The Discovery
It started with a single photo.
A recreational diver named Marcus Chen, exploring off the coast near White Sand Bay, had gone deeper than usual. His waterproof camera captured what he thought was an interesting coral formation.
Except it wasn't coral.
The photo showed ruins. Unmistakably architectural. Buildings made of what looked like mother-of-pearl and crystallized water, their surfaces still shimmering despite being submerged for what must have been centuries. Columns carved with intricate patterns. A palace gate that seemed to glow faintly even in the underwater darkness.
And in the corner of the photo, barely visible but definitely there—what looked like writing. Symbols that didn't match any known human language.
Marcus posted it to social media at 9:47 PM with the caption: *Found something WILD diving today. Anyone know what this is? Some kind of ancient underwater city?*
By midnight, the post had 50,000 shares.
By morning, it had gone viral.
**@HistoryNerd2024:** *HOLY SHIT is that LEMURIA?? The lost underwater kingdom from legends??*
**@OceanExplorer:** *Coordinates? I need coordinates RIGHT NOW. This could be the archaeological find of the century!*
**@SkepticalSally:** *Obvious fake. Probably CGI. Next.*
**@MythologyProf:** *Wait. WAIT. Those symbols match descriptions from ancient coastal texts. The ones scholars thought were purely mythological. This can't be real. Can it?*
**@MarineBiologist_Kate:** *I've dived that area a hundred times. Never seen anything like this. Either it just appeared (impossible) or we all missed it somehow (also impossible). What is happening??*
The replies spiraled quickly. Archaeologists demanding coordinates. Historians pulling out ancient texts. Marine biologists arguing about tidal patterns and visibility. Conspiracy theorists claiming government cover-ups.
And then someone made the connection.
**@ArtLover_Jenny:** *Okay this is going to sound insane but doesn't this look EXACTLY like Rafayel's paintings? That famous artist? He has like an entire series about underwater kingdoms...*
She attached a screenshot from Rafayel's gallery exhibition website. A painting titled "The Pearl Palace" showing a building that was unmistakably identical to the one in Marcus's photo.
The comment section exploded.
**@RafayelSuperfan:** *OMG YOU'RE RIGHT. He's been painting this place for YEARS. How did he know what it looked like??*
**@ConspiracyChris:** *Artists have visions all the time. Doesn't mean anything.*
**@ArchaeologyStudent:** *No but look at the DETAIL. Every arch, every column, every symbol—it matches PERFECTLY. He didn't imagine this. He's SEEN it.*
Someone else posted comparison images. Rafayel's paintings side-by-side with Marcus's photos. The resemblance was undeniable. Not inspired by. Not similar to. *Identical*.
**@NewsDaily:** *BREAKING: Viral underwater ruins match paintings by famous artist Rafayel. How did he know they existed?*
And that's when things really spiraled out of control.
By noon, someone had created a Reddit thread titled: "The Rafayel Mystery: Artist or Something Else?"
The post was extensive:
*"Okay so everyone's talking about those underwater ruins matching his paintings. But has anyone else noticed how WEIRD Rafayel is as a public figure? Let's compile what we know:*
*BACKGROUND:*
*- Appeared in the art world 15 years ago (2019)*
*- No birth certificate on public record*
*- No family mentioned ever*
*- No childhood photos*
*- No school records*
*- His manager Thomas handles ALL public appearances*
*- He's never been photographed eating or drinking in public*
*- Never does meet-and-greets (always "too busy")*
*PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:*
*- Dual-toned eyes (purple/blue gradient) - EXTREMELY rare genetic condition*
*- Unnaturally perfect features (like uncanny valley perfect)*
*- Never seems to age (photos from 2019 vs now - IDENTICAL)*
*- Several fans claim his tears look "weird" (one nurse said they turned to pearls???)*
*PAINTINGS:*
*- 90% are about underwater kingdoms*
*- Remaining 10% are about a mysterious woman across different time periods*
*- The level of detail suggests he's painting from MEMORY not imagination*
*- That recent exhibition literally had plaques talking about "three hundred years" and "waiting"*
*WEIRD FACTS:*
*- His studio is on an island. In the ocean. Where else would a merman live??*
*- He owns ZERO cars (Thomas drives him everywhere)*
*- Never flies (no airplane records)*
*- Travels by boat exclusively*
*- That one interview where he accidentally said he "missed the ocean" then quickly corrected to "I mean I miss being AT the ocean"*
*CONCLUSION: Is Rafayel secretly Lemurian? Or am I losing my mind??"*
The thread had 10,000 comments within an hour.
