Church of the Sea

Mason had a wonderful feeling. He was extremely aware that the sea was calling him, and he was in resonance with the World Tree in his body.

The waves submerged the boy's feet, then climbed up and wet his clothes. The mermaid stopped and looked solemnly into the depths of the sea. A pair of beautiful eyes made of seawater stared at them, emitting a strong sense of intimidation.

The boy stretched out his hand, and the sea water obediently touched his palm.

Even with the help of the pollutants, the head of the mermaid family still felt drowsy. She bit her tongue and used the pain to wake up her mind, but she couldn't stop her instincts. The voice seemed to notice her. More waves surged towards the mermaid, as if a mother was welcoming her child home. The side effects of the pollutants were easily eliminated, and a strong desire surged from the bottom of her heart, urging the mermaid to return to the sea as soon as possible.

She was dazed and groggy. She walked towards the waves unconsciously. Her high-purity blood became a death warrant at this moment. Just as the mermaid was about to step into the sea, a hand suddenly pulled her out of the whirlpool.

The tide dispersed as if in shock, and the mermaid was soaked through, and she slowly reacted to what had happened. The young man took off his cloak and covered the mermaid with a concerned look. He seemed unaffected, and his warm eyes were gentle and peaceful, full of appropriate concern and warmth.

"Are you okay?"

The head of the Siren family held onto her cloak, and she was surprised to find that she was shaking with excitement. This body couldn't wait to return to the sea, which made the Siren's heart sink again. She turned to the boy and asked tentatively.

"Do you hear the singing?"

"Yeah, it's a very nice song."

After hearing the boy's answer, the siren's eyes became strange. Mason didn't notice the change in the other party. This was not over yet. Although the wind and waves had subsided, the sense of gaze in the sea water had not disappeared. The unknown creature was still staring at them.

Mason had a feeling that those eyes were drawn to him. While the Siren wasn't paying attention, he gathered his strength. After a moment, the feeling of being watched finally disappeared.

As expected, that thing was attracted by the World Tree. I don’t know whether it is good or bad, but the other party did not launch an attack, so it is probably not such an evil thing.

Mason thought about it, and then he was able to continue paying attention to the Siren. The Siren's master looked at him without blinking, and it was a long time before he spoke again.

"You know what? In legend, this song is called the Song of the Sea. Our creator died in the sea, and anyone with the blood of the sirens can hear his voice, which will guide the sirens home."

This legend aroused the boy's interest, and he listened attentively. The head of the Siren family changed the subject.

"But that's a legend from long ago. For the Siren family today, this strange song that came from nowhere is the source of chaos. Going into the sea means death. Normally, abnormalities only occur at the end of the month. This is the first violation of the rules, and the first time that ordinary bloodlines have reacted."

Half a year had passed, and the appearance of the Siren family leader had not changed at all. She was still as cute as a girl as when Mason first met her. Even though she was wearing the other's cloak, she still looked dignified and elegant. Her beautiful eyes carefully looked at Mason.

"It's incredible. If you didn't have the sense of kindred spirit, I would have thought you were a siren. Where are you from, little guy?"

Mason bowed to her. "I am Mason Cross from the South. It is an honor to meet you, Master of the House."

"Cross...Oh, I know you. Yan didn't tell me that he sent such a great gentleman. Don't worry, I don't mean any harm. Now that you are here, please enjoy our city. The Siren Family is here to show their hospitality."

The head of the Siren family did not wonder how the other party recognized her. Rather, it would be strange if she had not been recognized at this point. When she stood up, Mason was surprised to find that the other party was actually taller than him.

The slender tail is enough to support the siren to move on land, and the strong muscles support it to stand upright like a snake about to hunt. Even the smallest female siren is two meters tall. Undoubtedly, this will bring a strong sense of oppression to those who are looking down. The head of the siren family is obviously accustomed to the perspective of being a superior, and she waved to Mason.

"Come with me, this is not the place to talk."

Mason followed without hesitation. Even though the anomaly had disappeared, this place was still not safe. It would be terrible if the Eye in the Sea came back to kill him.

