[Vol. 7] Chapter 60: Tears Are for a Better Tomorrow
Although Violet wasn’t entirely comfortable with the overly reverent attitude, as if they were worshiping a god, she understood that she wasn’t the real focus here. Xiao Guang, despite looking like a young girl, seemed to have a clear awareness of her identity.
She didn’t outright reject the subtle honorifics that Anies and the others used when addressing her. Since that was the case, the priestess decided to let it be.
After all… if the little dragon girl wanted to form a complete divinity, she couldn’t rely solely on taking power from other gods like before. Gathering faith through proper means might be slow, but it was steady and reliable, with no drawbacks. As the saying goes, small streams make a mighty river. The Emerald Sea had a population of millions, so accumulating more faith could only be beneficial.
“Hmph…”
When she saw the queen and two princesses of the merfolk bowing to her, Xiao Guang didn’t seem particularly surprised or flustered. In fact, she looked slightly annoyed, as if their presence had disturbed her sleep.
Without much interest in responding, she simply waved her hand lazily to show that she had heard them, then turned her head away with an air of importance. She was really starting to act like a god.
But after thinking for a moment, the little girl suddenly turned back and pointed at the black-haired girl holding her hand.
“My sister already told you, there’s no need to bow to me. Her words are my words. Do you not understand?”
Her tone was far from polite, even a little commanding, but with her adorable and childish appearance, it was hard to take offense. Instead, Anies’ expression softened with even more respect and amusement. She nodded slightly and signaled her daughters to lift their heads.
“My apologies, Young Dragon Goddess. We will remember that from now on.”
The blonde girl pouted and dramatically turned her head away again, ignoring them. But the queen didn’t seem upset at all. She simply smiled and shifted her gaze back to Violet, continuing the conversation as if nothing had happened.
“We’ll be parting ways for now, Miss Violet. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for the Emerald Sea. We’ll be relying on the Merchant Guild for the migration efforts. If there’s ever anything the merfolk can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask, just come to me or Nitila.”
Violet sighed and shook her head, choosing not to mention the little dragon girl’s behavior. Instead, she went along with the conversation.
“Your Majesty, are you really not planning to leave the Eastern Sea Pearl?”
Understanding the meaning behind those words, Anies smiled and shook her head.
“That won’t be necessary. A large-scale migration like this, without a clear reason, would be too reckless. Someone has to stay behind to maintain order in the Emerald Sea. After all, two-thirds of our people are still here, aren’t they?”
“To be honest, after years of battles, political struggles, and with the death of Willipol… I’m starting to feel tired. It’s time to leave the future to the younger generation. Nitila, Valda, and the others.”
As she spoke, the queen took something from her storage artifact and carefully placed it in Violet’s hands.
“For all the help you and the Young Dragon Goddess have given us, I, as the twelfth chieftain of the Mingjiao Merfolk, officially present this to you, Miss Violet. Consider it both a token of our gratitude and a symbol of our friendship.”
Violet examined the object. A small white pearl shaped like a water droplet that seemed to emit a faint glow even in daylight. After observing it for a moment, curiosity flashed across her face.
“This is… a merfolk pearl?”
“That’s right, just as you see. It’s a Mingjiao Merfolk Pearl.”
Anies glanced around to make sure no outsiders were too close before lowering her voice slightly.
“Miss Violet, do you know why our Mingjiao Tribe became the leaders of the merfolk? And why we are born with markings near our eyes that resemble tears?”
Violet looked at the six teardrop-like patterns on the queen’s face and recalled the qualifications needed for the [Book of Truth]. A thought crossed her mind, and she nodded slightly.
“You… have a special connection to the former [God of the Azure Sea and Truth], don’t you?”
“That’s right.”
The Queen smiled.
"According to ancient records that have survived from long ago, the former [God of the Azure Sea and Truth] had six direct followers. These beings were blessed by the god and granted the authority to wield a portion of its divine power. They were known as the God’s Chosen."
"Among these six, some could command storms, slicing through waves with ease. Others possessed deep knowledge of truth, able to communicate with all creatures of the sea. One, in particular, became a guiding light for sailors, transforming into a beacon above the ocean, using her voice and radiance to lead travelers to safety. That was our ancestor, the last daughter of the god, Mingjiao."
"When the god fell, the six God’s Chosen were also affected. Some perished alongside their deity, while others fled in the chaos, their whereabouts unknown. Though our ancestor survived, she lost the immortality and divine power once bestowed upon her. All that remained was a faint trace of that divine brilliance, preserved within the most precious thing she left behind, the merfolk pearls."
"Overcome with grief for the god’s death, our ancestor wept as she drifted across the ocean for more than three months. She cried so much that she lost her sight, her tears mixed with blood, leaving behind permanent scars and markings on her face."
"These scars, these markings, were passed down through our bloodline, engraved upon every Mingjiao merfolk born after her. That is why we all carry these tear-like patterns."
"It is this divine lineage that has earned our people recognition and respect, allowing us to be acknowledged as the leaders of the merfolk. The more tear-like markings one has, the closer they resemble our ancestor and the purer their bloodline is."
"Take Nitila, for example. The pearl she has produced might even surpass..."
The queen suddenly stopped, seemingly unwilling to continue the thought. With a helpless smile, she changed the subject.
"Of course, now that the gods are gone, and barely anyone even remembers the name [God of the Azure Sea and Truth]. This so-called divine bloodline has little real value, aside from a few rare cases."
"To put it bluntly, I’m not like Willipol, obsessed with tradition and honor. What matters most to me is survival and the well-being of our people. If letting go of some old customs or making certain sacrifices means a better future for the merfolk, then so be it."
Violet was no fool. Hearing the underlying implications in Anies’ words, she quickly understood the meaning behind them.
“Hmm? So this merfolk pearl is…?”
“That’s right. This is the pearl left behind by our ancestor, Mingjiao Surst, the last daughter of the god. We call it [Tear of the Mingjiao]. Although it has lost its divine power, a lingering presence remains, making it one of the most important treasures of the royal palace.”
“As for its specific abilities, you can explore them yourself or ask Nitila. But beyond that, this pearl also serves as a token of authority. If you present it in any merfolk settlement, they will recognize you as an honored guest and do their best to fulfill your requests.”
The queen finished her explanation with a firm declaration, repeating herself to emphasize its significance.
“The royal palace is bestowing this upon you today. From this moment forward, this ancestral merfolk pearl belongs to you, Miss Violet.”
“You’re really just giving this away, huh…?”
Violet glanced at the two princesses standing behind Anies. They remained composed, even showing a faint sense of relief. Though Princess Valda still seemed reluctant, she said nothing to oppose her mother’s decision. It was clear this had been discussed and agreed upon beforehand.
Giving up something old in exchange for a chance to move forward and embrace a new future… That had been the reasoning behind agreeing to Rashid’s plan as well.
This queen was truly bold. A leader willing to take risks and make all-or-nothing bets when the time called for it.
With that thought, Violet shifted her gaze slightly, catching sight of the golden-haired young girl still holding her hand.
But in the end, it wasn’t just reckless gambling. It was a calculated decision, a firm grasp of fleeting opportunities.
Even divine blessings are never truly free. The future of the Mingjiao merfolk would ultimately depend on their own efforts.