Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Have you ever heard of the merfolk?

Across the universe, they are known by several names: ningyo, sirens, sirena, fishmen, waterfolk, nymphs, and in our language? The matsya-kanyas - the eternal protectors of the luminescent seas across the Xianzhou Fleet. Some do love the feeling of the currents against their scales and fins while some relish the feeling of the air on land. It was safe to say that whoever you may meet could be a merfolk.

Their songs have different abilities - ranging from making every coral glow to controlling the tides. They can also communicate with any lifeforms in the sea, whether they may be the jellyfish that stings oblivious travelers to the fish that color the seas to the sharks that prowl around the darker waters. Last of all, their beauty encompasses all beings born in the seas as their hair and fins flutter amidst the tides while their tails and scales are as vibrant as any rainbow.

Gone were the myths of merfolk luring unassuming fishermen to their deaths; Instead, they rose as guardians - unrepentant and heedless to the wills of any authority from any land-dweller. They were vibrant and beautiful, but such qualities were weapons in so many ways. Lastly, the ocean belongs to them - like an unclaimed territory.

Merfolk are trained to fight any invader using their unique form of underwater combat. It was said that most incidents happening in the sea are not caused by whales, sharks, rays, or even jellyfish - but by the merfolk that vowed to protect the seas. With their seashell spears and their shark tooth daggers, the merfolk ruled the depths just as the Vidyadhara assumed reign in the land and skies.

However, due to the lack of evidence, papers supporting their existence dwindled in existence. The Vidyadhara - who grew up alongside them - took an oath never to tell their secrets to anyone. In the end, they were reduced to fairytales of old, spread across the galaxies while hoping their protection will once again bring light to the seas.

Warnings do carve the seas of old and new: If the seas become vivid just as the skies become cloudless, the merfolk make their mark. You may either witness the beauty of the boundless seas or the doom that the tides might greet you with.

“Is that really true, general?” A young Vidyadhara high elder named Bailu asked, eyes wide with wonder as the plates of buns stayed forgotten on the corner of her desk. She rested her chin on her propped hands on the table. “Honestly, I find it hard to believe that there are other creatures of the sea other than us.” She added as she waved her hands off dismissively.

The matsya-kanyas had to be the weirdest story the general had told her since it was unheard of. Of course, she heard fairytales about merfolk luring humans to their deaths and mermaids giving up their tails to live alongside humans. However, none could prepare Bailu for the hugest bombshell the general dropped on her.

She knows General Jing Yuan tends to tell stories of old; It is just up to the audience if they perceive it as true or just one of his lingering memories. She always thought that the general had grown so old and senile that his stories became even more so. Even then, no one could deny the words of the Xianzhou General, especially if he was serious.

But does he look serious at this moment? Absolutely not.

“Ah… People do tend to assume that myths will stay myths,” The general wondered aloud, looking at the skies aimlessly with a yawn as he ruffled his mane-like hair, “But remember this; If dragons exist, what makes you think that the merfolk couldn’t?”. His golden eyes stared right back at her own mint green orbs with mirth.

Bailu froze; He did make a very compelling argument. Everyone knew that the Vidyadhara are dragons descended from the Aeon of Permanence, bestowed with the gift of rebirth. The merfolk - like any dragon - are considered as creatures of myth. Foxians also exist walking alongside humans in helping to keep the fleet standing.

“Fine,” She scoffed, crossing her arms, “I suppose I can take your word for it.” However, she could not admit that she was wrong in her own arguments. “But! Only because you’re the general.” She added as she looked away from the sly general. For someone who is human, he sure knows how to corner someone in an argument.

Suddenly, she perked up when she felt the warm breeze of a certain someone’s Cloudhymn magic, accompanied by the scent of minty and fruity perfume. She turned around to see the familiar faces of the Astral Express: the former exile Dan Heng and the enthusiastic photographer lady March 7th. They had saved the Luofu recently from Phantylia. Since then, many now see Dan Heng as a hero instead of the sinner they once viewed him as.

