Nerida's purpose (tw: drowning, death)

Sacred was captivated, but not surprised, by the talisman growing rapidly. An object smaller than her koi fish was becoming a gigantic esk and the grandeur wasn’t lost on her. They were far underwater but still on the continental shelf. Sacred wondered if the esk would become so large that their head poked above the surface.

This was not the case, the new esk finished transforming well below the surface. Sacred was reminded of the human myth about goldfish growing to the size of their tanks. She floated up towards the esk’s head so that they would notice her. Her skewed vision would never allow her to know the esk’s true coloration, but saw a light bluish-gray shade indicating that the esk was not in distress. A wave of relief washed through her.

“Where am I?” were the new esk’s first words, and they were mostly to herself.

“A kelp reef. This place has many names and I don’t know them all,” Sacred’s words hung in the water. The new esk said nothing and Sacred continued, “Some call nearby areas the Great Southern Reef. But more precisely to your question: an ancient, sunken city,” her words were hushed as they moved into the new esk’s mind.

“And where are you?” the new esk asked. Sacred realized the esk couldn’t see her. Sacred’s fully liquid, inky white form underwater was very hard to see, especially among kelp and other obstructions.

“Go to the surface,” Sacred instructed, and the two swam up together.

The new esk’s shaggy head broke the surface in a massive splash and Sacred followed in a less dramatic fashion. The new esk stayed mostly below the water with just her head and neck poking up. Sacred became solid again and stood on the water. This brought her to eye level with the new esk and they could see each other a little easier.

The esk’s tousled fur was dripping around her neck and now Sacred could clearly see ivory antlers. They matched the ivory from her original talisman. She had a kind expression, and the golden kelp coming from her head looked ethereal. Her long body floated just below the surface and ivory wings stretched out from her back. Kelp from her wings bobbed up and down. The esk whipped her tail through the water creating another great splash. This launched dazzling, bioluminescent sand in the air.

A bright, starlike enchantment also hung over the esk’s head. Sacred watched the enchantment subdue the waves from the splash; this esk was calming the sea.

“Did you make me? I don’t think you did, but it’s all so foggy. I remember the ship...” the esk said curiously.

“I did create you in a way, I gave you your current form. What do you mean you remember a ship?” Sacred asked, now equally curious.

The esk hung her head limply, “I think I was powerful. Someone made me powerful, but we were separated. We were going to sail the ocean together forever, but something went wrong, I believe we both drowned. Does any of this make sense? I feel old and young at the same time. Is that possible?”

Sacred focused her energy into the enchantment over her own head before answering. The calming effect was immediate and Sacred watched some of her tension melt away.

“Yes, it’s possible,” and Sacred described the carved, ivory, fish talisman that she’d just found stranded in the kelp, “I purposefully use the phrase talisman instead of necklace or pendant. You were not just jewelry, you were crafted with intent. And I think your enchantment holds the same properties: providing serenity and peace to the water,” Sacred nodded to the bright star over the esk’s antlers.

The new esk nodded, accepting the information, “So I was created to help calm the sea… that makes sense. And a person made me, not a.. uh, what are you? And what am I now that I’m not a talisman?”

Sacred answered the questions thoroughly and made sure to prepare her for life as an esk. After answering more general questions Sacred added, “And do you have a name?”

The bigger esk thought about it for a moment before finally answering, “No. Do you have one?”

“Sacred. And that’s alright, they’re not necessary. You mentioned earlier that you remember drowning with someone?” Sacred was intrigued by that part of the esk’s story. It was odd for an object to hold such specific memories.

“Yes… I feel a deep connection for whoever carved me. I can still feel the groves being etched into my fins. I remember the lull of the rocking boat when we sailed together. We were never supposed to be separated, but I think a storm drowned us. I don’t know for sure, but I feel the weight of it, and the guilt… it was my fault,” tears began streaming down her face, mixing into her already wet fur.

Sacred sent a few inky koi fish to swim near the esk’s face hoping it helped ease her pain. It did.

“Why would you feel guilty for that?” Sacred asked gently.

“I was supposed to calm the water! That was my whole job, my very purpose,” the esk exclaimed.

“Ah friend, it wasn’t your fault. Even the most powerful esk will eventually come across someone or something they can’t control. That wasn’t your responsibility. Your job was to provide comfort, didn’t you know? And I can say with certainty that you did your job well. Your creator didn’t die alone, they had you by their side, even at the end.”

The two esk were silent, tears continued to stream down the new esk’s face, but Sacred could see that her words had landed.

“It doesn’t make it easier, but it’s nice to know you don’t blame me,” the esk finally responded softly. She lay her head down on the water surface like a snake. Sacred lay down to join her as if laying in grass. Birds flew overhead and they both looked up to watch. The two esk swayed gently on the water.

“What should I do now?” the esk asked her newest creator.

“That’s your decision. I prefer to travel, I’ll continue moving eventually. The world looks empty from here,” she gestured at the flat horizon and vague coastline, “but it’s not. Below us life is thriving, and there’s so much for you to see. You’ll find your place.”

The esk looked across the water and said, “I want to see the whole ocean, I feel like I was made for it. Maybe I can keep providing comfort to others too, I liked that part of being a talisman.”

Sacred said nothing, also choosing to provide support with her presence alone. The new esk broke the silence by asking, “If I had a name, what would it be?”

Sacred considered the esk dazzling in the sunlight and said, “Humans from long ago, and very far from here, had stories about wondrous sea nymphs. They named the nymphs Nereids, and I feel that suits you. So I would call you Nerida.”

The new esk rolled the name over in her mind and then said, “Yes, that feels right. Thank you, for everything.”

Sacred’s lotus glowed brighter in response and Nerida’s eyes creased in a smile.