[It wasn't really drowning... Pretend drowning?? She was having fun, why do so many people dislike fun!!

She tilts her head at the question, expression going curiously neutral. It's not that it's a touchy subject or anything, but it's a question she'd forgotten, momentarily, always comes up.]

There are mermaids who remove their tails to become human if they choose. Believe they are called like selkies. I, however, did not choose.

[She rubs one leg absently, expression darkening] Was captured, by humans. I removed tail to escape, but they took it away and was stuck in human form. When came here, still had human form. It is too hard to move around city if I do not have legs, unfortunately.

But mermaids can do those sorts of things. Suppose that is 'our' magic. There are many others, but I was not able to learn them.