Chapter 3

I was spinning crazily in the ice-cold seawater, the waves and currents were tossing me up and down and the bubbles were bursting and booming in my ears. I wouldn't be able to see anything even if I open my eyes, so I tried to turn underwater until my head is facing the surface, then with both hands on top of my head, I pushed up hard, aiming for the skin of the sea.

It was not my first time being caught by big waves, surfers would always have to deal with things like that and usually Patrick will just laugh at me and swam away. But this time everything is different. It was too big, too strong that it swept me so far away from land and into the open water. Why am I still underwater? I knew the salty sea would hurt my eyes but I managed to open them just a little bit to see what's happening. The sea was dark blue and grey, and I couldn't figure out which way is up and which way is down. My lungs were burning. I couldn't hold it anymore. The last thing I saw before I completely blank out was a wiry figure and a powerful, strong seal tail.

Where am I? What's happened...? My eyes are still shut and I didn't want to open them. My head felt dizzy from all the forces that the sea used against me. I felt like a crumbled up piece of paper, my stomach hurt so much and I was shaking all over. I had never felt like this before, I felt so weak.

Put it together now Mollianara! I must have been talking to myself again, but I really DO need to get up now. I tried to turn my body and moaned as I felt my back on the hard, slippery rocks. My hands and feet didn't seem to belong to me anymore, I couldn't feel them. Maybe just a little bit more... that's better. I can feel blood coming back, it hurt quite a lot. My brain was staring to work as pieces of memories flooding back into me. I was surfing... the wave swallowed me... and... how did I ended up on the rocks? Finally, I opened my eyes and found myself on top of a rock, which I recognized at once as a part of the cove that I can see every time I go surfing. Someone must've brought me here. But who? Is it Patrick? I looked around bewilderedly and saw a boy sitting near the shallow water, watching me silently. It must be Patrick!

"Pa.."

I wanted to call him but something didn't feel quite right. He was not moving – technically it was his lower body that wouldn't move. He just sat there, with the same black hair that Patrick had but a lot longer and those bright, brown eyes, staring questioningly at me. Spontaneously, I looked down from his face. He has got tanned skin, muscular arms and bare chest and... a tail. As strong and powerful as a seal's. The figure I saw before that went under my board, the figure I saw before I blanked out... A Mer.

Perhaps I was reading about Ingo too much. When I saw his tail, the first thing that I decided to say wasn't whether he was wearing a suit.

Instead, a name came rushing out: "F... Faro?"

He looked surprised, his eyes widened and none of us spoke. Then he narrowed his eyes and frowned: "Why do you know my name?"

Of course I know your name! I know everything about you! I've been knowing you for so long but... wait a second. Did he just admit that he is Faro? He is really Faro!

"But... but I thought that you are a character in the book!" I gasped but regretting as soon as I said that. If he is really Faro, he wouldn't be able to understand anything I've said.

Another silence.

"What? Why did you say that you've been knowing me for a long time?" Faro was definitely shocked. But I was as shocked as he was when I heard him said that.

"You were reading my thoughts?!"

"... I think so."

Yep. He's definitely Faro, the real one.

I don't understand why you keep thinking that I'm the real Faro. I'm pretty sure that there's only one of me.

Oh the teasing voice that was mentioned in the book so many times, I can't believe that I just heard it with my own ears... no, that was in Faro's thoughts.I didn't know what to do and what to say. This is so incredible, so unreal. I'm actually talking to Faro!

"Why do you keep talking about a book?" Faro was still staring at me. His tail flicking in the tides, his body leaning towards me.

I blushed slightly, nobody had ever stared at me for such a long time: "No... nothing. It's nothing. Why are you here, Faro?"

"I'm here... on a task." Thanks God he looked away, "Ingo needs to make connection with the Air now more than ever. So as the Guardian of the Tide Knot, it's my duty and responsibility to take the first step into the human world."

Now it was my turn to stare at him. No flaring nostrils, no disgusted look, his is being serious. Wait, did he just say he's the Guardian of the Tide Knot? But...

"What about Saldowr? And Sapphire and Conor?" I asked out loud. Faro frowned again. I can feel the questioning voice inside his thought. He wanted to ask how come I knew the others as well, but he didn't say anything about it. Instead he answered my questions.

"Sapphire and Conor had moved to another place where I can barely see them again. Saldowr... had gone to Limina." A rush of pain and sorrow flooded into both of us. I can feel how painful and stressed and... and scared Faro was. For a moment I didn't know what to say. Saldowr, the greatest and most powerful Guardian, had passed away...

"I'm... I'm really sorry Faro." For everything. I added silently inside my thought.

Faro smiled weakly: "It's alright. Whoever you are, you must be the one that Saldowr told me about."

"I... I am? How come?" I am what now?

"Saldowr said that when I've become the Guardian of the Tide Knot, I will find someone about my age and I'll have to make connection with her by learning how she acts and how she lives." He smiled at me, showing his brilliant white teeth, "It's very important for Ingo, one of the Mer have to do it. As a Guardian, I cannot let Ingo loses its power. That's why I'm here."

He looked so proud and confident.Just like a prince. I thought of what the book said. But there are no princes or princesses in Ingo.

"And besides," Faro flinched a little, "it will be a lot easier for me since I..." He broke off.

Yes, you have human blood.

How did you know that?

Again, I didn't know how to react to this. He was surprised and he didn't trust me. I had to say something.

It's really nothing to be ashamed of, Faro. I sent my thoughts to him, hoping he would hear it. That's what makes you special, what makes you You.

Faro must've heard me because his expression softened as he said: "So apparently, you are the girl I was looking for. May I know your name?"