Sapphee narrates how, during the war, she met Glenn as children when she was given to his father as a political hostage. After this, she did not see him again until they both entered the academy to study monster medicine. Glenn and Sapphee go shopping on the Merrow Waterways, built by the dragon Lady Skadi Dragenfelt. A mermaid singer, Lulala Heines, offers to let Glenn and Sapphee purchase a song, but despite her obvious skill, she is unable to finish. Glenn diagnoses Lulala with inflamed gills from not spending enough time in the water. Lulala claims she will soon earn a salary singing at the Central Council Hall, but in the meantime must sing on the Waterways to support her mother and siblings. A human child falls into the water and Lulala manages to save him...