“Greetings, Dan Heng, Miss March.” The general politely bowed to them, “How is the Luofu so far?” He asked - a poor attempt at starting a conversation with travelers from beyond. It was a known fact since the general mostly spends his time working, fighting mara-struck, training Yanqing, playing checkers, and if he is free, napping on the porch of his estate and on his desk in his office.

“It’s been a blast!” March exclaimed excitedly, “The clothes here are so pretty, the food here is delicious, and even those educational rants Dan Heng had with me are interesting!” As always, March is always excited. After all, she likes to gather as much information from every planet she visits; She even had a camera to help with that goal.

“They are not rants, March; They are educational lectures.” Dan Heng corrected, crossing his arms, “I do recall you falling asleep while I was telling you-” He was then cut off when March screamed and covered his mouth.

“I told you not to talk about that anymore!” March exclaimed as her face turned as red as a tomato, still covering the elder Vidyadhara’s mouth.

Dan Heng sighed before removing March’s hand from his mouth before looking at Bailu and Jing Yuan, his eyes almost questioning and curious. “I could not help but overhear your conversation earlier,” He said, crossing his arms, “So, what’s this about the matsya-kanyas?” He asked. Just great. He heard about our talk; He’s officially a gossip.

“Don’t tell me you actually believe him-”

“I know the general would never lie,” Dan Heng replied, resolution clear in his eyes - one that is determined to find out the truth to these legends, “... Even if his intel may sound questionable sometimes.”. Bailu actually snorted at the older’s words since the general would sometimes say the most dubious thing known to man, especially if he had an agenda.

“Hey.”

“Ughhhh…” He groaned, flopping on the mossy rock while playing with the crabs using his golden tail, “I am so bored.”. He could not think of anything to do since the seas could get pretty boring; There was no jellyfish bloom to play in nor are there schools of fish he could rearrange. He could only flop, groan, complain, and simply hope for the best. “Long forbid.” He cursed.

“Caelus.” A familiar stern voice made him turn around; It was none other than his older sister Stelle, whose arms were crossed. Caelus could also guess that she was just as bored as he is. After all, as much of a hoarder he was, Stelle was even more so. “Get your tail off that rock.” She groaned that sounded more like a complaint, “I’m also bored.”. 

For someone who’s the older twin, you sure are a baby.

“Can’t we have a job or some shit?” Caelus asked with a groan, sitting up as his tail slapped against the mossy rock, “Aeons forbid the corals die before we get to do anything fun.”.

“Unfortunately,” Stelle swam towards him, sitting below the rock he sat on to play with the anemones and the clown fish living in it, “The elder wasn’t too happy when she saw that stunt from Scalegorge Waterscape, said something like Imbibitor Lunae running amok.” She used her hands like puppets as if she was imitating the elder’s speech and gestures, “Then again, since when have we ever cared about the affairs of land dwellers?”.

“Even the others from land didn’t deliver us something fun…” Caelus added, referring to the others as the merfolk who chose to live amongst the land-dwelling inhabitants of the Xianzhou Luofu - which are either humans, foxians, vidyadhara, or even the heliobi - while maintaining minimum time in the ocean, “... Except for the one where they said the Imbibitor Lunae and his mighty friends defeated a Lord Ravager.”.

Caelus got off the rock with a bored sigh. “You know what?” He looked at his sister tiredly, “I will go for a swim. I am too bored to sit still or else I will smash the nearest shipwreck right now.”.

Just as Caelus swam away, Stelle never stopped him as she knew better than to stop him. After all, they were twins; Just as Caelus knows his older sister, Stelle knows as much about him. At this moment, he was itching for an adventure. Hell, he could even greet those Astral Express people that everyone is making stories about.

How could he even greet them? “Hello, I’m your resident local merman.”? No, that is way too direct; They would faint before he could even finish that sentence. “So, the Luofu has merfolk.”? That is a huge bombshell to drop - at least to travelers who literally saved their world. Caelus only shook his head as he swam further.

