Forgotten Sea: Chapter 5

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The days pass one after another. I seem to have become used to life here.

Rafayel has not brought up the issue of his needing a follower, but this day, he suddenly finds me–

Rafayel: Let’s go.

MC: Go where?

Rafayel: To visit the shore. Didn’t you say these few days are the festivities to celebrate the Sea God’s birth?

MC: Really?

Rafayel: Do you think ?

Taking advantage of the silence of the night, Rafayel and I circle past the guards outside Whalefall City and successfully slip away to the shore.

MC: Just now when we were being chased by the shark, did you have to leave me behind and run so quickly…

Rafayel: A two-legged creature like you that can’t run fast and has no self-defense capability, if you were by yourself, I’m afraid you wouldn’t survive a single day in the ocean.

The surface of the sea is calm and still. Above our heads, stars twinkle in the sky. I gulp down huge breaths of long-deprived fresh air.

MC: Do you see it? The Emissaries live in that tallest temple on the island.

Rafayel lifts his head, his gaze following my finger towards that brightly-lit building.

Rafayel: Did you live there for very long?

MC: Mmhmm, I was taken in by the Emissaries when I was very little, and as time passed, I thought I was a follower of the Sea God too.

MC: But after I grew up I learned, I was not the Sea God’s follower, I was just the sacrificial offering that the followers offer to the Sea God.

MC: Only Emissaries have to be the Sea God’s followers.

Rafayel: Why didn’t you think of a way to escape?

MC: Escape to where? This island is too small, no matter where I escape to, I’ll be found by them.

MC: If I could become a fish, perhaps I could escape into the sea, and then they wouldn’t be able to find me.

MC: Let’s go, let’s go, if I stay out in the ocean breeze any longer, I’m going to get so cold my nose will start running…

We barely walk a few steps before Rafayel pulls me back.

Rafayel: You are a sacrificial offering that was offered to the Sea God, are you planning on walking in so openly like this?

Before we enter the city, Rafayel retrieves a piece of driftwood from the shore, carves it into a suitably-sized mask, and has me wear it.

Perhaps it’s because of the festival, the air is thick with the smell of expensive fragrances. The mermaid candles on all four walls are also burning continuously.

Under the arcade where the legend of the Sea God is carved, a street performer is playing a lyre, humming an old song–

Peddler: The Sea God was unable to go against his instinct for love, and the bond he created with that girl…

Peddler: From the deep sea he returned to the shore, found the girl, and from then on they lived happily ever after.

The play ends, the puppet screen is pulled up, and the young children in the audience all cheer and exclaim.

Little girl: But Lemurians are a race that are dictated by their bonds. Without this bond, the Sea God wouldn’t even remember her, let alone listen to her commands.

Little boy: What nonsense are you saying! Even if this bond didn’t exist, the Sea God would still find the girl he loves and be with her!

Little girl: Hmph, you men are so naive.

The little girl angrily tugs on my sleeve.

Little girl: what do you think? Is the Sea God truly sincere or is it because of that bond that he is together with the girl?

MC: Those Lemurian legends and stories, they’re all made up…

Before I finish speaking, the boy and girl both let out a cry and begin to sob.

MC: Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way…

Little girl: Then big brother, do you believe Lemuria exists? Do you think the Sea God would offer up his heart for a human?

Holding his chin and also watching intently, the Sea God himself nods.

Rafayel: I believe it.

Rafayel: Because I come from Lemuria.

I reach a hand out to cover Rafayel’s mouth, but he presses my hand down.

Little girl: Then, you Lemurians, what are you all like?

Rafayel: Lemurians’ tears will Their can transform into enchanting dreams. Their even return from the dead.

Little girl: I already knew all of this!

Rafayel: Lemurians also won’t simply like a person because of a bond, this is just a misconception you humans have.

Little girl: What else?

Rafayel: Still want to hear more?

Rafayel accepts the Sea God and girl puppets from the peddler. Out of habit, he’s about to hand them to the young woman, and then he realizes she’s gone without a trace.

Little girl: ?

He’s a little lost. His gaze sweeps across the places they’ve passed by, snack stalls, puppet show, and various other performers, but there’s no sign of her.

It isn’t until he looks towards the town square, where the girl has been drawn by the fragrance of wine some unknown time ago, that he slightly relaxes his breath.

Rafayel: Go tell that big sister, someone is waiting here for her. If she still doesn’t come…

He thinks for a moment, purposefully lowers his tone.

Rafayel: This person won’t want to wait any longer.

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