Aquarine Skill [Activated] 2/3 left
"Yeeha~~!"
A soft sound from the lake woke me—like a mermaid calling out there.
My eyes failed me...
But the sound had dragged me from sleep.
"W-What... that's Aquarine of the Lake?!
She's so beautiful—not quite a mermaid... but that blue hair, white skin...
For a moment, she looked transparent.
And her eyes—adorable blue eyes!—and short hair...
Oh my...!
"And that innocent smile—I really want to pull her into a hug!
'She gets very attached and can be possessive'? What are you talking about, System?!
Oh wait... no. I should behave.
I have a crush...
...on someone I don't even remember , that's why i'm here .. that's the mission
to remember her ..
i clapped my face with my two hands i do that whenever i feel dumb
"Yeeha~~, young one!"
She's calling me?
Did she notice I'm awake?
Should I approach her?!
"Ok, time to wake up...
W-WHAT'S that trembling?!
Earthquake?!"
"What's that? Tides?! High tides on a lake???? Seriously??—
My body's being pulled toward the water! No! Stop! STOP PULLING ME!!
Instead of me thinking pulling her into a hug... she's pulling me literally
what a joke!
♬ Aquarine of the lake... ♬
♬ will change your sake ♬
♬ I hope you're not fake ♬
♬ and from my wisdom you should take ♬
♬ I am the aquariiinee LALALALALALLAALALALA ♬
"What a terrible performance for a beautiful creature—"
"I HEARD YOU, YOUNG ONE!"
How did she hear me?! Was I monologuing? Or whispering from frustration?!
"You're not the person I'm looking for! TAKE THIS—I'LL DROWN YOU!!"
"No... no... NO! DON'T—DON'T—!
BLEHEHELEGH!
Please p—BLEHEHELEGH—lease!"
Just by being unable to move and hearing this non pleasant singing just like watching unskippable ads on Voutube
"Okay... go ahead, little boy."
I was thrown onto the sand like a fish or a broken toy
Thud.
Huff... huff... But My point still stands though , huff...
... Your singing almost hurt my ear canals!"
"canals? What's a canal like a water pipe?
Damn, she almost understood what a " canal " is sometimes i spit modern words
Unintentionally ...
No wonder the system called her 'wise'...
"So what's your name, traveler?"
My name... Oh my god, I can't say it!
She'd think I'd gone mad—then drown me again!
"Eee... ehm?"
She stood with crossed arms, waiting.
"Come on! Speak out... don't be shyyyy!"
i inhaled ..
"Ok, my name is—"
"YOUR NAME IS... AAAAAAAAAA! BWHAHAHAHA!"
Aquarine doubled over, laughing so violently she vanished beneath the waves in a splash
...Drowning Herself from laugher ?
How did she know my name?!
Knows more than you can expect
that was written on her skill description.. right
"So what do you want, A? I'll call you A from now on... pfft!"
Her demeanor shifted back to professional, though with a hint of exhaustion waving like she's demanding for the answer
Let me check the window Again
She was staring at me doing that thing .. but she was very calm
Inventory :
Copy-Book [OBTAINED]
Old map
Key [OBTAINED]
Teleport Potion
"Oh, I want to decrypt this copybook."
I summoned the copybook and the key from my inventory and handed it to her
"Decrypt? What is that? Are you speaking forbidden words?"
Wow. Even a 'wise' creature doesn't understand modern terms... I'm an idiot.
She turned the book over in her hands.
"You summoned this? It was in your inventory?"
"O-oh yes! I summoned it... "
"Ah! I see now—it makes sense." She didn't ask how.
"Come closer, A! You must examine this copybook with me—it's our problem now."
Oh god. Feels like consulting a doctor...to help me with my problem
I stepped closer...too near, My foot touched the water
Her scent... sea breeze and deep water.
She just touched my shoulder...
On purpose?
This nervousness...
STOP BEING NERVOUS!!
Hmm... you're right those weird glyphs are blinding me.
Step away, A! Let me do my thing.
Her eyes... glowing... The glow is so wide that the place lighted up
She closed the copybook. Looked like she was done with it.
"So what's the context of the copybook? Did you see 'find her'?"
"Tell me what's written there?!"
She stopped for a moment, then stared at me
"...Can you tell me more...?" she said.
"Tell you what? You tell me—not me.
You're looking for someone, right? You asked me about 'find her.'
What do you feel about her?"
"W...what do I feel?.. I don't know... I don't know her identity here.
I barely remember her. We were students at high school... and we were—"
"Quiet! I know that! Aquarine pointed at me looks frustrated
...but i didn't that 'highschool ' thing ..
"What? Did I just say something wrong?"
I turned to the other side.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Aquarine isn't that wise—we're doomed!"
Aquarine's face flushed
"Sh-shut up! I'll flush you!!"
"So that's it, boy? Your relationship with her... you're crushing on her, right?"
I sat down, exhausted..... Another stubborn person to deal with
"Why are you concerned?"...
"Well, if you really wanna know...
All I remember is her genuine smile. Walking with her always made my pain vanish.
Now she's gone. I don't even know if she's the same one I'm chasing...
But I'm still trying. Still going."
Those words made her sink underwater again—not laughing this time....
Sympathy. I could taste it.
"I can see you flushing down there!" I shouted, knowing she couldn't hear me.
Aquarine pulled herself from the water. It dripped from her hair, shining in the moonlight. .. She looked at me but not mockingly.
"Why are you pouting?"
"Sh-... shut up..."
She pulled me into a hug...
She tightened the hug... I could feel her wet body soaking into mine... since I'd been dry.
"Julian .. I want to help you... but something in me refuses..." Her voice softened as she said
WHAT?!!