Chapter 89:

"Edwin what do you seek," Murcus asked looking closer to Edwin which made him flinch.

"I'm Just Here to become friends with the merpeople of the black lake" Edwin stated honestly once again.

"So you say," Murcus said while floating away before turning back" if that is true would you like a tour around the village"

"I would love that" Edwin stated with a smile then he notices that he suddenly started to feel the cold of the black lake and his gills with his webbed fingers are disappearing at a rapid rate.

Edwin quickly held his breath and went into his back for the gillyweed," Are you okay Edwin" Murcus asked Edwin who was turning red in the face.

The gillyweed didn't take long to find and Edwin quickly popped on into his mouth and he started to wait for the effects to work. Murcus noticed that something was wrong and quickly grabbed Edwin hands and started to swim upwards to the surface.

"Murcus what's wrong," Edwin asked after the gillyweed effects stated to work.

"You're not drowning?" Murcus asked with a curious expression

"I'm not, are you still offering the tour?" Edwin asked Murcus who kept staring at him in surprise.

"How can you breathe and talk underwater without a bubble?" Murcus asked as she poked Edwin's forehead with her webbed gray finger.

"secret" Edwin stated as he didn't know if gillyweed would be banned if he tells Murcus about the set he has.

Murcus started to give Edwin a tour around the village, the first place she took Edwin is the center of the village where there is a statue of a selkie singing. The other mermaid and men gather around the center as they started to sing a song.

"We're just in time" Murcus stated as she placed the music box near the statue" everyone will be able to use the music box"

The mermaids that were singing swam around the center of the village, Edwin couldn't understand what they were singing about but it was beautiful and he could tell that it is a happy song. From the center of the village Murcus took Edwin all-around showing him some pets which were the Grindylows who the Merpeople had tamed.

Edwin also found out a lot about Murcus she became the chief of the black lake after her parents died and her favorite song is one he cannot pounce but it was a beautiful one; she even has a Grindylow as a pet in her stone house that is larger than most in the village.

The Mervillage doesn't use money and would share what they have or barter with shiny shells or other items that are necessary. Conflicts that are caused in the village would have to solve by Murcus or a village elder who is older than Murcus (which there are a few)

"are you hungry" Murcus asked Edwin whose belly was rumbling as he had yet to eat.

"Guess it's time for me to go back" Edwin stated as he didn't want to try the Merpeople food, as he knew that they don't have fire underwater so at most he would have to eat uncooked food.

"I'll follow you back" Murcus state following Edwin to the surface.

In the distance the Grindylows who still wanted peace of Edwin could see him returning to the surface and with a slight screech the entire group chased after Edwin.

Due to the darkness of the black lake Edwin didn't see them until there were just a few meters from him," Not this again "Edwin mutter as he picked up his pace and turned around to attack. But Murcus simply grabbed Edwin's hand pulling him to a stop.

"We have to go the Grindylows- "Edwin shouted out as he tried to pull his hand from Murcus.

"I'll take care of them" Murcus stated as she waited for the Grindylows to come closer.

When there was just a meter away Murcus pushed off with her long tail which created a wave that pushed Edwin to the side," Murcus be careful" Edwin shouted as he remembers the strength of their grip and their tentacle foot that offers them a way to stick onto someone.

As Murcus charged into the group of Grindylows she released a shout showing her fish like teethes. She then used her long tail to bash the group of Grindylows back those that didn't get hit by her tail she grabbed as showed her teeth's at them as if she was going to have them for lunch if they didn't back off.

Murcus showed her wild side as she grabbed the Grindylow that tried to grab her hands, as she squeezed the Grindylow she was still using her tail to slap and bash those that was still heading towards Edwin who could help but to be amazed and nervous at the same time.

It didn't take long for the Grindylows to retreat after seeing Murcus actions, those that had grabbed onto her immediately released their grips and started to swim away," they are easy to deal with" Murcus stated as she shrugged off what she did to the Grindylows," if I had walked with my spear they wouldn't have attacked"

At that time Edwin made a mental note to not piss Murcus off," come visit again" Murcus said as she waved Edwin off with her tail then she went back into the black lake.

Edwin had done what he had set out to do even though he couldn't call Murcus his friend as yet they were still getting there. Edwin found the average time that the gillyweed would last which is about an hour sometime it might go over or under it can even be exactly an hour.

He even could partly remember the layout of the mervillage after getting the tour, which would make navigating to the center easier.

With the task set to last an hour Edwin started to believe that whoever created the second task was using the gillyweed effect time to set how long everyone should be able to get their loved ones out of the water.

Thinking about the second task Edwin started to wonder who would be his love one" Isabella or would it be Yasbel" Edwin thought to himself as he went looking for his clothes, luckily no one found his clothes and moved it.