**@RealityCheck:** *You're losing your mind. He's just a private artist with good references.*
**@BelieverInMagic:** *But EXPLAIN the paintings. Explain how he knew EXACTLY what those ruins looked like. Down to the specific carvings.*
**@ScientistSarah:** *The dual-toned eyes thing is actually fascinating. That specific gradient is theoretically impossible in humans. The genetic markers required don't exist in our species.*
**@FormerArtStudent:** *I took one of his workshops once. His hands were FREEZING. Like ice cold. In the middle of summer. And they felt... weird? Like the texture was slightly off? I thought I was imagining it.*
**@PearlJeweler:** *A client brought me a "Rafayel pearl" once. Claimed she cried at one of his exhibitions and he cried too and his tears literally crystallized. I tested it - it's a real pearl but the formation is WRONG. Pearls don't form that way. They need years in oysters. These just... appeared.*
The thread kept growing. More connections. More theories. More evidence.
Someone posted ancient Lemurian texts describing the people: *"Blessed with beauty beyond mortal ken, eyes that hold the colors of deep water, tears that become treasures, voices that command the tides."*
Someone else posted a still from a fan video where Rafayel's eyes had reflected light strangely—the way cat eyes do, like there was a reflective layer that shouldn't exist in human anatomy.
Another person analyzed his paintings, noting that the ocean water he painted had bioluminescence patterns that shouldn't be visible from the surface, suggesting deep-water knowledge.
The evidence kept piling up.
And then a mythology professor from Oxford posted a thread that changed everything:
*"I've spent 30 years studying Lemurian legends. These are the documented traits:*
*1. Dual-colored eyes ✓ (Rafayel has this)*
*2. Tears that crystallize ✓ (Multiple reports)*
*3. Inability to age ✓ (He looks identical to photos from 15 years ago)*
*4. Perfect knowledge of underwater geography ✓ (His paintings)*
*5. Hypnotic beauty ✓ (You've seen him)*
*6. Connection to the ocean ✓ (His entire life/work)*
*7. Appears in historical records under different names ✓ (I found paintings signed "Rafayel" from 1850s. SAME signature. Same style.)*
*I'm not saying he's definitely Lemurian. But I'm saying we should INVESTIGATE."*
The post went viral within minutes.
**Major News Networks:**
*CNN: "Mysterious Artist Rafayel: Ancient Connection or Modern Hoax?"*
*BBC: "Underwater Discovery Raises Questions About Popular Painter"*
*The Guardian: "Are Lemurians Real? The Internet Thinks So"*
**Scientific Community:**
Dr. Helena Rodriguez (Marine Archaeologist) on Twitter: *"I need to examine those ruins IMMEDIATELY. If Lemuria actually existed, this rewrites human history. Also - we need Rafayel's DNA. If he's actually non-human, this is the discovery of the millennium."*
Dr. James Chen (Geneticist): *"The probability of someone having that exact eye coloration naturally is approximately 0.0000001%. We need to study this man. For science."*
Professor Sarah Williams (Anthropology): *"His paintings match descriptions from texts we thought were pure mythology. Either he has access to information we don't, or... I don't want to finish that sentence."*
**@ArtCritic_Tom:** *Whether he's human or not, can we appreciate that Rafayel has been painting ACTUAL HISTORY as "fantasy art" for 15 years and none of us noticed??*
**@GalleryOwner_NYC:** *The value of his paintings just quadrupled overnight. Everyone wants a "real Lemurian artifact" now.*
**@ArtHistorian:** *If he really is Lemurian and those paintings are memories... we've been looking at PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENTATION of an ancient civilization. This is insane.*
**His Fans:**
**@RafayelArmy:** *LISTEN. I don't CARE if he's a merman. He's still the most talented artist alive and his paintings are beautiful. Leave him alone!*
**@ProtectRafayel:** *Y'all are being so invasive! His privacy! His personal life! Stop demanding DNA tests like he's a lab rat!*
**@SuperFan_Lisa:** *But if he IS Lemurian that's so cool??? Like we've been stanning royalty this whole time???*
**@WorriedFan:** *Is anyone concerned that if scientists prove he's not human, governments might try to DETAIN him?? For "study"?? This feels dangerous.*
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White Sand Bay
Nana stood in Rafayel's studio, her phone in her hand, her face pale as she scrolled through the endless threads and articles and theories.
