" Got you! "
Mia swam behind it and tackled it without notice.
The weird little squirms were what Mia thought were his giggles.
" How have you been? I have missed you! "
Mia squeezed him hard. He too held Mia's hand back.
" My son was born , you know. You and Anjana will no longer need to live in fear. The queen too him so much. I had not anticipated he would have had that kind of an effect on them. "
Mia could not help but share the news of hope with the little one. But the mention of the queen made him reel. Reel back in fear.
" Don't be scared. Little one. Don't be scared. Trust me. I saw her take care of my son with my eyes. I understand how desperation might have driven them. But now they too can see the gloomy situation. "
Mia tried to cheer the poor thing up a little. But it seemed way too scary just by the mere of the queen's name.
" Never mind. Never mind. I have something important to ask of you. Do you remember the you took me to the last time? "
It nodded. Then held Mia's hands.
She distinctly saw herself in the Land of the Lakes. Her Lin. Running at her at full speed. It filled eyes. Never had she guessed the direction her life would take from that time. It was not very ago, but it already seemed like a distant dream.
Mia opened her eyes.
" No.
No. Not that place. The other place we went from there. The Tree of knowledge. The place it is. I mean the spot you left me at. "
The mer-boy nodded.
" Alright. Let's go then. "
Mia extended her hand.
The last time Mia was not able to take in much of her underwater travel experience. This time , it felt much more natural. Like walking and running.
She could distinctly see and feel the different currents. Their color gradients. Changing and textures. Mia could also catch a glimpse of the different water plants and . It felt unreal. She had been in the water many, many times. But it seemed like living the mer-world had awakened some dormant instincts and reflexes. The navigation became . So did her observations.
The mer-world boy pulled her faster. Suddenly it left her hand after some time.
Mia's thought had shifted to the fact that this was the last time she was seeing all these. She not be able to even talk about this with her Lin or her child.
The creature must have sensed that.
Mia became cautious.
" Nothing. It's nothing. It's just sadness because I left my newborn behind. "
Mia pulled her hand away from him. He was looking at her suspiciously as she tried masking heartbreak with a smile.
" Come on. Let's keep moving. You lead the way. I think I will be able to follow you this time. "
Mia didn't want to risk the little guy knowing that she was leaving. Probably forever. He was . If he knew he might never take her there.
The boy led the way as Mia swam hard to keep her pace. They covered myriad waters.
Of different colors and hues. They fostered different lives and also each had a different taste smell.
They swam like what seemed like hours before finally the mer-boy popped his head out and Mia the way.
It was the same place he had left her before.
Mia sighed. She was finally there.
The place had not changed even a speck
Mia turned towards the mer-boy and gave him a little goodbye hug.
He immediately read through Mia's mind.
He tried pulling Mia back into the water. Mia moved swiftly past.
It looked at Mia with pleading eyes. As if it wanted to tell her something.
Mia watched him struggle, trying to get out.
" Stop.
You don't have to do that. I have to go. I really have to. This is my only chance to stop the effect the curse. Once and for all. So that everyone can live freely after that. My boy, my family. You . You are my family as well. I can't keep letting you die in the merciless cycle of fate. If the of my uncle Jin can be suppressed, my boy can live. If my boy gets to live, it's hope for my mer-people. They can keep loving without having to kill their own kind. Go back. Go back the streams now.
And when things settle, please go visit my boy. He would like to have someone like you to play by his side. You will go. Wouldn't you? ".
Mia asked him, still standing far apart.
The boy seemed like he was very, very distraught. He looked desperate to grab her and pull her . He seemed like he was blaming himself for helping her get there.
He didn't answer Mia's question but kept pleading with his puppy eyes.
" I am sorry. I can't go back. "
Mia spared one last look at the poor thing, before darting off towards her destination.
Mia thought she heard a little rumbling noise from the behind.
She involuntarily looked back.
The boy was holding his neck and grappling himself.
Mia knew he could not talk.
But his struggle was making him emit weird sounds. Articulating noises. Mia stopped. Then in wonder.
Her jaws dropped open. She was touched by his sheer determination.
" Stop. I said stop. You don't need to do that. I won't be coming back. "
She tried once last time before stepping inside the realm of the Tree of Knowledge.
Just then the mer-boy spewed a few sounds. When put together it was something on the line -
Q--ee--n , k--i--ll ,b--o--y.
But Mia was already gone inside the other realm by the time her ears heard what he was trying hard to say.
*******
At the front line
Lin and Xie were hard at work. Their brothers had also given them a helping hand. It was way much work to bring their entire populations in one place. That too within the constant of the barrier.
