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 him

toward his much smaller lopsided castle. "Do you

you think

"No," she said stronger.

"Why?" Julian asked.

into the sand. "This one is better than that

I made

Elva nodded.

Julian paused. "I bet, 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 one."

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 didn't bother mentioning

enough fouler things to pin on Bridget. She didn't need this

Elva asked

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

the castle now with narrow eyes, as if

in imperfect things," Julian said. "They show growth. Age. Challenge and acceptance. Perfect is boring. Imperfection..." He put his finger under

she glanced at her sand mound. "I want

He glanced over at me. He'd known I was here this whole time!

turned to follow Julian's line of sight and saw

to her and hugged her. "I'm so proud of you, honey,"

do anything!" she

I was proud to have him as a friend,

I sobered. As did

Mommy?"

my hands up and down her

going to have some visitors soon," I said. "Some... merfolk. Good ones, this time. They want

eyes went wide

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

knowing what I was talking about. I

Veronica too," I said. "We'll

pressed her lips hard together.

said. Gone were my doubts. If Veronica was confident, then I was confident. I trusted my friends