What Lies Deep

-----Yui's POV

Ona: "Your mansion is pretty~"

Yui: "Thanks, haha."

My mom is currently out doing some business, which leaves me to man the house. But what I didn't expect was for the queen's daughters to visit without any notice. The last time we talked was a few weeks ago during their little visit at Kaede's place, but I'm glad to see that they both feel comfortable around me; especially Undine. She was still a bit nervous around Kaede and the others, but around me she seems to be a lot more calm just at a first glance.

Undine: "Mom really went all out for your mom, huh."

Yui: "Really, we didn't need this much, but I guess now the maids and butlers have a stay here as well."

Ona: "Where is your room then?"

Yui: "Just upstairs."

We end up moving up to my room instead of hanging out in the main hall. I noticed many of the butlers and maids were getting a bit stressed at seeing the queen's daughters, so I think taking them up here would be best.

I must've forgot to close the sliding glass door to the balcony as when I went to open my door, the massive gush of fresh, ocean air crashed into our faces.

Ona: "Woah!~"

Ona was the first one to rush towards the balcony followed by Undine soon after with me closing the door behind us.

Ona: "I'm jealous! This is a better view than back home."

Yui: "Really? I would've figured you guys would have a massive view over the ocean up in that castle."

Undine: "We do, but the ocean is always filled with boats."

Now that I think about it, I haven't seen any boats out on our side of the ocean, but I figured that was because of monsters dwelling deep in the ocean. But if there's boats out on their side, then maybe I was wrong about ocean monsters?

Yui: "I would've thought having boats would make the view better."

Ona: "Maybe at first, but I prefer your view a lot better. It's more... Calming."

Undine: "Yeah, it's relaxing."

The three of us all rest against the railing of the balcony, looking over the sea. The ocean waves creating ripples of light from the sun's reflections, making for quite a spectacle. I guess with boats in the mix the ocean would be a lot more chaotic. Actually, now that I'm thinking about the ocean, I do wonder how Undine and Ona swim. They're mermaids, right? So then would having human legs be a nuisance? I'm sort of curious.

Yui: "Do you two go out in the ocean?"

Undine: "Huh?"

Yui: "I mean like, your mom lived most of her life in the ocean, right? I was just wondering if you two had the same experience."

Undine/Ona: "..."

They fall silent, looking somewhat sad that makes me feel like I might have said something wrong, but with Undine showing a glimpse of a smile, I quickly try and calm myself down.

Undine: "We've never actually been in the waters like mom."

Yui: "What?!"

Ona: "We're young, and we were born on land, so I guess we never really had the chance to."

But they're mermaids that live right next to the ocean. This doesn't make sense to me.

Yui: "Are you not allowed or something?"

Undine: "We've always been busy, so the topic has never been brought up."

Ona: "Oh! But mom did say that the waters are dangerous. It's why many of the boats are armed with mages."

Oh! So there are threats in the ocean! Okay, then maybe the idea of swimming might be a bad idea. But maybe if it's in the shallow areas it'd be safe, right? But I guess with how hard it is for merfolk royalty to reproduce, and with the loss of their father, I can understand the queen's reason for not allowing her daughters in the waters.

Yui: "Did you at least go out on those boats?"

Undine: "No."

Yui: "Then why don't we go out for a swim?"

Undine/Ona: "Huh?!"

They both had the same look of excitement, but also a level of weariness as if what I asked of them was something illegal.

Yui: "I haven't done much in terms of swimming, but I did go out far enough for the water to reach my hip."

Ona: "The hip?!"

Undine: "That's dangerous, Ellen. Crawcals are known to take the lives of people even in shallow waters."

Yui: "Crawcals?"

This is the first instance of learning about an underwater monster. I only learnt about monsters on land when I was in school, so this is a whole new world to me.

Undine: "They hide under the sand, camouflaging in a sense until their prey comes close. Then they open their mouth, drawing in the water, pulling their prey along with it."

Ona: "They have big mouths like this!"

Ona then proceeds to expand her arms as wide as possible which I thought is pretty cute. But wow, to think that monsters like that are around. Step in the wrong place and then boom, you're gone.

Yui: "Are they that much of a threat?"

Undine: "Not really since they only dwell on the ocean floor, so they pose no threats to the boats. But if you carelessly wander out in the ocean like you did, then of course!"

Yui: "Haha, well I had a friend with me that could detect any threats, so I was in safe hands."

Ona: "Was it that vampire, Kaede?"

Yui: "Mm!"

Undine: "Pfft, yeah if you had a monster like Kaede around, I'm sure there was nothing to worry about."

I still don't like how they carelessly call Kaede a monster. I get that it is what she is and even Kaede herself refers to herself as such, but it still annoys me to hear her being called the same thing as spiders, or goblins, or any other monstrosity.

Yui: "Uhm, could you not call her a monster? It sort of feels weird to hear my friend being called that."

Undine: "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

Yui: "It's okay."

I get it. I assume merfolk are also regarded as monsters, so maybe she just meant it as just a given term. Sort of like how murderers back in our past life are still considered humans, so in that sense you could say not all monsters are bad.

Yui: "So are there any other sorts of monsters in the ocean?"

Ona: "Hydra!"

Undine: "Pfft. That's if hydra's are real to begin with, sister."

When I think of a hydra, I think of a beast with multiple heads, but I don't think I remember hydra's being an ocean type monster.

Yui: "They don't exist?"

Undine: "Just stories about them. They were real, but were supposedly all taken care of."

Yui: "So they're extinct?"

Undine: "Yes."

Yui: "Then what about ones that do exist?"

Undine: "I guess the biggest threat to the boats would be the lagiasus. Their serpents that have claws that can slice into boats and people, not to mention their massive tail that can easily cut a boat in half with just a single attack."

Yui: "Sounds like a nightmare to deal with."

Ona: "Mhmm! But their scales are pretty! And they're as tough as dragon scales."

Undine: "That's if you manage to kill one. From what mom said, we tend to try and avoid contact with them. Not to mention their spines have spikes that are capable to electrifying the water."

Yeah, the more they describe this monster, the more scared I feel about going in the ocean. A lagiasus big enough to slice a boat in half? Yeah no thanks.

Yui: "Yeah I think that's enough about the ocean now, haha. It's making me feel put off about swimming in the ocean."

Ona: "Oh, but only the crawcal is a threat at the shores. At least as far as I know."

Yui: "That's relieving."

Ona: "So? Did we want to go out swimming now?"

To be honest, I'm a little scared about crawcals now, but if I can grab Kaede and take her with us, then I'd feel a lot better about it.

Yui: "Sure, but I will need to grab Kaede. Is that okay?"

Ona: "Mhmm!"

Undine: "Sure, but as long as Neri comes as well."

Yui: "Huh? Who's Neri?"

Just then, Undine slaps her hand over her mouth as her eyes widen. Ona also looked at her sister with a stern expression as if what she said was a curse word or something.

Ona: "Nevermind that~"

Neri... Is she a maid or something? Whoever it is, I guess it was a name I should forget. I should honor these two and not pursue this any further; not like I had much interest either way since this Neri person would be joining us.