Chapter Text
There’s rumors of a seaside town, and one rumor specifically that is whispered through generations. It is about merfolk. Half fish, half human.
These rumors bring tourists in waves around the months of April through July to explore the lively town. However, regardless of the rumors of mermaids, it is near impossible to see one. Many skeptics discredit the town’s claims due to this reason.
However, there are many people who wish for fame and fortune and seek them out for months. Inns are crowded for that period of time with professors, pirates, and sailors desperate to see one of those beautiful creatures.
To catch one would certainly bring luck to the person. Many pay a small fortune for one scale to prove to their friends and family that they are real. These dealings are generally done with the black market, and the doubters say they are fake scales. Simple fish scales, they claim.
However, those who say they poach the beautiful merfolk will claim they are authentic to their graves. The stories are plausible enough to be true, so every once in a while, they are sold at an expo for raw materials for inventors.
This year’s convention is how Simon and Aura Blackquill ended up in the lovely town of Gatewater. Though, the place holds depressing memories for the siblings, with it being the last time they were here being their childhood for a vacation. The last time they saw their parents.
At the convention, when Aura was scanning silver, a random man had introduced himself as Inga Khura’in, the mayor of the notorious town. He had heard of Aura’s skills and accomplishments as an inspiring inventor.
“You see, I could use someone like you. Our blacksmith is getting old, and it’d be a shame if he didn’t have an apprentice to take his place once he’s gone. You can invent new devices for the town with unlimited materials.”
After a bit more flattery, Aura had taken the job offer and Simon begrudgingly left his life inland behind. In her defense, the job would sustain the two for years to come, and Simon did hear of a library assistant’s position, something he applied for the minute he stepped into town.
Today is his first day.
He closes the book at the library, waiting for the main librarian to come introduce herself as he takes another whiff of the salty air. He does prefer it over the smog he had to endure in the industrial town he’s from, but he somehow finds it unnerving that he isn’t inhaling the disgusting air from the city. He’d get used to the fresh air eventually, he figures.
He looks over to see the scrambled librarian, a woman in her thirties, about Aura’s age, who stumbles in with too many books in her hands. Her dress is a simple one: a soft orange tone with a giant white apron. Her brown hair has a swirl in the front for her bangs, and the woman looks absolutely distraught.
“You must be Simon Blackquill. Oh, Athena, do mind your step, will you?” The woman lectures a small girl with bright red hair, who hides immediately behind her mother. Athena’s blue eyes light up as Simon walks over.
“Yes, that’s correct. And you are?”
“I’m Metis. Metis Cykes. Pleasure. It’ll be nice to have some help around here.” Metis extends her hand as Simon gives it a firm shake.“This is my daughter, Athena. She’ll sometimes help too, but she usually will be up in her room. Simon, please make yourself comfortable and I’ll make us some tea. It’s about time I get some lunch anyway.”
Metis seems like a busy woman, especially with the excitable Athena around. Athena climbs on the library’s main table, Simon sliding in a chair as she pulls up a book, handing it to him.
“Hey there, I’m Athena.” Athena beams as Simon gives a quick nod.
“I figured,” Simon gives a polite smile as he looks at the book, pouting. “This is elementary level.”
“Just because it is doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable.” The younger girl pouts. She looks like a mid teen, possibly around 15 or so. He could ponder about her age later.
“I guess not. Well, alright, I’ll read it.” Simon opens the book as Athena leans in. He looks over at her, “Do you want me to read it outloud or something?”
“Yeah, well, I can’t read it from here.” Athena makes herself comfortable as Simon gives a relenting sigh and begins to read the story out loud, giving characters life as he adds personal voices, even adding some sound effects to the descriptions of the story.
“That’s pretty cool. You got talent as a narrator.” Athena smiles as Simon finishes the story.
“I overheard you. I may have to send you to the orphanage to read to the children there. They’ll love the voices,” Metis smiles a bit as she pours in the tea, “I hope you’re a fan of bergamot tea.”
“I don’t hate it.”
“Good. Sugar?”
“Please,” Simon takes the cup of tea as he slowly sips it, Athena’s eager hands snacking on the food as Metis describes Simon’s responsibilities; besides the cleaning and helping the villagers get their books for the week, he was responsible for dropping off books to the villagers that had an issue getting to the library, and to occasionally run errands for the mayor.
“When do I start?”
“Well today, technically, but I need you here around 10 tomorrow.” Metis smiled a bit as the door opened. She gives a small sigh and walks to the front, “Also, can you stay with Athena? Just for a second.”
“Of course,” Simon agrees as he snacks on the simple sandwich, looking over the book again.
