Mermaid (Mythical Beast Investigator)

The Mermaid is a minor character from the light novel and manga adaptation Mythical Beast Investigator or Genjuu Chousain. She appears in Chapter 4.

Biography
Many years ago, a young man earned the blessing of the Mermaid. Her blessings brought him and his descendents comfort and wealth. As thanks to her, they planted a fruit tree. The Mermaid called the tree's fruit "Amairiku Eggs". Yet not all was perfect. The other villagers, jealous of the young man's good fortune, would act with spite and treat him with contempt. Some would crudely assert the Mermaid was his lover and joke about illegitimate children. The young man's pride would also begin to suffer as his desire to work himself rather than live off the Mermaid's kindness. Eventually, the young man would venture forth with other fishermen only to return many years later with his own son. The son continued the tradition, bringing "Amairiku Eggs" to the Mermaid, only to leave her and return with a child. The Mermaid would love and cherish the children but she once they left, she would never see them again.

Many years later, the first man's grandson now a young man himself, was playing his lyre while the Mermaid sang. Attracted by the song, Ferry Eshibena wandered down to the beach. Startled, the young man runs past her, up the sea stairs. As a Mythical Beast Investigator, Ferry is honoured to meet the "Singer of the Ocean". Annoyed with Ferry for scaring her friend, the Mermaid flips her fin, sending a wave at the young girl. Ferry's travelling companion, Kushuna materializes, using his shadows to shield Ferry. The Mermaid is amused to see the Lord of Darkness protecting a little girl and gives a mocking bow before disappearing below the waves.

Later at an inn, Ferry witnesses some men mocking the Mermaid's friend. They make crude jokes, moking the young man. One even claims the Mermaid is fattening him upmto eat. Ferry contradicts them, saying Mermaids do not farm humans and it is in the nature of fairiesmto repay kindness. The thugs soon grow restless but are subdued by Kushuna. A woman bursts in looking for a doctor. Many of villahe children were suffering from a lung disease. The doctor seemed unable to cure it. Ferry knew who could help and paid the Mermaid a visit.

Mermaids possess great knowledge about the ocean and Ferry was comfident that the Mermaid would know of a cure. The Mermaid isn't impressed and claims she has no care for human affairs but relents to help in return for an "Amairiku Egg". What that was was unknown to both Ferry Kushuna so they sought out the Mermaid's friend. As he and Ferry talk, he reveals his lack of confidence and his low self image. Ferry surprises him with her understanding of how the aid of fairies, while wonderful and great, can hurt the receiver's pride and self worth. In a fit of rage, the young man throws his lyre off the cliff. He instantly relaxes in himself and reveals the "Amairiku Eggs", a fruit tree.

They return with the "Amairiku Egg" along with the young man. The Mermaid, overjoyed to see her friend, embraces him. He cautions her that it isn't ripe but she reveals she doesn't care about the egg. She only wanted to see him. He hadn't been visiting as often and he seemed sad, worrying the Mermaid. As she looks into his eyes, she recognizes the look, the same look as his father and grandfather before they left. As history repeats itself, the Mermaid grows angry, afraid to watch another loved one go. The young man doesn't relent. He reveals his plans to go fishing but he planted a tree on a cliff so the fruit would fall into her reach. She shouts that she doesn't care about the fruit. He tries to calm her, saying he might have a daughter who won't need to go fishing and can be her constant companion. Hurt, the Mermaid calls him a dummy, says goodbye and disappears. Soon after he leaves, as the sun sets, the Mermaid surfaces with the directions to create a healing potion. The Mermaid predicts her young man's ship will never encounter typhoons nor sink. He will find and adopt a little girl and the tradition will continue. This is of little comfort to the Mermaid. She only wanted to see the children grow up but they would leave her forever, sending their children in their place. She gifts Ferry the "Amairiku Egg", claiming it tastes like "the moon falling down".

Appearance
The Mermaid is a beautiful maiden, eternally youthful with blonde hair as long and silky as the waves, skin that will never burn and jewel-like blue eyes. Her fishtail is long, powerful and covered in shimmering rainbow scales. At her hips are a pair of webbed, wing-like fins and she wears a belt of seashells around her waist.

Powers and Abilities

 * Longevity: The Mermaid has watched three generations of a family grow up and has remained a young maiden, untouched by time.
 * Prophecy: One of a mermaid's gifts is prophecy, the ability to see into the future and an individual's destiny. The Mermaid saw that the young man would find and adopt a little girl to continue the tradition. The extent of this power is unknown as the Mermaid couldn't seem to know if her children would leave or she knew but denied it and fought against her fate.
 * Water and Weather Manipulation: According to folklore, mermaids are sea fairies whose magic is attuned to water and they can manipulate waves, currents and maritime weather. In the light novel, a man mentions that mermaids caught in fishermens' nets will conjure storms to free themselves. The Mermaid may have blessed her friends with protection so their ships never sink and the sea is calm on their voyages.