He stopped swimming to see what was on the surface, only to see the splintered docks of the Alchemy Commission. He heard that the mara-struck had attacked the Commission recently. It caused the death of a foxian girl who was possessed by the very Lord Ravager the Luofu and the Astral Express fought against before they - along with the Imbibitor Lunae - revealed Scalegorge Waterscape and launched an attack against that same Lord Ravager.

It was clear that Phantylia was no joke because all the songs Caelus heard were nothing short of melancholic as they grieved the lives lost to mara and in the war.

Chapter Text

“Good morning, Master Dan Heng!” Yanqing greeted him with a salute, “Any plans today?”.

Days had passed since the fight against Phantylia, the Xianzhou Luofu adjusted to this semblance of peace - the first they had in years even if mara-struck attacks are still common. Jing Yuan was injured and is recovering under Bailu’s orders and many grieved for the lives lost. However, the fleet was building itself up from the tragedy they overcame. It was the kind of peace Dan Heng never knew the Luofu could have. Ever since he heard about the matsya-kanyas, he could not get his mind out of it. A lot of questions invaded his mind - one of which was “why hadn’t I heard of them?”.

“Nothing else.” Dan Heng answered with a shrug, “I might go for a swim though.”. For Vidyadhara, swimming is a pastime to cool their bodies down. They do prefer cold waters to hot, especially now that the weather systems of the Luofu switched to a colder season. Hotter waters are detrimental to vidyadhara because their scales dehydrate easily and cause them to be flaky - something he hated to peel from his own body. 

“In this weather?” Yanqing’s eyes were wide with surprise when he shuddered and shivered, “Won’t you get a cold?” He asked.

“Vidyadhara prefer cold water.” Dan Heng plainly answered as if it is the simplest thing to mention, “I will be fine. No need to worry.”  He waved at Yanqing, reassuring that he will be fine once he swims. He just hoped the young swordsman would follow him because humans - whether they are immortal or not - swimming in cold weather will end up in sickness.

He began walking to the shattered docks. He remembered the stories of Mr. Yang and March about how the constant attacks shattered the docks and the elixir furnace was infiltrated, seeing the debris scattered around. It also resulted in the death of a foxian named Tingyun, who was dear to Madame Yukong. He hopped onto the rocky areas of the docks.

He began taking off his clothes with a sigh until he was only in his boxers, the cold winds brushing against the scaly patches of his skin. With a flick of his fingers, he transformed into his more draconic form; His hair became longer and tinted with teal and red, teal horns crowned upon his head, and a translucent tail followed the currents of the wind. He could feel every surge of water in this shore - the power that the Vidyadhara are known for. The tides recede before swallowing both sand and crabs weak enough to get swept away, undisturbed as if Phantylia had not made her mark in the neighboring Waterscape.

“Here goes nothing…” With the help of his tail, he waded into the water as the tides licked his scales and skin. He did shiver - not because he was cold, but because it has been a long time since he swam in these waters. He walked further as the distance between his feet and the seabed kept increasing. Eventually, he could not feel the seafloor as his body balanced itself in the water.

He sighed in relief as his body floated in the tides, the waters brushing past his scales as the waves crash into the rocky shores. While he found the baths in the Astral Express relaxing, taking a dip in the beaches of the Luofu was relaxing. Hopefully, no one would disturb him since this portion of the Luofu looks more isolated than the rest. Any human who would swim here would probably get swept away and drown, turning this place into a crime scene - an outcome he hated to be a witness for.

He closed his eyes with a sigh of relief, concentrating on relaxing amidst the tides. The cold air combined with the chilly waters as the full experience of Luofu’s cold seasons come in full swing. The maple tree on the upper levels of the commission flutter along with the dancing winds. The red leaves land on the water with grace, dancing along with the waves. The world just floated into nothingness as Dan Heng relaxed for the first time since he was exiled from the Luofu five centuries ago.