The sirens at the port had been waiting for them, and as soon as the two came out, they immediately began to check the beach to ensure that the change would not bring more impact. Many sirens secretly looked at the young man behind the master of the house, with some surprise in their eyes. They did not expect that the other party could actually come out with the master of the house.

The Siren's master didn't say much, so Mason didn't explain, but just smiled at them in a friendly manner. The two walked out of the port, and with the master's guidance, Mason arrived at the lord's mansion smoothly this time.

The Lord's Mansion is located at the top of the stepped city. Its appearance is very much like that of the Sirens. The walls are uniformly light white and blue, decorated with corals, pearls and wavy lines. There is a waterway in the courtyard for the Sirens to travel through, so that they can reach every place at the fastest speed.

The high humidity inside created a hazy mist. From a distance, only the decorative night pearls were reflecting light, and the laughter and figures of the sirens could be vaguely seen, like a gorgeous phantom.

"You came at the right time. The Siren City is holding a celebration and the city is very lively. Since you are here, you can have a good rest here. As for this cloak, I won't return it to you. You won't be so stingy, right? Don't worry, you won't suffer any loss."

The head of the Siren family smiled softly and threw a coral bead. Mason caught it and felt it, and found that it was a pollutant.

"B-level pollutant [Sea Breath], if you hold this coral bead in your mouth, you can breathe in the sea without affecting your speech. Don't underestimate its limited effect. As long as you wear it, you can avoid attacks from a large number of sea beasts."

The effect of this pollutant is neither big nor small. It is a treasure for ordinary people who often go to the seaside, but it is useless to people who don't live by the sea. Mason happily accepted it in exchange for an ordinary fur cloak.

Seeing him put away the coral beads, the head of the Siren family said, "Sha'er, take our guest to rest. You will be his guide from now on."

The little mermaid following behind her responded crisply. She had blue hair and was dressed as a maid. She looked pale and had bright eyes. She came in front of Mason and motioned for him to follow her.

Although the maid was young, she was very familiar with the lord's mansion. She easily navigated the complex and winding waterways and corridors, peeking at the people around her from time to time.

As soon as their eyes met, the little mermaid hurriedly looked away. After repeating this several times, Mason finally asked.

The latter hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice: "What is your relationship with the master of the house? Why did she keep your cloak?"

I didn't expect that the other party was entangled with this Mason: "..."

Otherwise, how can we say gossiping is human nature? Even sirens are no exception.

The boy laughed dumbly and patted the other person's head lightly.

"Do you know why you can't become a bloodline as powerful as the master of the family?"

The other party immediately pricked up his ears: "Why?"

"Because the master of the family never wonders about other people's affairs."

The little mermaid then realized that the other party was teasing her, and immediately became angry. She snorted, turned her head away and ignored the boy, but after a while she couldn't help but turn a little bit and peek at the other party out of the corner of her eye.

After repeating this several times, the boy asked in a good-tempered manner, "What are you looking at now?"

Sha'er coughed and pointed at her finger in embarrassment: "So as long as I don't ask about you and the master of the family, I can become a bloodline person as powerful as her?"

"Maybe he'll be even more powerful than her. Speaking of which, isn't it time for you to fulfill your obligations?"

"Um?"

"Didn't the master ask you to be my guide? What's going on with the recent celebration?"

"Oh...that's true. Let me tell you about it!"

The little mermaid's attention was quickly diverted and she began to explain seriously.

"Sawiy is a celebration held in winter. In the Siren language, it means ocean and winter. It is said that the first siren came to the shore in winter. So every winter, we hold a celebration to thank the ocean for giving us life."

"This is one of the biggest festivals in Siren City. You are really lucky to be able to make it. Have a good rest today. I will take you to the celebration tomorrow."

Sarah stopped and opened the bedroom door for the boy. The room was very clean. Simple and warm.

Mason lay in bed, not knowing whether it was an illusion, he could always hear the sound of the waves. Whenever he closed his eyes, a hazy blue would appear in front of him.

