Chapter 9- Pearls

My foot sank on the sand as I walk closer to the shore. The waves hit me as I walk closer and closer to the boy who's hiding behind the rock and approach him.

"Hi, there. I noticed that you're keep staring at me from a far. Do you need something from me?" I asked the boy with golden hair and blue eyes, his wounded hands gripping the rock tight. He look so skinny as if he hadn't been eating properly for days.

The boy hesitate to answer, he looked at me warily and began to speak.

"F-food. C-can I have some food?" The boy shyly asked.

"Well I can give you food but it wouldn't be free. Do you have anything valueable that you can exchange for food.

The boy shook his head and tears welled up in his beautiful eyes.

"I haven't eaten properly for a few months now. All I can eat is small fishes that goes this way and some seaweeds nearby." Tears flowed from his eyes.

This kid is so pitiful.

"Can't you hunt?"

The boy shook his head again.

"My fins were badly injured, I can't swim anymore! I can't walk either if I morph my left foot is amputated. I am one of the 3 survivors of my clan. One of them betrayed our clan and join our clan's murderer. The other one went on his own and thought of me as burden and left me here alone."

"Okay I'll give you food but in exchange give me the pearl that's hanging from your neck."

The boy immediately took off his necklace and gave it to me.

I appraised it first, even a small pearl cost a million gold coins. What the hell?!

"What's the matter? Isn't it enough? I can give you a lot pearls if you want to?"

"Do you cry pearls?"

"No! There were lots of pearls in Qin's cave and I can extract some if you give me shells." He explained.

Ahh.. So it's not true that mermaid cried pearls.

"Well actually this single pearl was more than enough. I can give you foods enough for you to survive in 2 years. But the problem is if I give them to you now, it will end up spoiling and it will be wasted."

"Then give it to me day by day!"

"I can for few weeks but we will leave sooner."

"The can I come with you? I will give you all the pearls in the cave just take me with you."

"How can I say no to that?" I sigh.

I know that my mates will be mad but what can I do? Pearls are pearls.

We talk for a while, I told him that I'll try to do something with his tail.

I brought him to the cabin to perform a surgery to remove the other fin that was left.

Then I bought a beautiful mermaid tail made of latex for him to wear so he could swim.

When I showed it to him, he can't control his excitement.

"Is this gonna be my new tail, it so pretty!"

The tail was white with golden swirls design, there were soft fins on both sides and on it's back.

Just like the tail with golden design the price was golden too.

It cost half a million golden coins and the rest I bought him prosthetic legs so he can walk when he morph in to his human form.

The surgery went well, he is no recuperating in the cabin when the young snake arrived together with the other snake that seems to be his brother.

"What is he doing here?!" The young snake angrily said.

"I found him on the shore and he is injured so I just help him." I said.

"He is the one who tried to hurt my mother and he's working with the ape king to deceive me!" Pointing at the young mermaid.

The young mermaid immediately defended himself. "I don't know anything I was just there to guard Qin! I'm just following Jin's order! I don't mean to hurt anyone!"

The young snake shouted at him and refuse to listen to him. "Liar!"

The other snake stoping him from attacking the young mermaid.

"Stop it! He already lost his fins isn't it enough to repay what he's done? Your mother is still alive and so you are but he already lost everything!"

The young snake still trying to say something but didn't continue as if he swallowed his words. "B-but.."

"Rest for now little mermaid, once your wound heal you can wear the tail that I gave you. The cost of all of these exceeds the value of the pearl you gave me."

He nodded at me and replied. "Promise! Once I get better I will get all the pearls in the cave but please take me with you! I'm not asking you to be my mate. I  just don't want to be alone."

I was touched and can't say no. "Alright. I will convince my mates to take you with us."

His eyes suddenly sparkled brimming with hope. "Thank you so much, female!"

"Lala, just call me Lala." I told him.

Night falls abd everyone gathered for dinner.

When they returned in the after and asked about the little mermaid, I told them everything.

I beg them to let the boy come with us. At first they were hesitant but I explained to the how he can travel with us and they finally agree.

As soon as the sun rises my mates go on their own. Ophio, the kids and the other snakes went to hunt colossal beasts. While Aeron went to find the tiger village and Lio continued to build our house.

While I stay with the little mermaid.

I help him to put his prosthetic tails in front of the shore.

He tried to swim not too deep and he signaled that the tail is working.

He swam deeper and I remain on the shore waiting for him to return.

After a few hours he returned holding a huge net that I gave him. Inside of  it were pearls as lage as basketball ball.

I stored the pearls in the system and his tail as well.

I gave him his prosthetic feet and help him walk when suddenly my water broke.