WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 83: It is just a Dream

Chapter 83: It is just a Dream

"Rhea?" She heard and she turned. The voice sounded so familiar but she could not see who was calling her. There wasn’t anyone around either. Rhea began to wonder who was calling her name. "Rhea," she heard again.

She says a lady in pink, standing a distance away.

"Aqua?" Rhea called.

Aqua turned to face her. "Hi, Rhea," she waved.

Rhea felt a surge of relief seeing that it was Aqua. She moved closer to her.

"Where is this place?" She asked.

"The mermaids’ city," Aqua answered. "Welcome to the Blue Sea."

Rhea was surprised. So this is what the Blue Sea looks like. But why isn’t the sea blue?

"But the sea is not blue," she mumbled.

Aqua smiled. "It doesn’t have to be, does it?"

Rhea shook her head. It doesn’t have to be.

"Come with me, I will show you around."

Rhea followed Aqua into the city which is now desolate. The houses were still standing strong. They still look beautiful too.

How long has it been like this? Rhea wondered. And how long will it remain like this?

"The sea is now desolate," Aqua said. "It used to be lively."

Rhea sighed. It doesn’t look like it was once lively.

"Do you want to see what it used to look like?" Aqua asked.

"You can show me?" Rhea asked.

"Of course, I can," Aqua answered.

Rhea watched Aqua do a few things and the once desolate sea was filled with life. Rhea’s mouth opened wide in surprise and admiration.

If this is what the mermaids’ city used to look like, then she can understand why the mermen wanted it.

Not only did the sea come to life, but the water which was once cold was warm now.

"It’s beautiful," Rhea mumbled.

"It was," Aqua answered.

They walked for a while, with Aqua showing Rhea some beautiful places. Rhea soon got tired of walking.

The city is a big one

"Are you tired?" Aqua asked.

"I am. This place is big."

"I know," Aqua answered. "Do you want to race with me? I can see you have a tail now."

Rhea furrowed her brows. How did Aqua know that?

"How did you know I have a tail now?"

Aqua pointed at Rhea’s forehead. "It’s glowing. Congratulations, Rhea."

"Thank you, Aqua," Rhea answered.

"Now that you have a tail, you should go through the last phase of your merging with the bluestone. I will help you with that before I send you back."

"Thank you, Aqua," Rhea mumbled.

"Would you like to change to your mermaid form now? We will be able to cover up a lot of places before your time elapses."

Rhea was okay about changing into her mermaid form. But how would she do that?

"I don’t know how to do that?" she said to Aqua.

"I will help you with that."

Aqua helped Rhea change into her mermaid form. Aqua also changed into her mermaid form too. Their tails were similar, just that Rhea’s tail had more colors, and they glittered.

"Are you ready?" Aqua asked.

Rhea nodded. "I am."

Aqua held Rhea’s hand and they swam together. It was faster just like Aqua had said. They were able to cover a lot of places in a short time. Aqua took her time to explain a lot of things to Rhea.

"Do you want to take a rest?" Aqua asked after a while. "I can help you merge with the stone before we go on."

Rhea wasn’t tired. But just like Aqua said, she also wants to merge with the stone before her time here is up.

"I should take a rest," Rhea mumbled.

Aqua found a good place they could sit on. She held Rhea’s hands.

"Your merging process this time is going to be different," Aqua said. "You already have your tail and also you are in the Blue Sea. It will be easier to connect with the stone now. Do you remember what I told you to do the last time you merged with the stone?"

Rhea nodded. She can remember vividly well.

"You just have to do the same."

Rhea closed her eyes, breathing in and out. She felt strange and she wanted to open her eyes but Aqua stopped her.

"Don’t open your eyes, Rhea. Do not disconnect from the stone."

Rhea tried her best to keep her eyes closed. The power from the stone soon overwhelmed her and Rhea was lifted from her seat.

"Open your eyes, Rhea," Aqua told her.

Rhea opened her eyes and was shocked by what she saw. The sea was blue now, covered with the light from the bluestone. Rhea felt different. That was her first time feeling this way and she loved it.

"Congratulations Rhea, you have finally completed your merging process with the bluestone."

That is all? Rhea wondered. What will happen after this?

"What is the next step?" She asked.

"I don’t know. It depends on the path you choose, Rhea. It depends on your destiny."

