Artisans' coasts were especially calm that summer morning. The sea was flat and still, a gentle breeze blew, swaying the pine trees near the shore and the seagulls squawked with joy for the beginning of a new day.
Those were the kind of days Nessa loved. Before sunrise, the Artisan dragon fairy liked to walk barefoot on the sand, collecting shells and watching how some of the sea crustaceans escaped from her presence. It was the perfect time of day to be alone with her own thoughts.
Life in Artesans used to be very calm despite the last problems the dragons had with villains, especially with Gnasty Gnorc. Nestor had become paranoid about the incidents from the last years so he was watching Nessa more closely than usual, afraid that something might happen to his pupil and adopted daughter.
'Don't go too far into the sea, it can be dangerous.'
'You should be here by noon. I don't want anything bad to happen to you.'
'Be careful with strangers. Weird creatures roam the Realms these days and not all of them have the best intentions.'
The young fairy sincerely appreciated Nestor's concern but she already reached adulthood among the fairies. She was an adult female now. Besides, she and his brother had lived enough dangerous adventures over the Realms to have learned how to defend themselves. Or that is what she thought. Still, it was normal for the Artisan leader to be concerned and more so after Bruce, her brother and protector moved to the Forgotten Realms indefinitely.
Walking along the shore, lost deep in her thoughts... Then suddenly she heard a loud splash meters away, behind some rocks. Nessa turned around and then saw something that hadn't seen for years...
A mermaid coming out of the water! Or so it seemed ... Even though she had ... legs?
The fairy froze at the encounter and intended to turn around and fly away, but she couldn't. The mer in front of her was considerably taller and stronger than expected, along with a sensual and dangerous-looking like the ocean currents. The fairy said nothing and kept staring at the beautiful creature with curiosity.