Chapter 1 (12 years ago)

That night the seas were angry and were not kind to anything. Waves so big and strong that they covered the beach houses and then wiped them from existence. It was like the sea was fighting back or angered by the death of the Naga king and prince. He was a good king after all and ruled the water with peace. The seas were so angry that they caused a tsunami on land that took away a lot of houses and killed many people. Beach houses and businesses were destroyed, and many people died while others were injured.

The princess washed up on land together with the guard Zane, the chest with gold, and the trident. The rescue teams were busy looking for survivors of the tsunami at that time when they came across them. At first, they thought they were dead, that was until the guard coughed that they rushed to them. When they saw their funny attires, the old chest, and trident they thought they went to some costume party when the tsunami hit.

“Come this way, you will be safe there.” The man said as he helps the little girl up, Zane shoved him away from the princess and took her hand. The man lifted his hands up in surrender. “Hey, I am only trying to help.” He said but Zane ignored him as he checks on the princess to see if she was all right. The princess, Nazima nodded her little head, and that is when Zane looked at the man.

“Where do we go?” his accent was foreign to him, but he did not bother with him and showed him the trucks that were transporting the survivors to the shelter. Zane took the princess’s hand and walked to the trucks. He was carrying the heavy chest with gold, but it did not seem like he minded its heaviness at all since he carried it normally like it weighed nothing.

The princess on the other side was carrying the golden trident and walking beside him. She was fascinated and could not believe what she was seeing. Everything here looked different from in the water. So many creatures walking on two legs, her father told her stories about these creatures living on land walking on two legs.

She thought they were just stories but now seeing them with her own two eyes was unbelievable. “They are a strange pair.” Said one man but the other shook his head as they stood there watching them leave. “They may be strange because they don’t belong here.” The other glanced at them again. “No, I just think they are weirdos who like costumes.” The other shook his head again.

“I do not think so, my grandmother used to tell me about the gods that live in water. She said they can live on land as well. She told me that long ago people used to worship the water gods and would ask for blessings from them. Like when a woman cannot have children, they would go and pray to the water gods and give offerings. She said when they wake up in the morning and the offerings were not there then that meant the gods had accepted their offering and the woman would fall pregnant and have children.” The other one could not believe what his colleague was saying.

“No man that is just folklore and old people like it.” the men continue to search for survivors. “What about that golden trident?” asked the man. “Oh, come on man, that big fork looks like a prop from these costume parties or movies or something. It is not real, forget about what your grandmother told you and work.” The other man did not say anything more.

In the truck Zane kept Nazima close to him as they drove, little Nazima was excited and loved the experience. She only hoped she got to experience this with her brother and father. But they were gone, and she would never see them again. Thinking of that the little princess became sad again. She went and sat with Zane.

“Why did they kill Nazim, and do you think father managed to escape?” Zane felt sorry for the princess, her brother and father were all the family she had. The sea monster killed her mother while she was hunting, and the princess was only a month old back then. She does not know her mother but has been shown the kind of person she was through the memory pool.

In the water there was a pool there they call the pool of memories. Everything that happens in the water is stored there. It is like their own library with all the memories of everyone and every event that ever took place in the water. When she was five and started asking about her mother, her father took her to the memory pool for the first time to show her memories of her mother.

Since then, on her name day, her father and brother would take her to the memory pool to look at the memories of her mother. It was their ritual and now he did not even know if they will ever go back. “Because they are bad people, my princess but soon when you are old and strong. You will be able to go back and avenge your father and brother.” The princess did not fully understand, but she nodded, anyway.

She fell asleep on the drive to the shelter; she had a dream that she was back home and in the dream, her whole family was there. Her mother, father, and brother. They were sitting together talking and laughing. Then her father suddenly turned to her. “Do not forget who you are and where you belong Nazima. Your people need you, do not forget them. Train hard and come back home to claim what is yours.” Her father’s words confused the little princess. She was home and did not understand why he would tell her to come back home when she was already home.

“But I am home, father.” Her father smiled at her and then stood with her mother and brother looking at her. “Don’t forget who you are,” he said one more time. “I love you, little sis.” Her brother said with a smile. “I also hold much love for you, my darling.” Her mother said with a warm smile on her face. “Daddy loves you too princess but don’t forget,” her father said then they started fading away.

Nazima called out to them. “No! mother, father, please do not leave me. Brother, please.” She cried out and Zane shook her awake because she was really crying. When she woke up, she had tears in her eyes and Zane’s heart went out to the little princess. He pulled her into an embrace and whispered to her. “All shall be well my princess. I promise.” Nazima cried even more.

She knew nothing will ever be all right, her parents were gone, and was left alone in the world. This was not even her world or her home but because of bad people that killed her father and brother, she was here. Forced to make the foreign land her home. She did not want to be here, at least not without her family.

“Please don’t leave me too Zane, or I will really have no one if you leave.” Zane’s heart broke and held the princess tighter. He swore right then that he will help his princess claim what is hers and get revenge on the Merpeople for what they had done.

Back in the water, Caleb was being scolded by his father for losing the princess. “You are useless Caleb, how am I supposed to rule the seas now if I do not have the trident? We killed that fucking Naga for nothing!” Caleb clenched his fists tightly not liking the way his father was talking to him. “We can ask the merchants to forge another one for you.” He suggested and swiftly without knowing how Caleb was flying backward.

His father had punched him in the gut so hard that he flew a few feet before he could regain his composure. He glared at his father. “WHAT! What are you going to do boy?” he swam towards him and looked him in the eye with so much anger. “That trident is one of kings, it is passed on from one king to another. You cannot just make one. The tools that made that trident came from the Atlantic long ago. Where the hell do you think we can get them?”

The chief was both angry and disappointed by his son. He could not believe he let that damned princess getaway. “Apologies father, I did not know. I shall find the princess at once and return the royal trident to you.” The chief did not know whether to laugh or cry. “You do that, and I want her head when you bring that trident.” Caleb left his father to continue with the search.

The Naga people had all been gathered and arrested by this time. Young and old were arrested and many were killed for resisting. It was nothing but chaos in the water and no one else knew on the surface. Caleb went and gathered four teams. First team was to go search north, one east, one south and the other west.

They sent word to other tribes about the princess and to let them know about the new king. Of course, the other tribes were not happy about the news but did not oppose the Mer chief. He was known to be ruthless, and they did not want to cross him in fear of their lives. “Warton, I want you to go on land and search for that little bitch there. When you find her, kill her, and bring me the trident.” Caleb instructed his trusted warrior.