Where Geno witnesses the last 2 blessings at last but he will soon come to realise there are a lot of inaccurate things with the second and much different as he heard them.

No one's POV:
-

The rain was pouring hard down inside the forest. The wind was blowing hard, whipping the trees mercilessly. At any second they seemed ready to snap in 2 and fall down. All animals had gone hiding.

Many loud sounds, all around.

The rain that was falling.

The bolts that were striking every now and then.

The leaves of the plants rattling with each other.

The howling wind.

The cries of a monster barely heard in the disaster of the heavy rain.

A female skeleton was walking all alone in the forest. Her dress was soaked completely by the rain water, weighting her down. She had her hands pressed against her chest and she was quite literally dragging her feet. Both from the muddy road and pain. Because she was, in fact, in pain. The way she was holding her chest and her expression were of absolute suffering and fear.

As if fighting for her life.

But she was.

It was like she was having a soul attack. Beneath her clothes, her chest was glowing a faint white. At times it would vanish, but would soon appear again, temporarily glowing wilder. That was what Geno could see as he walked alongside the other skeleton. He was once again in one of these 'guardian revelations' dreams from what he could assume.

It confused him however, because that skeleton, he hadn't seen her amongst the guardians. Who was she? Suddenly the lady fell down, still holding her chest. She started crying, the pitch of her voice barely heard above the storm.

"I'm never going to make it like this! Please baby, not now, I'm trying to save you here. The monks... the monks know from compassion. They are kind and accepting. They will help you. Just please, hold on... a little longer... we must get to them. Oh God, please... help us both get to them. Anywhere else if I go, once they hear... who's the father... they would think of my baby only as a disgrace... and refuse to help."

Pregnant???

So that was what was causing her so much pain, Geno concluded. She made a genuine attempt to stand up again. But her chest suddenly glow brighter again and she fell down screaming in pain and agony.

"Poor lady..." Geno thought, knowing darn well he could do nothing to help her. The lady suddenly looked up to the sky. And then, with a voice that could make anyone tear up from the pain and plead it had, she begged.

"DEAR GOD! I KNOW... I KNOW THAT WHAT I'M CARRYING SHOULDN'T EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE! BUT IF YOU HEAR ME NOW... If you hear me... PLEASE! SHOW MERCY, HELP MY BABY! I DON'T CARE IF I DIE, BUT SAVE MY BABY! HELP US GET TO THE MONASTERIES AND SAVE MY BABY!"

Geno shivered with the power the voice had. He stood there looking at the skeleton lady as she lowered her head, almost in defeat after begging God. She started crying louder as she was now just crawling, this much she was in pain, unable to stand up. The smaller skeleton caught a movement from somewhere on the path the lady was on.

About 10 feet away was standing a figure. Unlike the darkness that surrounded everything, the figure was dressed in a long white cloak, with a hood above their head. They were wearing long boots. The rain didn't seem to wet their clothing at all, as the drops would just fall off them.

They were coming towards the fallen skeleton lady. For a moment Geno felt an uneasiness seeing the white figure. He tried to see their face. The characteristics were petite and cute, but he couldn't see the eyes. Nor the hair. That figure approached, kneeled next to the lady and tapped her shoulder. The skeleton flinched and looked at her terrified.

"Who are you?!" The figure said nothing and placed their left hand on the monster's back. Their other moved towards her chest and frantically the skeleton prevented to cover it. "Don't touch there!" However that didn't stop the figure from placing their hand on the monsters' hands. A few seconds passed in silence. Then, the skeleton lady looked at the figure, with not much pain anymore on her expression. Rather surprise and shock. "The pain... I almost can't feel it now! What did you do?!"

"... Altruistic magic." A female voice responded calmly.

"That voice..." Geno felt he had hear that voice before but couldn't put his finger on it. Who was that woman underneath that white cloak?

"Your hands... But they are human!"

"I am more than I seem. It's not important right now. Where are you going in this disaster?" The woman asked. She seemed to talk with difficulty, as if she was in pain like the skeleton too. Effects of the magic? The skeleton stayed silent as she looked at her in wonder. She seemed ready to say something for a moment but seemed to change her mind. Soon however she spoke.

"... Are you an angel?" She asked. The woman shook her head left and right.

"... I'm not. But I was passing by and heard your cries for help." She looked away. "I was seeking for shelter... away from... anyone. But seeing you in pain... I had to help." She looked at the skeleton and a sympathetic smile appeared on her face. "The pain of birth is really difficult. I know it. I've been through it too once. Feeling it together with you doesn't bother me. For now, you will be able to feel more relaxed, without all of the pain bothering you. Right now we share it... what's your name?" She asked. The skeleton looked at her surprised and in wonder, trying to decide whether or not to trust the woman. She looked away.

"... Mora."

"Mora. Nice to meet you. I said I want to help you. You seem to walk on the opposite direction of the village. I saw you exiting it. Where do you want to go, risking your life and your baby's like that?"

"... On the mountains are the monasteries of the monster monks. I don't want to tell why exactly I'm going there. But... But if you really want to help me, please help me get there. The baby... it will most likely be born tonight." The woman sighed.

