He Promised to Marry a Mermaid as a Child… Years Later, She Came Back for Him

“But we can keep being friends. I don’t mind,” Feza said.

“All right,” Dan replied. “That’s exactly what I was going to say. I’ll come see you every day. I’ll always play my flute on the riverbank in the evening.”

Feza smiled. “And above all, never forget the candies.”

Dan burst out laughing.

Deep in the river, Ziran, the strongest and most respected triton in the kingdom, began to notice Feza’s frequent absences.

One day, as he swam through the reefs, he saw Feza talking with Dan on the bank. Seeing them laugh together like old friends feels a wave of jealousy through his heart.

“Who is this human she spends so much time with?” Ziran muttered, his chest tight with anger.

The next day, Ziran approached Feza as she sat in her coral palace, brushing her hair.

“Feza,” Ziran said in a calm but tense voice, “who is that human you meet by the river?”

Feza froze for a moment, then turned toward him, trying to stay calm. “His name is Dan. He is a friend,” she answered lightly, avoiding her piercing gaze.

“A friend? A human? Do you not know the dangers of associating with their kind?” Ziran’s voice rose slightly.

Feza sighed. “Dan is different. He saved my life, and I owe him a lot. He has been kind to me and has shown me nothing but respect.”

At once, Ziran’s face darkened. “You owe him nothing beyond your gratitude. Spending too much time with humans can only bring trouble. I will not allow it.”

Feza frowned. “Allow it? Ziran, you do not control me. Dan is my friend, and I will continue to see him if I wish.”

Ziran clenched his fists but said nothing more. He swam away at great speed, his mind full of everything he had seen.

A few days later, Dan came back to the river with a pearl necklace he had bought in town. He wanted to thank Feza for being such a precious friend.

“Feza!” he called from the riverbank, holding the necklace in his hand.