Before exiting my cave, I made sure to check above me and on both sides. I did my best to stay clear of the seafloor and the nearby coral; the last thing I wanted was another unfriendly bite. There were no large shadows overhead, and there didn't seem to be any predators nearby—just a docile shark I named Hoka.

  I swam up to him, careful to approach from the left side. The right side of his face had been torn to shreds long ago, leaving deep scars. I didn’t want to startle him by coming at him from that side. Hoka was about half my length, much smaller than me. I pulled out the dolphin’s head with both hands and offered it to him. His jaws clamped down on it, cracking the skull a few times before he swallowed it whole.

  Hoka seemed satisfied with the morsel, so we swam together for a while, moving closer to the city. When he reached the edge of his territory, Hoka turned back, leaving me to continue the journey alone. Well, not entirely alone—Karson was with me, though he didn’t really count. He followed alongside me, but his movements always seemed off. He didn’t flow with the water like everything else. Instead, he walked on the seafloor as if gravity still held him there. I wasn’t even sure if he had legs or was just a bloody robe filled with darkness. I wondered, not for the first time, why he could swim in the cave but not in the sea. Karson was so unusual, so different from anything else in this world.

  As I continued, a large black chasm loomed ahead. Inside, thousands of tiny lights dotted the walls, illuminating the path. Countless openings had been carved into the stone, each leading to a home or a shop. The walls of the chasm were etched with intricate patterns, each telling a story as old as the sea itself. I often found myself getting lost in those patterns, captivated by their beauty. This was the city of Holohonu, the Deep Run.

  Above the chasm, a powerful current pushed northward, a force of nature that could sweep me away if I wasn’t careful. I had to be vigilant, navigating the chasm

  My first stop was at the merchant's stall. He had a name, but I could never be bothered to remember it. Not that it mattered—he never seemed to notice when I didn't use it. Or if he did, he never let on.

  He’s a Sieki, tall and large, reminding me of a salamander. His mouth is full of sharp, needle-like fangs, but his face is cunning and sly. He smiles in a way that makes me forget what I was talking about. His large, eel-like tail swayed through the water in a slow, almost hypnotic pattern, made even more mesmerizing by the glowing tattoos that pulsed rhythmically along his body. He had just recently completed the pattern, which covered him from the tips of his toes to the top of his head crest. He wore very little, just enough to leave almost nothing to the imagination, with strips of fabric draped across his chest and hips, held together by thin chains that clinked softly as he moved. The cloth was sheer, revealing the sleek, muscular form beneath.

  “Katari, you’re always welcome at my shop, but if you insist on simply admiring my form, I’d ask that you step out of the entrance to make room for any paying customers,” he said with a grin, his voice smooth and teasing.

  I took him up on his offer, moving out of the way but still watching him. I couldn’t help but notice how little excess fat he had, his body lean and taut. The only real clothing he wore was the skimpy loincloth, which, along with the sheer fabric, left most of his body on full display. Not that I was one to talk; the only thing I had on was a makeshift chest and waist covering made from some fish hide.

  I turned my attention to the items in the shop, browsing through the selection of clothing. Most clothing underwater was a hassle—long, flowing outfits that looked beautiful in the currents but slowed you down and got in the way. Only those with stable, settled lives wore such garments. My eyes fell on some netting, the kind that some Raroren liked to wear. It didn’t drag in the water, and you could hang all sorts of decorations and trinkets from it. I once asked someone why they wore it, and they told me it was to mock the surface folk. I never understood how.

  I picked up some netting that looked like it would wrap nicely around my waist and a bit of my tail. I also grabbed a two-piece poncho and waist wrap combo, along with some wrappings for my arms. As I held the items, Karson’s voice whispered in my ear, as rude as ever.

  "You're buying clothes? Won't they just get torn to shreds in that little cave of yours?"

  I mumbled back under my breath, trying not to look crazier than I already knew I was. "I can’t stay in my cave any longer if someone’s making me look for a teacher now, can I?"

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Then buy the red ones. They like you."

  "What?" I blurted out, louder than I intended. "The clothing has spirits?"

  The Sieki merchant turned to stare at me, clearly confused by my outburst.

  "Everything has spirits, child," Karson replied, his voice calm but insistent. "Some are just more awake than others."

  "Fine, I’ll buy the red ones," I muttered, still a bit thrown off by the idea. "But can you please stop calling me child?"

  "An old argument," Karson said, with the same tone he always used when he was about to remind me of something he found trivial. "But one that still stands true. You're but twenty-some winters—"

  I interrupted him mid-sentence. "What’s a winter?"

  There was a pause, and I could almost feel his frustration through the silence. "...," was all he gave in response.

  And now he’s refusing to answer, I thought, a bit annoyed. Typical Karson. Always leaving me with more questions than answers.

  "You're actually purchasing something for once, Katari," the Sieki purred, his voice like silk sliding over my skin.

  His smile made my hearts race, each beat pounding in my chest. Those fangs—sharp and gleaming in the dim light—were more beautiful than any treasure. The way his eyes traced over me made my skin tingle, like he was peeling back layers to see what lay beneath.

  "Ye...Yes, I am. I'm moving," I stammered. With a smile like that, who wouldn’t stumble over their words? It’s absolutely not my fault.

  "Why are you attracted to this man? He looks absolutely nothing like a member of your species. Anything with him would fail to bear fruit." Karson's voice whispered in my ear, a cold splash of reality amidst the heat building in my chest. I was both embarrassed and confused by his words. I tried to ignore him. We’re both Ausawen, the same species. I wanted to explain that to him, but I was right next to the merchant. There was no way he wouldn’t hear me talking to myself. It would be different if I wasn’t the only one who could see Karson.

  The Sieki tilted his head slightly, his eyes half-lidded as he leaned in closer, his voice low and teasing. "Oh, are you finally taking up residence in Holohonu? Have you saved up enough Kaimana to purchase property?"

  "Na...no, I’m, uh, I’m looking for a teacher." I looked down at my pearl pouch, trying to take my eyes off the merchant and desperately trying to remember what each Kaimana Pearl was worth. Okay, it takes 60 dark blue Uli Pearls to make 1 light blue Polu Pearl, and I think the average wage for a peasant is 1 Polu per working hour.

  He chuckled softly, the sound like water rippling over smooth stones. "Have you considered looking at the local temples? While this city is predominantly faithful to the twins Tovon er and Feina, there is, of course, a temple to Gaer Adar, The Sea Father, and all those who go there seeking wisdom are sure to find it."

  "What?" I had completely spaced out. All this talk of money, and religion—my head’s not made for these things.

  "Seek the temple. Find knowledge," Karson said into my ear in an exasperated tone.

  "So, umm, how much for the clothes?" I asked, trying to get back on track. The Sieki seemed a bit thrown off by the conversation too, and my reactions probably weren’t helping.

  He paused, his eyes darkening with a hint of something predatory as he looked me over. "Aren’t your kind normally—" He seemed to think better of what he was saying and changed the subject. "Ah, the clothes. Well, they are fine sea silk and dyed in the holy red of Naieth the flesh mother," he said, as if that last part would be a selling point for me. It was not. His gaze flicked to the fabric, then back to me, his lips curling into that smile again. "So, how does 6 Polu'kai sound? I'll even throw in a pack for your things."

  Six Polu'kai was nearly two weeks' labor for a peasant, and that was only in the working season. He had to be grossly overcharging, right?

  "That's way too much. No cloth is worth that much. Are you going to tell me the clothing is magic?" I wasn’t about to mention that Karson had just told me the clothes might actually be magic.

  He leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin, his voice a hushed whisper meant only for me. "Oh, Katari, you’re such a smart girl. I'm merely trying to set a high price to start the negotiation, dear. If you throw in some of those herbs you gather—say, two small nets’ worth—I’ll cut the price in half."

  Wait, what? He only paid me half that when I gathered the herbs for him! Oh, he must be trying to do me a favor since I might be leaving soon. He really is sweet. I had about 15 Polu'kai saved up for my journey, so it’s not the end of the sea.

  "Okay, that seems fair. Thank you." As we exchanged goods, his fingers brushed mine, lingering just a moment longer than necessary. I couldn’t help but feel a thrill run through me at the contact. His smile, warm and intimate, made me forget the entire transaction for a heartbeat.I left the shop, the soft glow of satisfaction warming me from within, confident that I got the better end of the deal. Surely?