Rhea was a bit confused. How is she going to know which path to follow? How will she know her destiny?

She moved closer to Aqua. "How am I supposed to know that?"

"I don’t know how but you will. Enough of the questions. Let’s go have fun."

"What are we going to do?"

"Let’s race again," Aqua answered.

Rhea agreed to it. They swam across the sea, and Rhea realized her speed was better than it was before. She could see more clearly than she used to. There was also another thing she noticed. The colors she sees determine how far she can see.

They raced for a while, though shorter than the first.

Aqua stopped. "It’s time, Rhea. It’s time to go back."

Rhea wishes she didn’t have to go back. Even if she has to, it shouldn’t be this early.

"Do you have any questions for me?" Aqua asked. "This might be my last time with you."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Last?

"What do you mean, Aqua?"

"It’s time to go back."

Rhea was sad. The thought of not seeing Aqua again made her cry and Aqua had to pet her.

"Do you have to go?" Rhea asked.

"Like I told you before, I am just a fragment of Aqua. My mission here is completed. It is time to go."

Rhea held Aqua’s hand. "I am going to miss you."

Aqua smiled. "I will miss you too, I guess."

"Thank you, Aqua for everything."

"I should thank you, Rhea, for being the next Aqua."

Rhea hugged Aqua. She is going to miss her.

Though their meetings weren’t frequent and they happened a few times, she loved every bit of it.

"Thank you, Aqua," she mumbled again.

"Rhea," Aqua called and she looked up. "If I leave," she stared at Rhea and sighed. "There is someone who will be leaving with me too."

Rhea furrowed her brows. "Who?"

"Aquamarine," Aqua said.

That was shocking to Rhea. Why does Aquamarine have to leave too?

"Why? Why is she leaving too?"

"Because she is my water guardian, Rhea. She was created when I merged with the bluestone. I am the last fragment of Aqua’s soul. If I disappear, Aquamarine will cease to exist too."

"If Aquamarine leaves, what will happen to me?"

"Now you have your water guardian," Aqua said. "You don’t have to worry about that."

Rhea was worried. If Aqua leaves now, how would she be able to see Aquamarine?

"Does that mean I won’t see Aquamarine before she leaves?"

Aqua smiled. "Even if I leave today, Aquamarine won’t disappear immediately. I don’t know how long it will be before she disappears. If you want to see her. You have to do that tomorrow."

Rhea nodded. She would have done that today but it’s already late. But what if she does not meet Aquamarine when she goes to the House of Seashells tomorrow?

They heard a sound and Rhea began to look around. Aqua did not. She looked up instead. She knew what was going on already.

It was time for Rhea to wake up from her dream and also a time for her to leave.

She stood up and Rhea stood up too. "Rhea," Aqua called. "The sea is ready to send you back home."

How? Rhea wondered.

"It is also time for me to leave."

Why so soon? Why is the sea taking her home just when Aqua is leaving?

Rhea wished she could see Aqua leave but she doesn’t think that will be possible. Rhea began to hear the sound they had heard a while ago. It was getting closer now and she could feel it. She looked up to see a whirlpool.

Is that what will send her home?

Rhea rushed to hug Aqua. "Thank you, Aqua for being a good mentor."

"Thank you, Rhea, for being a good mentee."

Aqua moved away from Rhea and waved at her. "Goodbye, Rhea."

Aqua kept waving at Rhea until she finally disappeared. Seeing Aqua disappear in front of her, Rhea cried.

"Aqua, I will not disappoint you," Rhea mumbled.

The whirlpool picked Rhea up taking her back to the seashore. When she finally got to the seashore, Rhea turned back to look at the sea.

She had just a thing in mind, to bring back life to the sea that has become desolate.

"Rhea?" She heard her father’s familiar voice.

"Dad?" She cooed.

"Rhea?" He called again. "We are home. Wake up."

Rhea opened her eyes and she was back to the car, parked in front of their house.

"You are finally awake," her father said.

It was just a dream. She thought.

She could still feel strange, just like she felt in the sea after merging with the stone. Rhea looked through the window. Her sight looked normal at first but suddenly everywhere became orange in color. Rhea began to see beyond the houses on the street.

She smiled. Although it was just a dream, she really did merge with the bluestone and her sight... It’s no longer the same.