Chapter 50: The Prince of the Seas

, though his thoughts were a storm. The city’s radiant center surrounded him in all its brilliance, but this time, he wasn’t here as a spectator—or a guest.
—Looks like this is the place... —he thought, studying the polished architecture of the plaza—. Why did he tell me to come unarmed? Isn’t this supposed to be training?

Mneseo appeared from among the crowd, waiting for him with the calm of someone who had been anticipating this moment for decades.
—Sorry for giving you so many instructions, —the prince said—, but it was important not to raise suspicion.

Zef eyed him warily.
—Suspicion? What are you talking about? Aren’t you supposed to be my teacher?

Mneseo lowered his voice.
—I am… but we’ve been waiting for you for a long time.
—We? Why are you speaking in plural?

A pause.
—You’ll understand soon. Please… follow me.

Zef nodded cautiously. The two of them walked in silence, crossing streets filled with merchants, temples, and floating fountains, until they reached the edge of the city.
—What do you want from me? —Zef asked as the landscape grew more rugged—. Where are you taking me?
—I’m sorry, I can’t explain it here. You’ll understand when we arrive.

Before they could continue, a voice stopped them.
—Where do you think you’re going, Prince Mneseo?

A guard stood in their way, tall before the great gates of the outer wall.
—We have a special permit from King Triton, —Mneseo replied without hesitation—. We’re going to train beyond the borders. We don’t want to cause any damage.

The guard frowned.
—You know stepping onto the outer lands is forbidden...
—Are you disobeying a direct order from your king?
—No, but…
—Then open the gate. Or face the consequences.

Silence stretched—brief, but heavy.
—Y-yes, sir… —the guard stammered, pulling the lever.

The gates opened with a deep groan, revealing a path shrouded in sea mist.

Mneseo turned to him as they walked.
—You can breathe underwater, right?
—Yeah. Why?
—Then let’s go.

Without another word, he dove into the sea.

Zef sighed.
—What is this guy planning...? —he thought before diving in after him.

The pressure of the water enveloped him instantly. Everything was blue—vast, silent… and Mneseo glowed faintly in the distance, his shape subtly altered. His features had grown more aquatic, scales glimmering across his skin, with thin fins tracing along his arms.
—Can you hear me? —the voice echoed directly in his mind.
—Yes…
—Follow me.

Mneseo swam like a predator. Zef followed, pushing through the reefs, diving deeper and deeper. Finally, through the shadows, something unexpected appeared: broken columns, fallen statues, temples consumed by coral.

An entire city… submerged.

—What the hell is this...? —Zef whispered, unable to contain his shock.

Mneseo stopped a few meters ahead.
—Welcome to the ancient capital of Atlantis.

Zef stared at the shattered domes and the carved symbols on stone. It was majestic—even in ruins.
—Shall we?
—Yeah…

They moved through hallways covered in seaweed until they reached an imposing structure of carved sapphire, shining even in the dimness of the deep. Mneseo led him inside. As they crossed the threshold, the water vanished instantly, as if pushed away by an invisible barrier.

Zef crashed to the crystal floor.
—Ugh! —he groaned—. It’s fine… just broke twenty bones, that’s all…

He got up clumsily, his mind struggling to process the impossible.
—Wait a second… air? Why is there air here?

A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
—Prince…? Prince Zef?

A figure emerged from the shadows.
—You…? Who are you?

Voices began to rise all around. Men and women stepped forward from behind the pillars, one by one. Different faces. Steady eyes. There were many. Too many.

Zef instinctively stepped back.
—What… what’s going on? Why are there so many people here, Mneseo? What is this?

All of them knelt at once.
—Welcome, our King Zef, —they said in unison.

Zef felt the air leave his lungs.
—Mneseo…

The prince, still kneeling, lifted his gaze.
—My king.

Zef took a step back, utterly confused.
—What the hell is this…?

Mneseo kept his head bowed.
—We’ll explain everything now.

—————
Flashback – 10 years ago

Atlantis, still standing proudly above the ocean’s surface, gleamed like a divine jewel. It was the night of the Blue Moon. The streets were draped in ceremonial cloths, and a reverent silence spread among the citizens, who waited wearing dark robes and holding torches burning with sapphire-blue flames.

Hooded figures walked in procession, lighting small bonfires that surrounded the palace. The flames flowed through carved stone channels until they converged at a sacred symbol — a crescent moon engraved in the center of the plaza. When activated, the mark erupted in light, bathing the entire city in a soft, almost magical azure glow.

From the high royal balcony, the figure of Poseidon stood in all his majesty.
—Citizens of Atlantis! —he proclaimed with an imposing voice—. Tonight we celebrate another Blue Moon, the anniversary of our beloved kingdom’s foundation.

His gaze swept across the sea of torches before him.
—We opened ourselves to the world, and the world has embraced us. We have preserved our culture, our pure lineage… and now, with our ten princes, the future is secure. They will rule with wisdom and love. Let us toast to the prosperity of Atlantis!

—Yes! —shouted the people, raising their hands to the sky.

In the plaza’s center, a goat was sacrificed with a single stroke. Its blood flowed toward the lunar mark, which flared with a violent glow, as though the sea itself had drawn a breath.
—For Atlantis and its city! —roared Poseidon.
—For the King! For the Princes! —cried thousands of voices.

But among the palace pillars, a small figure watched in silence. The child’s eyes reflected the blue fire, but not its warmth.
—How envious… —he whispered.

The interior of the palace was dim, the moonlight barely filtering through the stained glass.
—How is Clito? —Poseidon asked, frowning deeply.
—My king… the queen won’t last much longer, —the advisor replied gravely.
—Do the impossible! —Poseidon roared—. Clito cannot die!
—But that would mean—
—Now!

The advisor withdrew, tension written on his face.

In a secluded chamber, the boy sat beside a still figure lying on a bed.
—Mother… guess what I saw today?

The woman did not answer. Her eyes were open but empty. A faint smile lingered on her lips, as though a small part of her could still hear him.
—I saw the festival. Everything lit up —it was beautiful… I wish you could’ve seen it with me. I promise… someday I’ll take you there. I swear it.

Rain poured over a freshly placed gravestone. The boy knelt before it, drenched, head bowed.
—I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…

—Young master… —the advisor whispered, kneeling beside him—. You have nothing to apologize for. The queen loved you unconditionally. She never blamed you.
—I couldn’t keep my promise to her…
—She only wanted you to be happy. Nothing more.

The sound of blows echoed through the palace walls. Poseidon was striking with his fists, consumed by rage.
—She’s dead because of you! Damn child! If you hadn’t been born, Clito would still be alive!

The boy didn’t scream. Didn’t cry. Didn’t fight back. He simply endured, his gaze distant… as though he were no longer there.
—I curse the day you were born! You’re a curse upon me!

When Poseidon raised his arm again, the advisor intervened.
—Please, my king… stop.
—You dare give me orders?
—No, my king… but your wife would not want this.

Poseidon struck him with fury.
—Do whatever you want with that boy! I don’t care!

He stormed out, leaving behind a frozen silence.

The advisor wiped the blood from the boy’s face.
—I’m sorry… for not doing something sooner. But today… today I’ll change that.

The escape was a desperate sprint through forbidden corridors. Guards shouted, beams of energy cut through the air. The advisor carried the boy in his arms, dodging every attempt to capture them with blind determination.
—Stop! You have nowhere to run!
The advisor didn’t answer. He vanished in a flash of magic, slipping into forgotten tunnels.

—Young master… —he said softly as he activated a marine capsule—. You don’t need to be strong, or wise, or great. You just need to be happy. That’s all your mother ever wanted.

The boy looked at him, not fully understanding. And before he could reply, he was sealed inside the capsule, which sank into the ocean like a final falling tear.

The advisor didn’t escape.

He was captured, chained, beaten, and dragged before the throne room, where Poseidon awaited.
—What did you intend to accomplish with all this?
—To free him from you.

A guard struck him mercilessly.
—Watch your tongue before the king!

The advisor spat blood but did not look away.
—Why are you so afraid of him, Majesty? Why did you hide him? Why hide everyone who doesn’t fit your mold?

Poseidon clenched his teeth.
—Triton was different! He bore the traits of you pure Atlanteans. I couldn’t show him as heir. He didn’t deserve it.
—And the others? How many more have you silenced for not being ‘perfect’? What pathetic fear for a god—to lose control.
—Shut up!

In rage, Poseidon sliced off his hand.
—One more word, and you won’t leave this place alive.

The tension in the throne room shattered like glass.

A guard burst in, breathless.
—Your Majesty!

He couldn’t say more. A sword pierced through his abdomen, and the metallic echo of steel hitting the floor was the only sound that followed.
—What the hell…? —muttered Poseidon, stepping back instinctively.

