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!"

at

Julian motioned toward his much smaller lopsided castle. "Do you

think I

"No," she said stronger.

"Why?" Julian asked.

dug her fingers into the sand.

one I

Elva nodded.

if you work hard enough, I bet you could even make a castle like that one."

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

to pin on Bridget. She didn't

Elva asked

"It's too perfect, you know? It doesn't seem real. Real castles have tons of flaws. There's chips in the walls, places that have been torn down and

now with narrow eyes, as if observing it more

said. "They show growth. Age. Challenge and acceptance. Perfect is boring. Imperfection..." He put his finger under Elva's chin and lifted her face up

her sand mound.

I was here this whole time! "I think Mommy wants to talk to

of sight and saw me waiting. "Mommy!" she

her and hugged her. "I'm so proud of

didn't do anything!"

smiled back. I was proud to have him as a friend, and

broken, I sobered. As did Julian,

Mommy?"

my hands up and

said. "Some... merfolk. Good ones, this time. They want to help you. They want to cure you of what makes you sick

Elva's eyes went wide as

I told her. "But there's nothing to really

even really knowing what I was talking about. I was once again grateful for his place in my and

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

pressed her lips hard together. "It will

my doubts. If Veronica was confident, then I was confident. I trusted my