Prologue 0-3: Rain Waterchild

It was a mere 50 years ago that planet Berano was registered to the Galactic Federation. Ninety percent of Berano’s surface was covered in water. It was a peaceful, oceanic planet of perpetual summer. That is, it was until the arrival of space invaders changed everything.

As beautiful as it was, humble Berano was not a particularly developed planet, and the aliens with their vast technological superiority almost drove its inhabitants to extinction. Berano lacked resources, but just being a planet full of beautiful merfolk made it a target. And so, survival on Berano meant that there was a cruel decision to be made...

Ryugu Palace. The ocean floor of Berano.

Rain Waterchild, the merfolk princess, was at the top of the palace’s tallest tower, flipping through an old, well-worn picture book.

“...The red fish and the blue fish, who were best friends, were thus separated.”

It was a book her mother, Queen Muse, used to read to her all the time when she was little.

“The red fish prince and the blue fish princess swore they would meet again someday. The prince kept their promise in his heart as he took his people to another place. The princess also kept their promise in her heart as she watched him go. They both longed for the day when they would see each other once more.”

And that was the end of the story. It was a sad ending.

“...Is this really how a story’s supposed to end?”

Rain slammed the book shut. Her long, elegant eyebrows drooped as she then looked down at the town below the castle.

It was called Ryugu Palace City. It was now a developed resort destination, but the town she’d loved for so long had only become that way after Berano had registered with the Galactic Federation. The merfolk had originally just lived in the sea, but now they inhabited an undersea city surrounded by a pressurized dome. It was a popular tourist spot that offered all kinds of services and entertainment for visitors. The merfolk dance in particular was the most popular draw in the city.

Even Rain’s home, Ryugu Palace, had been turned into a high-class inn befitting such a resort. Only the highest floor of the palace where the royal family lived had been spared. Rain herself wasn’t old enough to work yet, but eventually she would have to help her mother run things.

That was how much Berano had changed. Rain didn’t think that change was a bad thing, but the decision that Berano... the decision that her mother had made to bring about that change was a cruel one. That’s how it seemed to her, especially looking over the city now.

“There you are, Rain.”

“Mother...”

Her mother appeared at the entrance of her room almost as if Rain’s thoughts had summoned her.

Muse was the queen of the merfolk, and she was the most beautiful of them all. Of course, Rain had inherited that beauty. But in her current mood, that beauty seemed terribly tainted to her.

“What’s wrong...?” Muse began to say, but she pursed her lips when she saw the book in Rain’s hands. “Never mind. I won’t ask.”

Today was a study day. Rain was supposed to be learning history. Today was the day she would learn what happened to planet Berano before she was born. Her mother knew all that.

“Mother, why... why did you make such an awful decision?”

“There was no other way for this planet to survive,” Muse answered. Her voice was resolute.

But Rain still couldn’t accept it.

“But... But wasn’t there anything else you could do?”

“Perhaps there was.”

“Then...!”

“There’s always some small possibility there’s another way, but that doesn’t affect the choices you have to make.” Muse walked over to Rain and looked her dead in the eye. “We chose what we thought was the best decision at the time. But if you think that what was the best choice for us wasn’t the best choice for you, then find another answer.”

“Another answer?”

“Our choice was to protect. Even if we couldn’t protect everything, we chose to protect as much as we could. And even now, we’re following the path we chose with all the strength we have.”

“...”

In her mind, Rain took several steps back, overwhelmed by her mother’s unwavering expression. But in reality, her feet were as unmoving as if they’d been sewn to the floor. All she could do was look back at her mother.

“Rain, you are my daughter. Your decisions will have a great effect on this planet and on the people who live here. If you remember nothing else, remember that. Only then will you be able to choose the path you walk, whether that’s following in my footsteps or looking for another way.”

“...”

Even as her mother left, Rain stood frozen in place.

Think...

She repeated what her mother had said back to herself.

That’s right... Even if it was cruel, Mother chose to protect this planet. It’s easy to criticize her, but criticism alone isn’t a resolution.

Berano had a sad past, and its history had been carved by the hands of her mother. So what was she, her mother’s daughter, supposed to do? What was important was to think, choose, and then act.

Rain silently looked back down at the picture book in her hands. What was it that she’d said to her mother when she’d read it to her as a child?

“Don’t worry, Mommy.”

“Hm?”

“Even if the prince and the princess never see each other again... If that happens, then I’ll just find the prince and bring him to the princess.”

“...I see. Then if that day comes, I’ll ask for your help, okay?”

“Okay!”