The next morning, Shar knocked on Mason's door.

"Wake up, we are going to attend the celebration today!"

The little mermaid wore a blue and white dress today.

The streets of the Siren City are different. The main trunk is a wide canal with boat-like shops on both sides. Half of them are fixed on the shore, and the other half are fixed in the water.

The exterior walls of the shops were generally painted blue. Red coral and silk tassels were hung under the eaves of the windows. Bells were hung under the signs, and when the wind blew, they tinkled and rang. The sound was particularly crisp.

Whether it was people on the shore or the sirens in the water, they could easily buy what they wanted. Shar found a small boat for Mason. One siren and one man went down the river, stopped the boat at a small port, and strolled leisurely.

"This is the roasted coral worms, a specialty of the Siren City. Would you like a piece?"

Shar handed over a skewer of grilled coral polyps. Mason hesitated for a moment, then bravely chose to try it.

Grilled coral polyps sound strange, and they taste strange indeed. The skin is crispy, and the inside is filled with soft and juicy meat. The seasoning is carefully prepared and salty. Mason can only say that every part of it feels strange when chewing, but the overall combination of the taste buds makes him feel delicious. No wonder Shar strongly recommends it, this thing is really magical.

"Come on, the celebration is about to begin."

"Boom! Boom! Boom-boom-boom!"

Powerful drum sounds came from afar, attracting everyone's attention. Tourists on the street stopped and looked forward. A huge ship came along the waterway. Twelve sirens stood on the top platform, with silver rings and bells on their slender tails. Blue gauze hung from the left shoulder to the waist, and then wrapped around the long tail, outlining beautiful lines.

The twelve sirens are divided into two types, one with honey-colored skin given by the sun at the seaside, and the other with the sirens' own snow-white skin. They hold silver bells in their hands and throw them around from time to time. The people who catch them hold them up as if showing off, with happy smiles on their faces.

With the sound of a powerful drumbeat, the first siren raised her head slightly, parted her red lips, and sang a loud high note that cut through the sky. Her singing flapped like wings and spread towards the listeners on both sides of the waterway.

Her singing voice was gorgeous, steady and penetrating. Her aura was ten meters high, like a sword piercing everyone's heart accurately, making them fly along with the sound.

Then, two more voices rang out. Graceful glissandos and trills followed the notes that were falling. More sirens began to dance, raising their hands and entwining their tails. Their figures looked like a group of dancing snakes in the air, or like fairies playing in the water.

His expression is innocent, his eyes are seductive, and his dance imitating hunting is cruel and terrifying.

Their breath is like a scent. They are ruthless and cruel, a combination of beauty and violence, and they see all living things as prey.

Thousands of years ago, their ancient ancestors sat on the glaciers and chanted such songs, ruling the entire ocean with hunting. The disordered and crazy dance reveals a different kind of beauty, showing temptation and violence to the fullest.

The two members of the Infinite Sky were responsible for beating the drums. The two families were usually hostile, but they seemed to be in harmony at the celebration. They used their hands as drumsticks and their chests as war drums. Once they beat their chests, the drum sounds spread in all directions.

It is said that every member of the Expanse was born in a storm. They were born in the first ocean together with the Sirens. The Sirens were favored by the ocean and commanded the ocean currents, while the Expanse was favored by the storm and could create storms on the sea without restraint.

When they beat their chests, thunder and storms would come. Although the two drummers did not summon a storm, the powerful drum beats shook the soul and took the audience across the boundless ocean, as if they were on a swaying fishing boat.

The strong winds beat against the sails, and the merciless waves threatened to overturn this tiny shelter. The beautiful sirens whispered to each other, tempting the sailors to jump into the sea. The rough and brave sons of the storm laughed loudly, driving the storms to play with the monsters in the sea.

With this stunning song and dance, the festival truly began. Perhaps because the Sirens are a family of aliens, the Sirens City is more tolerant of bloodline people, and many mutants are able to walk on the streets and enjoy a relaxing time.

