“I’m not much good at spellcasting, but I’m great at sailing.
“And it’s a frustrating step down. The powers of a mystic are legendary: shape-shifting, reality-warping titans. That power was supposed to be mine, everyone told me so. And yet here I am, above the sea, relaxing by breathing air.
“I’ve tried, believe me I’ve tried. Everyone said I was the first mystic in generations, so of course there were no others to show me. Alella’s Cove had a mage’s college same as your surface cities, and I went for a while, but I could only manage a few of the simplest spells. It was like… like their magic, the Weave or whatever they call it, wouldn’t open for me. I memorized the words and gestures, but none of it worked. They said mysticism was different from magecraft, and I guess they’re right because I sure couldn’t do it.
“You asked why I’m here, well the short answer is because I couldn’t stay home. Not if I was to fulfill my destiny, or whatever. I was expected to become this powerful sorcerer person, but I simply wasn't, and the mages couldn’t help me so I figured I’d be better off for leaving. Guess I wasn’t wrong in that regard.”
“What do you mean? You said you aren't good at magic.”
Nivva scowled. “Not that. I mean that you and the others seem to find me terribly useful. More so than I ever was at home. It’s funny that despite being such an unusual choice, it turns out we merfolk are quite well adapted to the work of a sailor. Even those who…” She gestures to her sea-serpent tail. “Aren’t quite what you might’ve expected.”
The man stroked his grizzled beard. “Well it isn’t too late, you know. To learn your craft."
Nivva sighed. "I'm tired, Logun. Tired of getting nowhere, tired of not living up. I don't even know how much truth is in those old stories. I'm starting to wonder if they’re only that: stories."
"We have the same stories," Logun said. "We called them 'druids' back home."
"Druids, mystics, call them what you like. I don't want to spend my life stabbing at shadows. This, being on this ship, this is something I'm good at. Somewhere I'm needed. If the whole thing is a fantasy, I'd be wasting my time."
Logun sat silently for a minute. Then he stood and walked toward a porthole to look out at the sea. As he did so, his body rippled and changed. Orange fur sprouted from his shoulders and along his back; he dropped forward and his torso elongated and sprouted a tail. In seconds, he transformed into a tiger.
"It isn't," said the tiger. "It's as real as I am. And if you're ready to begin, I can start you down your path."
