Just as Emily noticed and reached her decision, Laura had gone to inquire more with the receptionist "so are we locked into the choice upon heading to the required area?" she asked. "well actually no on a few counts" the receptionist started to explain "all Horrorland zones give a taste and explanation of the process and aspects unable to be replicated from sources". "so we can change our minds with no fuss before starting?" Laura pondered. "indeed so... plus with a few exceptions with a certain fee one can change theme or even land after about a day of so" the receptionist continued "that said land changing of course is the most expensive".
"well i've made my choice then" Emily announced as she walked up to join in. "please be heading back, please be heading back" Laura pleaded. "I'd like to try the school ningyo area" Emily continued uncaring to her aunt's pleas, being a massive fan of said manga series. "well OK... you'll need to take route bus 7 to reach the area and if she desires considering the setup, your mother here-" the receptionist started to explain, "I'm her aunt actually" Laura interrupted, "oh sorry" the receptionist apologised "can wait in the rest rooms within the area or undergo an alternative option". "oh i'm going, after all someone has to watch out for Emily here" Laura assured.
about an hour later Emily and Laura where riding the number 7 bus towards what appeared to be a replica of a very impressive school building with a hotel like area seated next to it. "can't believe we're the only ones going on this run" Emily muttered in distaste. "all the others must've gone for more 'logical' options Em" Laura assured as the bus reached it's stop. "OK then... this is the place" the driver announced in an unusually normal sound. "too few people for yelling i'm guessing" Emily remarked as she and Laura got off.
"ah... welcome to the Ningyo School site" this casually dressed blond-haired woman in her 40s welcomed. "you must be the area manager?" Laura inquired. "yes indeed, Maria Vickos... though just call me Maria" Maria assured. "so... your the one responsible for managing transformations into a state only present at night?" Emily pondered. "actually that is among the first difference if you've read the source stories" Maria answered "the state is present both night and day... for in part safety reasons". "we were told we'd get a taster before finally agreeing" Laura then stated. "oh of course... this way please" Maria assured before leading Emily and Laura into the school styled area.
a little later in the reception area Laura was freaked out when what appeared to be a teenage version of Maria in a navy-blue one-piece swimsuit with a V on a white tag on the chest came through one of the walls, 'ah...so nice for you to help me go over the state stage with me' Maria thanked the girl in sigh-language, the girl merely made a joyful skreeing sound while sighing 'no problem mum. just want to be helpful'.
"she's your daughter?" Emily asked. "oh you know sigh language" Maria remarked. "my late grandfather was deaf" Emily admitted while sighing the same words to girl.
"So how exactly dose the water phase work?" Emily then asked. 'give me a feel down first' Maria encouraged. "umm... OK then" Emily reluctantly agreed and did so but aside from the swimsuit straps refusing to budge felt nothing out of the ordinary. "Very hard to believe Jessica is currently compressed water isn't it" Maria suddenly said. "WHAT?" Emily and Laura shouted. "follow us and you'll see" Maria assured.
Maria guided Emily and Laura into this basement who's entrance was actually this large hatch within the reception room, within this room was millions of wired pods lined up in rows aside from one large corner filled with swimsuits like the one Jessica was wearing, ones Emily guessed were required for the transformation.
But then upon reaching the first row of pods Emily was taken back far more, inside was another Jessica asleep with a technological circuit on her head and a medical feeding tube and mask on her face, the pod was also flooded with water while this other Jessica just lied upon the soft padding.
"as this kind of transformation is very fictional and recent, it is reformed for guests through science as opposed to magic" Maria then admitted with both Laura and Emily noticing that a vast number of other pods also had girls of various ages in the same state as 'Jessica' "The water and circuits at as a conduct to create a semi-hydro form that the user can pass through walls, vanish into splashes, move through tight pipes and even move about at high speeds and agility" Maria went on.
"so those looking to live out the hunting aspect are put of luck?" Emily questioned. 'nope... they are provided with prop weapons and made to wear a Ningyo suit pre-made for them underneath their clothes and a chosen time limit... they lose we grab them and take them here through certain concealed passageways to be forced into a pod' Jessica countered with signs. "that said for obvious reasons those doing the later, one transformed usually have to wait until their assigned departure day to leave" Maria added
"So how did Jessica undergo the process?" Laura inquired. "the former way" Maria assured. "and is she deaf or mute?" Laura then asked "just to be certain". "neither... like in the Manga to us these girls can only make skreeing sounds, though to themselves they sound normal and we are basically making bubbling sounds to them" Maria explained.
"so... you ready to rethink your opinion Emily?" Laura then inquired. "you have reserves over the theme?" Maria questioned. "it just... sounds to horrific and complex" Laura admitted. "Well aunt Laura" Emily then started: