“Whoah, you guys look like zombies,” Dawnyte remarked as she arrived at the bungalow shared by the members of the church again right around sunrise. After all, today was the day of the festival!

“You wouldn’t believe why,” Estella muttered. She was still busy rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Try me,” Dawnyte said.

“Well…” Bridget started. She then began detailing what had happened on the day before, with input from everybody else along the way. Their meeting with the Empress, the trip to the Temple of Eternal Currents, restarting the Spring of Aeons, and, of course, the reawakening of the Seeress Rylla.

“Wait… so this Rylla is one of the old priestesses?” Dawnyte asked.

“Yep, she is,” Estella said.

“Well, that’s great! Then she can help you guys find the others, right?” Dawnyte said.

“She could have done that,” “if she didn’t,” “immediately swim off,” the twins groaned.

“We were looking for the better half of last night,” Julia muttered.

“Hmm… well, I’m sure you’ll get to see her again today,” Dawnyte said.

“You’re coming with us today, right?” Estella asked.

“Me and several of the islanders. Including…” Dawnyte started.

“Ah, good morning. I wish you all a happy Festival of the Currents,” came the voice of a man. He was dressed similarly to Dawnyte and he walked around with what looked like some sort of staff.

“... my father,” Dawnyte finished her sentence.

“Likewise, sir Matana,” Lavini said while bowing her head.

“I hope my daughter has been a good host to you thus far?” the island chief asked.

“She really has been, yeah!” Estella said, a bit too loudly. She wasn’t about to paint a bad picture of her friend.

The chief nodded. “Good, good. My apologies once more about the volcano,” he said.

Dawnyte huffed and looked down to the sand. “Did you have to remind them…” she muttered under her breath, only loud enough for Estella to really hear.

“All in the past, mister Matana,” Bridget said.

“Was there any more,” “word about Rylla,” “while we were sleeping?” Zexa and Xeza asked.

“Ah yes. The Seeress. We have received word that the Empress asked for your presence in the palace before the parade starts,” the chief said.

“Ah… does that mean Rylla was found again?” Julia asked.

“It would appear she returned on her own in the end. Likely, she just wanted to stretch her fins after a thousand years of slumber,” the chief said.

Estella grinned. “I don’t blame her,” she said.

The members of the church were accompanied by a lot more islanders this time as they descended into the water. Once again, it was captain Ael who was in charge of their safe escort through the city. This time, even though it was very early in the morning, the festival was already in full swing all around them. Merfolk were singing and cheering everywhere. There were markets brimming with people and tons of salespeople shouting about the incredible deals one could make at their stalls.

A lot of merfolk actually also approached the islanders to wish them a happy festival and to hand them ornamental seashells as an act of goodwill and friendship. In return, several of the islanders handed them flowers that could only be found on land in small glass orbs.

“Did… we have to bring gifts as well?” Bridget asked.

“You have already granted us a great gift yesterday,” Captain Ael told her.

“A gift that swam,” “off the moment we,” “woke her up,” Zexa and Xeza muttered.

The captain chuckled. “True enough,” she said.

The large group of people walked together up until the palace gates where there was a lot of activity going on, even more so than what they had already seen so far.

Estella spotted various vehicles that were being worked on as efficiently as possible. Most of them were made to look like various kinds of fish but at the front, there was the biggest one of all that appeared to consist of a clock-like design with a massive seat on top. “Are these parade floats? Or… should they be called sinks?” she asked.

Dawnyte bopped her on the head. “Keep your puns to yourself!” she said.

“Yes. This is where the parade will start. It will then circle through some of the city until finally ending at the ancient temple. Normally, that is where the Empress will speak to the people about the ancient tales and we end with a waterworks display. This year, however, things are going to be a little different as you can imagine,” Captain Ael explained. She then halted the group of islanders and addressed them all.

“Will the members of the church of time, the island chief, and his daughter please stand on the left of the bubble. The rest, please go to the right,” she commanded.

“Wait, you’re coming with us?” Estella asked Dawnyte.

Dawnyte nodded, looking a little embarrassed. “I’m the daughter of the chief, so I kinda have to.”

“Awesome!” Estella cheered.

When the group had split, the airbubble split in half as well. A different merfolk captain then came to lead the rest of the islanders to one of the floats that was shaped more like a crab. Of course, it was a sea creature that could also walk around on land no problem.

Captain Ael meanwhile led Bridget and the others back into the temple just as the day before.

“I trust you still remember how you greeted the Empress yesterday?” captain Ael asked.

“Of course, captain,” Lavini nodded as she and the others took their positions.

“Excellent,” Captain Ael said as she indicated for the doors to be opened again. However, the moment the doors were even slightly opened, somebody dashed through it at an incredible speed, straight towards Bridget.

“Wha-!” Bridget barely managed to gasp before she was almost knocked over to the ground. Just by the speed at which this stranger swam, it could only be one person.

“HEY GIRLS!” Rylla cheered excitedly as she gave Bridget a tight, wet hug.

“Whoah! Rylla!” Estella gasped startled by the splashing impact .

“I see that you have returned safe and sound,” Lavini said nonchalantly.

“Of course! I mean, this is my home. What could go wrong?” Rylla laughed. She then wanted to go over to the next person to hug but she realised that she was sort of stuck within the air bubble and so she kind of had to flop around in order to get to Lavini.

As the doors opened up further, Empress Nerissa herself appeared in the door opening as well, looking a little more tired than she did yesterday. “Ah, good morning, my friends,” she said.

“Your majesty!” Captain Ael said, snapping to attention before formally bowing. Everybody else followed the captain’s example.

“We can do away with such formalities. Today is a day of festivities, after all,” Nerissa said. She did her best to put up a smile but it was obvious that she had been awake for much longer than she should have been.

“Hang on… I’m almost there…” Rylla stammered as she wiggled her way over to where Estella was standing when both Bridget and Julia decided to give the mermaid a helping hand. They picked her up and brought her back over to the water at the edge of the bubble.

“Oh, thanks!” Rylla said. She slipped back into the water, only for her to swim over to Estella and promptly dive back into the air-bubble to topple the pink-haired girl under her weight.

The Empress discreetly rubbed her temples and pretended like nothing happened before proceeding with her conversation. “Seeress Rylla and I have been conversing almost all night, exchanging information about our respective periods of time,” she explained. There was a particular snide tone in her voice as she said ‘almost all night’ that was almost jarring from her otherwise melodious voice.

“Nissa’s so nice! She’s so different from the Emperors and Empresses I knew back in the day,” Rylla said while once again flopping over to someone else in the group.

“Uhm… where have you been? We couldn’t find you after you left the temple,” Bridget demanded.

“Oh, well, I ate food! I was kinda hoping that they still made those delicious Corporal Carp wraps but… turns out they almost went extinct because they were too delicious…” Rylla said while letting out a disappointed sigh.

“You must have been crazy hungry,” Estella said as Dawnyte helped her back up.

“I really was! Nobody even left me a bedside snack while in slumber,” Rylla huffed while folding her arms. However, this only caused her to fall over forwards as she was no longer keeping herself up.

Empress Nerissa coughed into her hand to demand the attention back to herself. “Regardless, I owe each of you a debt of gratitude. Not only did you restart the Spring of Aeons, you have also recovered the Seeress Rylla. You have upheld your end of our bargain and for that I am overjoyed. Naturally, I will hold up my end of our accord as well. That said, I believe Rylla herself is far more qualified to provide you with information than any of our records,” she said. Though she didn’t say it out loud, it was clear that she was trying to say ‘please take her off my hands’.

“That’s right. You were,” “going to,” “tell us all about the other priestesses,” Zexa said in her demanding tone of voice just as Rylla managed to reach her for a hug.

    “We could really,” “use,” “your help in finding them.” Tthey,” “must be in slumber as well just like you were,” Xeza said.

“I was? I mean, I was! Right, I knew that, of course,” Rylla nodded.

    “But first, we were going to tell you about everything that has happened that led up to this point,” Bridget said.

Again, Rylla nodded intently. “Nissa here already told me lots but I’d love to hear more!”

What followed was a relatively lengthy explanation from the members of the church of the events leading up to this point. At least, from their perspectives. There was much they didn’t know yet but that was about to change. All the while, Rylla appeared to be listening intently. There was, of course, a moment of silence as they broached the topic of the goddess’s parting. After all, Rylla had known the goddess personally when she was still around. For her, it must have felt like losing a family member.

“And so, that is what has happened so far,” Lavini concluded.

Rylla blinked at her several times. It made Bridget wonder… did she even catch any of that? However, the mermaid surprised her by asking the following question. “So you lifted our burden partially so we can wake up from our slumber?”

“Yes. At least, that is what we believe to be the case. Initially, we had thought that perhaps, our mere presence would be enough to awaken you but now we see that there might be more to it,” Lavini said.

“Hmmm… that makes sense. With just the six of us, carrying time on our shoulders was heavy but now, it’s fine!” Rylla said.

“I just hope that it will be enough to wake up all of you,” Bridget said.

“You said there would be six of you, right? I may not be very good at maths but if there’s six of you and six of us, that’s the same number!” Rylla continued.

“Adding up to twelve, like the amount of hours on a clock,” Julia pitched in.

“Or the amount of months in a year,” Estella said.

“That sounds like,” “it must be intentional,” the twins said.

Rylla giggled. “That’s Allie for you! There’s always a reason behind everything she does! Some deeper meaning, or an end goal.”

“Does that mean that she already planned for us to be transformed way back when as well?” Bridget asked.

Rylla started looking a little glum. “That I don’t know. I don’t think she ever mentioned you guys… but maybe the others might know more. I don’t actually remember what happened in the final years.”

“If I may ask, do you perhaps have any sort of clue as to why that is?” Lavini asked.

Rylla placed a finger on her cheek while thinking about it. “I was probably just in the Spring. When there’s so many different streams around me to keep track of, it becomes hard to remember any of it. At least, that’s what people have told me.”

This made everyone take a collective sigh. And they were so close to finding out what happened too.

“But,” Rylla continued. She balled her fists resolutely. “I will help any other way that I can to help you find the others!” she yelled.

    “That would be amazing, Rylla!” Bridget replied.

    The mermaid then looked around herself and giggled nervously. “Uh… after you help me back into the water first…”

Bridget and Julia laughed as they did just that. Behind them, Empress Nerissa let out a sigh but anytime they looked in her direction, there was barely a trace of her weariness there. They had to admit, she was very good at hiding it.

When Rylla was back in the water, she swam over to the Empress’ side again and smiled broadly. “So the other priestesses are Ysera: the Keeper of Rivers, Hestia: the Keeper of Stars, Feline: the Keeper of Seasons, Christine: the Keeper of Pendulums, and last but not least there’s Lorelei: the Keeper of Bells,” she explained.

Bridget gasped. She reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of paper. The same piece of paper containing the symbols indicating the six keepers of time from the past. “By Alinavious, it makes so much sense now…” she mused.

Estella peeked over her shoulders. “Hey, I told you that one looked like a grandfather clock!” she said proudly.

“So you did, Estella,” Bridget said eagerly.

“And do you also know,” “where,” “we might find them?” Xeza asked.

“They all had their own shrines. Well, all of them except for Hestia who just stayed at the main church as far as I know. I think that’s where they must have been when… well, you know,” Rylla replied.

“And where might we,” “find,” “these shrines?” Zexa asked.

Rylla began chuckling nervously. “These shrines were on land, so…” she said.

“Right… that would make it difficult for you,” Lavini said.

“Wait. Hestia was at the main church? But we didn’t find her there…” Bridget said.

“Ah, but remember, there was one area of the church inaccessible to us,” Lavini said.

“Right…” Bridget muttered.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! But wait! There is one shrine I know I can reach!” Rylla cheered.

“And which would that be?” Dawnyte asked. It was the first time that the girl had spoken here. Was she actually beginning to get invested into their church as well?

“Ysera’s shrine is right on the Alina river. She’s the one who originally got me interested in time. I can quickly swim you there!” Rylla said.

“Oh, fantastic! Let’s go!” Estella yelled excitedly.

    “Maybe we should do so after the festival?” Lavini proposed.

Both Estella and Rylla looked down apologetically. “R-right, sorry...” they said in unison.