"Rafayel," she said slowly. "Have you *seen* the internet today?"
"Mm?" Rafayel was lounging on his balcony, face tilted toward the sun, eyes closed, looking completely unbothered. "No. Why?"
"Why?! *Why?!*" Nana's voice pitched higher. "Someone found Lemuria! Posted photos! The entire world is connecting it to your paintings! Scientists want your DNA! People are theorizing you're not human! The BBC is running a story about you! *The actual BBC!*"
"Ah," Rafayel said peacefully. "That."
"THAT?! That's all you have to say?!" Nana stared at him. "Rafayel, they know. Or they're figuring it out. What are we going to do?!"
"Nothing," Rafayel said, opening one eye to look at her. "What can we do? The photos exist. My paintings exist. People make connections. It was bound to happen eventually."
"But—" Nana gestured helplessly at her phone. "Scientists want to study you! Governments might get involved! What if someone tries to prove you're Lemurian? What if—"
"They can try," Rafayel said, closing his eye again. "They won't succeed. I've been hiding in plain sight for three hundred years. A few viral posts won't change that."
Thomas burst through the studio door, laptop in hand, looking significantly less calm than Rafayel.
"Have you seen—" he started.
"The internet? Yes," Rafayel said. "Nana just told me."
"And you're just... *sunbathing*?!" Thomas's voice cracked slightly. "Rafayel, this is serious! The Oxford mythology professor is calling for DNA testing! Marine archaeologists are demanding coordinates! Your exhibition attendance doubled overnight because people want to 'see if you have scales'!"
"Do I have scales?" Rafayel asked lazily.
"That's not the point!"
"Then what is the point?" Rafayel finally sat up, opening both eyes. "Thomas. Nana. Look at me."
They did.
"I've been alive for three hundred years," Rafayel said calmly. "I've been through witch hunts, government investigations, scientific inquiries, and countless attempts to expose what I am. Do you know what saved me every time?"
"What?" Nana asked.
"The fact that I'm *impossible*," Rafayel said. "Humans don't believe in impossible things. They'll theorize, they'll investigate, but at the end of the day? They need proof. DNA, medical records, physical evidence that can be replicated and verified."
"But the paintings—" Thomas started.
"Are paintings," Rafayel interrupted. "Inspired by legends, they'll say. Lucky guesses. Artistic interpretation. They'll find ways to explain it that make sense to their worldview. Because the alternative—that merpeople are real, that an ancient civilization exists under the ocean, that I'm a literal god—is too impossible for most people to accept."
"But some people *will* believe," Nana said. "Some people will keep digging."
"Let them dig," Rafayel said, shrugging. "They won't find anything conclusive. I don't have a birth certificate because I don't need one. I don't have medical records because I've never been to a human doctor. I don't have family photos because Lemurians don't use cameras. Every piece of evidence they'd need to prove what I am doesn't exist in their world."
"What about DNA?" Thomas asked. "If they somehow get a sample—"
"They won't," Rafayel said confidently. "I don't leave biological samples. My tears crystallize too quickly. I don't sweat. I'm very careful about not bleeding in public. And even if they did get something, Lemurian DNA wouldn't make sense to human geneticists. They'd think it was contaminated or mislabeled."
He stood, stretching, completely at ease.
"The internet will theorize for a few weeks. Scientists will demand access I won't give. Eventually, some other story will take over the news cycle, and this will fade into the background. A fun conspiracy theory. An urban legend. 'Remember when everyone thought that artist was a merman?' It'll become a joke."
"You hope," Nana said.
"I know," Rafayel corrected. "I've done this dance before. Many times. Humans have short attention spans and shorter memories. Give it a month."
Thomas looked at his laptop, still stressed. "What do I tell the media? They're requesting interviews. The gallery is getting calls. People are camping outside trying to photograph you—"
"Tell them I'm flattered by the interest but I'm a private person who values my creative process over publicity," Rafayel said. "Standard artist response. Then stop responding. The less I engage, the less interesting I become."
"And the scientists?" Thomas pressed.
"Tell them I'm not interested in participating in studies. It's my right to refuse. They can't force me." Rafayel smiled slightly. "Though if they keep pushing, I can always have you send them to my lawyer. Humans *hate* dealing with lawyers."
Nana shook her head, part exasperated, part impressed. "You're way too calm about this."
"I'm three hundred years old," Rafayel said. "If I panicked every time humans got close to the truth, I'd have died of stress centuries ago." He walked over to her, taking her phone gently. "But I understand you're worried. So here's what we'll do:"
He set her phone face-down on the table.
"We're going to ignore the internet. We're going to continue our lives as normal. You'll go to work fighting Wanderers. I'll keep painting. Thomas will handle the media circus. And eventually, this will blow over."
"And if it doesn't?" Nana asked.
Rafayel's expression grew more serious. "Then we deal with it. Together. But Nana?" He took her hand. "I've survived three hundred years of humans trying to expose me. I'll survive this too. We'll survive this."
His mark glowed softly through his shirt, and Nana felt hers respond, pulsing warm against her neck.
"Okay," she said finally. "Okay. But if any scientist tries to kidnap you for testing, I'm fighting them."
"My fierce protector," Rafayel said fondly. "I'd expect nothing less."
Thomas groaned. "I'm going to need so much coffee for this. So. Much. Coffee."
"Make that two cups," Nana added. "I have a feeling this is going to be a very long month."
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🐚🐚🐚
Nana lay in Rafayel's guest room (he'd insisted she stay at White Sand Bay until the media frenzy died down), scrolling through her phone one more time.
The theories were still flowing. The posts still multiplying. But buried in all the chaos, she found one comment that made her stop:
*"You know what? Even if Rafayel IS Lemurian, so what? He's been living peacefully among us for years. He makes beautiful art. He minds his own business. Why do we need to expose him? Why can't we just... let him be? Some mysteries are better left mysterious. Some magic should stay magical."*
The comment had 50,000 likes.
And underneath, hundreds of replies agreeing.
*"Right? Like if merpeople are real and they're just vibing and making art, good for them!"*
*"Honestly if I found out my favorite artist was secretly a sea god I'd just be impressed."*
*"LEAVE RAFAYEL ALONE. He never asked for this attention."*
*"Team Let The Merman Paint In Peace."*
Nana smiled slightly and set her phone down.
Maybe Rafayel was right.
Maybe humans were better at accepting impossibility than she thought.
Maybe, just maybe, they'd be okay.
She touched her bond mark, feeling it pulse warmly, connecting her to the man sleeping two rooms away. The Sea God who'd waited three hundred years. The artist who painted their love story for the world to see without realizing what they were looking at.
"We'll be okay", she thought. "Whatever happens. We'll figure it out."
"Together."
Outside, the ocean whispered against the shore, keeping its secrets.
For now.
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To be continued __