"I'll help you. Please don't move." She placed her arms beneath the skeleton's body and lifted her with ease like a baby.

"Wh-Wha-?!"

"I don't know the area at all. Tell me, do I follow straight ahead the path we are on for these monasteries?" The woman asked. Mora looked at her surprised. But she nodded hesitantly. The human started walking ahead.

"... Why are you helping me?" The skeleton asked quietly after a few seconds of silence.

"Women should always help each other, no matter the circumstances." The other just said.

Geno was following closely. He listened in the raging storm as the 2 were talking about themselves. Ok that's a lie. Mostly Mora talked. Apparently as the smol skeleton realised, she was from the same village Alter was! That caused Geno think of something he knew he had hear but couldn't remember what exactly at the moment. He knew however that it was important.

"Why would you hide your baby from the other monsters?"

"I said, I don't want to tell. I'm sorry, but... it's just..."

"Are you ashamed of your baby?"

"Wha-?"

"Did you think that you would scandalize someone if they knew about it?"

"... I..."

"You want to save this baby. But... do you really love it?" On that question Mora snapped her head and looked at the woman almost offended.

"It's my baby. How can I not love it?" She said quietly and then looked down guilty. "But this society is not always accepting. Maybe... maybe I am deep down ashamed for what I've been hiding, as much as I don't want to be. But I fear more for my baby's safety. I have the hope that the monks will help... keep it... hide it perhaps? God what am I saying?!" She covered her eyesockets and started sobbing quietly.

The other didn't say anything and just kept walking silent. Geno looked down thoughtful. But when he raised head again, he realised the area had changed. Guess the dream had transported him ahead. There were some groups of buildings, which seemed to stand the wind and rain just fine.

"... Monasteries?" He heard the human's voice behind him. He turned and saw her still carrying Mora as she looked at the buildings.

"Yes." The skeleton lady replied. Suddenly she held her chest and groaned quietly in pain. "I guess your magic fades away. Please miss, you may stop using it on me. You endured my pain enough, while also carrying me and in the rain." She squirmed, as a sign to step down. The other let her stand up slowly and carefully, still supporting her to not fall. Mora looked at her. And despite the pain, there was on her face so much gratitude and sweetness, her face was shining bright. "Thank you. Thank you so much... for everything. You didn't even tell me... your name. It's ok perhaps I won't need that information where I'll be going." She looked ahead and gripped the other's shoulders. "May God bless you... woman... wherever you go next." She suddenly held her chest again and almost screamed out loud from pain.

"Mora-"

"I can't... take it anymore. Bearing this secret inside of me, even to my death. Because... yes... there is no way I'll live after birth." She looked at her frantically. "I don't know you... but I want this burden to leave me. Please... listen to me." And with an unstable shaky voice, Mora started narrating. About a secret forbidden relationship with a human she had.

How even when the humans got distant from the monsters, the man would come to find and meet her in secret and they would spend time together. All was great, aside that she had to hide that relationship from the other monsters. Same was definitely for Ricardo, her love. Luckily they both had make it to hide successfully.

At least until she realised she was carrying a souling (i saw that term from another fanfiction, naming the soul of a baby monster like that and i actually absolutely loved it). Their baby. Of course, they could have never come in... THAT kind of contact humans more often have, they couldn't.

But from the time she was a skeleton, an Elemental monster, where she could only carry babies through her soul, obviously it was enough for them to be so close and for long for their souls to feel each other and connect. She was devastated. She was scared. She didn't know who to turn to for help.

As for Ricardo, he was the one she feared the most to tell him. Luckily for her, she never had to. Months ago he had told her he had to stay at Lisbon. The other humans had become very suspicious of him leaving so often and without a word. Especially his wife, who was close to 4 months pregnant.

He had to lay low. The last time they met, when he had suggested, she had just agreed that things would be better if they were distant, while fighting to not break down, knowing well that if they weren't seeing each other ever again before the baby was born, it would really be the last time.

The woman listened to her silent with lowered head. Who knew what she was thinking at that moment... when Mora finished talking, a few seconds later with her just crying and sobbing, the other suddenly raised head and looked at her serious.

"... I can save you." The skeleton looked at her surprised and confused.

"Save me so close to my death? How would that even be possible?"

"I have something... to keep you alive... even after birth... you really touched the depths of my soul with your story... I feel the soul... of someone truly kind and tender." There she let go of Mora, who was still supporting herself on her. She lowered her hood and revealed her face.

"Your hair is-!" The skeleton lady said surprised, almost letting go of the woman, staring at the strands of her pure white long hair. Her velvet dark brown eyes were somehow managing to pierce through the dark. Aside the hair and the few wrinkles that were staining her face but instead of ugly were making her look more proud and confident, that woman looked like a deadspit copy of-.

"She looks so much like mom!" Geno thought shocked. "Can it be..." The rain that had wet the top of the woman's head and ran down her neck had opened thin holes like... gills!

"Are you afraid of sirens dear?" She asked, with a tint of worry but her face stayed the same. Her little pointy teeth glowed in the dark. Mora looked at her for some more surprised. Eventually she softened.

