Years passed.
Dan grew up, and he still always remembered Feza.
One Wednesday in October, on the day of his eighteenth birthday, at sunset, Dan went to the river to see Feza, his pockets filled with candies.
The air was cool, the moon full.
He began to play his flute.
A few minutes later, Feza emerged.
“There you are at last,” Dan said, stepping closer to her. “Do you remember my promise?”
“Dan, it’s impossible,” Feza replied. “Humans and mermaids cannot marry. I am destined to marry Ziran.”
“Ziran? Who is Ziran?” Dan asked.
“He is a Triton prince,” Feza replied. “He is the one the Mother chose to be my fiancé.”
Dan’s face darkened with sadness. He stayed silent for a moment. He looked at the sky, then at his flute, then at Feza.
“But we can keep being friends. I don’t mind,” Feza said.
“All right,” Dan replied. “That’s exactly what I was going to say. I’ll come see you every day. I’ll always play my flute on the riverbank in the evening.”
Feza smiled. “And above all, never forget the candies.”
Dan burst out laughing.
Deep in the river, Ziran, the strongest and most respected triton in the kingdom, began to notice Feza’s frequent absences.
One day, as he swam through the reefs, he saw Feza talking with Dan on the bank. Seeing them laugh together like old friends sent a wave of jealousy through his heart.
“Who is this human she spends so much time with?” Ziran muttered, his chest tight with anger.
The next day, Ziran approached Feza as she sat in her coral palace, brushing her hair.
“Feza,” Ziran said in a calm but tense voice, “who is that human you meet by the river?”
