The Mirroress: A Supernatural Tale of Merfolk and Inner Reflections

nspired by Anneli Von Knorring | Retold & Enhanced by TaleTreasury

Once upon a time, not far from the bustle of the town, stretched a peaceful coast where the land surrendered to the whispers of the ocean. Amidst meadows and dunes, I found my way to a lonely section of the beach where jagged rocks jutted into the sea like silent sentinels. I was seeking solitude—craving a place to be alone with my thoughts, my breath, and the sound of the waves.

In my small satchel, I carried simple things: a seat pad to shield me from the cold, damp stone; a flask of water; and, curiously, a small bottle of soap bubbles. I had not bought them. A stranger had given them to me just yesterday—an elderly man with a deep voice and eyes that held the ocean’s mystery.

“Make sure you’re close to water when you use them,” he’d said with a half-smile before disappearing into the crowd outside the market.

The air by the shore was crisp and invigorating, filling my lungs with every breath. The waves hummed a lullaby, and the wind whispered secrets I could almost hear. I sat upon a broad, flat stone, gazing at the waves as they curled and sighed against the boulders. Hours passed unnoticed.

Finally, I remembered the bottle in my bag. I opened it and was instantly surprised—the liquid inside did not smell of soap but of salt, seaweed, and a briny perfume of the deep sea itself.

Curious, I dipped the wand and gently blew. A cascade of shimmering bubbles drifted before my eyes, catching the sunlight and dancing on the breeze. Then I saw it—within each bubble was a tiny figure! Merfolk, no bigger than a fingertip, swam within the bubbles, gliding and twirling with grace. Their scales shimmered in hues of sapphire, emerald, and gold, tails glinting like precious gems.

The bubbles floated and, as each touched the ocean’s surface and popped, the merfolk inside grew to their true size and dove into the water, laughing with joy, tasting freedom.

They turned and looked at me with eyes of wonder and gratitude, urging me silently to blow more bubbles—to release more of their kin. Each one was unique: one had scales that rippled like a rainbow, another bore a crown of coral, while others had patterns like the night sky or the autumn leaves.

But then, among the delicate orbs, I noticed a bubble unlike the others. Inside it swam a being both haunting and majestic. A she, I thought. Her features were sharp, her eyes piercing, and from her waist descended not a tail, but a cluster of shadowy tentacles. Darkness seemed to radiate from her, even inside the glimmering bubble.

I hesitated, torn between fear and responsibility. What if I released her and she harmed the others? What if I kept her trapped—was that any better?

I stared into her stern gaze and felt the weight of choice. Then I remembered: they all deserved a chance, just as I had been given chances. No one should be denied their path, however dangerous or painful it might be.

“Take care,” I whispered to the dark one. “And find your heart.”

I released the bubble. She slipped into the sea, her tentacles vanishing beneath the waves, leaving the others murmuring in concern and unease. Yet, she did not stay—she swam swiftly away into the deeper blue, a shadow destined for her own difficult journey.

Finally, there remained one last bubble. I peered inside and saw another peculiar mermaid. Her eyes seemed blind at first, clouded like misted glass. But when I raised her close, her eyes shifted—the fog clearing, pupils expanding—and she looked directly at me.

“Are you blind?” I asked.

“No,” she replied with a serene voice, ancient and youthful all at once. “But I see inside.”

She was different, I realized. A lightworker, perhaps—a soul born not to fight darkness, but to illuminate it. She carried within her the strength to awaken others, to reflect their truths back at them.

“Your path will be the hardest of all,” I said, sensing the immense burdens she would bear. “But it will be the most rewarding.”

I released her. The other merfolk greeted her cautiously, puzzled by her presence. Some were drawn to her light, others recoiled—but all felt something stir within themselves when they looked at her.

“She is their mirror,” I whispered, awed. “Their Mirroress.”

As I sat there, the sun gently lowering over the sea, I watched them swim away, a tapestry of colors and destinies weaving together beneath the waves. I realized then that like the merfolk, we all carry reflections of light, shadow, and mystery within us—waiting for the right wind to set us free.

And as for me, I remained seated on my stone, clutching the now empty bubble bottle, pondering the curious stranger who had given it to me. Perhaps, like the merfolk, I too had been freed that day.

Moral of the Story:
We all carry within us both light and shadow, and no soul deserves to be trapped or denied their path. By embracing all aspects of existence—joy, sorrow, light, and darkness—we learn, grow, and find our true selves.