"I thought I was afraid. At least with the idea of meeting one. But who could have guessed that I would get help by one?" She hugged the other gently.

"My ruined soul can't take any more of this." Geno thought who actually felt ready to melt from the adorableness of this scene. Though still shocked of that woman.

"So do you trust me?" She asked, somehow hesitant but relieved that the other hadn't try to get away with fear.

"Yes, of course." Mora held back a scream of pain, almost falling down if not for the other. "What is... this, that you're saying can save me?" She asked.

"I have a gift. A... blessing of some short. It will give you more strength. It will help you live. And it will gift you with a power of nature. If you accept it... me give it to you... you live." Mora seemed to think of it for a moment. She looked again at the woman.

"... Will it save my baby too?" She asked.

"The blessing only goes to you. Your baby... if it lives, it lives. I don't know."

"Can you give the blessing to my baby?" Mora asked then.

"Say what now?!" Geno thought crossing his arms and observing even more surprised.

"Don't you want... the blessing?" The siren asked kind of surprised.

"A baby made by the unison of a human and a monster... it has great possibility of dying. Their hosts die too. They almost never make it... and as much as most say it's wrong for them to exist and a pain for them to live... I want my baby to have a chance in life... Meet the world... feel. If I'm not alive to feed and supply my baby with my magic... it will die faster. But... if your blessing... can really save a life by strengthening it... please give it to my baby."

"How can the parents sacrifice even their own lives for their kids?" Geno thought moved by that. The siren looked down thoughtful.

"Didn't know that detail... that such babies don't make it often. Never heard of this. But... if you want my blessing go for the baby, then I can try-." Mora hugged her again close.

"Thank you so much, thank you. You might not come from the sky, but after all... not all angels need to have wings." She concluded.

"To give the blessing, I need to see your baby. Do you trust to show me?" The other asked. Mora exhaled quietly and suddenly her chest glow brighter. In a soft light appeared her white upside down soul. However inside it was another, smaller soul. It wasn't pure white however. Its right side was a sick soft grey color. The left was a withered green.

"So that's how it looks like when a monster carries a baby through their soul. Huh." Geno thought interested. The siren looked at the baby's soul with a pained expression. It really looked sickly just by the colors. She approached her right hand towards the 2 souls.

"I promise it won't hurt. Allow me... just..." Very slowly and gently she touched the baby's soul with her index finger. Even like that Mora flinched and backed away.

"Sorry. Sorry. Souls are very sensitive." She said and tried to stay motionless, though still shaking. The woman touched the smaller soul gently, closed her eyes and started talking.

"An unexpected offspring from a human and a monster, something nature hasn't planned on accepting in this world. But your host's love has allowed you to have a chance in life, by accepting a Loyal siren's blessing to make sure you'll be kept alive. Half monster, half kind you were predetermined to become. Betray once your human trait, you will do the same to the symbol and you will say goodbye to your life. But because you're still not born, even though so close, this blessing will be cut short, for now it will keep you away from the death's call. When the time will call again, I'll search for you and if you are truly worth it, may the symbol embrace you completely. Great destiny will be opened for you, but for now the time is still far away. The siren symbol your life may it strengthen and when you're more ready, more gifts are promised to be given." All this time she was talking, a soft golden glow was running from the tip of her finger to the smaller soul inside Mora's.

When she was done, that golden glow stopped running but it had covered the souling like a shield. The colors became a little more vivid and healthy. She opened her eyes and smiled gently. Mora was looking down too but didn't seem able to see the golden glow.

"Did... did it work?" She asked hesitantly as her soul flew back inside her ribcage.

"Your baby is safe. And... in order to assure he will be fine... I can come find him years later-."

"He? Him?! It's a boy?!" Mora placed her hands on her chest. "Oh God, usually Elementals can tell what gender their babies will have after months, but I couldn't, perhaps because of his double nature."

"I don't know... I just sensed it? When I was giving the blessing. Well..." The siren placed her hands on the skeleton's shoulders. "Mora... if knowing your baby will stay alive... is making you happy, then you can leave this realm... calm?"

"Oh yes, just as you said it. Now... Now I'm feeling, after so many months relaxed and calm. Even though I'm hurting so much... Oh, how I wish there was a way to repay you..."

"Doesn't matter now. Go, give birth and... and I'll see if the monasteries accept your son." The siren said and there was some emotion in her voice. Perhaps she was touched. Mora took a deep breath from her nose, which she let out again from there quietly.

Slowly she let go of the other and with slow steps she walked towards the buildings. Only many meters away she looked behind her one last time at the siren, as she nodded and stepped back, until she was barely visible behind the trees. The skeleton looked again ahead and slowly fell on her knees.

For a few seconds, the only sounds were the constant rain, wind and the leaves of the trees rattling against each other. But suddenly, a strong white glow came from Mora and a scream, louder than any other from before, like a wild animal's echoed everywhere.

"Oh God, here she goes." Geno thought, guessing right that she was giving birth.

The glow grew bigger and the skeleton lady could barely be seen. But the doors of the monasteries opened and some hooded figures were seen standing to the opening, their body posture betraying surprise. Monks. Mora screamed one more time in immense pain and the white glow around her covered her completely.

