Years passed, and in that underwater kingdom, life adapted to the darkness of the depths. King Elohim’s daughter, Stella, grew into a curious young mermaid, constantly asking questions about the world above.
One day, as she helped her mother, Mother Ado, prepare their home for a celebration, Stella could no longer contain her curiosity.
“Mother,” she asked, “what is the surface like?”
Mother Ado paused, old memories rising again.
“Why do you ask me that, my dear?”
“I sometimes hear the elders talk about the old days. They speak of something they call the sun. What is it?”
Mother Ado looked at her daughter gently.
“The sun… imagine the warmest and brightest thing you can possibly conceive, and it is even more beautiful than that. It makes everything it touches sparkle.”
“And the humans?” Stella asked, her eyes shining. “What were they like before?”
“Different from us,” replied Mother Ado. “They walk on two legs instead of swimming with a tail. Once, they were our friends. Their children greeted us from the riverbanks, and we greeted them back.”
“Then why can’t we speak to them anymore?”
“Because fear and anger poisoned everything. One terrible day changed it all. Since then, we must stay here if we want to be safe.”
But Stella could not stop thinking about that unknown world. At night, when everyone was asleep, she swam upward until she nearly touched the surface without fully breaking through it. The faint moonlight amazed her.
One morning, King Elohim noticed his daughter’s distracted expression during breakfast.
“What troubles you, my daughter?” he asked.
“Father, why must we live in darkness? Not all humans can be cruel.”
King Elloï’s face darkened.
“Stella, you do not understand the danger. Humans hold us responsible for the death of one of their own. Their king ordered our execution if we are ever seen at the surface.”
“But that was so long ago,” said Stella. “Things may have changed.”
“No. Some things never change, my daughter. Promise me you will never go to the surface.”
Stella did not answer. The king let out a long, worried sigh.
