once gemstones

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

The gardens beneath the waves were a startling array of hues and blended colors, plant forms, Lena had never seen before. Deep in her herb horticulture at home or in the Celestine, she still hadn’t expected such a semblance of beauty and wonder – and as they perused further and further outwards, the wildlife seemed to change. Shorter kelp arrangements, flowering sea grasses, stone steps leading down into a further alteration of embankments and then…

Headless statues.

Huh, she offered at first, bewildered. The art itself was beautiful and elegant, and some were fully intact, but the humans were clearly…lacking. What do you think this is about? A statement about those living amidst the land? Coincidence? While she wouldn’t want to think any darker portions about the world below…some details were far more striking than others.

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

And I hope the sun shines and it's a beautiful day
And something reminds you you wish you had stayed

Soh's scales flashed in the sunlight filtering down from above as they swam on through the gardens. As they went on, things became more and more manicured: the seagrasses and kelp fields were shorter, the flowers more tended to, and the statues...

Well, the statues were something.

Oh dear, Soh commented, swimming past statue after headless statue. The detail was impeccable, and if it had only been one or two, perhaps she'd have written it off as bad luck. But every single one was missing its head. It had to be purposeful. A statement of some kind, perhaps? I haven't a clue, Soh said, bewildered. She eyed one particularly beautiful statue, then an older one that appeared to be blurred, its features worn away by time beneath the sea. I can't say it's particularly welcoming, though.

You can plan for a change in the weather and time
But I never planned on you changing your mind

Sohalia

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Given that only the human statues seemed affected, the Caretaker took it as something. Agreed, though it didn’t stop her from circling around and continuing to gaze upon the scenery – ornamental and beautiful, impeccably designed and down to magnificent detail, save for the missing heads. Maybe they had issues in the past? She’d have to consult history books within the Archive; but somehow she doubted any information would be linked there – uncertain about how much knowledge they had of contributions between land and sea – or conflicts, as it were.

Unsettling was a good way to phrase it.

I’d ask someone, but- given their reception at the market, it seemed unlikely they’d be granted anything useful. Or even addressed.

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

And I hope the sun shines and it's a beautiful day
And something reminds you you wish you had stayed

The water cut smoothly around her scaled body and long - nose? sword? - as she sluiced forwards, peeking at the statues as they passed. Every single human statue was headless, but there were plenty of other creatures that were intact. I wonder why they even have human statues? Soh said thoughtfully. Unless this section was above sea at some point? Designed by humans but reclaimed by the sea? In that case, maybe some conquering nation had removed the heads, some kind of political statement against their rivals.

In any case, asking someone didn't seem to be an option. Even if they had been welcomed with open arms, it would be difficult to speak unless their guide had access to the attuned bond. I guess we may never know. Soh, too, deduced that little may exist about this place in their land-based libraries. I wonder if they have records here that would tell us? But how would they record things underwater? Some kind of special paper and ink?

You can plan for a change in the weather and time
But I never planned on you changing your mind

Sohalia

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Lena liked trading the theories, even as she went by and investigated the portions of wondrous, but vaguely macabre, artwork. Ohhh, that’s a thought. We’ve certainly had wars in the past. And well before the last one; the ventures of the barrier had been well documented, but what if there had been some prior? Or if there’d been another cataclysm, launching portions of land into the sea? Fallen, into the brink and fathoms below? Ahead of history's tomes and books? Even if it remains a mystery, it’s all still very intriguing. Enough to cause her curiosity to incite and unravel, and tell others about what they’d seen. Well, if we record it, we’ll have something then. To which she gave a very dolphin-laugh, bobbing over some familiar plant life again.

As for managing records for themselves, she wouldn’t be surprised. They seemed like a very industrious sort of race. An idea floated into her brain thereafter though, as if it should've been obvious from the start. We could ask Hadama, the next time we see him.

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

And I hope the sun shines and it's a beautiful day
And something reminds you you wish you had stayed

Lena was right: it was all very intriguing, and Soh joined her friend in admiring some nearby scenery as she hummed through the bond in response. It was so interesting to see such foreign creations that looked so similar to things from the surface. Although they didn't have coral and anemones above the water, the gardens seemed to be arranged in a way that showed off the prettiest 'blooms' and surrounded each with background 'greenery' - just like a master gardener might back home. Soh wondered vaguely who tended these gardens, or if they maintained themselves better than bushes and flowers.

The thought to ask Hadama was a good one, and Soh instantly agreed. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to answer questions, she thought fondly. Hadama was a good friend, and a patient mermanta. He would surely humor any inquiries they might have after their escapades today.

You can plan for a change in the weather and time
But I never planned on you changing your mind

Sohalia

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

With those notions in mind, and several others to make note of when they returned home, Lena gave a little dolphin nod, before lingering along the outer portions of the gardens. She meandered back and forth, missing nothing on her slower swim, taking her time to snag and delve into each and every particular plant.

When there was nothing more to see in this area, her eyes flickered and glanced elsewhere – especially off into the looming depths nearby. We can head over there next, towards thickets and darkness, the promise of a glow hovering nearby, she offered with a flip of her tail, eager to continue their exploration (already learning quite a bit and leaving much to the imagination in the same breadth).

[FIN]

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm