So Close, And Still Wet Behind The Ears

Some time earlier...

Tinka wasn't usually granted access to the lecture halls, but this was a special occasion. The new aquarium tanks had been built, dedicated, and opened in The Conclave. The study of aquatic life was something that had been missing for centuries there, the last couple years of diplomacy developed among Fae, Mythics, and newly formed treaties with dragons had made things easier. Tinka was a forest Mythic and left the Fae and the dragons to conduct their business, dragons were new allies, so the new diplomatic aquarium was a true revolution. It was built on the far side of the Conclave, near the river. It took half a year to dig out the canal and the proper inlets to make the natural aquarium lecture halls. When the doors were opened, the space was grander than she imagined: teared theater seats with long aisles, a lectern stage up front, newly innovated amplification systems, and a wall of glass so large, she couldn't begin to imagine the life behind it.

"Tink! Tink! I got us seats!" Nestor called from the front row right side of the hall. She walked down the aisle to join him. Other seats filled in with students and guests as she sat down. "I had to tell more than one person that the seat was saved. I'm glad you made it."

She cringed a little. "I wish you wouldn't say it like that. A student should truly have this spot, not me."

Nestor gestured around the hall, "Look around: students are going to be in here for decades, centuries. One student can miss one seat one day for you. With all the work you do, it would stand to reason that this wouldn't be possible without you."

Tinka shook her head, "I am but one Mythic ambassador. How many batches of gold did you cook up to help fund this? How many dragons and wyrms helped dig the canals? How many times did you, Ember, Noah, Marie, and Medestar negotiate with the Farm, Fishing, and Timber Guilds to make this possible?"

Nestor sat up straight, putting on a playful grin, "We are amazing and humble."

"To say the least," Tinka replied with a coy smile. The pair chatted for a few minutes while the rest of the lecture hall filled in to capacity.

When the hall was full, Mathias the Mage stepped to the center of the lecture in front of the aquarium and began to speak, "Welcome students and guests. Today's dedication of the new aquarium lecture hall is like none other that we have experienced here at The Conclave. This new wing or fin, shall we say of schooling will bring forth another new generation of learning. In the last year The Conclave and local government have worked together to draw together new treaties with the Mythics and the Dragons and most recently, the Merfolk. This is truly a special time to be alive and witness a new birth of knowledge and wisdom."

While the lights in the hall were focused on Mathias, and nearly all the eyes, it was then Tinka noticed the movement coming forward in the back of the tank. A slight fluttering in the darkness, then another; more and more, again and again. Mathias kept speaking and stepping towards a large, wheeled hatch perpendicular to the aquarium. Mathias finished his speech, the lights were lowered slightly, and another student helped him unlock the hatch. Tinka couldn't tell if it was magic or science that kept the water in the tank and not flowing out, but she remained fascinated. In the low light, she could see in the canal's aquarium what the fluttering was: Merfolk. At least twenty different merpeople of different sizes, shape, and species slowly coming forward towards the glass in the darkness.

"Nestor," Tinka whispered. "Do you see them all?"

"I'm starting to."

"Do you know what any of them are called?"

He flipped open a page in his book, the aquarium hall was dark, but Tinka's eyes could see better than most. There were at least three in the water that were of the species that matched the one on Nestor's page: elf-like upper bodies and their lower halves with split whale-looking tails. That was the first one that came to the entrance of the hatch and splashed out to the lecture floor. Another one, similar in coloring, followed behind, followed by a seal.

"That's not a mer-person," Tinka said. As soon as she said it, she recognized the being and tried to keep her gasp quiet.

"Obviously not. Have you seen seals before?" Nestor asked.

Tinka grinned as the two merpeople slid their way across the floor to the center of the lecture space in front of the aquarium. The seal went in another direction and no one stopped the creature.

Mathias spoke again, "These two ambassadors are from the Waters of Incoast Sea. They and their entourage have been making their way to our part of the river for the last month. Please give them a warm welcome."

The aquarium hall gave a light applause for the two merfolk coiled on the lectern.

Mathias continued, "I'd like to remind you all again, these are diplomats, guests, friends, new allies. And we here at the Conclave are here to be some of the first representatives for their people to meet in a very long time. Do not embarrass them or us."

As Mathias finished speaking, a woman approached his side in a simple frock. She was neither student nor instructor. "This is Shae, she will be translating for our esteemed guests."