" HEAVE- HO"
They pulled the makeshift tents up, one after the other. There was no time to build anything at point. It was also of no use as concrete and fabric, both stood between the grudge and , in the same way. Their only protection against it was their barrier. They toiled day and to keep it up. Strengthen it and make it as inclusive and wide spread as possible .
" Do my brothers need any help! "
Roe jumped in between Lin and Xie as they were immersed in discussing a structure.
" Gosh! Roe. You scared me to death. ".Xie exclaimed with his hand over his chest.
Roe poked him right at the place.
" Ouch. ".Xie exclaimed.
Lin smiled. It was amusing to see this duo fight. He looked here and there.
" Where is that useless bird? " He asked.
" You mean? There. I put him to good work. His lazy ass was getting too comfortable. "
Roe pointed in the direction from where Boshu waved. He was helping a group with their loads.
He too had mud all over his hands and face.
The three laughed at the sight of him. That definitely must have made him annoyed.
He flew towards them in his bird form and landed exactly on top.
"Why were you all laughing at me? Is hard work anything you should laugh at? "
His words made all three immediately shut their teeth.
" That's much better. "
Boshu smiled and sat with a thud beside the trio.
" What were you guys working on? "
He peeked over the structure they were making.
" This is like a frontline we are making here. There will be too many civilians inside the . We will make layers according to their military strength. "
Xie explained.
" Are we expecting a break in? Because if that is the case, no amount of military strength will be to stop the massacre. "
Roe put in her opinion.
" We are not. The barrier is our only hope. Yet, we will be taking all measures if things ever stop according to plan. "
Lin put in.
He suddenly lost eye contact with everyone and started staring at the distant sea. It was barely from the hilltop they were sitting on.
Boshu placed his hand over Lin's shoulder.
" Why do I keep feeling that my Mia is not alright these past days? "
He asked no one in particular.
" It's a shame we could not get the message about the Queen across to our sister. "
Roe's words made all of them turn in her direction.
" What? Wasn't it time we started calling Mia that? I mean I always wanted to call somebody . But I never had one. And when I did... " Roe sighed, " I hope she can come back home . So we can have lots and lots of time together. Just like I watched other sisters spend. "
Roe was counting all the activities she wanted to do on her fingers.
It made Lin even more sad. Mia too had always longed for her family. Without knowing that she such a big one.
Lin patted Roe on her shoulder.
"Don't worry Roe. As soon as Nana finds a way, we will barge into the Water Kingdom and bring Mia back. "
Boshu nodded.
" We might need to do that before the month ends. Is there anything that might help with your
Nana's work? Anything? "
He asked with concern.
" She has already arrived at the base camp. We can go pay her a visit together after we finish the work in our hands. "
Xie suggested.
" Brother Lin, what happens if your sister has a premature delivery?
I mean I know we all are calculating her nature cycle but there is no telling when a baby arrives.
What happens if something like that were to happen? "
Not a single soul that gave that a thought.
It hits hard like a hammer on Lin's core. He looked at her with wide eyes. As if asking for help.
" I hope nothing like that will happen. Go make yourself useful without giving us any more . "
Xie pushed his sister away. She was protesting but Boshu pulled her along with him.
" Come long. It's time you got a little dirty too. "
She kicked him hard. He laughed and tickled her. Then lifted her in his hand as they walked their place of work.
Lin was again lost in his thoughts.
Xie called his attention back.
" Let's get what we were doing done. Worrying would not help anything Lin. We have very little and a lot needs to be done. "
" Yes. You are correct. "
Lin stood up. Dusting his hands.
"Xie, can you tell me something? "
Lin asked.
" Sure. Go ahead. "
" Xie, they say a father can feel his child being born. Do you think there is any credibility to this ? "
Xie was puzzled at his statement.
" Lin, you are asking the question to the wrong person. I have not become a father yet nor do I any experience regarding that. Maybe you should try asking someone who has been in a situation. "
" Yeah. Right. I am sorry. "
Lin immediately apologized. He shook his head. He could not let emotions run him like that.
" You don't need to be sorry. I might not understand exactly what you are going through but I feel how difficult all these have been for the two of you. It's better to talk it out than keep bottled up.
If you want to talk about anything related to the question you just asked, I would suggest you with your father. There is nobody else in my eyes, who knows or has faced a more similar . He is closed. "
Xie smiled at Lin.
" You are right. I will. "
Lin acknowledged him with a pat on his shoulder and then both got back to what they were .