Blub… Blub…

Dan Heng’s eyebrows twitched at the bubbling sounds, trying to lower his ears to deafen himself from the disturbing sound. It sounds like someone is swimming near him. Again, it was unlikely for any human or foxian to swim here because of how dangerous and rampant the tides are, given the strong ocean currents and waves that come and go. However, Dan Heng shook his head before breathing… Inhale… Exhale… There we go…

Blub… Blub…

Dan Heng’s ears twitched yet again as his tail lashed - a sign a dragon was disturbed from their rest. Not knowing who is dangering themselves by swimming with him, he knew he could not keep up the nonchalance he was trying to maintain. His teal eyes opened, the horizons in a blur as his eyesight readjusts since he closed it moments ago. Just who in the Aeons’ name is-

He saw a face, framed by silver and gold hair as their golden eyes stare at him. It was half-submerged in the water as if they were trying to hide themselves. Their arms waded in the water, lined with the porcelain skin decorated with silver and gold scales. The bubbling sounds turned out to be their breath, oxygen expelled from their nose and mouth trapped in bubbles. They tilted their head as Dan Heng tilted his own. Who is this? What are they doing here?

Even weirder, golden fins replaced the being’s ears as they twitched at every crashing sound of the waves. Fins also protrude from their arms as they dance with the water. A lot of questions raced in Dan Heng’s mind: Who is this? What is this? Why are they here? What are they doing? Why do they have fins? Why do they have scales? Are they a Vidyadhara? Are they someone I know? Are they looking for a fight?

However, from the looks of it, they just looked curious, eyes wide as if they are taking in every information that they were seeing. They must be learning - something that was often common with Vidyadhara since they tend to study their songs and histories. Even then, some Vidyadhara are afraid of swimming in these strong waves since they spent most time on land - some of which only possess a fraction of cloudhymn magic some high elders have. In fact, some vidyadhara use magic to turn themselves invisible using the mist in the air.

“Who are you?” He asked, his own teal eyes meeting with the other’s own golden orbs. He could not even bring himself to ask no question because he does not even know if they understood him. Do they even need a synesthesia beacon so they can understand each other? He wondered as he swam color. However, the being stayed, still floating in the water.

Finally, his full face surfaced, revealing a boyish face and longer hair - almost as long as his. More scales littered around his body like a beautiful mosaic. What was even weirder are the sets of gills lined on each side of his body, flapping with every breath he makes. His eyes widened when he saw something appeared behind the man’s form.

A tail. A frilly fish tail in a mosaic of gold and silver scales like a betta fish dancing in the currents.

This was no ordinary man; This was a merman - one of the matsya-kanyas, the merfolk of the Luofu that lived alongside the Vidyadhara under the wings of the Permanence. He remembered the stories he heard from General Jing Yuan and Lady Bailu. They were often treated as myths and legends since they have not shown in years probably because of the obvious threats in the fleets: the Denizens of Abundance, Phantylia, the mara-struck, the formerly unsealed stellaron, and the danger the Ambrosial Arbor poses.

Beautiful… Was all he thought as his teal eyes seemed fixated on the beautiful, gold-scaled, fish-tailed creature in front of him. This one really did do the legends justice - stories of them being beautiful enough to seduce unassuming merman, which led to their deaths. For a merman, he was beautiful - even prettier than he had anticipated.

“You done staring yet or you need an hour?” The merman opened his mouth, a quip coming out of it as his hands held his hips while barely missing his gills, “You know, it’s kinda rude to stare, dragon boy.” The merman chastised in a scolding tone as if he was talking to a child.

Dan Heng shook his head as he finally regained composure, not wanting to appear as rude to a creature that was rumored to brutalize their opponents in their unique form of underwater combat. “N-no!” He answered, raising his hands innocently, “I have never seen one of you before.”.

“Sure, dragon boy.” The merman purred as his gills flicker in the water, golden eyes narrowed with mirth, “Name’s Caelus, by the way.” He added with a wink, “You’re one interesting reptile.”.

