71-Explaining Life

  Nexha froze in place, his heart racing. He was about to run when he realized it was pointless. Krahs already knew he was there.

  — Uh… it’s not really spying, it’s more like… tactical observation — he tried to justify, forcing a nervous smile.

  Krahs slowly crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. The moonlight reflected off his tired face, making his gaze even more severe.

  — Tactical observation? — he repeated incredulously.

  — Yeah… I just… overheard by accident.

  The old man let out a heavy sigh and sat down on the ground with an exhausted air. His eyes wandered over the water, where the darkness of the sea reflected the moonlight. Nexha hesitated but then sat beside him.

  — So? — he asked, trying not to sound too intrusive. — What was that all about?

  Krahs remained silent for a moment, thoughtful, as if trying to find the right words.

  — Nalu is going through something natural in her life. Something that happens to all of us but can be difficult to face, especially alone.

  Nexha frowned.

  — But why was she asking for your help?

  Krahs let out a short, humorless laugh.

  — Because, in a way, I’m one of the oldest in the group. And when there aren’t many of our kind around, the more experienced ones end up being the first we turn to for guidance.

  Nexha scratched his head, trying to put the pieces together.

  — But… what exactly does she need help with?

  Krahs turned to face him, evaluating his curious expression. He seemed to think for a moment about whether he should really explain. In the end, he let out another deep sigh.

  — Nalu is in her fertile period, Nexha. That means if she doesn’t find a mate, the egg she produces will be empty.

  Nexha blinked, his stomach twisting with the information.

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  — E-Egg? But… that means…

  Krahs nodded slowly.

  — Yes. If a mermaid loses an egg, especially an empty one, it can be devastating. It affects their instincts in ways that are hard to explain.

  A heavy silence fell between them. Nexha felt a strange tightness in his chest. He had never stopped to think about this. To him, Nalu was just his shy but kind friend, who always knew how to build useful things. But now… now she seemed far more fragile than he had ever imagined.

  — So that’s why she was acting strange today… — he murmured.

  — Yes. — Krahs ran a hand over his face, exhausted. — This kind of thing can be confusing. Even when a mermaid knows it’s normal, that doesn’t mean she’ll accept it easily. It’s a complicated phase.

  Nexha rested his elbows on his knees, his gaze lost in the water distorting the moonlight’s glow.

  — I never thought about it… I didn’t know an empty egg could cause this…

  Krahs gave a small smile, but there was something melancholic about it.

  — We all have more layers than we show. Nalu doesn’t want to lose an egg because they’re very difficult to produce. And as they age, it can become even harder.

  Nexha made a face.

  — But she’s so young… that shouldn’t be a problem now, right?

  Krahs let out a short laugh, but there was a weight to it.

  — Other people’s problems may seem small because you’re not the one carrying them.

  Nexha fell silent, absorbing the words.

  After a while, he spoke more softly, as if organizing his own thoughts.

  — And you… did you have eggs before coming here?

  The old man was still for a moment. His eyes fixed on the moon, as if seeing something Nexha couldn’t.

  — I had many — he said finally, his voice rougher than before. — And I lost many.

  Nexha’s heart tightened.

  — How…?

  Krahs continued staring at the water, his expression hard as stone, but his eyes… his eyes held something Nexha had never seen before.

  — Losing an egg is… different from anything else, but it always hurts the mother more. — His voice was lower now, almost a whisper. — When you have an egg, when you feel it close to you, your whole body prepares to protect it. It’s instinctive. You breathe differently. Think differently. Live differently. And then… it’s gone.

  Nexha swallowed hard.

  — But… what if…

  — If I fought to protect them? — Krahs completed the thought, staring into the distance and letting out a weary sigh. — I did. But sometimes, fighting isn’t enough… because even if you protect it with your life, sometimes it never even gets the chance to hatch.

  The silence returned, heavier than before. Nexha didn’t know what to say. How could he? He had never lost anything like that.

  — Loss teaches you to value those who survive — Krahs finally said, turning to look at him. — And that’s why I worry about you.

  He picked Nexha up and rocked him like a baby who needed sleep.

  — Nexha, you’re not an egg anymore, but you need more protection than you realize.

  Nexha’s throat tightened. He looked away, feeling a strange pressure in his chest.

  — I…

  But he didn’t know what to say.

  — Now go to sleep, Nexha. Tomorrow, you have more crazy ideas to create.

  The boy blinked a few times, trying to pull himself together, and forced a smile.

  — You bet.

  Krahs placed him in the bed of seaweed to sleep. But Nexha couldn’t get Krahs’ words out of his head. For the first time, he realized there was so much more about life in this world that he still didn’t understand.

  And somehow, that only made him even more curious about what would come next.