I woke before dawn, when the sky was a cold bowl of milk.

Today’s breakfast needed fresh dew, bright as stringed pearls.

I had to reach the woods before the sun spilled over the rim.

Morning, guard-uncle. I gave him a smile, warm as steam from a kettle.

Morning, little miss. His reply came with a hearth-warm grin.

The gate guard was a kindly sort, moss-soft around the edges.

I came and went with Xuewei so often that he knew my face like a moon he’d seen.

Now, when I slipped out, he didn’t raise a hand, like a quiet pond unruffled.

After the last war, Starfate City wore a scorched ring like a scar.

No forests stood outside the walls, only bare earth like a shorn field.

To gather forest dew, I had to go farther, like chasing a receding tide.

I followed the route in my memory, a thread of light in the dark.

It was just past five; the streets slept like a black river.

The sun hadn’t climbed; the edges of the world still ink-wet.

It didn’t slow my steps; I cut through the hush like a knife.

Soon, the nearby forest rose up, a dark sea of trunks.

Whew... there’s still so much dew, beads bright as fish eyes.

I wiped nonexistent sweat, a habit as old as rain.

If I collect it all, it should be enough. All right, let’s work. Hmm-hmm~

My lord, there you are. Urgent business! A black-robed figure knelt beside me like a folding shadow.

???

Are you the...?

My lord, that Edgar used a Mermaid Tear... uh, did you, um, shrink? His voice tiptoed like a cat.

Mermaid Tear?!

The word struck like a dropped stone in water.

Even Dreamsound didn’t have one. She’d said the Merfolk lost them all in that calamity a century ago.

And that guy has one? The thought pricked like frost.

First, hear him out. I pinned my fluttering mood like a leaf under a pebble.

Ahem. I did shrink for a bit, you know how I get these few days... I let the sentence drift like fog.

Oh, oh, I get it. Black robes, instant sage, his grin oily as lamp light.

My lord, Edgar plans to trade that Mermaid Tear for—

Black Wolf, enough. I’m right here. A blue-haired woman appeared, cool as a wave slipping from nowhere.

Judging by her face, she was likely some distant kin of Dreamsound, a ripple from the same sea.

She wore the same black robe as him, dusk stitched into cloth.

For what, exactly? Spit it out! Heat hit my chest like steam, and I stomped.

Uh... this... Black Wolf wavered between two faces like a leaf in crosswind.

You. Who are you? The blue-haired woman’s voice was a blade wrapped in silk.

Why should I tell you? And you two are with the Flower of the Other Shore, right?

I know that robe like I know a thorn.

Planning to move on Starfate City? I’m warning you—my words snapped like dry twigs.

I asked who your mother is. Her question cut like a thrown pebble.

Huh? Why would I tell—

My protest froze as she lost patience.

She struck across the air, a palm riding the water in the wind, aimed straight at my chest.

I knew that trick. Borrow the water in the air and slap from afar, tide without touch.

I was there before her prediction landed; I slipped past and sent a water blade back, thin as moonlight.

Since she didn’t hesitate to use water magic, why should I hold back? I let the river in me run.

You’re the daughter of that Qingyu Mengyin girl, aren’t you. She dodged early, even catching my feint like a fish in a net.

Hah? You really are Dreamsound’s kin?

The revelation clicked like flint.

No manners. Speak to your elders with a gentler tongue.

Her words scolded, but her smile opened like dawn.

Her mood clearly lifted, a tide easing the shore.

The sight all but dropped Black Wolf’s jaw like a drawbridge.

He’d never seen his boss smile, not once, not even by candle smoke.

I don’t have a relative who joins the Flower of the Other Shore to take it out on the world!

That lot’s a revenge cult, smoke that poisons every room.

None of them are clean; each palm carries a ghost.

You don’t understand.

Her voice cooled like rain.

Maybe I don’t. But I know I can’t stomach butchers like you.

The word rang like steel.

Water gathered in my hands, two blade-swords forming like ice from breath.

I rushed in and cut for her, strokes meant like swift gulls.

Butchers, is it? How ironic.

Then what are you doing right now?

My words had needled her; I felt her tide pitch.

Me? I’m collecting dew for breakfast, of course.

I said it as if listing clouds.

That’s not what I meant!

Her shout cracked the air like thunder and threw me back.

Compared to that, my attack was a bath-time scrub, nothing but suds.

Using water against a mermaid is just giving her a wash.

I spat dust and laughed bitter as salt.

Do you even know you’re living under the same roof as those butchers?!

Why leave the sea, safe as a mother’s arms, to die on land?

Didn’t your mother teach you the basics of our history?

Her eyes reddened like storm edges, her voice frayed.

Of course she did!

That old hag drags me to read every day!

My temper flared like a struck match.

Old hag...

Her mouth twitched; I could almost hear the unspoken quip: Dreamsound’s not even two hundred—for Merfolk, that’s not grown.

Since you know Merfolk history, don’t you see what you’re doing?

Her words pressed like rain on slate.

Can you stop talking in riddles, auntie?

You keep saying this and that and I don’t get it!

My scalp prickled like nettles.

A vein popped on her forehead, a sharp inked hashtag.

Fine. I’ll show you myself what all this means.

Black Wolf, we go.

Her tone snapped shut like a fan.

Oh, oh, right!

Black Wolf jolted and moved to leave, a shadow following a wave.

Don’t you dare run!

You can’t dodge this one!

Watch my Water Form—

I gathered force like a cresting swell.

Don’t mess with me!

Come any closer and I’ll (meow meow meow) you!

Her bark had knives in the rain.

I wilted at once, a flower hit by hail.

Fine, fine.

Stinky auntie, just you wait!

Next time, I’m cutting you!

My mouth blazed while my feet backed off like a retreating tide.

Survival first.

I still had dew to gather; I had no time to trade storms with her.

I’d lost time, but the leaves still wore plenty of pearls.

Enough for one breakfast.

Hmm-hmm~ Back to cook for Lan’er.

That little slacker is probably still asleep, curled like a kitten.