The whole group moved towards the grand entrance again where the parade floats were still being prepared. In the front, the Empress and Rylla swam together surrounded by trident-bearing guards. Behind them, the people in the air bubble were being led by captain Ael as per usual. They were about halfway there when Estella began noticing a hushed conversation happening behind her between Dawnyte and her father.

“You know you should not speak before the Empress unless she addresses you!” the chief hissed.

“But we were talking to Rylla,” Dawnyte protested.

“It does not matter! The Empress granted the members of the church the ability to speak freely. That does not include us!” the chief said sternly.

“Ugh, why do we even have to abide by these stupid rules that nobody understands?!” Dawnyte complained.

“Young lady, you will learn some respect before your superiors!” the chief demanded.

“Hmmpf, why should I show them respect when they don’t show that same respect to me?” Dawnyte asked.

“Enough!” The chief hissed, this time loud enough for almost everyone to hear.

Dawnyte looked to the ground and it was obvious that she was on the verge of tears. She wanted to run away but the air bubble made that impossible. Instead, she just stood still and turned her back on her father. And on such a joyous day too… 

    Estella couldn’t bear to see it. She turned around and went over to her friend. “Can you separate the two of us?” she asked one of the mermaid guards marching behind the air bubble.

    The chief shook his head. “Absolutely not!” he said harshly. “The parade is about to start!”

    It seemed that the argument had gotten loud enough for even the Empress to hear for she herself swam over now to settle things. “It is alright. They may travel with a different float,” she proposed.

    The chief was quiet for a moment. Then he bowed his head. “As you wish, Your Majesty,” he said through gritted teeth before turning his back on his daughter.

    Lavini, on the other hand, smiled at the pair and nodded. “Good luck, Estella dear. We will see you again shortly,” she said.

    “Thanks, mother,” Estella said, right as the air bubble was being split up again.

Dawnyte just kept sobbing for a good while. She had kind of dropped to her knees and had her head buried into her arms. Estella sat next to her, waiting for her friend to calm down again. It was a little awkward, considering there was also a mermaid guard accompanying them to maintain their air bubble but she was just there to perform her duties and nothing else.

“... I hate it…” Dawnyte muttered eventually.

“Hate what?” Estella asked.

“All of it… this stupid game… being respectful to someone just because of their status… I hate it!” Dawnyte cried out. Finally she looked up and she was looking angrier than Estella had ever seen her.

“Dawnyte…” Estella said softly.

The girl just slammed her fist into the ground. “I hate it!” she repeated. It even caused their mermaid guard to get a little startled.

When the moment had passed, Estella finally spoke up again. “Did that make you feel better?” she asked.

Dawnyte nodded. “A little…” she muttered.

Estella chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a tantrum as harmful to seafloors as that one,” she joked.

The island girl just looked at Estella in disbelief… and then she burst out into laughter. “Shut up, you!” she yelled.

Both girls just sat there laughing like idiots for a few minutes until the mermaid guard scraped her throat. “Excuse me. The parade will be departing shortly,” she said.

“Right. Let’s… talk on one of the floats then,” Dawnyte proposed.

As they approached the floats, they saw that the foremost float, the one that Empress Nerissa and Seeress Rylla were on, was already moving forwards. Behind that, a dolphin-shaped float was getting ready to depart and behind that was the crab-shaped float containing the islanders and the other members of the church.

“Would you like to join the other land dwellers?” the mermaid asked.

Estella and Dawnyte looked over the other floats. They thought about it for a moment and then looked to each-other. Wordlessly, they agreed. “We wanna ride the seahorse,” they said in unison.

The mermaid guard chuckled. “Good choice,” she said and began leading them forwards.

The seahorse float was one of the later ones to be departing. It was a little tricky for Estella and Dawnyte to get on it as it wasn’t designed for land dwellers but with a little bit of help from the various merfolk around, the two girls eventually managed to ascend to the top. From there, they could actually see and hear quite far. Far enough that they could hear the audience cheering.

“So… this is what you and your father argue about a lot, huh?” Estella finally asked.

“Among other things… He believes that the empress demands reverence just because she’s the empress. But she only became an empress because she’s the daughter of the previous emperor! That doesn’t sound very fair to me, so why should I bow down to someone like that?” Dawnyte whined.

