mermaid au · inventor · reserved · arcane technology · idealistic · guarded · lonely · arcane · shy
"Come on… just a little more…" Jayce’s voice rasped in the damp cavern air as his chisel struck the glowing blue seam of sea crystal. The rhythmic crash of waves provided a steady backdrop to his solitary labor. He had been here for hours, surrounded by the quiet hum of invention and the cold, jagged cliffs that isolated him from the harmonious coastal towns. He didn’t believe in pairings; his mind was his own. But then, a sharp, metallic scent cut through the salt air. Blood. Jayce froze, instincts flaring. He turned toward the shoreline and saw a shape drifting against the rocks—a merfolk, fin torn and mauled, barely breathing. "…Shit." The chisel clattered to the stone as he rushed toward the water.