Mason watched helplessly as a large lizard-headed man accidentally stepped on the tail of another bloodline, who screamed and jumped up. The lizard-headed man was startled and apologized stumblingly, "I'm sorry."

"Idiot! This is the nth time you've stepped on my tail! I won't take you out shopping next time!"

The bloodline who was selecting the products shouted angrily, this petite woman was not at all panicked when facing the big guy who was at least twice her size. The big guy listened to her complaints and apologized repeatedly.

Shar took a look and said, "Nothing to see. One is an invisible monitor lizard that recognizes people by heat. The other is a dire fox, a stealth expert whose body temperature automatically adjusts to the surrounding environment. It's unfortunate that they managed to get together."

This kind of thing is common in the Siren City. Mason saw many unexpected things along the way. If two people know each other, it's fine. If not, they will start fighting after arguing.

He saw with his own eyes that a bloodline member with poor eyesight sat down on the chair, and a faint scream came from under his butt.

"Get your ass off my head, damn it! I'm just taking a break here. How come a butt is suddenly covering my head? Who the hell is this? I'm going to teach you a lesson!"

The Bloodline sitting on top scratched his head. He looked around, confused about where the sound came from. Mason couldn't help but remind him, "Do you want to stand up and take a look?"

"You're right, thank you."

The latter suddenly realized something. When he stood up, a parchment book appeared under his buttocks.

The bloodline who just sat down was very confused: "How can there be one?"

"I am not one, please call me the distinguished professor of books."

Professor Book let out a long sigh, commented on these blind bloodline people with sarcastic words, grew a pair of thin, ink-like hands and feet, and crawled away.

Mason looked at Shar in shock, wanting to ask what kind of bloodline this person was. But the little mermaid spoke before he could, her tone condescending.

"I know what you want to ask. There are so many types of mutations. Who knows what they will become after mutation? It's normal for strange things like this to appear."

Mason shrugged: "If I were that professor, I would lose a precious cover page from today on."

Further ahead, an adult mermaid swam up from the waterway, holding a few silver bells in her hands. The little mermaids guarding the river shouted in joy and immediately rushed up to grab the bells. Looking around, this kind of scene is not uncommon.

Looking at the little sirens fighting for the silver bells, Shar'er had a hint of envy in her eyes. Mason noticed this and pointed at the silver bells: "What are these?"

"Sirens love music. Only little sirens who are loved by their parents will have silver bells tied to their tails to prove that they are loved by their families. The silver bells distributed at the festival symbolize the care of the sea, but the family members need to go and get them. There are many fights every year because of this. Look over there."

Following the direction that Shar pointed, there were indeed two sirens fighting each other. The guards appeared in time, punished the two with dark faces, and confiscated all the silver bells in their hands.

Sarah turned her head away and stopped looking at her peers who were playing. Her expression returned to her usual cheerful state.

She pointed to a shop with a marine fish logo on its flag and said, "The fish cakes sold here are very delicious. If you want to buy some, you must buy the ones that are fresh out of the oven. They taste the best!"

"This is a shady store that specifically rips off outsiders. The things they sell seem useful, but they break down after a few uses. If you want to buy something, I can recommend a better store."

Shar pulled Mason to the next place excitedly, squeezed into the crowd to buy coral cakes that had just come out of the oven. This kind of crispy biscuit was a bit hard to chew, but it was very delicious after soaking in fish soup. Then, in order to find delicious fish soup, Mason also tasted the specialty here. Undersea volcano grilled fish. It is called an underwater volcano, but it is actually a furnace made to imitate a volcano, which spews out boiling molten lava from time to time.

Next to the volcano stove is a pool that uses imported seawater. Diners can catch the fish they want to eat directly.

As for what to do if they both like the same fish? Then they can only rely on the two of them to discuss or fight. The oceans really like this kind of fun.

The fish roasted in volcanic magma is crispy on the outside and exudes a strong aroma. Once the slightly charred skin is peeled off, the snow-white and crystal-clear fish meat can be seen. There are very few bones in the body of marine fish, and the firm texture of the meat is enough to please the most discerning taste buds without adding any seasoning. Enjoy the delicious taste that melts in your mouth after being roasted.

