Join 17-year-old Neha and her best friend Miya on an unforgettable underwater adventure as they uncover the hidden Kingdom of Vesperia.
“Huh? I can breathe? Miya? Can you too?” I asked, bewildered.
“Yes, I can, but what is going on?” said Miya.
“I would have told you if I knew,” I replied, a bit irritated.
You must be wondering, What’s going on? Where are they breathing? And who is Miya? Be patient, and I’ll tell you everything. But before that, let me introduce myself.
Hello, everyone! I’m Neha, and I’m 17 years old. I’m in Class 11 at Nirmala Senior Secondary School. Miya is my best friend, and we both study at the same school here in Port Blair. But we never knew about Vesperia. Vesperia? Is that what you ask. Well go on read the story you will come to know about Vesperia.
So, instead of jumping straight into the story, let me tell it from the beginning.
Miya and I were relaxing on the beach one Sunday afternoon during our summer vacation. It was probably one of our favourite things to do. After a while, we started feeling a bit bored, so Miya suggested that we go snorkelling. Of course, I agreed. I mean, why would I say no to that?
And that was when something unusual happened.
Unfortunately, a huge wave pulled us away from our guide, and we got trapped in a massive pile of garbage. When we opened our eyes, we somehow found ourselves in an underwater kingdom.
“Huh? I can breathe? Miya? Can you too?” I asked, bewildered.
“Yes, I can, but what is going on?” said Miya.
“I would have told you if I knew,” I replied, a bit irritated.
“Also, Neha,” Miya began, “I can’t see the surface of the water. It’s really puzzling.”
“It looks like a small village, doesn’t it? So pretty and peaceful, yet completely deserted,” I said.
“Maybe it’s because of all the trash. Let’s look around. Perhaps we’ll find someone—or something—to help us,” suggested Miya.
We began searching the place. Beneath layers of loose sand and pebbles lay heaps of garbage. After searching and calling out for quite some time, we decided to enter one of the houses.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” I called, but only an echo answered.
“I don’t think shouting is going to help,” said Miya, already brushing the loose sand off a table-like structure.
As she continued cleaning, I noticed a flat stone lying on the table. She hadn’t seen it because it was almost completely buried beneath the sand.
“Hey, Miya, take a look at this,” I said.
Slowly and carefully, I picked it up. We noticed that something was engraved on it. It read:
Vesperia Talks
Beneath the depth of silent tides,
Where history’s ghost in shadow hides;
Entombed within a crumbling grave,
Lost in the filth of a lightless cave.
Reach through the reefs where corals sleep,
And break the rusted chains that bind the deep.
When I turned the stone over, there was a symbol of a chain carved into the back.
“Okay, Neha, please explain what’s going on! Everything is going over my head! You’re the smartest girl in class—use that brain of yours!” Miya exclaimed in frustration.
Ignoring her, I said,
“Is this supposed to be a riddle? Miya, memorise it. We’re going to get to the bottom of this.”
Miya looked like she wanted to kill me. She was terrified about how we were supposed to get out of there, while I was excited to discover where the riddle would lead us.
“Seriously, Neha? I’m having a heart attack thinking about how we’re supposed to get out of here, and you’re excited? Just forget it. You’re lucky I’m your best friend, because I love you enough not to leave you behind,” replied Miya.
I let out a small but genuinely happy laugh that sounded like bells ringing. Miya loved seeing me happy, and I loved seeing her happy too.
“Alright,” I said. “The riddle mentions a dark, crumbling cave, a coral reef, and a chain. So we either have to find a coral reef or a cave.”
“I saw a huge coral reef beside a wall while we were exploring the village!” Miya chimed in.
“Perfect!” I said, bouncing on my feet. “What are you waiting for, Miya? Lead the way!”
It took us quite some time to reach the reef, mostly because there was so much rubbish everywhere. When we finally arrived, we found several rusted chains fastened to the wall behind the reef.
“We have to break this?” Miya squealed.
“Yeah. That’s what the riddle says,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Don’t worry. We only have to break this big knot. It’s the main one. If we break it, the rest should collapse,” I observed.
“I found this huge rock. I think it’ll work,” Miya said.
Together, we managed to smash the knot. The chains collapsed, revealing a very old, ancient cave.
“Incredible,” I whispered, just as awestruck as Miya.
“This is insane!” she added.
“What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” I said excitedly.
