I Died?

I loved mermaids so much I dreamt of being one. I had so many daydreams about my tail swinging all over in the water, bringing me far into the sea. I could only think of these as dreams, something so out of reality. On the internet I saw beautiful women in mermaid suits swimming around in the water like that was their home. Obviously, I could have done that, if I wasn't disabled… Then out of nowhere I woke up in a dark place. It wasn't too clear for me to understand at first, but it felt fuzzy and real at the same time. This place was dark but not cold or anything, just dark, like a void. I would hear a lady's voice from time to time but since it was unfamiliar, I decided not to respond. But after a little while it got annoying, so I just went and tried to talk.

"Hm-" my mouth felt like it was closed shut.

"Lydia Goufet, age 19, confirmed." The lady says. "Height 5'4, silver hair, grey eye color pale skin tone."

'Oh.' I think instead.

"I am called Flotic, you are in what is known as 'The confirmation Gate'." Flotic starts.

'Hi…?'

"You are allowed to choose what you can be in your next life."

'Wait, does that mean I died?'

"Yes." Flotic says, "Your heart had stopped beating due to poison."

'Poison… I was close with everyone, that doesn't make sense…'

"Past issues are to be forgotten to continue on with your path to your next life." Flotic adds.

'Well, okay, can you tell me anyone else who just died, where they went?'

"Most who come through my Confirmation Gate are placed within the world of Soltica Lands, Artirias Lands, and Dark Lands."

'Oh, why, what's over there?'

"This world is full of magic and power." Flotic says. "Some can be kings, queens, lords, angels, demons, trolls, goblins, ogres, elves, fairies, witches, wizards, dwarfs, or humans. All have available routes of royalty and leadership, such as, kings, queens, and lords. Often available routes of adventurous specimens, such as, guilds, quests, and heroes. Trolls, along with goblins and ogres, take over sections of lands in destructive motives. Elves, along with fairies, with various skills and magic, controlling the forests grounds, some individually. Humans are known to take over much open and larger lands. They have progressed alongside dwarfs as rulers and much more that can be known throughout all species. Witches and wizards, with the use of various knowledge for magic and spells, along with mages. Angels and demons are ruled by gods and devils, though often do not take part in this world. Creatures like dragons, mermaids, and much more, are found further away in caves and lagoons."

'Mermaids?! I wanna be a mermaid! I've always dreamt to be a mermaid…"

"You are allowed to choose mermaid. Do you wish to customize your appearance?" Flotic adds.

'Oh, absolutely, thank you!'

The void automatically pulls up a mirror to see myself. It was weird, my face looks drowsy but I felt fine, either way I started choosing what I wanted to look like.

'Um, I want to be a white scaled mermaid, for my hair I want it long and white. My eyes would be whiteish-blue with a purple glint, I guess light blue makeup. Oh yeah, I would like to have some jewelry and flowers for accessories, please.'

"Confirmed look." Flotic says. "What beginner skill and magic spell is that you desire?"

'Oh, this is great! Question though, what can I already do by default?'

"Eternal youth and longevity, Siren song, amphibious transformation, aquatic habitation, speed swimming, extraordinary strength, and communication with animals." Flotic responds.

'So I was right, okay I'd like the skill of telekinesis. The magic spell would be… to freely grant wishes.'

"Confirmed skill, telekinesis." Flotic says. "Confirmed magic spell, wish."

'Okay, hm…'

"Do you wish to specialize in any activities to claim your name?" Flotic asks.

'Well I love flowers… could I be a flower mermaid?'

"Confirmed, flower mermaid, specializing in nature activities." Flotic says. "Would you like to choose your name and surname?"

'Oh, Lixlore, I don't feel like needing a last name.'

"Chosen, Lixlore, spelled, L-I-X-L-O-R-E." Flotic says. "Confirm this?"

'Yes.'

"Confirmed name, Lixlore." Flotic says.

'Okay, so what happens now?'

"Few have chosen the option to enter the world as a new immortal being." Flotic says. "Immortal beings are allowed to use their ability to live more than three lives, for an impure soul, the 'immortal curse' blocks this path, each time a being dies it becomes harder to gain back their body. If the being can surpass the immortal curse, they will live freely as a true immortal being."

'So don't abuse it… I'd like to be immortal, but could I ask to be a true immortal in a wish with the magic I have?'

"That is available to you by default, you need not use a wish." Flotic says. "Your soul was pure in your past life, if you wish it before you enter to become an immortal being you are allowed to live freely."

'Oh, I see, I'd love that, thank you!'

"Confirmed, new immortal being entering 'Artirias Lands'." Flotic says. "Lixlore, Immortal flower mermaid, entering the caves and lagoons of Artirias."

In the moment, all went white, and then I opened my eyes. I was underwater in the sand, with many fish gathered beside me. Reaching out, I see my arm, my hand, palm, and feel the soft sand.

