Mona and Watatsumi pearls || pt 1

モナの海祇真珠

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When Mona visited Inazuma… Mona made sure to buy some souvenir for herself as a reminder of her visit, Inazuma is not the easiest place to visit after all. Just as when she was leaving the souvenir shop, a kind fisherman called her attention,

“You young lady looks like a talented vision holder.” he said.

The fisherman then gave her a jar of pearls, other than a short explanation that these Watatsumi pearls are fish eggs from a special fish found only in Watatsumi island, he only left with some parting words:

“The Watatsumi blesses those it chose”

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A breeze of mystery from the man’s words made her interested in the pearls.

Upon arriving home in Mondstadt, the first thing that Mona unpacked was the mysterious Watatsumi pearls. Fragrant and delicious, yet never overwhelming, unlike the usual fish roe that she is aware of, the pearl colored eggs are huge, each are like jelly both in texture and appearance.

Mona first tried the sauce that the pearls came with, gentle sweetness with a very tiny hint of salt, a very careful balance that reminds the tongue to the main flavor. Following the tease of the flavor, Mona took a spoonful of the egg, a flow of complex flavor coated her entire mouth as it quickly melted when it touched her tongue. She already finished one serving before she noticed it.

Like other regional specialties, when cooked or used as an ingredient for a dish, it should provide some form of enhancement for a short period of time.

All within her expectations, Mona’s control of hydro had the similar amount of enhancement she could get from other elemental enhancing specialty, what made the Watatsumi pearl’s effect different was the noticeable stamina enhancement it came with.

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Couple of days later, Mona is taking a rest in a nearby lake. She planned to eat 2 pearls this time, with the stamina enhancement in consideration, she expected that the increased consumption will have a stronger effect with increased duration…

Time passed by, Mona got carried away by her test and training, that’s when the difference of the effects made itself obvious. She was walking in water, a temporary effect not found in any other ingredient…

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Third test.

Mona ate 3 pearls this time, at this point, she only expects the duration of the effects to be longer. She planned to take advantage of the stamina enhancement effect.

To her surprise the effect lasted for more than half of the day, she estimated her previous test was around an hour.Mona concluded that the duration is extended exponentially, but the enhancement is mostly the same from that of 2 servings.

Ending her day with a bath,

Mona soaked herself in water, where then she felt some itching and minor discomfort around her body, she noticed delicate scales growing in her face, shoulders and thighs. She was relieved when the scales quickly disappeared just as she finished her bath, deducing that the scales are extra side effects of the pearls.

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A week since the previous test, Mona has planned to conclude after this fourth test…

Consuming 4 Watatsumi pearls this time, Mona only sought to obtain a definitive proof of the previous effects, duration, and side effects relative to the amount of ingredient consumed.

All effects went as expected until the last side effect, the scales that grew this time are more defined and has more coverage. Unlike last time, these scales did not quickly disappear.

Mona already considered that the duration might extend beyond a day this time, she was correct. By the next morning, she woke up with more changes, the scales are now wrapping almost her entire arms and legs, and reaching some of her back; web membranes had grown between her fingers and toes, there was also a noticeable weakness of her legs when she tried to move around.

The pearl effects did not wear off until noon. The physical changes did not completely disappear for another day and half.

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It’s been a month since the last time Mona ate or touched the pearls, but the cravings and effects never truly left her.

Despite her initial assessment, the physical changes from the side effects never completely disappeared. There were faint fish scales all over her body, and she never regained the full strength of her legs.

It took another month for Mona to admit to herself that the cravings for the pearls will not go away, and would rather cause unnecessary stress to herself if she continued to foolishly resist something as minor as a food.

Watatsumi pearls as her entire meal of the day; she already finished the fifth pearl before she managed to stop herself.

“This might be bad… ”

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Four pearls had already left some concerning and almost permanent changes in her body, Mona could not help but worry that consuming five or more will have even more severe changes…

Mona managed to go through her day with the normal effects until sunset, when the anticipated side effects started appearing. Compared to her previous experiences, the changes this time were more intense and are appearing faster.

For the past 2 months, faint fish scales and weak legs were not the only change that did not disappear…

A constant feeling of arousal that never disappeared unless she relieved herself was also a side effect that Mona tried so hard to ignore.

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Alone in her bathroom, she removed all of her clothes that have become uncomfortable because of the scales all over her body. Her legs have also completely lost all strength and are now unable to support her body, all Mona can do now is just observe and feel the changes in her body…

She can only speculate, but Mona estimated that the membranes between her fingers took an entire night before it appeared, but this time she is able to observe it appear.

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“It’s a bit fast, but within expectations I guess” she assured herself.

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/// to be continued.... xD