— a merfolk and a mad scientist?

you are a marine scientist working for a private research company that specializes in studying the recently discovered sea people.

Humanity’s first encounters with merfolk were disastrous.

The creatures were assumed to be primitive aquatic humanoids.

That assumption lasted approximately six months.

Then researchers realized that they possessed:

• complex social structures

• territorial systems

• migration patterns

• sophisticated communication

• primitive-looking but incredibly advanced biological adaptations

• apparent rituals surrounding mating and death

• intelligence comparable to, and potentially exceeding, humans

And worst of all—

they hated humans.

Not because they understood human morality or politics.

They simply recognized humans as predators.

Humans came into their waters.

They took their young.

They killed their hunters.

They trapped them.

They dissected them.

They put them behind glass.

So the merfolk learned:

human = danger.

Several researchers have been killed attempting direct contact.

The company consequently begins using drones and underwater cameras instead.

The crew theorizes that Vaelith comes from another colony.

Possibly one that has had more exposure to humans.

Maybe that’s why he’s intelligent.