Chapter 3
The vast depths of the Atlantic concealed the ancient structure rising from the ocean floor—a relic of a time long forgotten, a time when the seven kingdoms of Atlantis were united under one banner. Now, it served as neutral ground, a place where the divided rulers of the seas could meet without conflict, though the tension in the water was as thick as the ancient stone walls surrounding them.
At the head of the table stood King Nereus of Xebel, his sea-green armor shimmering under the bioluminescent glow of the hall. His deep-set eyes scanned the room as the rulers of the seven kingdoms slowly took their seats. Beside him, the Queen of Atlantis, Mera, sat with regal authority, her hand resting lightly on the arm of her husband, King Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman. Their son, Arthur Curry Jr., though not present, weighed heavily on their minds. Across the room, Garth, Nereus’s trusted warrior, lingered in the shadows, his gaze never leaving the King and Queen of Atlantis.
To the left, the massive King of the Brine, a colossal, crustacean-like figure, scratched the coral floor with his enormous claws. The Queen of the Fishermen, her delicate, scaled features shimmering like the light off a fish’s fin, sat beside him, her eyes filled with worry. The Queen of the Trench, her dark, monstrous form concealed beneath a heavy cloak, hissed quietly, her sharp teeth barely visible in the shadows.
At the far end of the table sat the King of the Deserters. His armor was ancient, worn by the sands of time. His kingdom, though distant from the ocean, still maintained ties to the seas of old, and he had come because even the Deserters could not ignore the coming storm.
The heavy silence was broken by King Nereus, his voice a deep, resonant echo through the water. “Five years. We have five years before this obliteration consumes us. The prophecy speaks of an ocean rising against us, of a darkness we cannot fight with simple force. We must find Aquaris before it is too late.”
The King of the Brine rumbled, his voice as heavy as a mountain shifting beneath the sea. “We Brine do not believe in these weak whispers of doom. My people are warriors. We fear nothing. This Aquaris, if he exists, should be here, among us. Why does he hide?”
Mera, the Queen of Atlantis, narrowed her eyes. “Do not be so quick to dismiss the prophecy, Brine. This is not a threat you can face with brute force. If you think war will save you, you’re mistaken. The sea itself will rise against us, and no amount of strength will stop it.”
The Queen of the Fishermen, her voice soft and melodic, though tinged with fear, spoke next. “My kingdom feels it already. The fish are restless, the currents disturbed. Something stirs deep in the ocean, something we cannot control. If we do not heed the warning, we will all be swept away.”
The Queen of the Trench let out a low, menacing hiss. “The Trench do not fear death... but even we feel the pull of the deep. The abyss is awakening. If this Aquaris does not show himself, then we will all be consumed, even in the darkest parts of the ocean.”
The King of the Deserters, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was gravelly, like sand shifting across stone, and he leaned forward slightly, commanding attention. “You may believe that because my kingdom lies in the desert, we are safe. But you are wrong. We, too, are connected to the oceans. The rains that fill our rivers come from your seas. The clouds that bring our storms form over your waters. The water that gives us life will be the same that takes it away. If the oceans fall to this darkness, then so will we.”
The room fell silent, each ruler reflecting on the enormity of the threat they faced. All of them had heard the prophecy, each felt the unease in their waters, but none of them knew how to prevent the doom it foretold. And then Garth, who had remained quiet throughout the conversation, finally stepped forward.
He turned toward Aquaman, his expression hard. “You know the prophecy as well as any of us, Arthur. But there is one part of it that none of you are willing to discuss openly. Aquaris... the warrior meant to unite the kingdoms. How can we be sure he’s not already among us?”
Aquaman’s brow furrowed, his jaw clenching slightly. “What are you suggesting, Garth?”
Garth’s eyes flicked toward Mera before settling back on Aquaman. “Your son. Arthur Jr. He is powerful, more powerful than any child of his age. He has the blood of Atlantis and Xebel. He has been trained in secret. What if he is the one the prophecy speaks of?”
The tension in the room immediately escalated, all eyes turning toward Aquaman and Mera. Mera’s face remained a mask of calm, though her eyes flashed with warning. “My son is just a child. He has nothing to do with this.”
The King of the Brine let out a deep, rumbling laugh. “A child? Perhaps. But I’ve seen the boy. He is no ordinary child. If he is Aquaris, then why hide him? Why not prepare him to face this threat?”
The King of Xebel—Nereus—spoke again, his voice cold and commanding. “If your son is the one meant to unite the kingdoms, then you have a responsibility to all of us, Arthur. You cannot keep him hidden away forever. We are running out of time.”
Aquaman’s eyes narrowed, his voice firm. “My son is not your weapon, Nereus. And I will not allow you to use him for your own purposes. The prophecy is unclear, and I will not risk my son’s life based on a vague warning.”
The King of the Deserters leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “But what if Garth is right? What if your son is the key to saving us all? Can you afford to ignore that possibility?”
Aquaman remained silent, his jaw tight. Mera placed a hand on his arm, her voice steady but filled with a quiet strength. “Our son is still young. If he is Aquaris, then he will find his path in his own time. For now, we need to focus on preparing all of our kingdoms for what is to come. Unity is the only way we will survive this.”
Nereus’s gaze lingered on Mera for a moment before he turned back to the group. “Perhaps Mera is right. Whether the boy is Aquaris or not, we cannot waste time debating. We must find a way to survive the coming storm.”
The Queen of the Fishermen nodded, her delicate voice cutting through the tension. “We need to unite, now more than ever. Our people are already afraid. If we fall apart, we will be destroyed before the true threat even arrives.”
The Queen of the Trench hissed softly. “The darkness is coming. We must be ready.”
The King of the Deserters added, “If we cannot prevent this doom, then we must at least survive it.”
Aquaman glanced at Mera, their eyes meeting in silent understanding. The weight of their son’s potential role in the prophecy hung heavily in the air, but they knew that revealing too much too soon could put Arthur Jr. in danger from all sides.
For now, they would keep their secrets close.
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End of Chapter 3.
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