Fortunately, Miya had a flashlight with her. Although I didn’t show it, I was beginning to feel worried. The riddle had ended, and we had no idea what lay ahead. To make matters worse, the cave was littered with garbage.
Just as I feared, we soon reached a dead end.
“WHAT? NEHA, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?” Miya panicked.
“Calm down, Miya. Stop shouting. Give me the flashlight. Look at the wall,” I said calmly.
When I shone the flashlight on the wall, another part of the riddle appeared.
Vesperia Talks
Fettered by the sprawl of human pride,
In suffocating tides of waste tied wide.
Should you discern a glimmer, a hidden sign,
Retrace your steps and leave the path behind.
“Another riddle? Couldn’t they make things simpler?” Miya groaned.
“There must be something valuable hidden here. Otherwise, why would it be guarded so carefully?” I said.
“Whatever. It’s so confusing,” Miya muttered.
“Hey, look! Both riddles have a chain symbol. This one tells us to go back and look for a shining chain symbol!” I exclaimed.
We retraced our steps and soon found another inscription on the wall. Beneath it was another chain symbol—but this one was split into two pieces.
“Great. Now what?” Miya sighed.
“Could you be patient for once? Let me read it,” I scolded.
Vesperia Talks
In silent wait a life remains confined,
Seeking a soul of pure and crystal mind;
Shatter the walls, bid the captive free,
And let the air breathe winds of sanctity.
“This is the third part of the riddle,” I said.
“But why is the chain symbol broken?” Miya asked.
“There must be some kind of mechanism. If I remember correctly, all the other chain symbols were joined together. This one should be too. Hold the flashlight, Miya.”
As I brushed away the weeds and dirt, I realised that the wall was hollow.
“Do we have to break this wall?” Miya asked.
“I think so,” I replied.
As I tugged at one of the vines, I noticed that one part of the chain symbol was slightly raised.
“Wait… this is it! Miya, help me pull this!” I called.
Together, we pushed the two pieces together. Instantly, the wall opposite us began to vibrate. A hidden stone slab slid open, revealing a sturdy iron hammer.
“Now we use this to break the wall!” I said, picking up the hammer.
“Wow, Neha! You’re a total genius!” Miya exclaimed.
After several hard blows, the wall finally collapsed.
What we saw left us frozen for nearly five seconds.
Before us stood a magnificent glowing city with a grand castle at its centre. Everything was built from seashells and recycled plastic. However, there was one problem—it was terribly overcrowded. Sea creatures of every kind filled the streets: mermaids, mermen, sea turtles, colourful fish, and many others.
They all stared at us in shock.
A few hurried towards the castle, and moments later, the Mermaid Queen emerged. To our surprise, she bowed before us.
“We’ve waited years for someone to come. I am Yoonara, Queen of Vesperia,” she said.
“It is an honour to meet you, Your Majesty,” Miya and I said in perfect unison.
“Please, have a seat. I’d like to speak with you both,” said Yoonara.
She explained that the ruined village we had explored had once been part of her kingdom. Years of pollution had killed countless fish, as well as many mermaids and mermen. A handful of kind humans had helped by recycling plastic, allowing her people to build a new city. Her elder sister, Mizuna, had left to seek help from the human world but never returned.
“Since then, we’ve been trapped here. We need the human government to clean the oceans. If we remain this overcrowded for another two or three years, the kingdom my sister entrusted to me will fall,” Yoonara finished sadly.
“We can help you,” I said.
“But first, we need you to help us return to the surface so that we can inform the government.”
“Do you promise to come back?” Yoonara asked.
“Yes, we do. It may take some time, but we’ll come back,” Miya assured her.
Soon, Yoonara gave each of us a baby narwhal, and we safely returned to the surface.
As soon as we got home, Miya and I wrote a letter to the government, urging them to clean the area immediately. We also described how we had nearly lost our lives after being swept into a massive pile of garbage.
In addition, we published an article on social media to spread awareness about proper waste management and the devastating effects of pollution on marine life.
At first, the government paid little attention. However, when our article went viral and thousands of people began supporting the campaign, they were finally compelled to take action.
The polluted waters were cleaned, and before long, Vesperia began to flourish once again.
We had not only saved Yoonara’s kingdom but had also honoured Mizuna’s legacy.
It may have been just one hidden kingdom beneath the sea, but it held countless memories and countless lives.
Today, the Kingdom of Vesperia thrives once more, and Queen Yoonara lives happily alongside her people.
