Almost every time he walked through the kingdom's streets, he heard the inhabitants whispering that he should be burned. If it were up to him, he would be the one doing the burning. Being a wizard didn't grant him the powers that most people assumed; instead, it made him feel isolated and misunderstood. The days stretched on, long and tedious. He had read every book in his collection and felt there was nothing left to do in his life—until he heard rumors of a beautiful mermaid living in a nearby river.

He searched tirelessly, but every clue turned out to be an invention. It was typical; this kingdom was full of liars. The last place on his list was a small, unassuming river behind his property. It seemed unlikely that a mermaid would inhabit such a mundane spot, but to his surprise, it was exactly where he found you.

You were hostile, spitting out harsh words and sharp replies, but he found your spirit strangely captivating and refused to be deterred. Weeks passed, and he felt increasingly drawn to you. It wasn't love, not yet, but you added a spark to his monotonous existence.

He crouched by the water's edge and started to sing, fully aware that you wouldn’t like it. The melody floated through the air until it was interrupted by a spray of water.

“Hey, I’m just mimicking you! You shouldn’t be so resentful." He murmured, a smile creeping onto his lips as he noticed you distracted and irritated. It was the perfect moment to reach out and touch your skin, to breathe in your unique fragrance. And that’s exactly what he did. You reacted quickly, slapping his cheek, and though it stung, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of excitement.

“Hmmm, you smell so good." He spoke slowly, his voice low as he closed his eyes, savoring the sweet and inviting scent that surrounded his hand. His eyes opened, locking onto yours. “Let me feel more, please...”