The doors slammed open, and three figures entered. At the front stood a young man with sharp eyes and a black trident strapped to his back. His hair floated as if the air itself feared him.
—Hello, Father, —he greeted with a smile devoid of warmth.
—Triton...? What the hell do you think you’re doing?

There was no time for answers. Triton’s fist struck directly into the god’s chest, launching him through a wall of solid stone. Poseidon’s body flew like a spear, disappearing into the rubble.
—Prince Triton? —Darian gasped—. What are you doing here?
Triton tilted his head slightly.
—You… I remember you. A pleasure to see you again, Darian.

Poseidon emerged from the dust, furious and gasping.
—How… how did he become this strong?

But his question died on his lips when he saw what surrounded him. From above, the entire capital was burning. Blue flames devoured rooftops, banners, temples. The night sky had become a dome of fire.
—No… it can’t be…
—Why are you doing this? —shouted Darian, disbelief in his voice.
—Because to create great change… one must pay a great price.

One of Triton’s soldiers approached.
—Sir, what should we do with all of these?
Triton didn’t even glance at them.
—Let them go. They’re not worth the effort. No offense.

A guard rushed to Poseidon’s side.
—Your Majesty… please, get up. They’re taking the capital…
—Do you like the view, Father? —Triton lifted his hand—. I prepared it just for you.

Poseidon growled, forcing himself to his feet.
—Damn brat! Didn’t anyone teach you to respect your elders?
—My father was never around. I guess that’s not my fault either.
—You bastard!

The golden trident of Poseidon flew straight into his grasp. The instant he caught it, the seas around them began to roar. Columns of water rose like towering giants.
—I’ll show you what true power means.

Triton raised his own hand. A dark trident, scarred and battered by countless battles, emerged from the shadows and fell into his palm.
—Then let’s see what you’re truly capable of, Poseidon…

His eyes changed. The deep blue turned to black, the edges of his pupils glowing violet. His skin grew scaled, and his aura erupted like a vortex.

In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of his father.

The clash was cataclysmic.

The impact sent the surrounding seas surging in a seismic wave. The sky roared in unison. Corals shattered. The throne itself trembled.
And that day… the world began to sink.

Present

Darian lowered his gaze.
—After that… I don’t know what happened. The first Atlanteans and I fled. We waited for weeks… but when we tried to return, the city was gone. Only submerged ruins remained. I don’t know what happened in that final battle, but Triton took the throne.

Zef stayed silent, his breathing uneven, his heart pounding as if something buried within had just awakened.
—Why…? Why don’t I remember any of this?
—Maybe your mind, —Mneseo said softly—, sometimes trauma erases memories… to protect us.
—I’m sorry I did nothing, —he added—. We never knew what happened to you or Triton. We were kept in the dark. All of us.

—Don’t blame yourself, —Darian interjected—. The queen tried to prevent what happened… with Triton, with you. But Poseidon never listened.

Zef clenched his fists.
—Mother…

Silence sank into the sapphire hall once more.
—Why were you waiting for me? Why… me?
—Because your story mirrors Triton’s, —Darian replied—. But unlike him… you didn’t fall into darkness.
—Darkness?
—Triton was taken in by an organization called Black Lights. They’re the ones who helped him overthrow Poseidon.

Zef froze. The name rang in his mind like a cursed echo. The memories of Grek—the eyes of that leader, the energy that paralyzed him—all came flooding back.
—Black Lights…

—Zef, —Darian continued—, we know you’re not ready, but even so… we need you to accept. We want you to be the next king.

Zef stepped back.
—What are you talking about?
—You’re the last hope of the Atlantean people. We know Poseidon will soon return to reclaim this territory. But if Triton keeps ruling… there will be no future either.

Zef looked at Mneseo.
—And the other princes?
—Most follow Triton. None of us were born with Atlantean traits. And I doubt they’d accept someone who kept them hidden for years…

Zef lowered his head, the pressure crushing.
—I… I don’t think I’m ready for this…

A sharp click echoed behind him. A cold, mocking voice followed.
—Well said, kid. Of course you’re not ready for this.

Zef turned, his heart tightening.

A tall man in black scale armor stood at the entrance, watching him with a crooked smile.
—You’d better run back to your little friends, don’t you think?

—How… in the hell…? —whispered Mneseo.

The eyes of Vail, commander of Triton’s royal guard, gleamed like blades buried in the ocean’s depths.

And with him… came the true message of the throne.