The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

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

castle," Julian motioned toward his much

you think I

"No," she said stronger.

"Why?" Julian asked.

dug her fingers into the

one I

Elva nodded.

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

to make that herself. It truly did seem unlikely. When had she the time?

were enough fouler things to pin on Bridget. She

Elva

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

castle now with narrow eyes, as if observing it

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

glanced at her sand mound.

this

sight and saw me waiting. "Mommy!" she

"I'm so proud of you, honey," I tell

do

Julian smiled at me. I smiled back. I was proud to have him as a friend, and so happy that Elva could have

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

wrong, Mommy?" Elva

rubbed my hands up and down

Good ones, this time. They want to help you. They want to cure you of what

Elva's eyes went

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

Julian said, volunteering himself without even really knowing what I was talking about. I was once again grateful for his place in my

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

pressed her lips hard together. "It will make me

was confident, then I was confident. I trusted my

head low, she looked up at

me. I had always thought I'd hidden that side