Meanwhile a convoy from the human world was speedily approaching towards the Southern region. It was a a place of quite. Footfall in this region was bare minimum. The only noise that came from here were the roar of the huge ocean waves clashing against the rocky mountain edges. It was a place where leave alone humans, immortals feared to tread. The region belonged to the mer- people. They were a tribe created between human and Pisces. Legends have it that once when the the Twelfth Zodiac had taken a human form, it had fallen in love with a human girl. Since the mer-people were descendents of their children, they were seen as an outcast by the rest of the worlds. Even though they were blessed with tremendous power, fish like abilities underwater, water bending skills , astrological knowledge, they were treated like criminals and banished in the forlorn southern region. This humiliation and anger drove them into frenzy. They became desperate to prove their worth. In their quest for it, they started practicing forbidden dark crafts, namely the witch craft of the damned. It did what they wanted. All the world’s started fearing them and their boundary extended like never before. However like all dark forces, it claimed something terrible from them in return. The tribe lost its original beauty. They became so disfigured that even they themselves feared to look in the mirror. Suicide rate increased in the population. When they were almost close to extinction, the ruler made a pledge to heavens, never to venture further than their present territory and give up their quest for World dominion for good. It did normalise them. But it erased the entirety of their male population, leaving behind only the females. How their population multiplies, remains a mystery for everyone till date.
“Halt” Yelled the one leading the chariots, as soon as they reached the southern borders.
Their borders were unmanned but it was guarded by a very strong current which immediately executed anyone trespassing without authorisation. The leader of the convoy bowed in regard at the borders and let his intention known to them for the visit.
The communication between the mer-witches was mostly telepathic which gave them a better chance underwater. The message of the convoy was discussed between themselves for a while before they decided to let him in and hear the full version.
“Hail to the queen” He bowed down half terrified and half mesmerised at the sheer beauty of the creature. Beholding a mer-witch was a miracle and privilege in itself as they rarely had encounters with the outside world. Visiting the queen was close to impossible. Only when and if they thought fit, a convoy had the luck to directly meet the queen.
“What brings you human here? What is your emergency” She asked in a voice that sang like the ocean.
It was only the leader from the convoy who was allowed to accompany one of their generals underwater to the queens hall. The human was fed from a fruit that enabled him to breath underwater for awhile. On his way hot he hall, his eyes had been shut with a spell . It was only in front of the queen that he got his sight restored. And the marvel and glitter he witnessed once he opened his eyes, were driving his senses into a full adrenaline rush. The sheer beauty of the mer-witches were enough to drive men crazy and to add to it the glitter and glamour of their inner palace. It was more than a human could imagine. The leader had a hard time maintaining his composure and getting straight to business.
“I hope you are aware of the fact that the curse has been evoked that forbade blood ties between the immortal tribes of the east and west. ” He said. The queen only nodded in reply so the man continued. “We in the human world are already suffering from its early signs. However both the tribes dare to keep their development and action on the matter hidden from us. We are afraid if the scenario gets worse, our race might have to face severe damage. ” He finished.
“So? ” The queen urged for him to continue.
“So, my Grace we come in submission to you to seek protection and help of any sort fron the wrath of the curse and the damage we might receive as collateral because of the infighting between the immortal tribes. ” He said looking down, afraid he might have pushed his luck too much.
But the queen smiled and sat back in a reclining position. Then said “and why should we help you? ”
The man fell on his face infront of her and begged “Please help us. We have no other protector other than you. ”
The queen burst out laughing “but aren’t we vicious ugly creatures devouring on souls. Shouldn’t you be more afraid of us than this curse or the immortals. ” She said with a look of malice in her eyes. The man knew his breath was numbered. So he gathered all of the strength that he had left and said ” You were once persecuted like we are about to be. Our kind might face the same level of disaster leading to our extinction just like you once faced. We hope you sympathize even if a little with us because of this. ”
The queen immediately moved her hands in the air and the head of the man tumbled over the floor, blood spilling in all direction. A subordinate rushed to contain and clean up the mess.
“Send this head to the human king and ask him to visit me in person if he wants any help” The queen retorted and stormed out of the Hall. The subordinates followed order and sent the severed head to the convoy waiting outside their border in a wrapped box. They sent a parchment along inside that read –
“Feel blessed to cherish our gift for you. If you are looking for any favours from us, ask your king to be a man and visit our queen in person. ”
Unaware of what they carried, the convoy sped back to the palace hall where the king and his ministers waited eagerly.