Chapter 21 – Mute Boy And Missing Sister

The place they were guided to was a small cluster of buildings that had seen better days. The central building, which was a large three-story cylinder, was the house of the elders.

Merfolk furniture was flat pillows and low wooden tables. Three girls offered them the best seats, nearly crawling on the floor out of respect. Every merfolk that they met along the way shriveled and bowed in their general direction. It was religious respect that Darya was totally unfamiliar with, but she couldn’t help but notice the fear in some of their downcast eyes.

The only ones that were visibly excited by new people in their village were children under three feet tall. They were harshly disciplined by adults to bow and show respect. Some even threatened them with consequences.

They were keen on pointing at the little boy who was being carried by Seris as an example. Regardless of threats, children flocked behind them curiously and followed them all the way to the hall of elders, where they kept peeking through the curtains and windows at regular intervals.

I’ve never been on a vacation where I’m treated like the star animal from the zoo! Are Dovarists this rare in these parts?

The closest that she ever got treated this way was when she visited rural China back when she was coordinating with a studio during the early days of Vainfall development. That was mostly because she was there to spend money as a rich tourist, not really about the religious respect of this level.

Seris took the opportunity to fix the cut on the boy’s cheek while they waited for the elders to arrive.

“This is at least a week old. Why did no one treat you?” Seris asked him, rubbing her thumb on his cheek. “See, you can’t even feel it anymore!” Green mana sparked from her skin and mended the wound as if it never existed. The boy stared at her blankly without opening his mouth.

“Well, whatever. Run along now,” Seris said, placing him upright. The boy didn’t move. He kept staring at them.

One of the three attendant girls stepped towards him, obviously embarrassed by his actions. The boy dashed next to Darya and crouched as if to keep himself hidden.

“What’s wrong with you?” Darya asked, gesturing at the girl to stay away. She jolted as if she’d been threatened with a gun and stood flat against the wall.

The boy quietly stared at her with a softer expression this time. Getting healed had changed his opinion of them.

“Can you speak? What’s your name?” Darya asked. She wasn’t good with small children or babies. She always talked to them like she would talk to anyone.

The boy started doing hand signs, pointing at himself.

Oh, he can’t speak. I feel bad now.

She patted his head, running her fingers through his wet, sticky hair. “That’s alright. You can stay.”

“You didn’t understand what he said, did you?” She asked Seris who had been watching the interaction.

“I know the basics of sign language, but I don’t recognize those signs,” Seris said curiously.

They were interrupted by shuffling footsteps from the entrance. Three old women and one old man walked in, accompanied by several young girls dressed in white. The elders had skin similar to shriveled trees. It seemed as if Merfolk turned more fish-like with age.

The three old women had coverings over their mouths, and they wore at least twenty bead necklaces each. They stayed at the entrance, crouching low on their knees.

The old man was the oldest person Darya had ever seen. He had pale blue skin and white hair. He wore an oversized grey robe and a giant necklace made of iridescent shells.

He stared at Seris with his eyes turned to narrow slits. The attendant girls dressed in white quickly arranged a sitting pillow for him.

“Eleven years, it has been. May the light bless us all,” the old man said, bowing as far as his old bones allowed. Darya wanted to tell him not to do that, but she knew that wasn’t appropriate. She had to play her part of the Dovarist priestess.

“May the light bless you and your people, elder,” Seris said in a lethally sweet voice. It made some of the attendant girls wobble.

She’s really good at this.

“What brings you to our poor village, priestesses?” the elder asked.

“We were heading towards Galtea and decided to check the places nearby,” Seris said. “We’re quite new to being priestesses. We were curious about the merfolk since we haven’t met many of you before.”

“How splendid,” the elder said, clutching his necklace. “The light has sent you to us in a time of need!”

“We’d like to hear more about your history and your current troubles. We have a seal of providence. The high church can assist you if we write to them.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

We have a seal of whatever? I didn’t even know that.

The elder and the entire room gasped at this proclamation. Some of the girls burst into tears.

“Our troubles began in the same history you wanted to know about, young priestess,” the elder said, looking at the floor before him.

“I’m very curious about the Greybone towers and the islands at the center of the crescent,” Darya joined in. She wanted to steer the conversation where they needed.

“It makes for a great tale, priestess!” the elder said, clapping his hands once. Some of the attendants hurriedly vanished, likely to bring beverages.

“…And that’s where all merfolk troubles began. I was a child when—” the elder suddenly noticed the boy sitting next to Darya.

His narrow eyes widened. “I-is that Lurim?!”

“Y-yes, great elder. H-he came with the priestesses!” one of the girls said eagerly.

The elder’s hand went to his forehead. “Wh-where have you been, my boy!”

“Huh?” Seris looked at the elder. “Do you know him, elder?”

“Wh-where did you meet this boy, priestess?” the elder asked Darya in a panicked voice.

“Near the pier,” Darya said. “He came at me with a wooden sword. I almost tripped over him.”

“The pier! attacked a priestess! The foolish runt!” the elder howled.

The boy shrank closer to Darya, trying to hide behind her again.

“Not a big deal, elder. Don’t need to yell at him!” Darya said with a smile. “He was wounded on the cheek. Luckily, she’s practiced in mana healing,” she gestured at Seris.