Legend of Nereid

Infobox manhwa


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caption = Cover, "Legend of Nereid" volume 15 (Daiwon edition)
ko_hangul = 네레이드의 전설
romanized = Nereideu-ui Jeongseol
genre = Fantasy, Gender bender, Romance
multigenre=y
Romance = y
Fantasy = y
author = Hwang Mi-ri
publisher = flagicon|South Korea Daiwon
publisher_en =
publisher_other =
demographic =
magazine =
first =
last =
volumes = 15
ko=y

Legend of Nereid is a 15 volume Korean manhwa by Hwang Mi-ri, available in Korean and Japanese. It's the story about how a false prophecy changed the lives of a young ocean warrior, a respected general, a foreign prince, and several kingdoms.

Background

Matia has always wanted to be the Ocean warrior. She’s one of the best swimmers among her peers, and she has learned tactics from the respected Lord Muta himself. This year she’ll be 15, and it’s finally her turn to compete for the honour, which can only be held for one year. Her friend Kulap is her fiercest competition, but Matia is certain she will be the one to bring the sword of Poseidon back to the shores of Akaron Island, on the day of the ritual.

But far from the free spirited island of Akaron, the queen of Attica is paying a visit to the Prophet Atropa. He sees a future where the Prince, her son, will not be the next king, and he sees pools of blood surrounding the throne. He can not however see who will be the one to usurp the throne, but when the queen threatens his whole family, he names someone randomly. He says the one to plunge the country into chaos will be this years Ocean Warrior, from Akaron Island, a small province of Attica. Soon a group of soldiers, led by General Temedes, heads towards the island of Akaron with orders to kill the Ocean Warrior.

The general finds his orders to be appalling, but will obey his king even if it means to kill a child.. As soon as he comes to shore, he takes a walk, and sees an island girl bathing. He is awestruck by the sight of her splashing playfully around in the water, diving, coming back up, and smiling. She is free, naked, and looks like she’ll become one with the sea at any time. To Temedes, she looks like a sea nymph, a Nereid. The girl is Matia.

The battle to become the Ocean Warrior is fierce, but Matia wins. As soon as she steps ashore, proudly with the sword raised, the soldiers try to kill her. But Matia escapes. Her friend Kulap later goes to her secret hiding place, and tells her what he has heard about the false prophesy. She is angry, and decides to seek out the prophet and clear her name. After being reassured her mother is ok, Matia heads for the capitol, with the sword as her only mean of protection.

Matia cuts her long wavy hair short, and discovers she can pass remarkably well for a boy. She even takes on the name of her best friend, Kulap, whom she beat in the Ocean Warrior race. But getting to the capitol is difficult. Coincidences bring her into the midst of general Temedes army, where she befriends general Temedes. Not knowing the “boys” true identity, Temedes finds Kulap to have great talent, as well as an interesting personality. He is highly amused when she befriends a beautiful wild stallion, by saving him from death. The stallion starts following her, and she names him Pegasus.

On the unluckier note, Matia discovers there is a huge award out for whoever catches her, and after a run in with the foreign Prince Tyon (who attacks Temedes army) she ends up wanted by two sides. The only exception is that Prince Tyons 4000 gold coins will only be awarded if she is brought to him alive. The Prince, not sure whether he wants to kill her or not, is at least certain nobody else should have the pleasure of killing the insolent creature. However, Matia is not all that’s on the young prince’s mind. He has his eyes on conquering Attica as well.

Matia grows fond of Temedes, as her life gets increasingly more complicated. She’s certain he’ll kill her if he ever discovers her real identity, and she’s unaccustomed to life on land. Her short run in with Prince Tyon, introduced her to his loyal servant Lamodeus, who scares her probably more than death itself. The story goes on with royal intrigues, and innocent lives on the line. What will Matia do if she ever reaches the capitol and what will the king do if he discovers his most trusted general has kept the Ocean Warrior by his side- however unknowing? Will Prince Tyon kill her, or will Matia be able to return home soon enough to put the Sword of Poseidon back in the rock for next year’s competition? And what will Matia do when she realises her mother is not as ok, as she was told?

Mythological background

In Greek mythology the Nereids were sea nymphs; there were between 50 and 100 Nereids, all daughters of the water god Nereus, and the Oceanid Doris. Nereus was called the old man of the sea by Homer, and was seen as a personification of the sea. The Nereids were popular figures in Greece, and many reportedly married human men. Among the most famous was the Nereid Thetis, who married Peleus the King of the Myrmidons, and gave birth to Achilles.