Before Dan Heng could talk back, the merman began swimming away, his gold and silver tail splashing water on his face. However, he remained frozen as he could not believe that just happened. A merman just stalked him, stared at him for what felt like minutes, introduced himself, and swam away. Dan Heng’s thoughts supplied. What am I supposed to do?

“Should I even tell anyone about this?” However, a skeptical part of himself tells him that no one would believe him. After all, every one in Luofu seems to believe that the matsya-kanyas were nothing but myths - the warning of anyone who desecrate the seas. I am so doomed…

Chapter Text

Dan Heng was officially having a dilemma. An identity dilemma? Been there, done that. A sexuality dilemma? More like it.

His head banged against the desk in the Astral Express’ Archives in an attempt to forget the weird merman who came and went like a ghost. He could not forget those golden eyes staring at him with mirth and amusement, glowing like the sun in the depths of his mind. The golden eyes… His tail in a mosaic of gold and silver scales… His fins fluttering and dancing along the current and the winds… He could not forget all of it.

Am I what March calls as “gay”? Dan Heng began asking internally, covering his face with his hands. He remembered how March would teach him things about sexuality like being straight and gay. To Vidyadhara, sexuality was a trivial thing to learn since they do not necessarily reproduce through traditional methods. They reincarnate, hatch from eggs in Scalegorge Waterscape, and they often remembered who or what they used to be.

He stood up before walking towards the full-length mirror in his room - the only vanity item in the Archives other than his comb and brushes since he uses cloudhymn magic to clean himself. He could see his flustered and ruffled reflection, hidden away from the rest of the Astral Express. One thing was certain at this point: He did not expect to have a “sexuality crisis” a few days after the battle against Phantylia.

If March was here, she would tease me endlessly, That was one undeniable fact since she likes to meddle - in a good way - with his life. After all, she was just watching over him even though he thinks that he is technically older than her. She just wanted that he would have a “stable social life” other than them - the Trailblazers and the Nameless of the Astral Express. Of course, it does not definitely include his “rivalry” with Blade, which was “unhealthy” as said by March.

“Yes…” He whispered, still staring at his reflection in the mirror, “I am gay.” He confirmed reluctantly. It was all because of one curious merman with silver and gold hair, gold eyes, and a tail littered with gold and silver scales lined with frilly fins. He knew that no one in both the Astral Express and the Luofu would not live it down - something that almost felt damning. It would be more damning if he cared more to say the least.

He remembered Jing Yuan’s stories about the matsya-kanyas - the merfolk that shared origins with the Vidyadhara and the very beings under the Permanence’s gaze other than the draconic scions of Long. According to the documents in the Luofu’s own archives, they have several skills that make them unique. They can infinitely breath underwater and swim faster than any underwater sentient being in the Luofu. Their form of underwater combat made them dangerous, given they arm themselves with spears made from pressurized steel and seashells. His head banged yet again, not forgetting the merman who would have dragged him underwater.

Caelus the merman.

“Dan Heng!” He flinched when he heard Himeko’s voice from the door, followed by a few knocks on the door, “I heard some banging earlier.” He flinched when he realized that someone must have heard him banging his head against the desk earlier. “Are you okay?” She asked, her voice now concerned, “Do you need some ice? Or you can make it?” Of course, everyone already knows that he is a vidyadhara capable of controlling the elements at any form.

Dan Heng walks towards the door as he wanted to whisper his answers, not wanting anyone to know and hear what he was going to say. He could not help it; He had been keeping his identity as a vidyadhara all this time ever since he boarded the Astral Express. He always thought that his identity alone will endanger everyone - even that little merman from the beach in the Alchemy Commission.

But that merman - Caelus - is far from helpless since he is brave enough to show himself.

