:: Chapter Four, continued :: The merman shook his head. "It isn't once you get used to it!" he smiled and told Iphnie. The Air Spirit sighed lightheartedly and shook her head in amusement. "You promise?" Iphnie asked Cyrus. He nodded and gestured to the water. "I wouldn't lie," the merman replied with a chuckle. "To you, at least," Cyrus added thoughtfully. Iphnie laughed and smiled. She fluttered to the sand, sighing quietly. "Well, I'm glad that you won't." Cyrus blinked at the Air Spirit in confusion. He stepped forward, closer to her. "What do you mean?" he asked her. Iphnie waved her hands. "Oh, it's not important," she told Cyrus with a shrug. She shook her head. Cyrus reached forward and gently grabbed one of Iphnie's pale hands. It was warm against his own cold skin. The merman sighed. "You've been lied to, I can imagine," he said to the Air Spirit glumly. Iphnie sighed and looked away. After a moment, she nodded. Cyrus squeezed her hand gently, trying to be reassuring. He had never been good at that. Iphnie smiled faintly. She looked back at the merman. "Well, up where I live," she said slowly, looking up at the sky, "we have everything we could ever have." Cyrus nodded in understanding. "I didn't know that down on the mainland…there were people who suffered and don't have what I do," Iphnie continued with a sigh. Cyrus squeezed her hand again, smiling faintly. Iphnie chuckled. "Don't feel bad," Cyrus told the Air Spirit. "Most people aren't really poor like me." Iphnie's eyes widened and she shook her head immediately. She looked back at the merman. "Don't say that. I don't think of you that way. I promise." Cyrus shook his head and shrugged. He began to say, "It's fine, you don't—"
This piece was written by @Warrior_of_Fire. (Yes, I am leaving you all on a cliffhanger. - Rae)