“But aren’t you kind of a princess yourself?” Estella proposed.

Dawnyte’s face contorted as if she’d just eaten a whole lemon. “It doesn’t matter whose daughter I am… I want to earn people’s respect through my actions.”

Estella pondered these words for a moment. “I guess I’m in a similar boat. My mother’s the bishop of our church and my mom’s the head nun. I never really gave that much thought though.”

    “Well, you’re a nun yourself, right? And you worked hard to become one,” Dawnyte said. “I’d say you earned that. Me, though, I didn’t have to do anything to be my father’s daughter.”

    “Hmmm, that’s true. But that’s not something you can change. Wait… uh… actually, I guess you can,” Estella said as she remembered how she became the daughter of her current parents.

    Dawnyte chuckled. “Well, in any case, I just wanna be able to stand on my own legs.” Just then, they could feel that their seahorse float was beginning to move. Slowly at first but picking up speed. In front of their float was a whole horde of mermen, all dressed up elegantly and eagerly swimming forwards, leading the float. Behind them, a large group of mermaids began gathering. They were all wielding large coloured shells and it was clear that if they were held up, they’d form a picture together.

After their momentary shock of being moved was over, Estella placed a hand on her chin as an idea popped up in her mind. “What if,” she pondered out loud.

“What if… what?” Dawnyte asked.

“Ah, no. Forget what I said,” Estella said while shaking her head. Why would she even think about something so brash?

“Come on, you can’t just leave me hanging like that!” Dawnyte demanded.

“Well, just… I mean, if you want… uhm…” Estella stammered.

Dawnyte chuckled and slapped her friend on the back. “Spit it out already, Stell!”

“I was just going to propose that you… come with us and leave Kelahili behind so you can show the world what you’re made of…” Estella said, a little softer now.

Dawnyte’s eyes went wide. “Are you suggesting I run away?” she asked.

Estella looked away and nervously scratched her arm. “See, it was just a stupid idea. Forget I said anything.”

“... Well, I like that idea,” Dawnyte said just as softly now.

“Wait, what?!” Estella gasped.

“I’ve thought about running away before. Many times, in fact. I just never had the courage to do so. It’s also pretty difficult when you live on an island and all that,” Dawnyte said. 

“You’re being serious with me?” Estella asked nervously. “I can’t believe it.”

“Of course I am! If I run away with you guys, then I don’t have to be the Chieftain anymore,” Dawnyte said eagerly. “Then I could be free of all this!” She placed her hands on her hips and stood up proudly. 

“And where would you go? Do you want to stay with us in the church?” Estella asked.

Dawnyte paused as she gave it some thought. “I don’t think church life is for me. I wanna see what’s out there beyond the seas!”

“W-wait… but wouldn’t we get in trouble?” Estella stammered.

“Well maybe… probably… yes, we’ll definitely get in trouble… but not if they don’t know! I just have to sneak on board your ship incognito and maybe set up a distraction. Or three. Or ten!” Dawnyte said eagerly in thought as she began to go over possible options in her head.

Estella hopped up on her own feet as well. “Right. If no one knows you’re gone because other things are occupying them, then they can’t really come after you,” she nodded.

“Well we have over a week to plan this out. I’m sure we can come up with a plan to make this work!” Dawnyte cheered.

Estella grinned. “You have a devious mind, you know.”

“This was your idea, miss Providence,” Dawnyte reminded her.

Both girls began giggling among themselves, as if they were just planning a harmless prank.

“For now though… let’s enjoy the festival, shall we?” Estella proposed as their laughter dimmed to the sounds of the celebration.

“Right. It might be my last for a while,” Dawnyte said in agreement as they watched the parade proceed.

Just as planned, the parade spiralled outwards further into the city. There were so many merfolk and other sea creatures around everywhere. They had to have come from all reaches of the oceans to witness this event. Many of the people watching swam alongside the parade, likely to come and witness the grand finale and the speech the Empress was going to be giving at the end. Song and dance filled the water around them and it was surprising how loud and clear it all sounded under the sea.

