Neville watched Grayson walk away and tried very hard not to show his panic on his face again. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

’Deep one!’

’Where’s that alpha?’

’No, wait— is it really him?’

’The big one that smells like water but also covered in fire and metal?’

’That’s him!’

Not about the explosion, not from the fact that Grayson had just materialized an SSS-class mecha from out of nowhere that was something out of a fever dream. Not even about the fishes who curiously began to cluster around him again.

’No, no— don’t all rush him at once!’

’I knew it!’ another chimed in. ’I told you I wasn’t wrong about that alpha!’

’He’s going to panic!’

No, he was panicking about something far more terrifying.

’Are you alright?’

’He’s already panicking, look at him!’

’That’s not panic, that’s shock.’

’Same thing!’

His scales were showing.

’Why are you panicking?’

’Did someone chase you out of the water?’

’We won’t let those two legs near you.’

’What can you even do inside the water?’

’I can swim!’

He looked down at his hands, that was now hidden beneath the thermal blanket. He watched in horror as iridescent patterns spread across his skin. Silver and black, catching the dim lighting like oil on water.

No—!

His mermaid form was trying to resurface.

A wide-bodied silver fish pushed forward.

’Everyone move aside! You’re blocking the way!’

’You’re going to scare him more!’

’We shouldn’t talk so loud.’

The fish in the tanks around him began to stir. He could hear their attention flipping here and there.

A thin, darting fish snapped back,

’You’re blocking the way, you floating rock!’

’I am a dignified reef guardian!’

’You’re shaped like a plate!’

’What is a plate?’

’Silence.’ A slow, deep voice rumbled from the bottom of the tank.

’Children,’ The deep voice cut through them again. ’Control yourselves.’

They stilled.

’Deep one,’ it said gently. ’You’re safe here.’

A softer voice added, ’You don’t have to hide your scales.’

Another fish said proudly, ’Our tanks are small, but our loyalty is large.’

’That’s a terrible line,’ someone whispered.

’But heartfelt,’ another defended.

[HOST!] Shelly’s voice exploded in his head. [Are you okay?! Should I— wait, are you TALKING with the sea creatures?!]

’Please don’t make this weird, Shelly.’ Neville begged as he felt another headache coming.

[HOST. You can TALK to SEA CREATURES?! Why didn’t you tell me?!] Shelly instantly materialized with sparkling eyes [This is AMAZING! Think of the possibilities! You could be like that one Dissoney movie— wait, was it Dissoney? It might have been— anyway, you could have an ARMY of fish! A FISH ARMY!]

’I don’t want a fish army.’ Neville said weakly, still staring at his skin.

[But think of the FUTURE possibilities!]

Neville had enough and said, ’DON’T CHANGE THE SUBJECT. What is happening to my body?!’

The fish in the nearest tank had clustered against the barrier, their collective attention focused on Neville. A school of small silver-scaled creatures pressed their faces to the reinforced barrier as if trying to get closer, offering their comfort after sensing his distress.

’You okay?’

’You scared?’

’We help?’

Then a small voice said, ’...We can keep watch.’

Another added, ’We’re good at watching.’

’And gossiping,’ someone else bragged.

’And arguing,’ another agreed cheekily.

’And protecting,’ the deep voice finished.

He couldn’t respond. Opening his mouth would mean talking to fish in public, which meant that he should prepare himself for being labeled as crazy.

Several fish turned toward Neville.

’Deep one,’

’Sea-born,’

’Scale-kin,’

’You’re not alone.’

The scales on his forearms pulsed brighter.

’Shelly.’ Neville turned his sharp eyes toward Shelly, ’Focus. Why are my scales showing?’

[Oh! Right! Let me check...] Shelly paused for a second, assessing the situation.

Neville could practically see huge data floating around Shelly.

[Okay, host, here’s the thing,] Shelly said finally. [That sprinkler wasn’t spitting out regular water. The aquarium’s emergency suppression system uses filtered ocean water, probably for environmental consistency with the marine life. Upon contact, your human skin, your mermaid form got a little... excited.]

’Excited?!’ Neville couldn’t help but shout in annoyance.

Shelly awkwardly explained, [Host, you’ve been using synthetic salt brine or bathbombs for your baths because real ocean water is, quote, ’too expensive.’]

Then Shelly sighed with helplessness, [Of course, your skin would basically gasp for air after this whole time when it finally got the real thing. It might’ve been an exaggerated explanation, but just think of it like this. Think of how you felt when holding your breath underwater for a long time and then finally getting air.]

Neville stared at his hands.

The scales were definitely more visible now as they absorbed more of the water. The shimmering patterns that would bounce against the light would be impossible to explain to anyone, the more of his scales that resurface.

’How do I stop it?’

[Apply some moisturizer,] Shelly said. [The one you get from the system mall. It’ll calm everything down, given a minute or two to dry.]

’Moisturizer. Okay, I still have some in the inventory.’

But then, as he looked around, there were people everywhere.

’Where could he hide and apply the moisturizer without anyone looking?’

"Neville?"

He looked up to find Grayson coming toward him. It seemed that he was done talking to the security officials.

It seemed that Grayson’s expression returned to his normal office one.

Neville secretly sighed in relief.

Grayson had been really weird today for some reason.

"You look pale," Grayson asked in concern. "Are you sure you’re not injured anywhere?"

"I’m fine. I just—" Neville stood abruptly, clutching the blanket tighter around himself. "I need to use the restroom."

Grayson’s brow furrowed. "Now?" then looked at the crowd blocking the entrance and exit of the tunnel.

"Yes. Now. Immediately." He could feel the scales spreading up his neck. Another minute and they would be visible above his collar. "Please?"

Grayson flashed a helpless smile and nodded.

"Of course." He turned to the nearest staff member. "Lead him the way. I’ll wait outside."