The white fish soup comes from the cut large sea fish, the fish meat is almost melted, and various seafood picked from the sea is added. When it comes out of the pot, a pinch of Titian's fragrance is sprinkled on it, which looks beautiful and fragrant. Crush the coral cakes bought earlier and soak them in it. The originally hard crispy cakes immediately absorb the soup, but still retain their original softness. It goes well with rice.

While eating, Mason curiously observed the operating principle of the oven, and finally found that there was a Bloodline hidden underneath and working.

According to his observation, the other party's bloodline should be the Triceratops living in volcanoes. This monster feeds on molten lava and can spit out the molten lava in its stomach as a weapon. Mason didn't know whether he should pity the other party for becoming a bloodline and having to work as a laborer, or admire the cooking method that the Sirens came up with.

Under Shar's guidance, Mason experienced the most famous flying fish in Siren City.

These sea beasts with flying fins can float low in the sky, and their broad backs are large enough to carry four or five people at a time. The sparkling river channel glitters with fragmented light, like a piece of water satin inlaid with countless broken diamonds.

"Going over there is the territory of the Infinite Sky. Their city is built on a cliff facing the sea. It is high and steep. We don't want to go there."

After the two of them had eaten, drunk and played to their heart's content, the afterglow of the setting sun shone over the city, outlining the long bridge over the waterway with varying depths of outline.

Sarah looked at the time and suddenly exclaimed "Ouch".

"It's almost time. Come with me. You haven't seen the most beautiful scenery yet."

Thinking the oars were too slow, the little mermaid dived into the water and actually pushed their boat forward with ease.

All the waterways converged in one place along the stairs. Mason found many small boats heading to the same place as them, and finally stopped in front of the port on the lowest level.

The majestic black port slowly opened up, and a violent wind blew in our face.

A dozen huge creatures emerged from the sea. The lights and moonlight shone on them, and their smooth skins reflected a silvery glow. The largest of them was as tall as a dozen stories, and the smallest was more than ten meters tall.

These sea beasts let out deep calls and blew out huge columns of water from their breathing ports. Dozens of water droplets gathered together to support a transparent sky.

Water droplets splashed, each drop reflecting the crystal light. When the water droplets fell on his body, Mason immediately felt refreshed.

"This is the sirens' guardian beast. They can bless people. How about it? The effect is good, right? These sea beasts are all raised by us, so they only listen to us. Ordinary people who want to come here must have a siren with them."

Mason then noticed that everyone who came here had a mermaid next to them. This was obviously a little surprise prepared by Sarah. Looking at Sarah's expectant eyes, he smiled and touched her head.

"Thank you. I love it."

After the show, the port gate slowly closed. The Sirens left with their companions, and Shar sent Mason back to the guest room.

Mason did not sleep, and took advantage of the night to find the Siren's master. This was not a difficult task, as the guards seemed to have received orders and pointed him in the direction without hesitation.

The mermaid with long hair was leaning against the pool, swaying the wine glass lazily in her hand. When she saw the human, she glanced at them sideways, with a charming smile on her lips.

"Why did you come to see me suddenly?"

"How can I find the twelve sirens who will be in charge of the celebration dance today? They are not ordinary sirens, right?"

"You guessed it right. I would be sad if you came to me late at night just to ask about other people's whereabouts."

Mason interrupted the other party's performance helplessly: "I want to ask them for a silver bell."

"You are doing this for the girl Sha'er, right? No wonder, she must have thought of her mother while watching today's celebration. She was a famous beauty in the Siren City, and she was invited to every celebration. But it was a pity that she died in the battle with her father."

The head of the Siren family thought for a while and agreed readily: "I can tell you the address, and I can even ask them to give you a silver bell. But you have to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"I hope you can help us find out where the mutation comes from. The mutation that occurs at the end of each month seriously affects the normal life of the Sirens. As the head of the family, I cannot allow it to continue. You are very unique. The mutation reacts to you, but you don't have the blood of the Sirens and will not be affected by it. Maybe you can help us find out why it appears and how to solve the problem."