Mathias stepped aside and let the lecture floor and aquarium backdrop be theirs. Tinka looked over to Nestor, quill at the ready, he looked like he was ready to fall out of his seat.

The first merperson spoke in a language of squeaks, moans, and groans, similar sounding to that of whales and seals. Shae translated through the amplifier: their names Annas and Ooseen. How they follow tidal currents. How they surface and do breathe air. There are other merfolk that are gilled, but won't be able to come out of the water like this. They went on to take questions of basic biological matters and between Shae getting discernible terms between Annas, Ooseen, and Mathias, the lecture went on amicably for over an hour.

One young student had the nerve to ask about their mating habits which led to some scattered giggling. Mathias apologized for the student and had him escorted out. Annas and Ooseen, and even Shae were unbothered by the question.

Ooseen spoke in his squeaks and groans. Shae translated, "He says you humans are confusing. Mating is natural and necessary." Annas spoke too, Shae translated, "We pick the strongest, powerful mates we can. The bonds we form cannot be broken once we are coupled. Are human relations so different that that?"

The hall was silent. Mathias stepped forward, "By the hour, that seems like a good time to end the lecture."

Shae spoke up, "They are expecting an answer."

"I beg your pardon?" Mathias looked at Shae, Annas, and Ooseen.

"They want to know if human mating bonds can be broken," Shae stated.

Mathias was an old man with a long beard. He was slow to answer, "Human relationships are complex. We have relationships that vary from mated bonded marriage to broken friendships and anything in-between. All these people in this room may not know each other but are bonded by the fact they wanted to know about you. They are bonded by knowledge. Sometimes, that's enough for some people. It was enough for me in this life." He stroked his long beard. "Does that satisfy their question? Because it is far greater a question than I think I have time for, both today and in this life."

Shae finished translating to Annas and Ooseen. Annas replied and Shae translated, "She says that while humanoids have one way, the dragons another, the Merfolk, the Mythics, and more, all have their own way, it isn't for us to necessarily understand, but to simply learn. It is why we are here, yes?"

Mathias's sad countenance grew to a little smile. "Yes. You are correct. In my decades teaching, I am often reminded I can always learn more." He spoke loudly to the hall while more merfolk swam behind the glass along with seals and other fish. "Please give another warm applause for our guests as we let them return to the water. You are dismissed, students." The aquarium hall began to empty as Annas and Ooseen slid their way back into the hatch, but it was not sealed closed immediately.

Nestor took a few steps up the aisle, "Tink are you coming? When Mathias dismisses a class, it's an order, not a suggestion."

"Good thing I'm an ambassador and not a student," she replied.

He shook his head at her as the space cleared. Tinka was one of the last ones left in the aquarium lecture hall. She waited until the doors were closed before stepping forward to the front. "Mathias?"

He turned, looking down at Tinka in shock and disgust, "I have dismissed class! It is absolutely inappropriate you are still here after the lecture ended!" Mathias towered over Tinka and his grand voice went from simply loud to intimidating and Tinka was stone where she stood. "Go at once or I shall have you--"

"Why are you yelling?" Shae chimed in. She had stepped back behind a partition when the Annas and Ooseen had left. "She came here and simply said your name and you attack her." Shae approached Tinka. "Is this what you call a warm welcome?"

"Shae, you do not understand."

"I understand plenty old man." Shae took her coat under one arm along with Tinka's hand and they walked out of the lecture hall together. They walked outside and up to the canal's edge and sat on a bench together. "The nerve of that man. The hypocrisy," Shae spat.

"Don't worry about him. I was trying to get an introduction to you anyways. It worked. I'm Tinka."

"Shae. You wanted to meet me? All you students were so wrapped up in the Merfolk. Why would you want to talk to their translator?"

"Because I'm not a student. And I know you're more than just a translator."

Shae looked at Tinka and their eyes met. Shae gasped, understanding who Tinka was. "How did I not see it?" She grinned and hugged Tinka. "Deer cousin!"

"Do you know how long it's been since--"

"Since meeting another selkie?" Shae answered. "I've never known a deer selkie, only the seals. But I've heard rumors of walrus and clear-bear selks in the far north."

Tinka had her lean in, whispering, "There are parts of the world where there are jaguar selks."

"What's a jaguar?"

"You'll learn. And I'm sure you'll teach me a lot." Tinka grinned, "Welcome to the North Pomme Conclave."

Sometime later...