The mayor’s voice echoes through the library, smoke beginning to linger in the air as Athena coughs. Simon tries to hold coughs himself as it fills the library. It reminds him too much of his old home. Metis walks back over after Inga finishes his ramblings Simon is barely paying attention to.
“Actually, it’s for you.” Metis grabs Simon’s shoulder, a microexpression of pity falling on her face as he stands up, walking over to the tall man.
“Hello there, Simon,” The mayor immediately shakes Simon’s hand, which Simon reciprocates immediately. The grip is firm, and from that initial interaction, he knows without a doubt Inga is someone that does not like to be questioned.
He wants to take a step back as Inga smiles at him, “Do you like the seaside so far?”
“It’s...fine.” Simon lets out, “I just am still getting adjusted. The fresh air is nice, but the abundance of salt isn’t.”
Inga does chuckle at Simon’s sentence. Odd, Simon hadn’t meant to make that line humorous.
“I know you are. It’s lovely to have both of you here, and I’m excited to spend time with you.”
“Spend time?” Simon knows he will run the occasional errand for Inga, but the tone seems more personal.
“Yes, I like to know all of my residents personally,” Inga grins, and Simon can tell it’s a fake one. He wants to rush back deep in the library and just help Metis and her child out. However, he does instead take a deep breath. Is he possibly being too judgemental?
Inga continues, “Your sister told me you wanted to work on a novel that depicts merfolk, correct?”
“Yes,” Simon looks away, a bit flustered at the confession. He is a bit shy about his writing hobby, and more importantly, the subject. “More or less to prove that they aren’t real.”
“Aren’t? Why, you came to the wrong village, my boy. Here, I’ll make you a deal,” Inga draws a breath with his massive cigar, Simon trying not to cough when it’s blown in his face. “How about you come with me, I’ll cover more of the myths and rumors and you can add that to your little book?”
“Well, there has to be a logical explanation for what happened to my parents. My parents were claimed to be killed by merfolk, but it doesn’t sit right with me. I think we talked about this at the expo.”
“Yes, that’s true. After your sister took the job. Truly a shame what happened to them." Inga attempts to show sympathy as he grabs Metis's attention, "Hey, Metis?”
“What is it, sir?”
“I’m taking your assistant the rest of the day. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
Metis sighs then nods, “Of course. I will see you tomorrow, Simon.”
“Tomorrow,” Simon echoes as he gulps, knowing he will be near the mayor all day. He grabs his notebook, following Inga as he begins to write down whatever nonsense is coming from his rambling, boisterous mouth. Tourist trap nonsense, Simon’s sure.
“First off, I wanted to let you know that whatever opinions you have about merfolk, I would recommend keeping it to yourself, especially if it’s negative.” Inga drew another breath of cigarette smoke, “Yes, I’ll admit a lot of the rumors are for tourism. Not everything that's claimed is true. However, those rumors didn’t come out of nowhere.”
“I’m sure.” Simon agrees, Inga raising an eyebrow, “Most rumors don’t, after all.”
“Mmm,” Inga places his hands behind his back. Simon looks up, surprised he can keep the cigarette in his mouth. “About seven years ago, we did have a man that lived here that claimed he caught a few merfolk.”
“Oh, did he?” Simon’s skepticism immediately sinks through the question, his doubt prevalent. “I read a bit about him, actually. They said he was lost at sea after a tragic storm.”
“Yes, that’s correct. He also carried scales of merfolk, which made him hard to doubt. You saw the scales at the expo, and I assume you thought they were fake?”
“Of course,” Simon whispers around a group of folk. Inga smiles in approval as they walk past the group of merchants, Inga walking down to the beach.
“Mind your step, will you?” Inga watches Simon stumble down to the path below, his shoes sinking in the sand in the process. Next time he came to the beach, he’d come barefoot. Inga helped him stand his grounding, “I brought you here for privacy, and to show you something.”
Simon looks confused as Inga pulls two scales out of his bag, holding them in his hand. Simon recognizes the two from the expo his sister and him went to earlier that month. The merchant said it was from such a terrible and ferocious mermaid, the merfolk threw her out the sea.
Simon can’t help but think those stories were made to ease the minds of the ones that truly believe the horrors of how they get those scales. Provided, if merfolk are real...
“These are scales. They’re both pretty similar, and you’re correct, they’re incredibly easy to replicate. However, when you turn them over…”
Inga flips the two over, one having a red stain on them. Something that can be easily replicated with time. Simon examines the two and points at the one with the red back. “Is that paint?”
“No, my friend.” Inga chuckles, “Look a bit closer.”
