The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0594

The Oracle and her entourage stayed just off the shores of the beach. I didn't know what they were waiting for.

"She's giving you time," Veronica said. When she realized that could be cryptic, she added, "Likely to get your affairs in order. She wouldn't want to scare Elva."

I could appreciate that. I wanted to talk to Elva myself before the merfolk came onshore. "How will we call them to us?"

"There's a few magic words," Veronica said. "An invitation. When you are ready, I will invite them onshore."

I nodded. I didn't want to keep them waiting for long.

Leaving Nicholas with Veronica, I walked over to where Julian and Elva were working on a new sandcastle. I arrived just as Elva was tearing down whatever she had built. From Julian's expression, I could tell this wasn't the first time she had done this.

*Elva, what was wrong with it this time?" Julian asked, voice gentle and soft.

I decided to stay back a moment. Julian and Elva by now had seemed to develop some kind of sandcastle building rapport. I didn't want to overstep onto that. Julian might be closer to the truth here, than I might be if I stepped in.

"It's not good enough," Elva pouted.

"What makes you think that?" he asked. "I thought it was turning out to be a fine sandcastle."

She shook her head. "It was just a pile of sand..." She glanced behind her to where Bridget's impressive sandcastle loomed.

I wasn't the only one to have noticed.

"Oh," Julian said. "You know, when Bridget first started making sandcastles, she couldn't even get the sand to stick together."

Elva looked at Julian. "Really?"

Julian crossed his heart. "She didn't realize you needed water. Everyone has to start somewhere."

Elva slouched somewhat. "I want to make a castle. But I'm not good enough."

"You need practice. That's all."

Elva shook her head. "I should just quit."

Julian gasped. "You shouldn't!"

looked at him

toward his much smaller lopsided

you think I

"No," she said stronger.

"Why?" Julian asked.

her fingers into the sand. "This one is better than

one I made

Elva nodded.

that if you keep practicing too, you'll get better and better. Someday, if you work hard enough, I bet you could even make a castle like that

because it had led Elva to self-doubt. But also because I severely doubted that Bridget had even managed to make that herself. It truly did seem unlikely. When had she the time? I couldn't prove that though, so I

fouler things to pin on Bridget.

Elva asked

doesn't seem real. Real castles have tons of flaws. There's chips in the walls, places that have been torn down and rebuilt. Water damage. Weather

castle now with narrow eyes,

and acceptance. Perfect is boring. Imperfection..." He put his finger under Elva's chin and lifted her face up to face the sunlight." Imperfection is life."

at her sand mound. "I want to try again. For real

was here this whole time! "I think Mommy wants to talk to you about something first

sight and saw me waiting.

her and hugged her. "I'm so

didn't do anything!" she

I was proud to have him as a friend, and so happy that Elva

our hug was broken, I sobered. As did Julian, sensing my

wrong, Mommy?" Elva

rubbed my hands up and

"Some... merfolk. Good ones, this time. They want to help you. They want to

went

scary," I told her. "But there's nothing to really be afraid of, okay? I'll

knowing what I was talking about. I was once again grateful for

And Veronica too," I said. "We'll all be right there,

pressed her lips hard together. "It will

If Veronica was confident, then I was confident. I