"Santas estrelas!" One of the monks exclaimed as he started crossing himself.

Mora stopped screaming and slowly... the glow died down. She was seen still on her knees, her head hanging and... her hands were in position as if she was holding something. Geno approached hesitantly and stood next to Mora. There in her arms was now squirming and crying quietly a tiny skeleton baby.

"Mora, é você?!" One of the monks asked as he walked towards the skeletons. It was a lion monster from whatever Geno could see, staring at Mora and the baby surprised. She slowly raised head and tried to smile at the monk. More of them had started approaching too, gathering around the mother and her baby.

"Abba Lucas... please... accept and sav e... m y... s o n..." She lifted the baby skeleton towards the lion monster, who held the infant surprised before she could fall on her fours.

"Mora what are you-?"

"G o d b l e s s y o u a l l..." And there, she dusted in front of the men's eyes. Her soul that was still flying, after shaking for a few seconds suddenly cracked and broke in two pieces. Then it broke in many more and dissappeared.

https://youtu.be/XdejQbtkEhQ

The monks just stood there shocked, staring at where Mora's dust was. Eventually the lion monster, Lucas, stood up, still holding the baby and sighed. He looked somewhere ahead, to the direction where the siren was standing. But he couldn't see her. At the end he turned his back and walked towards the monasteries.

"Brothers, prepare to bless this fellow skeleton's essence for her eternal stay to the monster afterlife." He said.

"Will do, Abba Lucas. And what about this infant?" One of the monks asked. The lion looked down at the skeleton baby, which had snuggled closer to him and seemed rather relaxed.

"I'm taking personal care of this child." He announced calmly and without hesitation. "If he grows up loving the ascetic life, he can become one of us." The other monks didn't protest and followed behind. Geno stared until all of them were out of his field of view. He looked again behind him.

He could barely see the siren still hidden as she smiled calmly and relieved. She turned her back and took the same path she walked to help Mora get on the monasteries. The small skeleton followed behind and walked alongside her in silence. The walk was long but he was accompanied by her loud thoughts.

"Landlubbers never stop surprising me and changing my mind. The others should really stop being afraid of them. Or, stop being afraid of all of them. Many can really be cruel and selfish and greedy, but this isn't something that I see only on them, both human and monster kind. Us sirens, the mermaids, we are also like them, but we refuse to recognise it. There's so much more kindness hidden amongst the landlubbers. Mora herself. Oh, she was such a sweet lady. She acted just like every real mother I know would do for their children. These monks, as she called them, especially the one they called... Abba, he was immediately accepting of the baby. Again I thought only us sirens could be so caring and accepting of our children. But this just tells me I was once again wrong. No. Just that I still haven't seen enough of the land."

"Wait-. But who's this woman after all? How long ago was that memory?!" Geno thought.

"I didn't tell that skeleton, but there was something about her son. I don't know how or why, but as long as I carried Mora, I felt I sensed a great destiny in him. As if he's somehow part... of the Royal Ocean Prophecies."

"The Royal Ocean Prophecies!" Geno gasped.

"If there's one thing I learned myself, is to never doubt my instinct when it tells me or senses something. That boy... if I manage to live after years without dying I must find him again and complete the blessing. The Siren symbol holds so much power it would be irresponsible giving it like that to someone I haven't even had a second to talk with. I gave that little boy just enough power to stay alive without Mora." She looked up to the still raining sky with a melencholic expression. "Oh how I miss my home. But for supporting my interest of exploring the land, I had to get exiled by my own husband. Damn, good for nothing..." There the siren said something which Geno guessed were swear words in an indistinguishable language.

"Yikes." The woman sighed at the end.

"We almost never agreed to anything. But if there's one thing I thank him for, even if at the end he would exile me for being 'dangerous influence', was our daughter. Even if he fed her beliefs that the land is full of danger and horrible landlubbers. I can't rely that my daughter will ever complete the blessing I gave that mortal baby, or even peek her head to the surface..." There she smiled. "But if my feisty granddaughter is anything like me and I manage to approach her without getting caught by other sirens, then I might teach her everything I know of the lands and make her fearless."

"HUH?!" It suddenly made sense to Geno. Why that woman, aside the hair color looked so similar to his mom. He kept following her as they reached the village which was silent and asleep. She walked down the streets quickly and approached the small port.

Then she sat down and took off her boots. Her legs were tied in bandages. She untied them. The moment the drops of the rain started touching them they started changing color and getting filled in scales. The woman sighed and threw back her head allowing the rain to wet her face and hair even more.

"... It feels so much different being constantly covered by water than letting it hit you in little drops." She said quietly. Then she slid and fell in the sea, dissapearing completely.

Geno stood there for a few seconds, staring at where she was a while ago. But when he blinked, all in an instant changed. Now he was immersed in the water. He looked down on the sand while also seeing his tail. He wasn't that deep, the surface needed only a few seconds to reach and peek his head out of the water.