"Beautiful…" A man's voice was heard.

I looked around and the face of a handsome merman was floating above me. Golden, shining hair, blazing hot pink eyes. This was odd, but at first it was not creepy to me at all. There was the face of a handsome individual in front of me, but why.

"Who are you…?" I ask.

"I am Ufret." He smiles. "You have been summoned to be my wife."

"…" I was too shocked to speak.

I think to myself, 'Well I could just say no and swim for it, but I just got here… It would be safer if I had someone good taking care of me.' I try to swim backwards a bit and get some distance between us.

"Ufret, was it?" I say. "What if I refuse this?"

"Then I will try my hardest to win your heart, beautiful mermaid." Ufret swims closer, touching my cheek.

"Lixlore, my name is Lixlore." I gently move his hand away.

"Such a pretty name…" Ufret chuckles. "You will soon be my wife, Lixlore."

"We will see…" I swim off.

'This is bad, I need to get far away from here. I think he wished for me or something… He's giving off bad vibes.' I swim as fast as I can and reach a stopping point. The water was oddly less thin, but there were lights above. I slowly swam up and felt air flowing in my face once I peeked out the water. Looking around, I see nothing but glowing rocks with moss and dark stone all around, seemed like a cave. I swam closer to the edge and dragged my tail along with me as I brought my whole body across the stone.

"Hello!?" I yell, as it echoes.

Waiting for a response, I sigh and drag myself across the cave away from the water. 'Lets see if this actually works now…' I stare at my tail to dry off, but instead it stays wet so I gave up and started heading back to the water. Getting back in, I see the merman appear in front of me.

"AH!" I scream. "What the heck?!"

"There is no one in the caves and lagoons of Artirias except for the merfolk of course." Ufret grins, holding my hand. "You must come with me my dear, I will treat you like a queen!"

"No, let go." I say. "I want to leave this place."

"The merfolk must thrive; you cannot leave this cave without your tail." Ufret grips a little harder. "Come with me, you must bare my children, the Kingdom must thrive!"

"No, let me go!" I try to pull away. "You're a creep! Someone help me!"

"You will not escape me; I am the strongest of the merman in this lagoon." He laughs as he swims, pulling me with him. "You will bare my children! Let my Kingdom of merfolk thrive!"

"Help!!!" I keep yelling, feeling like screeching. "Help me!"

"Shut it with all that screeching!" He closes my mouth. "No one will be taking you from me, you will be my bride!"

"Mmm!" I was then muffled as we swam.

'I just wish someone better could save me from this creep…' I start crying and we finally get to the castle. I was dragged all the way to a secluded room so then I was kept an eye on. I felt the stares of each merfolk we passed along the way. Then, placed in the room, I cried more, longing for the nightmare to end. I noticed one of the guards coming in though.

"What are you…" I was shocked.

The guard held his hand out. "Let me take you far from here, you must not become his wife."

"Why are you doing this?" I ask.

"This kingdom is corrupt; you must leave this lagoon of the caves." The guard says. "Grab my hand, I will take you to the surface to escape."

I grab his hand and instantly pulled out of the room; this guard was speeding through the water for me. Then he came to a stop, letting go. He came to my eye level and handed me his staff.

"Please, even if you must, drag your tail along the stone ground of the caves, you need leave this place." He says. "Use my staff, it is a weapon but also can be use as a simple tool for walking on legs such as humans."

"Why would you help me?" I say.

"I have helped many mermaids escape Ufret, he cannot be stopped, but you must leave, he will be here soon." The guard insists, pushing me out the water. "Now go, use the staff and keep grabbing your tail, I wish you luck into the human world."

"But-" I say.

He was gone in an instant once he finished helping me out. 'Well here goes nothing…' I pull myself further and further away from the water and feel the cold air of the cave. I go in the direction of the wind and keep pulling myself, using the staff. Eventually I was able to see a light coming from not too far away. The stone was cold and bumpy, scraping my tail a bit, it hurt but I endured the pain. I rested for a bit until moving again and took a deep breath. Since I was disabled, it wasn't too hard to drag myself, but I was heavy, especially since I had a tail, added weight.

"Gosh…" I sigh. "Why does life as a mermaid already have to be so challenging?"

I continue to drag myself along the cold scraping stone floor. My scales felt like they were getting torn off one by one each time I moved. There was an odd warm feeling in the air though, then the light turned into the view of green, trees, grass, the nature outside this cave!

"Please… nature, come to me…." I struggle to speak.

I was so exhausted from the journey and started shake as I reached out my arm. In my fuzzy vision, there were vines holding my arm. They spread to the rest of my body and I was then taken out to the warm sun, finally out the cave. I felt like I began transform and looked at my tail, forming into legs. My body felt much lighter, but the downside was that I didn't have any clothes… I eventually passed out there though, around vines next to the cave.