A crowd had gathered around Gabriel.
All eyes were fixed on him as he lay on the floor, pale and shaken. People rushed forward, ready to help.
Suddenly, Gabriel realized something far more important.
I need to go back, he thought. I need to talk to Meridia.
If he didn't, how would he answer everyone? Worse—what if Meridia was in danger?
"I'm fine," Gabriel said quickly. "It was just a small panic attack."
Before anyone could question him further, he stood up and hurried upstairs.
Meridia was sitting on the bed—completely normal, like any other human.
When she saw Gabriel, she stood up immediately.
"I'm sorry," Meridia said softly. "I didn't tell you before. I was planning to… I just didn't know how."
Gabriel stared at her.
"Who are you?" he asked slowly. "Are you really Meridia?"
"Yes," she replied. "I am Meridia."
Gabriel exhaled sharply.
"Because of your strange behavior, I already felt something wasn't normal about you."
"You're right," she said quietly.
"Then tell me," Gabriel demanded. "Who are you really?"
Meridia looked at him, her voice trembling.
"I am a cursed mermaid."
"A cursed… mermaid?" Gabriel repeated in disbelief.
"Yes," she said. "My curse is this:
When water touches me, I become a mermaid.
When I touch land, I turn into a human.
And when I touch air or reach great heights, I become an angel.
I can never stay stable in one form. I don't belong anywhere."
Gabriel shook his head.
"This sounds like a lie."
Without another word, Meridia turned on the shower.
Water flowed over her skin—and in seconds, her human form vanished. She transformed into a mermaid. Slowly, she moved out of the bathroom and sat on the floor near Gabriel's bed.
Gabriel froze.
"I… I can't believe this," he whispered.
"Watch," Meridia said. "When the water dries, I'll become human again."
Gabriel swallowed hard.
"What were you originally?" he asked. "A human? Or an angel?"
"A mermaid," she answered.
"Then how did this happen?"
Meridia took a deep breath—and began her story.
"I was born in the oceans of Marson," she said.
"My mother belonged to the Ford realm, and my father to Marson. They married in secret. I grew up there."
Her voice darkened.
"My mother never liked me. I never supported our kingdom—because our kingdom was built on betrayal."
"When I grew older, a merman began following me. He proposed to me, but I rejected him."
"One day, he came to me again. I thought he had changed."
She paused, remembering.
"He said, 'I now see you as my sister. I want to give you a gift.'"
"I trusted him," Meridia whispered.
He placed a necklace around my neck."
"Soon after, he gathered everyone. I thought he was calling them to accept me as his sister."
Her hands clenched.
"But instead, he said—
'Look at her. The innocent Meridia you trust. She stole Queen Virella's necklace.'"
Just then, King Talay arrived.
"I told them the truth," Meridia said desperately.
"I said I didn't steal anything."
King Talay looked at her coldly.
"Then what are you wearing around your neck?" he asked.
"It was a lie," she cried. "I was betrayed."
"They took me to Lumigrove," Meridia continued.
"There, King Talay cursed me with his own hands."
Her voice echoed, heavy with pain.
"'Wherever you go, you will become what that place demands,' he said.
'Touch water—become a mermaid.
Touch land—become a human.
Touch the sky or heights—become an angel.
And all beings will torment you for this cursed gift.'"
Tears streamed down her face.
"I cursed him back," Meridia said, her voice deep and fierce.
"I will return. And I will destroy you and your people."
"Then," she whispered,
"King Talay used his powers and threw me out of the ocean."
"I fell onto a massive stone."
Her eyes met Gabriel's.
"The same stone… where you found me that day.".