“I am fine, Miss Himeko.” Dan Heng answered in a whisper, leaning his head against the door to hear Himeko’s response, “Don’t worry… I was just…” He began thinking of a lie and an excuse to ease the navigator’s worries, “I was just stressed about the…” He began thinking again, “The new Archive entries…” He sounded rather unconvinced and braced himself for Himeko’s response since she knew that he never struggled with technology.

“Of course, Dan Heng…” Himeko whispered warmly, reassuring him with her pure motherly warmth, “If you need assistance, just call or text us, okay?” She continued. Dan Heng only nodded silently, knowing that Himeko understood him - albeit in the forms of silence. She had known so little about him, yet she already assumed the great things about him.

Although she did not hear him answer, Dan Heng heard the clicking and clacking of her heels as she began walking away. He was thankful that she understood. He did not want to burder her or Welt and even March, especially after the crisis in the Luofu. However, he knows that they are companions - the very ones who picked him up when he had no one for five centuries ever since he was exiled from the Luofu.

Everything in the ocean had to begin with tranquility, matching with the corals and the gracefully dancing seaweeds. That was until…

“You what?!”

Their underwater den shook under the force of Stelle’s scream. She stared at her younger brother with disbelief, thinking that this was the same idiot who revealed himself to the Imbibitor Lunae - the very land-dweller who caused his own line of descendants to be disgraced. Caelus just told her what he saw in that beach - one of which included the half-naked Imbibitor Lunae in his boxers to swim in the cold seas.

“Are you flippin’ crazy or just stupid?!” She explained, swimming towards her brother. She swore that if her brother had clothes, she would have gripped his collar and shook him over and over again. She could only grip her brother’s shoulder while resisting the urge to either push him and shake him. “You know, there is a reason why we kept ourselves ever since the wars!” She yelled.

During the dark years of the Luofu, the Alliance waged war against the Denizens of Abundance - which ranged from beings infected with mara to monsters forged by the Ambrosial Arbor to sentient followers of Yaoshi, which included the Borisin of old that enslaved the Foxians. The matsya-kanyas deemed it unsafe to reveal themselves to any land-dweller because no one was safe. Not to mention, if they were any more included, they would have inevitable casualties. However, there are merfolk that chose to fight for their home - no matter how dire it seemed.

“Stelle.” Caelus’ voice cut through the tension, swimming up before holding her shoulders in an attempt to reassure her, “Times have changed: The Luofu is now safe, this Astral Express stabilized the stellaron and the Ambrosial Arbor, the good ol’ General Jing Yuan established allies, and the Imbibitor Lunae became our ally in this war.” He shook his head, “We don’t have to live in fear anymore; Actually, I think we can fight back.”.

Fight back… These were two phrases that she had not heard for a long time. She heard of stories merfolk brutalizing their human captors by tearing them apart with their blades and by letting the ocean swallow them mercilessly. Did the Imbibitor Lunae actually prove something? After all, he did prove himself by helping the Luofu drive Phantylia and her moldy allies away.

“I can’t say if I support you in this one, Cae.” Stelle sighed. She knows how eager Caelus was when it comes to learning new things, but she knew that humanity has evolved for the better or for the worst. Caelus was naive. However, they both know that the Luofu is failing - so much so that they have to migrate. To prevent that outcome, they have to fight. “If these humans are untrustworthy, don’t beg me to spare them.” She added as she released Caelus’ shoulder before pointing at his chest.

“I won’t.” Caelus replied with a mischievous grin, “You are my favorite older sister.”. He patted her back, missing her fins and scales by a margin. “Don’t be too much of a little shit though.” He added before looking away.

“HUH?! Why you-?!” Stelle held Caelus head and neck using a headlock as she began ruffling his hair, “You’re the little shit between us!”. Although she was shorter, she often loved working out by lifting boulders and dead, fossilized corals to clean the oceans up. Caelus also helped - just not as often since he prioritized in expanding their territory through several excursions.

However, one question remained in Stelle’s mind as she warmly played with her much-taller, younger brother ever since he admitted to seeing the Imbibitor Lunae: Is he gay? At this point, she will have a crisis before he does.