The Siren's master briefly explained the changes, and Mason thought for a moment and nodded.

"I can promise you that."

"Deal, take this, they are in the temple, someone will take you there tomorrow."

She casually untied the bracelet and threw it to the other party, who caught it steadily.

"Temple? Do you also believe in the Lord of All Powers?"

The siren chuckled: "No, we only believe in the sea. That is a temple left over from the last era, used to worship the sea."

This sentence aroused Mason's interest. He wanted to ask more, but the latter showed a tired look, so the boy had to shut up.

"Okay, okay. Anyway, we'll know the situation when we get there." Mason shrugged, said good night politely, and left.

After the young man's figure disappeared, the head of the Siren family also stood up and returned to his room.

Her bedroom was extremely luxurious, and a cape hung on the back of a chair that didn't fit in. The Siren Family Master picked it up, and the wolf fur cape felt warm. It was obviously tanned with the best quality, and it was a good weapon to resist the cold winter. The Siren Family Master cut her finger, and a drop of blue blood flowed out. The blood stained the cape, and she closed her eyes and silently said in her heart.

"We call upon the ocean spirit, the mother who gives us new life and soul."

"Suppress the fire of evil and purify the bodies of both the enemy and ourselves."

"The land of our souls, the blood of our desires."

"We ask the ocean spirit to grant us the eyes of observation and the eyes of prediction."

After repeating this three times, the blue blood suddenly began to burn, setting the entire cloak on fire. When it went out, the entire cloak turned into flowing liquid, standing in front of the Siren.

The latter spoke up: "Tell me about Mason Cross."

A scene emerged from the liquid, a human being sleeping soundly in bed. The linen-haired boy was completely unaware that someone was spying on him from the outside world. His brows were furrowed, and he seemed to be sleeping unsteadily. In the eyes of the mermaid, he was emitting a faint blue fluorescence.

really.

The head of the Siren family thought to himself that he had a connection with the sea.

…

Mason realized he was dreaming.

He seemed to be trapped in someone's body, unable to move freely. This body lay on the bottom of the sea, and through the clear water, he could see birds flying in the sky. Fish followed his footsteps, and fierce monsters surrendered to him. He was the creator of this sea, the sea itself, and the god of all life.

Mason raised his hands and saw a pair of white and delicate palms. The joints were distinct and the fingers were slender, somewhere between male and female. Everything about Him was beautiful, and this beauty was not weak, but as powerful as the ocean itself.

He could do whatever he wanted in the sea until one day, he felt lonely. So he created two children.

One child inherited the beauty and violence of the sea, and the other inherited the might and power of the storm. God was pleased that both children depended on Him.

"Mother, this is the first time I come to see you."

A beautiful sound rang out, full of nostalgia and joy. A mermaid with an extremely beautiful face swam over, and several small fish stopped where they were because they looked at her, and were swept away by the ocean current.

"Siren, do not be disrespectful to your father."

Another powerful voice sounded. The speaker's lower body was gaseous, and his upper body was humanoid. He was muscular and had a bare chest. His arrival caused a storm that blocked the sun, and the monsters panicked.

"You are so annoying, the vast sky, and you even block out the sun."

"That's what I wanted to say, Siren. Didn't you see that you scared the fish to death?"

"That's because I'm so beautiful! So beautiful!"

Seeing the two sides quarreling, Mason's body moved spontaneously. He accepted the different titles from both sides with a gentle tone.

"All right, children, come to me. You are each other's only brothers and sisters, and I want you to get along well."

The original siren and the original expanse of space fell silent, cuddling in the same awe and intimacy around their creator.

The Lord of the Sea smiled, and the sea breeze tore apart the clouds, allowing the sun to shine into the deepest part of the sea. He stroked the hair of the two children and said softly, "So, what story are we going to tell today? Last time we talked about my naughty little sister becoming the moon god, this time we will start with the god of the sun."

When the boy opened his eyes, sunlight was already shining in from the window and falling on his face.