He looked up to the surface and started swimming up. When he breached it he looked around. It was morning. Ahead of him was land. A little sandy beach was seen, which had behind it trees, but not many exotic ones. In fact there were many other that would rather be in a forest.

Geno swam closer to the sandy beach. There was someone sitting near the water hugging their knees. They were shaking and jolting. Crying loudly. Geno pitied whoever were they and approached closer. But when he was only a few meters away, suddenly the crying person raised head and the small siren almost jumped out of the water.

"What is wrong with me Lord?" They asked in a small child's voice. Or monster? Truly, it was hard to tell what that child was, but for starters, as rude as it sounds, it was hideous.

They were surrounded by almost completely white flesh for the most part. They were bald and extremely pale in a sick way. They had empty eyesockets in the process of getting covered by flesh. They didn't even have a nose, just 2 little holes. Their arms from the elbow to the fingers and their feet were skeletal. What was he?

"Wait a minute-!" Geno yelped. "Can it be that's Vincent? Alter's friend?!" Of course it could make sense. Half human, half skeleton. He matched the description. But why was he here crying? Geno saw movement next to him and saw a head surrounded by white hair swimming towards Vincent.

"Hello." She said calmly. Vincent raised head and as much as Geno didn't want to think like that while also recognising himself that he too was, especially when his bad eyesocket was uncovered, he just could not think how hideous the poor child looked.

"Wow..." Vincent did with surprise, but apparently not the slightest of fear seeing a literal siren swimming towards him. Did he even know what a siren was though? He looked so young.

"I'm sorry if I startled you sweetie. Don't worry, I am friendly." She crawled out of the water and Vincent stared at her tail impressed.

"You are so beautiful..." He said. But then he looked away and covered his face. "Unlike me."

"Who told you this child?" The siren asked as she sat next to him.

"No one. But... their expressions spoke instead. They looked at me like a freak... a mistake of nature." Vincent sniffed as he looked far ahead.

"That's not true-."

"Don't look at me pretty lady. I probably am making you look uglier by being near." The siren smiled gently.

"You aren't a mistake, Vincent." The boy turned slowly to look at her with surprise in his eyesockets. "Isn't that how the monster monks have named you?"

"How do you know my name?"

"Hmmm. In just one understandable word, magic. Or perhaps, a little bird told me you could say. My name is Melissanthi. You see, it's not the first time I see you. Years ago, I met your mother too. Did the monks tell you she was named Mora?"

"Exactly!" Vincent yelped. But as he still looked up to the siren confused, Melissanthi started explaining to him.

"5 years ago, in the monasteries you live, a skeleton lady went and gave birth to you. But from the beginning she was weak to reach the monasteries by herself. I happened to pass by. I heard her cries for help and I stepped up to help her. I carried her all the way up to the mountains. She didn't want to tell me why she wanted to give birth there and ask help from the monks instead of the village she lived. But at the end, she told me her story. Which starts explaining why are you like this now." Vincent nodded and the siren narrated in the simplest of words the story Mora told her about her secret affair. The child listened surprised.

"So my dad... is human."

"And as it seems you start to look like him."

"No wonder brother Mortilio said I can't be kept around the monasteries." He said bitterly.

"Who's that?" Melissanthi asked with a tiny tint of aggression forming up in her voice.

"A huge bat monk. He was never really fond of me but never showed either if he dislikes me or not. The most bad he would ever tell me was that I stink and the other brothers would tell him that he's just a grumpy grandpa as always who's nose is acting up. But just a few days before... now, he looked at me deep in the eyes all serious as I was doing a small chore and he told me, you son, there is something wrong with you. Then he just left."

"He must have understood your human nature before anyone else."

"Yesterday night, I just started coughing. And blood was running. I was feeling a massive pain in my whole body, as if something wanted to come out of every part of me. Abba Lucas, he is very good, he tried to take care of me. He didn't leave my side. When I managed to fall asleep... and the next morning I woke up... I was surrounded by many of the brothers. They were staring at me shocked. Brother Mortilio would constantly repeat, I knew it, I knew it. I couldn't understand why they were all so agitated. But then... brother Guerrardo brought close to me a mirror. And well, I saw how I am now." Vincent touched his face with the tips of his fingers.

"Poor little fella." Geno thought.

"First brother Mortilio... he said I must go. Leave the monasteries. His persistence of saying it caused a few other brothers to agree with him. They seemed... scared of me. Most brothers weren't saying anything but didn't protest against the ones who wanted me to go. I couldn't bear hearing them. I knew I wanted to leave from where I was, I just didn't want to hear them. Next thing I knew was that... I was outside."

"Teleportation?" Geno wondered.

"At that moment however, my best friend and his mom had come together to pay a visit with the escort of a monk... and they saw me. Thinking of how the brothers reacted, I didn't want to hear him too. I just ran towards the forest. He called my name I think, he had recognized me. But I didn't turn. I ran for long until I arrived..." Vincent looked around him. "... here."

"Are you here long enough my boy?" Melissanthi asked with sadness and pity in her voice.

"I'm not sure. It just feels very long." The child looked again at his hands. "Am I doing wrong?"

"Doing what wrong?" Melissanthi asked. Vincent seemed to think for a moment.

