Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 836 - 777: The Most Beautiful Fairy Tale

I’ve discovered the downside of Mind Reading. Before this, I thought this ability was a very convenient tool for Merfolk communication. Mind Reading can discern true intentions, allowing me to detect darkness and ugliness within one’s heart in advance. I was proud that the Merfolk possessed such a powerful gift.

But now, I’ve found the drawback. Because we’re so accustomed to delving into hearts, we’ve become dependent on it. Being adept at discerning good from evil, I’m deeply drawn to the warmth of pure hearts, melting like moths to a flame.

He is a human who speaks so little it seems almost pathological, but Mind Reading allowed me to gaze directly into his soul. That warm, sincere heart, like a furnace of growing emotions, was more compelling than sweet nothings. My Mind Reading made him the most eloquent poet, and I started to succumb to this straightforward and fervent warmth.

After bathing in sunlight, my craving for warmth grew stronger. I despise the icy chill of the sea but enjoy his eyes and the emotions they hold. This self-defeat makes me feel ridiculous, so I often put on an indifferent or tetchy front in his presence, layering firewall after firewall, but the flames have already penetrated my heart, and I know my pretense won’t last much longer.

I want to be with him. This dream slowly fills my entire existence, making me distracted in other areas. I keep seeking Magic, the magic that allows Merfolk to walk ashore on two legs. That fairy tale has become my best starting point. After some investigation, I discovered that the Merfolk’s fairy tales originated from the royal family.

My father, the King, is very likely the disseminator of "Daughter of the Sea."

With trepidation in my heart, I pretended to be nonchalant when meeting my father. He sat on a giant clam’s flesh bed, valiant and robust, with wavy, rugged whiskers. We share a striking resemblance in our features, but unlike me, my father smiles more readily, his smile tender and warm. I do not know who my mother queen is, but I believe she could not replace him in my heart. He dotes on me greatly; although my Mind Reading can’t probe the hearts of my kin, I know that he’s exceedingly indulgent with me.

"Father, is there really a Sea Witch?"

"My little Princess, which Sea Witch are you referring to?"

I pouted like a pufferfish, resting my hands on the edge of the giant clam. The Sea Monster guards around me disregarded the princess’s unseemly pose as if they saw nothing.

"I’m talking about the Sea Witch from the fairy tale! That vile, bloated creature resembling an octopus, the sorceress who trades the Mermaid Princess’s voice for a pair of legs. That evil woman who tries to overturn the rule of the Merfolk dynasty. Does she really exist? I’m a bit scared." I secretly rejoiced in my heart. Losing my singing voice was nothing; I could still communicate through Mind Reading. A voice that can be used only once in a lifetime is dispensable.

I expected my father to comfort me, to conceal the truth behind minor details. Instead, my question wiped the smile off his face; his eyes locked onto mine with a profound look that sent a chill down my spine. I shivered, fearing that my almighty father knew of my fondness for a human. If he knew, would he bless me or stop me?

"The Sea Witch lives in the trench beneath the Merfolk’s reef castle, my child. Be mindful of your words when you meet that esteemed lady."

My father revealed the Sea Witch’s location, and it sounded like this mysterious lady and he had a good relationship—probably a role akin to that of a Court Wizard. Overjoyed, I kissed my father’s cheek and swam towards the depths of the trench. My father had told me the truth about the Sea Witch; perhaps it meant he agreed. Maybe I could go be with him, with my father’s blessing.

The beauty of my dream is right before my eyes, and not even the cold, dark currents from the depths of the trench can deter me.

I saw the Sea Witch, I saw her.

Her hateful gaze emanated coldness, her massive frame a blend of power and beauty. She was no ugly octopus; her beauty made me feel inadequate by comparison.

The Sea Witch is a noble White Dragon.

The White Dragon opened her eyes, her proud presence making the seawater even chillier. She gazed at me directly, the disdain in her eyes gradually fading.

"Are you the Mermaid Princess?" A lady’s haughty tone echoed in my mind, causing me to shrink, feeling like an immature young girl.

Only when pride outweighed fear did I remember my father’s advice and looked straight at the dragon.

"Yes! Great dragon, I am Princess Merfolk, and I have come to seek your guidance on the magic of acquiring legs!"

The White Dragon chuckled like an old crone, stretching out her body, her eyes alight with the thrill of a new toy.

[To grow a pair of legs? I have a way, but it comes with a price.]

I am well aware.

[I am willing to give up my voice, or something else. But! Do not expect to control me by threatening my father, I am not that foolish princess from the fairytales!]

The White Dragon stared with its colossal eyes.

[Who knows... unlike the merfolk who come seeking fairytales, my method is no sweet fairytale. I have the means for you to walk on land, but the price you will have to pay is your future. You, Princess, will become the White Dragon Priest. You shall serve me, worship me as my emissary. My power will dragonize your body, and you will forever grow a pair of legs, forever lose your mermaid tail. You will become an existence between merfolk and dragon, not belonging to either side. Forever losing everything.]

Those eyes gleamed with a light as cold as ice.

[Even so, you still want legs?]

I asked the question.

[Can I still dive into the deep sea, return to the merfolk’s reef, will I be able to swim?]

[Of course, what do you think a Dragon Priest is? It’s an ascension, an evolution! You will grow into a special individual above your species, able to tread both land and sea, just like me.]

Wow, isn’t that amazing!

[I will! I am willing to serve you as your Dragon Priest, your student, your follower! As long as you do not harm the merfolk or him, I swear I’ll follow you forever.]

The massive pale wings burst with brilliance, completely illuminating the gloomy ocean trench. Bathed in the light, I underwent transformation, rebirth. I was certain the prophecy of the White Dragon was wrong, my father wouldn’t abandon me for losing my tail, nor would he leave for my being by his side all the time.]

I accompanied the White Dragon for a few days, learned the Dragon Language, and mastered the powerful Magic of ice and Sea Current. I have shed my old self. Now, I wish to see him, to hold him in my arms forever.

The Sea Current submits to me, I have become a stronger princess of the sea, stepping onto land, searching for that place where we first met. The transformation over many days has separated us for a time, but I have an intuition that he will be there waiting for me, just like our first meeting.

As I stepped onto the shore, indeed at that protruding rock, I saw him. Those eyes that once gazed at the sea were now directly looking at me. No need for Mind Reading, I could read his love. With a smile, step by step, I approached him, sat down, and our hands overlapped. I moved my throat, with the voice bestowed by the Dragon Priest, emitting a sound almost identical to that of the White Dragon.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Just like the prince in the fairytales, he clumsily said the words I wanted to hear.

"I love you, Princess."

[I love you, Princess.] The completely overlapping Mind Reading was intoxicating, like a fine wine.

We drew closer and closer, the intimacy of our minds made me realize the strangeness I once cared about. He often sat here because the twilight here revealed a unique rainbow, that mesmerizing, mysterious rainbow light that haunted his dreams. That rainbow was the vibrantly colored scales on my body. The special him who attracted me was in fact unsuspectingly attracted to me as well. Just like destiny, our fates had been intertwined all along.

He is not a prince, but he is my husband.