A Dream, An Awakening, A Beginning.

Mary rarely dreamed when she slept since she began working as a maid. Often so tired that she would immediately fall into a dead slumber where nothing short of someone kicking down her door would awaken her before she was fully rested. This time however she dreamed of the sea she grew up by, and yet at the same time it wasn't. The Vlacian Sea was a place of beauty and calm, its waters looking like they were made liquid gemstones as they crashed upon the white beaches of her home town, rhythmically and gracefully like music. The sea in her dream however was a different place despite much of the area appearing as she remembered it. The water was murky and dark like ink, the sky a bleak and foreboding grayish-black occasionally split by cracks of lightning, the wind howled and moaned as if carrying the cries of drowned sailors lost to the ocean's depths, and the shadows of things unmentionable danced in the distant fog. Despite this scene which would make most sea-fairing men cry out in fear and horror, Mary instead somehow felt a sense of comfort and peace.

It was like such a scenery was where she belonged, not scrubbing silken garments or listening to noble brats complain about having to do the barest minimum of work. Instead living amongst the turbulent waves, taming the dancing shadows, and frolicking amongst the howling squalls. Just as the thought formed in her head the scene popped and she felt herself undergo a violent transition  of blinding colors, dizzying smells, a cacophony of sounds, and more before it all suddenly stopped like the calm before the storm. Suddenly she awoke with a start, her mind having trouble processing everything that happened as she recovered from the ordeal.

Belatedly she noticed she was no longer laying in her comfy bed and nice, if somewhat small, servant quarters. No, instead she appeared to be in some kind of littoral cave otherwise known as a sea cave. One which seemed to have been long cut off from the sea and outside in general judging by the dried seaweed, dried and dead moss, and the fish skeletons scattered about. Which did beg the question, where was the light she was using to see coming from? Glancing about she couldn't find the source which seemed to be constantly moving to keep itself just behind her as the light moved whenever she did. Suddenly she realized an astonishing fact she had been overlooking, she had no limbs or even a body by the looks of it since no sound seemed to emerge during what would have otherwise been a shriek of terror and confusion.

After a few minutes of heavy breathing and attempts at not having a panic attack, Mary finally got herself under control as she began to think about her situation.

So let's take stock of what I do and don't know at the moment. 1, I'm in some cave that used to be connected to the sea. 2, Somehow I'm alive without a body, if you can even call this being alive. 3, Whoever did this managed to sneak into the royal palace and abduct me.

Suddenly as if to interrupt her musings a loud, wet pop sounded out followed by a small "eep" and equally small thump as something hit the ground. Swiveling her view Mary froze as she looked at the odd yet beautiful creature before her. Roughly the size of her forearm the creature had long sea blue hair, shimmering emerald green eyes set into a face like a doll's, a fish-tail covered in alternating violet and navy scales, and strangely a pair of delicate iridescent wings on her back. Mary also noted rather enviously the being's ..... gifted, feminine assets and more embarrassingly in what would have made Mary blush were she still able to, that they were not covered by anything.

"Ouch, that hurt. I thought this was supposed to be a Sea-type Water Dungeon, so why the hell did they transport me into some dried-up cave?" Seemingly confused herself, the creature lifted herself up with her wings floating in place for a moment as she looked around before glancing over to Mary.

"Oh! You must be my core, it's SO nice to meet you. I'm Neira, a dual deep-sea and soul attribute fairy and the one responsible for guiding and teaching you in the ways of a dungeon."The creature nearly shouted happily as she flew closer after noticing Mary with a grin appearing on her face. Unable to reply Mary just looked at her and if she had a face she would be giving this, Neira, a very unimpressed look. "Right, right sorry. I was so excited I forgot you can't respond until we initiate our bond. Here, just accept it in your mind and we'll be able to talk afterwards."

Neira swiped the air a few times and suddenly a screen appeared in front of Mary surprising her for a moment. Mary stared at the small fairy for several more moments following that as the fairy's excitement slowly turned into nervousness before Mary finally accepted with a sigh.

Just what had she gotten herself into?