"... Existing?"

"Damn." Geno thought. Melissanthi sighed.

"Vincent my boy. You are half human half skeleton, a monster. Many have said about beings like you, that they shouldn't exist. You are either way too powerful and dangerous, whether weak and suffering. You went through a painful transformation, as an attempt for this body and soul that shares 2 different natures to cope, causing you to suffer. I learned that beings like you even if they live, it will be for very little and will keep suffering as long as they do." Vincent seemed ready to start crying again as he looked down progressing all he heard. But then he slightly flinched as if he had realised something. He looked at Melissanthi.

"That is how you've heard it from the many. That I shouldn't exist..." He paused for a moment. "And you? What do you think personally?" It was as if the siren awaited exactly for that question because she smiled wider and pat his little bald head.

"Well, I didn't give you for nothing a chance in life little one."

And right after, she explained to the confused Vincent how 5 years ago his mom denied the blessing she could give to save her and insisted for Vincent to have it and survive without her. The child was listening with wide open eyesockets.

"You... saved me?"

"I gave what keeps you alive from the beginning of your life in this world, but ultimately, Mora, your mother gave you the chance to live by sacrificing her life." Melissanthi kept gently Vincent's skeletal hands in hers. "I've only heard but never seen anyone like you. You are a unique, amazing creature Vincent. Any who will dare to tell you otherwise, is just scared of your uniqueness. But do you know what else?" She asked. Vincent nodded staring at her with wide open eyesockets and big pupils in them. "Years ago when I blessed you, I felt that you will have a great destiny ahead. When you grow up, I am not sure what will that be exactly, in the future you will do something extraordinary. Brilliant! Something that will not just affect the fate of all landlubbers, but play its role for my kind, the sirens."

"Oh! So you are a siren!" Vincent said staring at Melissanthi's fish tail.

"It's perhaps a lot to take in and you might not remember all that later, you are only 5. But I'm telling you boy, you have a grand future ahead. Live. Make your mom's sacrifice and my blessing have worth." She looked at Vincent with pride and shining so much, even the little child smiled gently.

"Thank you miss Melissanthi."

"I was looking for you again. I'm glad to see you still alive thanks to the blessing. Speaking of it I want to increase the blessing in you. The pain you went through to transform like that must have been unbearable for a 5 year old like you. But in the future ahead, you will face bigger and worse pain. I will help you endure that too, Vincent. Lay your head on my lap." Silently Vincent obeyed and there was so much trust in his face as he looked at the siren! He yawned quietly.

"Aaaw." Geno covered his mouth and looked away from the cute scene.

"You are a little miracle still in the making, a being that shares blood from 2 kinds. From the last time I sensed that you will accomplish something great, that feeling is even greater now. But as it's not your time yet, my blessing once again will be cut short. Once you grow up more and you become 18, then you will be allowed have the full access to the Siren Symbol and its powers. For now, grow up, live and thrive little child. Live..." Melissanthi stayed silent, as if she was thinking of what to say next while she looked far away. A few seconds later she looked again at Vincent and caressed his head gently. "If I don't come back to complete the blessing, I will find another way. Someone else. I won't let you little one." She said serious.

"Vinceeent!" A voice of a young man's was heard, with footsteps coming closer to the sandy beach. "Vincent, if that was really you then, please, come out, wherever you are! Oh God, please have him-!" From the trees emerged a tall skeleton, who stood motionless and stared at the siren shocked. His pupils contracted in his wide open eyesockets. "... safe..."

"Welcome to the party Alter." Geno thought. The young Alter and Melissanthi stared at each other, the one on guard and shocked, the other relaxed and smiling.

"Fret not young one. You are looking for Vincent, I heard. I just put him to take some rest. Here, have him back." The siren said calmly taking her hands off Vincent with his head still resting on her lap. Alter looked at the sleeping Vincent, then again at Melissanthi. Slowly he stretched his arm and moved the little child with telekinesis towards him. He held him, never taking his eyesockets of the siren. "You are cautious and on guard I see. Maybe that's good for you."

"Whatever you were doing with Vincent, as long as he's alright, uuuh... thanks for keeping an eye on him." Alter said rather awkwardly. He stepped back and after he was many steps away from Melissanthi, he finally turned his back and dissappeared in the forest. The siren smiled.

"What a good young monster he is too."

"This guardian revelation is definitely taking longer than any other's, even than the pirate woman's." Geno thought as he saw all icon getting wiped out of existence and being replaced with another. He was again immersed in the water and he swam up to the surface.

When he looked in front of him, first thing he realised was that it was very early in the morning, the sun hadn't even peak from the water but its light was slowly appearing. He saw another sandy beach, but much different. Far away, walls could be seen standing further away. He guessed it had to be some town.

Geno swam closer to the sandy beach and the closer he got, the better he could distinguish someone sitting on the sand. And soon, when he crawled out of the sea but still stayed in contact with the water, he could also hear that someone talking. Very quickly the small skeleton recognised Vincent once again.

He remembered his characteristics when he saw him from that huge mirror in Vilanterna, warning them about the dirty game Raymond would play to the monster citizens. From the previous phase when Melissanthi met with him in person, he looked much better.