The knock on the door sounded on time. Mason was stunned for a while before he remembered to open the door. The siren standing at the door was holding breakfast, and the sunlight

"Nice to meet you, Master Mason. Here is your breakfast."

"Thank you. Where's Sarah?"

"She has other duties, so I will be the guide today."

This was fine. Mason had wanted to give her a small surprise to thank her for taking him to see the Guardian Beast show that day. The new mermaid was much older and more calm and experienced. She spoke very little and always put Mason's requests first. After a brief conversation, she quickly understood what Mason meant and took him to find the so-called Ocean Temple.

Before arriving at the location mentioned by the Siren's master, Mason imagined that the temple should have snow-white walls and a gorgeous roof, decorated with corals and pearls, just like the impression that the Siren City had always given him.

When he actually found this so-called temple according to the address, the boy couldn't help but be shocked.

The building in front of him was just a few ruined walls. Half of the roof had collapsed. If he hadn't seen any signs of human presence, he might have mistaken it for an area to be demolished.

Even though one could still see its past glory, no matter how glorious it was, it could not withstand the erosion of a thousand years. The reliefs on the wall surface had all peeled off, and the remaining wall was barely alive. Mason had no doubt that these stones would suddenly attack the head of a poor passerby one day, but fortunately that was not today.

This building cannot be said to be related to the temple, it can only be said to be a complete ruin.

The siren maid respected the ruins very much and stood at the door without intending to go in: "I'll wait for you at the door. Inside is the residence of the sea priest. It's not convenient to disturb ordinary sirens."

The Sirens' attitudes formed a sharp contrast with the dilapidated temple. Mason felt the refreshing coolness as soon as he stepped into the door. The air was filled with moist water vapor, and the Sirens wearing silver spirits and bells walked through the dilapidated temple. The stone pillars wrapped with verdant vines were painted with faded murals, and the gems and pearls from the deep sea were carefully wiped and shone with an ancient and moving glimmer.

"What brings you here? If not, this is a restricted area and I can take you out."

Seeing the guests coming, these sea siren priests came forward slowly to ask if they needed help. Their expressions were elegant and calm, like gravekeepers guarding the remains. They added a bit of the former glory to this dilapidated building.

"I came to ask for a silver bell. This is the certificate given by the master of the family."

Mason handed the bracelet over, and the Siren who was asking the question checked it out: "No problem, please follow me."

Mason recognized her as the siren who sang the high notes at yesterday's ceremony. Her face was like dewdrops shining on a tree branch, and it was even more fascinating when seen up close. The boy followed her through the mossy corridor and came to a courtyard.

The fountain in the courtyard was still in operation. The stone statue in the center looked at them with a smile. Time had blurred the sculpture's face, but Mason felt a sense of familiarity in it. The water bottle in the statue's hand gushed out gurgling spring water, and the bottom of the fountain was sprinkled with silver bells.

The siren picked one out and handed it to Mason: "May the sea bless you."

"Thank you, and may the sea bless you."

Mason took the silver bell and thanked the other party: "Who is this stone statue of?"

The other party patiently replied: "This is the incarnation of the ocean, the creator of the sirens and the vast space. We are his priests."

"I thought the only god left now was the Lord of All Things and All Powers."

"You are right. We have lost the ability to communicate with the ocean. The ocean was originally the home of the sirens, but now any sirens that enter the ocean will be polluted, and we can no longer build new temples. Our creator has long died."

The siren said calmly: "Even so, why can't the dead gods have believers? People believe in the Lord of All Things and All Powers in order to gain his power, and we believe in the ocean because it is our homeland."

“People don’t ask for anything from their hometown. Its existence there is our best dream.”

Mason was in awe. For true believers, it didn't matter if they couldn't get the ocean's favor. The Sirens believed in the gods not for the benefit, but because of faith.

Those ancient palaces buried in the sea, the gorgeous schools of fish swimming slowly, and the Sirens once chased and played here, multiplied and lived.

Even though the sea is now a forbidden place, as long as there is a siren alive, the sea will never die.

They are the living tombstones recording this sea.