I found myself helping out around Silent Hollow, trying to assist where I could after Seraphinus and his heretical doctrine fractured the town. It wasn't a penance, but I did feel a responsibility. News had spread of a fishing job—apparently, this small town had access to a rather large ocean, which surprised me. I had assumed it was mostly farmland. Still, people needed to eat. I set out for the docks, the salty air a welcome change from the musty confines of my temporary lodgings.

  As I approached, I saw the ocean stretching out, vast and shimmering under the midday sun. Several fishing boats bobbed gently, and the air was thick with the cries of gulls. The scale of it was impressive, almost overwhelming for a town this size. I made my way towards a weathered vessel and introduced myself to the gruff-looking captain.

  Captain Elara: "You the new help? Name's Elara. Glad to have ya, Father. Hands are short since... well, since what happened with Seraphinus."

  Yam: "I'll do my best, Captain."

  Elara tossed me a set of oilskins and a fishing rod.

  Elara: "Just bring back a decent haul. Town's got mouths to feed."

  I nodded, pulling on the oilskins. I hadn't fished in years, not since I was a boy, but the motions came back to me easily enough. I baited the hook with a chunk of squid and cast the line into the depths.

  The first few hours were quiet. Just the rhythmic creaking of the boat, the gentle rocking of the waves, and the distant calls of seabirds. It was… peaceful. Almost meditative. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the sun warm my face and the sea air fill my lungs. A welcome respite.

  Still, I'm unsure if this would work...

  That peace didn't last.

  After that I continued fishing, catching some large fish as I fished for food, but I began to catch like 10 fish; however, they were quite annoying to catch, including how they'd be with them trying to escape the hook,the sun beats down, turning the deck planks hot underfoot. The water, usually a clear turquoise, had begun to darken, taking on a murky, almost oily sheen. A strange stillness had fallen over the sea; the gulls had stopped their cries, and the wind had died down. It was unnerving.

  Elara shuffled over to me, her face etched with concern.

  Elara: "Somethin' ain't right, Father. The sea's gone quiet."

  Yam: "I noticed. Do you think it might be a storm coming?"

  Elara: "Nah, not like this. This is... different. This feels like somethin' underneath."

  As if on cue, a tremor ran through the boat, a deep, guttural vibration that seemed to emanate from the very depths of the ocean. Elara swore under her breath.

  Elara: "Damn it all... I was hopin' the stories were just drunken sailor's tales..."

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  Yam : "What stories would those be?"

  Elara gave me a wary look, then sighed.

  Elara: "There's been whispers goin' around. Talk of a merman, but not the kind in fairy tales. This one's... unnatural. They say he's been takin' people, draggin' 'em down to the depths. Some say he's unnaturally big, size of a human, they've been known to eat people."

  I chuckled humorlessly.

  Yam: "A merman in this town... yeah, okay, sure."

  I tried to dismiss it as superstition, but the look on Elara's face told me she believed it. And the tremor... that felt real enough. Even though, Elara went on, I decided I'd hold onto my sword, just in case I'd need to fight against anyone who attacked, by just using the hilt if i'd have to. I cast my line once more, trying to focus on the task at hand, to continue fishing and hopefully assist in things.

  Another tug on the line. This one felt different. Stronger. I started to reel it in, the line straining against the weight. It was no fish I'd ever caught before.

  After awhile it was tiring but as I was tiring, I caught some large fish, I could smell the rot.

  Just when I thought I was near ready to haul it in, something monstrous pulled back, nearly yanking me overboard. I tightened my grip, my knuckles white. The thing on the other end was strong, incredibly so. It pulled and pulled, dragging the boat along with it.

  Then, from the depths of the dark water something rose from the deep depths. It was the merman.

  I'm unsure what exactly is a merman as its half human and, half fish but it looked human and it was big, no tall. More, like the fish part was the upper human body, it,was unnatural with sharp teeth and eyes,with no soul.

  The creature lunged at me with his tail, its size and power of its tail, almost knocking me down, and looked at me, directly with no soul.

  It,said

  "You were never supposed, to be here Priest get off my ocean."

  so,I took out my sword and start swinging at it making it jump away.

  Delmar::"Oh you think you can kill me, priest!"

  Yam::"Back away demon"

  It, then began hitting the small boat I was on trying to make me lose my balance and make me drop my sword which I had a strong grip on the hilt of it as the beast was annoyed and it summoned some rain from the sky exploiting the weather which confused me as I felt something hard hit me as it was some hail as that was quite annoying as it was hail.

  Yam:"what did you do demon!?

  Delmar;"I summoned hail you idiot hope ya enjoy it

  he,then tried eating me which i took out my blade and stabbed him in his mouth,keeping him in the air stopping him from consuming me whole.

  Delmar; "Ouch you damn bastard!

  I,then slammed him into the boat and tried to impale him again,but he tail slapped me into the water as i still held onto the hilt as i held my breath while in the ocean water he charged at me aswell punching me in the gut causing me,to scream in pain but water only got into my mouth causing me to suffocate. he then tried swallowing me hole but i punched him in his face breaking his jaw as i swam up with my sword in hand and on the boat again breathing heavily as elara came to check on me.

  Elara;"What happened!?

  Yam;"Okay the merman thing its real apparently

  I continued breathing as i had my weapon and was in my wet clothes.

  elara;"Well did ya do something i see the blood on that weapon of yours

  Yam:"I guess i did i didn't expect it to come and attack me though it seems me cutting it stopped the hail it summoned...

  meanwhile in the ocean,the merman was trying to heal from the damage as it was healing slower than the usual cuts.

  Delmar;"Damn that bastard priest when he comes back ,I'll wait rip him to shreds and kill him so I'll consume his flesh!

  to be continued