The eyesockets were replaced by 2 dark brown eyes, he had a nose, long hair to the shoulder blades, a little lighter tone than the color of his eyes and his skin didn't make him look so sick anymore, rather as if the sun had never hit him. He was sitting on his knees, head upright and with a calm but clear voice praying.

In reality Geno wouldn't have been sure of what Vincent was saying since he was speaking Portuguese, but the fact he was at times crossing himself, or hitting his head gently on the sand had helped him understand. As long as he prayed, he seemed happy or mostly peaceful.

But a minute later, his happy mood slowly got replaced by a dark and sad expression. And soon he started crying and sobbing quietly. Now he was grabbing sand with his hands and throwing it on his head, he was hitting his fists down and seemed as if he was begging for forgiveness for some heavy sin he had done.

"My boy! Are you alright?!" Geno flinched as he turned to look to his right.

"Mom!" He said surprised as she crawled out of the water and approached Vincent, who, if he had stopped crying had stayed on his knees and looking down lost, now his eyes red and kind of swollen. Although he had stopped what he was doing hearing CQ, he didn't seem to be paying attention to her.

"You must be Vincent." The siren said and smiled gently. Finally Vincent's eyes moved and looked at her. "You've already met Melissanthi. She told me. I'm her granddaughter." She kept going ("Called it." Geno had think). Still the brunet didn't speak. "Why were you crying like that? Who hurt you?" She asked. Finally Vincent wiped the few tears left off his eyes and faced CQ completely.

"You caught me upon praying. I do not mind the interruption. Do not worry miss. No one hurted me. I just pray the way I learned when I lived in the monasteries. Abba Lucas... he said that tears while praying show that we regret our sins. It is some way to clean ourselves and our souls. He told me that I need to cry when praying, especially because of my human nature. The flesh is weak and can fall into all shorts of sins. The first humans, because of their weakness to resist the sin they were cast out of Heaven. Today, humanity still pays that price and still sins, because they are ignorant of their actions and think they are above consequences. The good deeds, being humble and praying with many tears helps us remember that we are nothing in front of our Creator. But we do not cry only for the most serious and big sins. Even for the slightest of things or thoughts that does not follow what the Lord says..." Vincent stopped talking as he looked down. He suddenly laughed quietly and shyly. "Oh. My apologies. I rumbled for so long."

"No way man, don't worry. Your speech brought me shivers." Geno thought and indeed, he was admiring every word coming out of Vincent's mouth. CQ smiled wider.

"It was no problem. Nice to finally meet you Vincent Aristo." She said. "How is your life amongst humans?"

"It is very difficult, Miss. But nothing comes easy in life. I manage to adapt." The man replied. Silence fell between the 2 for a few seconds. Eventually Vincent looked at CQ and there was now concern and worry. "Miss Melissanthi. Your grandmother. She told me long ago I recall, that she would... bless me fully when I grow up more. However, if she could not do it, she would send someone else. Is she alright?" He asked. CQ lowered her look and her expression was filled with sadness.

"Melissanthi... she is in trouble. Alive, but in serious trouble. Yes, she told me that she had met a boy which she began blessing and the procedure was not complete yet. She asked me to complete your blessing in her place."

"... Whatever trouble she is in, I will pray that she can endure it." Vincent said sad too. "I owe this siren so much..." He suddenly raised head and looked at CQ as if he had realised something. "Wait. I might be wrong, but lately, less mermaids have been appearing to me. When I was back in the monasteries Miss, I would be praying away from anyone on distant places, such as coasts. Many times however, mermaids would approach me, but, maybe because of Melissanthi's blessing, they were not harming me. Instead they were very friendly and sometimes we would talk. Am I right?" He asked. CQ sighed.

"It's true. Less mermaids have been appearing on land. And that is because, in the depths, something is planned, an evil no mortal could ever picture fully what it is if they knew something is wrong."

"Oh miss. Is it life threatening?"

"It's world threatening, Vincent." The half monster looked down thoughtful.

"... Is there anything I can do, in any way to help? If you need my services, I am more than willing to help." CQ looked down for a little while thoughtful. Eventually she looked again at the other.

"There is a way." She crawled closer to Vincent and sat next to him. "And it is time you understand why Melissanthi started the blessing for you and why I was sended by her to finish it if she couldn't." The siren took a quiet deep breath with closed eyes. When she opened them again she was looking far away to the horizon. "The mermaids have gotten corrupted by a heavy curse. The evil is pushing them to destroy the lands. They want to kill everything and everyone existing and only them rule all. In 12 years from now, they will be ready to accomplish that. However there is a prophecy that says someone can stop them from unleashing the destruction."

"Who is that?" Vincent asked quietly and fully focused.

"My firstborn son, Geno." She looked at him. "I have 3 sons, young Vincent. My youngest 2, they also have something to accomplish. I don't know what, but it holds the lives of many. The mermaids have been hunting me to eliminate me. They want to eliminate my sons too, stop them from ever reaching their destiny."

"Where are they now?"