When eventually the parade arrived at the Temple of Eternal Currents, Dawnyte and Estella were reunited with the rest. They of course didn’t mention anything about what they had talked about. Lavini did look their way but chose not to speak up. She wasn’t onto them already… was she?

The merfolk began gathering in a massive circle around the temple. Empress Nerissa had positioned herself in the middle on her own and simply waited there until the merfolk had settled themselves. Only then did she raise her arms.

“My dearest citizens and other festival guests,” she spoke. Her voice was magically amplified and Estella was pretty sure that it would ring throughout the entire city, if not the whole ocean.

“For a millennium, we have come together to celebrate this wonderful festival together. We celebrate the union between merfolk and landfolk. We celebrate the prosperity we have enjoyed in our great city of Listanta. And of course, we honour the people that have made it all possible all those years ago.” The Empress’s voice was sublime and melodious. Was this the result of years of voice training? Or was it just a royal familial trait?

“But this year is different. We have always thanked the ancient church of time but unbeknownst to us, a new church of time has risen from the ashes of the old one. This year, I wish to extend the members of the new church a warm welcome.”

An ethereal light began shining on the members of the church and there was a round of applause from those present. Estella had never been applauded by this many people before. In fact, she was pretty sure the only ones that had applauded her before were her mothers. This was on a whole other level!

“Already, they have proven themselves to be worthy successors to the old church, for they have done something we could not achieve by ourselves. They have restarted our Temple of Eternal Currents and the Spring of Aeons that rests within.” This caused an even bigger round of applause and cheer to resound throughout the city.

“And in doing so, they have rescued someone. One of the very people that made our union and this festival possible all those years ago. I wish to introduce to you, the Seeress of Eternal Currents, Rylla.” Empress Nerissa bowed her head and held out her hands.

Within moments, Rylla excitedly dashed up to swim by the Empress’s side. She clapped her hands together and shook them as she was showered in cheers and praise. “Hi everyone!” she said.

The Empress coughed softly while giving Rylla an amused grin that was kind of hard to tell from where Estella and the others were standing.

“Oh! Right,” Rylla said before scraping her throat. “I’m your Seeress of Eternal Currents! And if it wasn’t for Bridget, Lavini, Zexa, and Xeza, I wouldn’t be here right now. So… thanks, guys!”

A mixture of applause and laughter went through the crowd. Rylla was definitely not what they had expected from a Seeress. Truth be told, Estella didn’t blame them.

“Starting today, the Temple of Eternal Currents is officially open once more! Come on in and drop by if you’d like to hear about my Goddess Alinavious!” Rylla said excitedly.

Nerissa clapped and nodded at the Seeress. “Thank you, Seeress Rylla. With that, I believe it is time for the waterworks,” she said.

Estella turned to Dawnyte, who was still with her and the other members of the church rather than with her father. “What does she mean by waterworks?” she asked.

“Can’t exactly have fireworks underwater, can you?” Dawnyte replied.

Estella tilted her head when she heard the voice of the Empress once more. But this time, it was in song. Her voice was sweet like honey and smooth like silk. Though she sang not in words, it was beautiful to listen to nonetheless.

    Then she was joined by Rylla. Her voice was a little higher in pitch, making their song together a beautiful canon. To think that they must have worked tirelessly to plan this song in just one night.

    Their song began building up to some sort of climax but rather than having some kind of orchestra join in, instead, there was a flash of light and a loud bang. Followed by another. And another! All around the temple, streams of light went up and gave everyone in attendance a beautiful display of colour and light. It actually looked a lot like the mana within the spring of aeons. This had to be the waterworks.

The two mermaids did not stop singing. Each of the waterworks went off in tandem with their song. It was impressive that Rylla was able to hold her own up there, for this was her first time.

Streams of light and colour went up all around them. Most just went off like regular fireworks but some began painting shapes like seashells, fish, and even clocks! It was a breathtaking sight.

“I wish Akita was here to see this,” Bridget mused.

Lavini nodded. “And Cassie,” she added.

Estella shuffled over to her mother. “At least I’m here,” she said.

Lavini smiled and wrapped an arm around her daughter’s waist. She didn’t say anything but she very much appeared to appreciate the gesture. The members of the church weren’t going to forget about this wonderful festival anytime soon.