn't bother to even give her mind into that matter. Right now, she was in a half-dead state.
"You know... I could save you from dying. I could take over your body." The devil spoke while playing her fingertips against Aefia's jaw. "In return, you can give me your body and your energy. The only disadvantage you get, is I can't move out unless my two minutes of possession has been completed."
She thought for a while, a devil couldn't possess her fully, since she was the Guardian of Death. At the same time, she couldn't save herself from the beast threat.
"Do whatever you want." Aefia commanded.
The devil grinned once, before dissapearing into smoke that slowly covered Aefia's eyes, that were still starring at the ground. With a look of questioning...
"Did I make the right choice? Just now?"