Tides Of Eternity

The small fishing village of Inaba was nestled against jagged cliffs, where the ocean’s waves crashed relentlessly. The scent of salt hung heavy in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of smoked fish from the market. Evening was falling, casting the horizon in shades of amber and violet, as Kaiza walked into town. His dark cloak was frayed at the edges, a testament to countless journeys, and his eyes carried the weight of centuries. He kept his hood low, avoiding the curious gazes of villagers.

Kaiza had seen countless places like this over the years. Simple, quiet, and untouched by the chaos of the wider world. Yet, no matter how far he traveled, peace eluded him. The curse of immortality ensured that he was always an outsider, a shadow passing through lives that would flicker and fade while he endured.

He approached the market square, where merchants were packing up their wares for the day. A young boy darted past him, clutching a loaf of bread, and an angry baker gave chase, shouting curses. Kaiza sighed, stepping aside to let the scene unfold. These small dramas were meaningless to him now, mere echoes of a life he could no longer live.

At the edge of the square, a woman’s voice caught his attention. “Fresh fish! Straight from the sea! Come before it’s gone!”Her stall was modest, but her enthusiasm was infectious. Kaiza’s gaze lingered on the fish silver scales glinting in the fading light. For a moment, he was reminded of the ocean’s beauty, a beauty he had come to fear.

He turned away, his thoughts drifting to the purpose of his visit. Rumors had brought him here whispers of strange disappearances along the coast and sightings of creatures in the water. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard such tales. Most were exaggerations or superstitions, but sometimes they held a kernel of truth. And truth was what he sought, no matter how dark.

The inn was small but clean, its wooden beams polished from years of care. Kaiza paid for a room with a handful of coins and settled at a corner table in the common area. The warmth of the fire and the murmur of conversation did little to ease his weariness. He sipped his drink in silence, listening to the villagers’ chatter.

“Another one gone,” an older man muttered to his companion. “That’s the third this month.”

“Aye,” the other replied, his voice low. “The sea’s cursed, I tell you. Mark my words, it’s those creatures again.”

Kaiza’s ears pricked up. He leaned slightly closer, careful not to draw attention.

“Creatures?” the innkeeper’s wife asked, setting down a tray of mugs. “You mean the mermaids?”

“Don’t speak of them here,” the old man hissed. “They’ll hear you.”

The woman scoffed but said no more, moving to another table. Kaiza’s interest deepened. It was rare for such rumors to be spoken so openly. He finished his drink and rose, his decision made. The sea was calling, as it always did.

The cliffs loomed high above the shore, their jagged edges silhouetted against the moonlight. Kaiza’s boots crunched on the rocky path as he descended toward the beach. The air was colder here, and the sound of waves was louder, more menacing. He reached the sand and paused, scanning the horizon.

The ocean stretched endlessly before him, a vast expanse of darkness. But Kaiza’s eyes were sharp, and he noticed a faint glow in the water, far from shore. It pulsed gently, like the heartbeat of the sea itself. He moved closer, his footsteps silent.

A sudden splash broke the stillness. Kaiza froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. The glow in the water grew brighter, and a figure emerged, rising from the waves. It was a woman—or at least, it appeared to be. Her hair was long and dark, clinging to her pale skin, and her eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. She was beautiful, but there was something unsettling about her presence.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, her voice soft but echoing unnaturally.

Kaiza didn’t answer immediately. He studied her, noting the sharpness of her teeth when she spoke and the faint webbing between her fingers. “I’ve come seeking answers,” he said finally. “About the disappearances.”

The mermaid tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips. “Curious. Most humans run from the unknown. Yet you seek it out.”

“I have my reasons,” Kaiza replied. He kept his tone steady, though his grip on his sword tightened. “Tell me what you know.”

She laughed, a sound like breaking glass. “You think you can demand answers from me? You’re bold, human. But boldness won’t save you.”

Before Kaiza could respond, she lunged at him with inhuman speed. He barely had time to draw his sword, the blade catching the moonlight as it clashed against her claws. The force of the impact sent him stumbling back, but he recovered quickly, his centuries of experience guiding his movements.

The battle was fierce but brief. Kaiza’s strikes were precise, and though the mermaid was fast, she was no match for his skill. With a final slash, she fell to the sand, her glowing eyes dimming. Kaiza stood over her, breathing heavily.

“You don’t understand,” she whispered, blood staining her lips. “You’ve already lost.”

Her body dissolved into foam, leaving only the faint glow of the water behind. Kaiza sheathed his sword, his mind racing. Her words lingered, a chilling reminder that his quest for answers was far from over.

The next morning, Kaiza returned to the village. The market was bustling, the villagers oblivious to the dangers lurking just beyond their shores. He approached the fishmonger’s stall, his gaze scanning the offerings.

“You were out late,” the woman said, her tone cautious. “I saw you heading toward the cliffs.”

Kaiza met her eyes. “And if I was?”

She hesitated, then leaned closer. “There are things in the sea you don’t want to find. If you value your life, stay away.”

“I’ll take that under advisement,” Kaiza said, handing her a coin for a piece of smoked fish. He walked away, his thoughts heavy. The mermaid’s warning and the villagers’ fear pointed to something far greater than a few disappearances. And Kaiza knew he couldn’t ignore it.

As he left the market, a soft voice called out to him. “Wait!”

He turned to see a girl, no older than twelve, standing hesitantly behind him. Her clothes were tattered, and her eyes were wide with fear. “You… you’re not from here, are you?”She asked.

“No,” Kaiza replied. “Why?”

The girl glanced around nervously. “They’re watching. The ones in the water. They took my sister. Please, you have to help me.”

Kaiza knelt to meet her gaze. “What’s your name?”

“Mina,” she whispered.

He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll help you, Mina. But you need to tell me everything.”

She hesitated, then nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “They come at night. They sing to us. My sister… she couldn’t resist. She walked into the water, and they took her. I tried to stop them, but they were too strong.”

Kaiza placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I’ll do everything I can to bring her back.”

Mina’s eyes filled with hope, and for the first time in years, Kaiza felt a glimmer of purpose. He had spent centuries wandering, searching for redemption. Perhaps, in helping this girl, he could take one small step toward finding it.

That night, Kaiza stood on the beach once more, Mina by his side. The waves glimmered under the starlight, and the air was thick with tension. He could feel the presence of something watching them, waiting.

“Stay close to me,” he said, his voice low. Mina nodded, clutching his cloak tightly.

The haunting melody began, soft and sweet, carried on the wind. Mina’s grip tightened as her eyes widened in recognition. “That’s it,” she whispered. “That’s their song.”

Kaiza drew his sword, the blade gleaming in the moonlight. The water’s surface rippled, and shadows began to emerge, their forms both beautiful and grotesque. The mermaids had come, their glowing eyes fixed on Kaiza and Mina.

“Leave the girl,” one of them hissed. “She belongs to us.”

Kaiza stepped forward, his stance unwavering. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

The mermaids snarled, their voices blending into a cacophony of rage. The battle began, and Kaiza fought with a determination he hadn’t felt in centuries. This time, he wasn’t fighting for himself. He was fighting for Mina, for her chance at a life free from fear.

As the last mermaid fell, the beach fell silent once more. Kaiza stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving. Mina ran to him, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling.

Kaiza placed a hand on her head, his expression softening. “It’s not over yet. But we’ll face it together.”

As dawn broke over the horizon, Kaiza and Mina turned their backs on the sea, setting out on a journey that would change their lives forever.