Chapter Text
(Letter from King Krakatoa to his sister, Liang, received six months before Viv's arrival on Coral Island.)
My dear Liang, I grow tired of this one-sided correspondence. Cho Oyu can send a letter to land, but she has yet to solve how a land-dweller can send a letter to us. One day I look forward to receiving word back from you!
I must tell you things are growing increasingly grim in the Kingdom. The oily roots from the Coral Tree are choking us. The fish are dying, fruits and vegetables will no longer grow, even the seaweed is poor. The black roots are bad enough, but the endless rain of garbage hurts us even more.
You’ll recall me writing you about Semeru, our head of the Royal Guard. There is still no finer strategist or tactician in all the Kingdoms that I have seen. I thank the Goddess every day that he advises us. He brings me plans daily of defense mechanisms and even offensive initiatives against the land-dwellers. His point of view is not erroneous, but I worry that any measure against the land-dwellers will bring a rain of hostility against us. Merfolk were known to mysteriously disappear in my father’s time. I wrote you about what happened to our Kingdom seven cycles ago. That incident had such a profound effect on all of us. We cannot afford to bring the wrath of land-dwellers upon us. We have neither the strength nor the technology.
I still believe in the unity strategy that you and I created together. I still believe that the right person can unite our peoples. But the ongoing absence of any land-dwellers anywhere near our Kingdom suggests to me you have not been able to find the right person to work with you as you thought you would.
This distresses me, little sister. I want to believe that we can protect ourselves in a sustainable, long-lasting way. But the longer we go without a land-dweller representative who will fight for us, the more I have to consider Semeru’s strategies.
Our time is running out, Liang. I think we have six to eight months left before the situation becomes dire. But please know that I believe in you. I believe in our strategy. I know we can accomplish what we set out to do together.
I miss you, little sister. I know you are doing great things on land. I wish our paths had been different sometimes, though.
Be well and may the Goddess’ blessings be abundant for you.
All my love
Krakatoa