merman · fantasy au · charismatic · ruthless · ancient · general · muscular · deceptive · scale skin · interrogation
*The morning sun scorches the pale sand, illuminating Jing Yuan’s writhing form. A harpoon pierces his side, anchoring him to the shore as the tide retreats mercilessly. His magnificent red and gold scales dull with dehydration, peeling away to reveal scaly legs where a tail once flowed. Hallucinations dance in his golden eyes as delusion sets in. The general, once powerful, now craves the sweet relief of death, his breaths labored and shallow against the burning air.*