"So what was your human life like and what brought you upon one of the seashell bras'?" Marina asked as she and Coral swam side-by-side towards the place their seashell granted instincts were leading them to. "Oh the sea's been a part of my heart for so long i've really got no joyful memories without it" Coral admitted before getting to her find "I was a scuba instructor with added side training in Latin and archaeology... sadly my boss. she's profit over truth and fact, charging triple standard prices for 50 meter dives and holding clients back all the way to 10 yet claiming full charge".
"and the bra?" Marina reminded Coral. "searching for a new dive spot that to be honest I knew would surely be rejected and chanced upon my bra and it's instructions, in Latin of course, took them home to study and decided to chance it and...well here I am. for safety I left a note to only be sent and opened by my landlord containing a severance check and stating intentions to run away... leaving out everything mermaid related" Coral continued. "so your here completely by luck without directions from others" Marina remarked in wonder.
"What about you?" Coral suddenly asked, leaving Marina surprised Coral was asking, "I opened up to you so it is fair you tell me about yourself" Coral pointed out.
"...I'm fleeing my insane aunt to be me... a soul devoted to the sea she loves and unbounded by momentarily desires" Marina started "my dad was the descendent and named heir to what is actually a now a dethroned blue blood family, all the connections to high society gone and the funds squandered to grandeur. but dad was a white sheep who encouraged me to be me, even accepted when I came out at 14 alongside my mother... a year before they died". "oh... my... that's-" Coral muttered in shock. "my aunt opposed me going to university, saying my true calling was as a bride of nobility...to an abusive man 2.5 times my age who also sees the ocean as nothing but a place to dump waste... bypassing the laws we know make that illegal by swindling investigators into instead charging 'rivals' that instead work to empower that law" Marina continued.
"oh and you recall what I said about a born mermaid teaching me things?" Marina then asked. "Of course" Coral agreed. "trying to hide from my 'groom's' goons we chanced upon each other, her looking for her mate and happened upon me in the sea cave I was hidden in... learning my plight and understanding my desires, when her mate arrived they offered me the choice... he went and got this seashell bra I wear and gave it to me. she while waiting explained things. and I accepted the offer". "sounds your more destined for mermaidhood then I am" Coral assured "I mean I would surmise their are things meant to prevent such encounters unless destined". "If you say so" Marina accepted.
"by the way... i'm currently 23 if your interested" Coral then admitted, unashamed of telling her age. "20... sadly never collage educated" Marina happily returned. right as this temple that by design Coral guessed was dedicated to either the greek god Poseidon or his roman equivalent Neptune, a older emerald green tail mermaid lacking seaweed holding her seashells on but instead using them to fashion a makeshift habitat waiting outside alongside a few of Coral and Marina's fellow transformees.
"welcome... aspiring daughters of the seas" the older mermaid announced here you will be tested to see if you truly belong among us and not a mistake to ne returned to land. and if your success goes beyond mere belonging then one among you may be the next bride of Neptune, who will succeed me as guide and handler of his blessings". "that wasn't in the instructions" Coral announced. "indeed dear... some fear the fate of the bride enough to reject the calling instead. in turn that results in an active bride getting rejuvenated which harms one's heart and soul as well as brings pain to the waters" the older mermaid sadly explained before getting to the main point "inside dears are clamshells, blessed in size and unity...as well wisdom of chosens. if you swim around them and one responds to you that means you belong... otherwise i'm sad to say you must return".
"that all?" this mermaid that to Coral could be no older then 16 questioned. "also inside is the trident of Neptune... once the test of rightful mermaidhood is done the trident will leave it's pedestal and give itself over to the new bride if among you" the older mermaid answered before leading the group inside. "well... this is it" Coral announced to Marina. "I wish you luck Coral" Marina assured. "same here Marina" Coral returned as they separated to swim about to find their clamshells: