In a place among where the seaweed was the thickest, where the stalks of green kelp grow as tall as any tree on land there is a strange patch of empty soft sand. A human diver or a swimmer coming across it would look at the spot with some confusion but more often then not just keep swimming. If they did stop to investigate, they would find, nothing and move on.
What they wouldn’t know, is that this place just like other places around the world was a holy site to merfolk. Merfolk are very really and keep hidden among the vast ocean and their cities which rest in large caves under the ocean floor.
These sites are used to carry out an ancient tradition which dates back thousands of years.
The transformation of humans into merfolk.
“Make sure the ideals are properly placed.” Ordered the Priest as he floated in the water with a large green vest which went down to almost the end of his orange tail.
“Yes, elder.” Said one of the younger priests as Eight stone statues brought to the site to carry out the ceremony was placed in a circle around the clearing.
The elder Priest watched everyone of his underlings with care, priests and priestess were placing the eight statues in their proper places while others placed smaller rocks and seashells between them to form the seal which would call forth the magic.
Younger novices, with the help of a priest was busy preparing the seaweed restraints, they never knew how many would accept the call this time so they had to prepare.
“Are you paying close attention?” asked the elder to the youngest novice.
“I am sir.” Stated the novice, he was only 22 and had just finished his formal education at the temple but hadn’t been to a ceremony yet. He would watch and not take part in the ceremony; he was below even the novices which where in their 50s on average and far below him who was almost ready to retire at the age of 170. Merfolk aged like humans do until they get around 25 then they slow way down, so that a 170 year old is a kin to an 80 year old human.
“Tell me, what is going on?” inquired the elder as a test.
“They are preparing the circle for the transformation of whomever answers the call, while others prepare both the restrains and the holy paste to give the humans the ability to breath underwater while they prepare to be transformed into merfolk.” Answered the youngest novice, it was an answer straight out of the book.
“Correct, we do not know how many if any will hear our call and therefore we must be prepared.” Stated the Elder
“How many have you seen at once?” inquired the Novice.
“When I was your age, we had a group of 20 once but normally 1 or 2 is what we realist expect.” Stated the Elder “Not all of them are the ones who hear our music, some of them are friends or family of those who hear us and are trying to stop their loved ones drive to this place. We transform them as well, fate had led them to us even if they do not hear our music.”
“And once here, we transform them.” Stated the Novice
“No, the Gods and Goddess of the Seas do that.” Corrected the Elder “We are only the ones who prepare the sand for that. Once they arrive, the Gods and Goddess take them into their hands and reform them into what they where meant to be. They could have been born a man as a human but deep down a mermaid is what they are meant to be, they could have different hair, skin or eye color. Of course they could have any type of tail but that is a new addition for them. I have seen a human elder become a mermaid no older then you are now.”
“I understand.” Said the Novice
“We are ready.” Said a full priestess as the elder priest swam over the seal and nodded his head in approval as he agreed everything was ready.
With a nod of his head, multiple priest and priestess took their positions and began to sing a song which everyone here could hear but no human could, aside those humans selected by the goddess and gods of the sea to become on merfolk.
Nearby was a beach full of humans enjoying a great summer day.