"These two humans are my granddaughter, Ariel's friends, and of course, friends of the Sea Country," Great-grandmother grandly introduced them to the nobles. Then, pointing to Rhine, she added with a boastful tone, "Moreover, this human boy is a powerful mage!"
"A mage? A mage from the human world!" The princes and ministers were even more surprised.
Rhine then demonstrated several spells on the spot.
First, he brought the palace sculptures to life, then transformed the large fish in the belly into various land animals.
"This is a bird. This is a horse. This is a deer. This is a cow. This is a sheep. This is a rabbit…"
The princes, ministers, and Ariel's sisters were stunned by the sight of various strange land creatures.
The Mermaid court painter quickly seized the opportunity to sketch all the appearances of the land animals.
"Respected Mage, learned Sage, everyone has many, many questions about the land they wish to ask you!" Sea King said.
Thus, Rhine and Aurora began answering the princes' and ministers' various strange questions about the world above.
They told many stories of the land, spoke of the hundreds and thousands of kingdoms as numerous as stars on the Western Continent, and recounted legends from the Far East he had heard, from tyrannical sultans to emperors of Eastern empires.
Rhine also took out a mirror and displayed many scenes.
As the Sage of Rose Kingdom, Rhine knew far more than most people in the world!
Many nobles only learned today that the world above was far richer and more diverse than the world in the sea.
On land, there were mountains, forests, Gobi deserts and grasslands, snow-capped ice fields, and barren deserts!
Just as Aurora, from the land, was deeply shaken and awestruck by the magnificent and unique scenery of the deep sea when she first saw it, the people of the Sea Country felt the same way when they first learned about the many landscapes on land, didn't they?
The court scholars were very busy today.
They held pens made from ink-squirting octopuses, tirelessly recording Rhine and Aurora's words until the octopuses' ink was completely squeezed dry.
The Sea Country's records of the human world over thousands of years were not as rich as what these two children spoke of today.
"It's a pity," Sea King sighed, "the land has such unique scenery, yet we and the humans on land cannot establish friendship."
"Humans on land always seem to fear and despise us Mermaids. Sometimes, sailors on ships, once they see Mermaids appear, will attack, using poisoned arrows to strike my subjects."
Rhine, who understood the entire context, couldn't help but laugh when he heard this.
Isn't it because you Mermaids are bored and like to sing about the beauty of the sea on the surface, in front of human ships, before a storm arrives?
Rhine explained the reasons in detail.
He emphasized how much human sailors feared the sea, fearing huge waves and storms.
To ensure a smooth voyage, every sailor would superstitiously pray to various sea gods before setting sail, praying that storms would not engulf them.
"As I said, in the eyes of humans, either the mermaids' singing summoned the storm, or the mermaids' singing lured the crew into dangerous waters, causing ships to hit reefs and be caught in undercurrents.
"In either case, Mermaids are seen as embodiments of disaster, rather than warnings of a storm."
Sea King suddenly understood:
"Alas, there is too little understanding between us and the human world, which has caused such a misunderstanding."
This monarch of the sea no longer had her previous dignified appearance, but instead gently raised her chin, revealing a beautiful expression of yearning for the future, similar to her daughter's:
"How wonderful it would be if, one day in the future, humans and us creatures of the sea could understand each other and coexist harmoniously!
"Unfortunately, we cannot go ashore; we can only linger on the coast but not venture deep inland."
Hearing Sea King's words, Aurora was startled, suddenly remembering her melancholy from last night and Rhine's words.
"Could it be…"
Aurora vaguely guessed which direction Rhine's "story ending" would rush towards!
The silver-haired youth, inside the large fish's belly, smiled and said:
"This is not impossible.
"Your Majesty's daughter, the youngest princess, Ariel, is trying to do just that.
"She fell in love with a human prince and wants to gain his love and an immortal soul. For this, Ariel found the only Sea Witch in your Sea Country and demanded a potion that could grow legs.
"That Sea Hag wanted to take Your Majesty's daughter's voice as payment. I happened to be nearby and gave Ariel a free bottle of a more effective potion."
Rhine then briefly recounted what happened last night.
Great-grandmother, who had been smiling moments ago, now looked pale:
"Oh my. My little princess has already gone to land? How could she do such a foolish thing?
"I had advised her before to give up her boring fantasies of being with humans! I thought she had long forgotten about it.
"What do we do now?"
Sea King and Ariel's sisters—the other five mermaid princesses—upon hearing that Ariel would turn into sea foam if she failed, were equally anxious, like ants on a hot pan, discussing their worries.
Seeing the Mermaid royals' concern, Rhine was also suddenly moved:
Although the original work did not mention the reactions of the Mermaid's relatives after she went ashore, judging by how her sisters exchanged their beautiful hair with the Sea Witch for a way to turn back into Mermaids and return to the sea at the end, Ariel's family undoubtedly cared deeply about her safety!
"Respected Mage, since you can transform Ariel into human form, you must be able to change her back! This is too dangerous; please change her back and let her return to us."
"We can pay you; whether it's pearls from the sea or beautiful hair, take it all!"
Sea King, Great-grandmother, and the other mermaid princesses surrounded Rhine, pleading for his help.
Rhine seemed to see a scene never described in the original work:
When the mermaid princess went ashore, her relatives were incredibly anxious and eventually found the Sea Witch again. Her sisters also made a deal with the Sea Witch, exchanging their beautiful hair for a way for their sister to return.
"Your Majesty, I can indeed do that," Rhine said, "but I do not recommend doing so now."
Under the confused gazes of Sea King and the mermaid princesses, Rhine explained:
"I believe that Ariel's attempt does not represent only herself. This adventure to the land, though fraught with danger, may also point the Sea Kingdom towards its future direction."
Sea King seemed to understand, yet not fully: "What do you mean, sir?"
This former Sage of the Rose Kingdom spoke with a passionate, high, and full tone:
"Imagine, if Ariel succeeds. Wouldn't that mean that Mermaids and humans could also have love and be together forever!
"This is an opportunity for the Sea Kingdom and the land kingdoms to establish friendship! It just so happens that the lovers are a prince and a princess, a match made in heaven.
"Respected monarch of the sea, you must know the secret of the immortal soul.
"If Ariel succeeds, this will become a shining example!
"After Ariel and that prince marry, let all the humans who bless them know that Ariel is a Mermaid from the Sea Kingdom. Apart from physiological differences, Mermaids and humans are no different.
"Before the great power of magic, there is no barrier between the sea and the land: since I can make Mermaids in the sea grow legs and go to the land, I can naturally also make humans take on the appearance of Mermaids and come to this Sea Kingdom.
"From then on, any ordinary Mermaid in this vast sea could emulate Ariel's actions, seek a partner among humans, and gain an immortal soul!"