"I left them in a sea village. It was the safest I could think of. As long as they are away from the water, the mermaids can't find them. But they sense me, I attract them to me and I keep my boys safe. It's been barely more than 2 years. I can't even contact them, fearing that I will attract the mermaids to them. Now, I said my eldest can stop their evil plans. But I fear that someday, my boys won't be safe anymore. I fear that they might get away from where they're hiding, seperate paths and still I won't be able to protect them. That's why, if that is meant to happen..." CQ paused and exhaled quietly. She looked at Vincent again. "... That's why I'm on the search of guardians. Starting from you." She placed her hands on the other's. "My grandmother Melissanthi, sensed in you a great destiny, something she told me, able to affect both lands and seas. She sensed in you that you must be an important part of it. She told me to make you a guardian, so, that if someday my boys loose each other, they can perhaps get protected by someone like you."

"So..." Vincent looked down, progressing all he heard. "You and miss Melissanthi want to make me a guardian for your sons in case you can't get close to them to protect. How will they find me?"

"My blessing has something from the family bond I share with my sons. No matter how far away, if they ever get lost, if they ever need a hand to hold, they will get unconsciously attracted to whoever holds my blessing."

"Will I be precautionary if that is the case?"

"I wish you could stay like that Vincent and I'm not saying that in any offensive way. I just wish there may never come the day where my sons might be in grave danger."

"Understood."

"But even if they never need such help, you will still be benefited. Completing the blessing will offer you full access to the Siren Symbol and grant you aside all other benefits you've received, a nature power. But 2 things: once I bless you, you'll be tied with my sons and anything that affects us sirens and mermaids. Also, that nature power will be determined by the negative emotion you are more vulnerable to. But not just one of all that exist. One of the 6 negative emotions us sirens find as the most dangerous."

"May I hear what are these 6 emotions?"

"From the strongest to the weakest are hatred, anger, fear, arrogance, jealousy, despair." CQ looked at him thoughtful. "I can't see yet in which one you might be more vulnerable to, but no matter, I'm certain that someone like you will handle the Siren Symbol." She looked at him more serious. "Have you changed your mind, or are you ready to accept the full blessing?" Vincent didn't even think of it for a second. He had the answer prepared.

"For all Miss Melissanthi did for me and for your sake, I accept both terms. I want to help you miss. I will help your sons if needed. And my new powers, no matter what they are, I will use them wisely." He turned and faced CQ completely. "I don't even know your whole story, but I am ready to accept the full blessing miss Melissanthi started long ago." He nodded.

"Thank you so much Vincent. I hope you are always protected from all harm. Come closer." The siren said. Vincent scooted closer to CQ and rested his head on her lap. He slowly closed eyes and relaxed. The pink-haired siren sighed and hummed a melody for about a minute. When she stopped she looked down to the half monster, already asleep. "I finally met you. The famous Vincent. Or as they call you now, Bernard Aristo. How interesting really. You look like a human by first glance. But you're having little characteristics from monster kind's side also. You didn't betray your soul trait, kindness, which lacks today from so many people's hearts and souls. You don't deserve to die. You deserve to live and thrive as my grandmother wanted to. However, the symbol will test you even more. I sense now and see which power suits you the most. May you receive the secrets of the plant whisperers, may these motionless lives reveal to you important secrets. But do not let the despair discourage you and make you rot."

"Yes, my Lady." Vincent said half asleep. The 2, CQ and him stayed motionless like that for about a minute. But soon CQ started talking again.

"I hope I did it right. I could only ever learn from the few scrolls back home and grandma of how to bless someone. You're the first Vincent. Please, be safe." She said.

"Sir Bernard?!" A soft voice of a woman was heard. The siren fast but carefully let Vincent lay down on the sand and crawled in the sea, dissapearing completely. The moment Vincent had started waking up, someone else was seen approaching. She looked like a maid.

"Good morning Margarida." Vincent said kindly with a calm smile as he stood up and faced the woman, rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning young Master."

"Let me guess. Father has called me to get breakfast like everyone else."

"Sim. Please do not worry your father like that, even if you've told him where you're going and what you're doing, he still wants to see you in the house."

"Some habits cannot be let go. But I'll follow now." Bernard said and nodded. He started following Margarida to wherever she was taking him and all icon slowly vanished from Geno's eyesocket. He waited for a little while with his thoughts.

"So Vincent or Bernard is the first ever guardian my mom had blessed. Huh..." The skeleton recalled again that dream he had seen where the guardians were standing and facing him after he saw the figures of his brothers for a fleeing moment. The red-haired woman, Barbara. Decans and Bernard. Echo and Alter for him. "But... if they are guardians for me and my brothers, if Error and Fresh are supposed to be alive, why am I not getting any sign that they're still out there? Did mom bless these guardians for nothing?" He thought feeling again his soul heavy. This deep in thought as he was, he had not realise immediately that the environment had changed. When he realised it he flinched and looked around. "Wait. Another guardian?! Two in one night!"

He was in some little cave, where there was only a little piece of land in the middle. He felt this was way too familiar. And he recognized why it was when he saw who was laying in the middle of the land.

Alter.

8960 words... *pat pat pat pat pat*