#magicwatersmermay

[al-ma-48]

Week 20 - Parakeet Cove

The ever-changing environment at the Red Dragon Reef transformed as quickly as the mercurial mood of the local merfolk, so it never got boring! Yet, once more, Undine’s restlessness grew with each passing day, so I proposed to move on. There had to be a place in the magic waters that Undine would enjoy enough to call it her new home! So we once more went into a magic waters portal. On the other side, I rapidly squinted my eyes at the unexpected brightness. Rays of sun danced over the shallow, turquoise waters of this tropical cove, illuminating the corals beneath. Branches of the surrounding jungle trees gently swayed in the wind over the cove, adding their shadows to the mesmerizing, shifting dance of light. Above us, huge swarms of parakeets filled the air with color and their sounds. What an amazing tropical paradise. I cherished the huge smile on Undine’s face as the amiable local merfolk welcomed us to Parakeet Cove. Merfolk seem to have a knack for aptly naming their homes. Life here was absolutely enjoyable. And the locals had such a keen sense of humor. By taking advantage of the parakeet's skill to mimic language, they have become true masters of playing pranks on each other. But after a few days, something strange caught my attention.

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[al-ma-48]

Week 18 - Frog Pond

The past weeks were way more dramatic than I expected, and I met quite a few very fascinating creatures. Yet, thanks to the publishers’ cost cuttings, I had no access to modern communication systems like the mail fowl network. So the story of my adventure will have to be told another time. But finally, once again, I arrived at the coast of the Ultramarine Sea just in time for the spring celebration. Perhaps you recall my very dear friend Undine Silverscale, the mermaid. Last year at the Tinted Barriers, we filled her home with laughter and joy. Alas, I fear this year might not be such an enjoyable time together. Undine confided to me she was very miserable at home. She yearned to explore the world like I do, and feel a similar thrill of discovery. I suppose her home felt too constricted, despite its beauty. Recalling a captivating book about portals connecting different magical aquatic habitats, I proposed to explore them together. Happily, she agreed at once and we set out to locate the nearest waterway portal. To our surprise, it took us to a frog pond deep in a mystical forest. Can I even all the local dwellers merfolk when they are living in freshwater? The strange sights and sounds and taste of the swampy water captivated Undine. Thirstily, she soaked up the new environment with all her senses.

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