Simon leans in, looking as he gulps, “It’s flesh, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.” Inga notes, “You can tell by the texture. The one on the right is fake, it’s simply pressed glass. They call it a clean cut. However, there’s one more thing you can do to prove it.”
In an instant, Inga clenches his hand, the right one completely demolished and the left one intact. Simon backs up a bit, surprised at his actions.
“They’re indestructible. You have to dig into their tails to get their scales out.” Inga smirks, Simon looking a bit uncomfortable. “Listen, you don’t need to believe, my lad, but please keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself. It’s a small town and tourism funds almost everything here.”
“I...understand.” Simon huffs, knowing that isn’t a suggestion, but a subtle threat.
“It would be fun to disprove you, though. Here, follow another myth of ours.” Inga begins to walk away from the seashore, Simon following the mayor as they walk back up the street to the lighthouse. He hands Simon something, Simon’s face falling flat as he looks down.
“A peach?”
“Yes, it was a peach the legendary poacher claims he used to lure out merfolk,” Inga chuckles again, grabbing Simon’s shoulder, “At least try? It’s best to drop them off at night.”
Simon gulps. There’s not much to lose, and it will be the easiest way to ease his thoughts that merfolk are not real. He takes the peach and nods.
“Yeah, I’ll do it.”
“Excellent. Report what happens tomorrow, will you?”
“Of course I can,” Simon offers as he shakes Inga’s hand. This novel would be done in moments.
*
A night stroll, Simon claims to Aura as he places a light jacket on his shoulders.
Aura just shoos him off as he strolls the quiet town, a crescent moon lighting up the path that Simon walks down back to the beach.
He scoffs at the idea, knowing what he’s doing is ridiculous. However, part of him is curious. Those scales are admittedly convincing, and it’s not as if he’s hurting anyone by doing this.
Plus, if the merfolk were to show up, would it be the one that was accused of killing Simon’s parents? Or just one that’s decided to make this seaside town their home?
The sea is beautiful tonight. The crescent moon gives enough light to illuminate the dark waves crashing into the pier. The noise is relaxing as Simon just takes the moment to stay there and listen.
He walks on the shore, barefoot as he looks at a small cove of rocks, placing the peach near there. It would be near impossible for someone to find it unless if a merfolk actively searched for it. Simon walks back to the shore, enjoying the sensation between his toes as he puts his shoes back on to walk the pavement.
The world is silent as Simon thinks of what to add to his research, but it seems that a diary would be noteworthy to carry. He writes about how he left a peach as requested and will check tomorrow morning, expecting the peach to be there where it was, covered in sand and inedible.
Shame. It looks appetizing.
He's home, near the lighthouse as he walks past the front doors, Aura already asleep in her bed as Simon tiptoes to his own, looking out of the window, just admiring the crescent as his eyes flutter shut.
*
“Simon, get up!” Aura’s voice rings in his ear, causing him to jolt awake as he looks over at Aura, who has her arms crossed.
“I’m getting there,” Simon yawns. “I need to be there at ten, not the break of dawn.”
“Good, you can accompany me to my job and figure out where the food is. We’re running low.” Aura’s cheery mood matched her tight lipped face. Cranky as usual. Simon walks into the kitchen to grab a piece of bread as he follows his sister, who is speaking of the move.
“Don’t run off again, okay? I need you to help around the house, you know,” Aura huffs, “Also, I heard you’re already getting buddy-buddy with the mayor. Don’t get too comfortable, he’s not going to give you special treatment because you mosey over to him.”
Aura goes on as Simon tones her out, yawning as he looks over at the beach again. He better check what happened with that peach. Still probably there, but Simon can’t help but have a string of doubt. What if…
No, the mayor must have figured out a way to sell convincing scales to doubters such as himself. Simon looked at Aura’s boss, a burly man with a young assistant as they waved at Aura, Aura huffing.
“I’ll meet you at the library when you get off. Don’t go exploring without me.”
“Okay, I got it.” Simon yawned again as he hugged his sister and walked out the path that led to the beach. The crowds are rowdy, Simon scanning the markets as people stare at him. He pays next to no mind as he makes his way to the beach, back to where he left the peach, the water’s tide higher than usual. He walks down the shore as he takes off his shoes again, letting the sand sink in between his toes as he looks behind the rock.
The peach is supposed to be there, barely touched from the waves, but it’s not there. He left it at the high tide, so it was far enough away. He looks around to see if the peach is anywhere else, but it’s completely gone.
Simon scribbles the notes in his notepad as his thoughts scramble, not believing what has happened.
Could the rumors possibly be true?