While he was losing consciousness, Ariel thought about his family. He wondered how they would feel.
A Merynian drowning. How laughable is that. The other kids would love to see this.
As the surface grew further and further away, the light began to fade.
His oxygen was running out. Consciousness starting to drift away. As he was passing out all he could feel was pure hatred. Hatred for himself, for the way things have been all this time. He hated the fact that he would die before awakening his runes.
He hated the way his parents smiled at his sister when she got her runes. The whole village practically came out to congratulate her. Reyna was the perfect child. Ariel wondered if his parents could ever smile at him that way.
All he wanted, all he's ever wanted, was to be a powerful mage like his sister. Someone who can protect his family, someone who's legs don't shake.
His head was blank now. His lungs filled to the brim with water. He could only muster one final thought.
"God, please make me a hero."
His final sight was mass that appeared in front of him. He couldn't really make out what it was. No doubt a passing shark who stumbled upon its next meal.
It opened it's mouth and swallowed him whole.
--
(ARIEL POV)
I can't feel a thing.
Is this death?
Why am I still so cold then? I tried opening my eyes but it was still as dark as when they were closed. Must be hell then.
I wonder if me stealing Devon's lunch while back caused this. No way right? I'm not that smart but even I can tell that kid was pure evil. He would always bully me when we were younger and he flaunt his obscene wealth.
I mean I only stole his cuz he hid mine as a joke?
No way. Hell is supposed to be hot. Why are my hands so cold. My hands--
What the FUCK is on my hands!
I could feel this slimy goey substance on my hands. Is this some sort of cruel torture method? I tried moving my body and that's when I realized.
I'm alive. Sweet Meryn I'm alive!
But I can't move. Was this goey substance restricting my movement? You know after some getting used to, it kinda feels sorta...good?
And that's when I heard it. With a loud growl, the goey substance vanished and I was cold and wet again. But I could move, just barely.
I tilted my head up to see pure darkness, except I knew something was there.
I could hear a low growl. It sounded like some sort of land animal. But the ground below me didn't feel like land.
I heard a louder growl. At this point I'm panicking.
"Who's there?" I tried to sound threatening but it's really hard when you're paralyzed.
"You're finally awake?"
And then I saw it. Two huge sea green eyes just like dad's staring right at me. This scared the living death out of me. Judging from its eyes, this thing must've been about 50 feet tall.
My whole body tried to jump back instinctively, but I stopped myself.
I had already lived a life of fear. I can't even run away. There's no point.
After looking at these eyes for a while I realized they were quite beautiful. There was a certain animalistic feature but beyond that I felt like I was gazing at the entire ocean. So many dancing lights. It was a divine sight.
Were these what my dad's eyes looked like? What my eyes would look like? No. I could tell there was something different here.
"Who are you" I asked.
The eyes gazed upon me curiously.
"I do not know what you mean" The voice trembled the ground below me and...above? I guessed we were in a cave.
"Where am I?"
"You are in my home"
"And where is that?"
"At the bottom of the ocean."
...
What?!
I couldn't believe it. No way I sank all the way to the bottom of the ocean. I looked at him. But there's no reason for him to lie.
"How can I breathe then?"
"I have made a space for you"
"What?"
"But I do not understand. How can someone who was given my mother's eyes be rejected by the sea" It bellowed almost angrily.
That I did understand. I had heard that all my life. I decided to ignore it.
"I don't get it. Why is it so dark? Who are you?"
"It is dark because when most humans see me. They look upon me with fear. I have decided it is best for your health not to see me."
I was about to deny that, but I figured it was probably true. Crippling fear is something I know all too well.
He continued.
"But I have heard your kind call me Neptune once."
I swear my heart stopped.
NEPTUNE? THE DEITY OF THE SEA?
I have heard stories that he was a giant sea dragon who could swallow great whales whole. He was a deity who defended the sea. Many villages worship him and have shrines in his name.
I silently thanked him for not showing me his true form.
"Why did you jump into the sea if it rejects you?"
That kind of hurt. I remembered Mom and Dad, Lukas, and everyone else who told me to come here. I wonder why they would tell me that knowing I can't swim.
I guess taking a chance with the ocean is better than certain death by crazy wolf soldier.
"I had no choice. My home was destroyed and I was about to die."
"I see. But I wonder why you cannot breathe ocean when my mother has given you her eyes."
"Who is your mom?"
"The person who birthed me to this world"
" Ye- Yeah I get that. Who is she though."
" I'm afraid I cannot say"
I guess even deities have secrets. I decided not to pry.
"Well what now?" I asked. The eyes looked at me confused.
" I do not know."
" Can you help me get home" I winced at that. Home was long gone.
" I can take you to the surface, but I'm afraid you won't find much there but fire."
I remembered the burning villages. The women and children taken by Adrian soldiers. A certain rage started to grow inside me.
"Why do you anger?" It asked me.
"Do you really want to know?
The eyes nodded at me. I could pretty much move now so I sat up.
"Okay then, where to begin..."
I told him everything. From my uselessness as a mage to my sister's suffocating excellence. I told him why Adria was attacking Meryn for no reason. How they steal women and children and sell them back in their country. My Mom told me that Adria was in a financial crisis because of the war and there were doing whatever that had to to fix things. No matter what lines they had to cross.
I made sure to let him know how much I hate Adria. How much people they killed and how they disrespect the sea. When I talk about them I feel this uncontrollable rage. It almost scares me.
I told him how bad I felt. How everyone risked their life to save me. How I just wanted to be strong. Strong enough to protect everyone. Strong enough to be a hero.
Okay even I realize that's embarrassing for someone so weak say. But nonetheless I told him everything.
After I had finished, the eyes showed an expression I hadn't seen before.
We took a long silence until I finally tried breaking it.
"Um-"
"What is your name?"
"Oh yeah- I guess I haven't told you that. I'm Ariel. Ariel Snow." I responded.
"Ariel. A kind name indeed."
"Uh- Thank you?"
"Child, I have decided."
"Decided what?"
" I will make you strong."
--
Thousands of students flooded through the gates when they finally opened. At long last It was time for the Adria Military Academy's entrance exam. The place were all the teenage hopefuls of Adrain nobility would hone their skills in order to become the finest soldiers of the realm.
They say the wisest generals and strongest captains all came here in their youth to grow their skills. Graduation here is a first class ticket to a high rank in the army. Non-nobles apply here too but they need special permission from the chancellor.
--
The examinees poured into the main plaza and stood confused. They started chatting amongst themselves until a loud voice claiming to be an examiner interrupted them. Strangely no one could tell where the voice was coming from.
The examiner had them line up in single file and pick one of the seven registration booths to sign up at.
However the seventh booth, manned by Gus Oberyn. Was the only booth that would actually let applicants through. The logic behind this was that the other booths were not in fact manned by humans, they were actually puppets of earth magic. Great puppets nonetheless. To an untrained eye, they were humans through and through. The academy believed that no one who couldn't tell the difference deserved to even apply.
Gus however, Found this ploy particularly stupid claiming everyone would just go to a random booth.
As he lazed away signing up applicant after applicant. He knew none of them actually knew the ploy at hand and just came here randomly. However someone strange appeared before him.
"Name?"
"CASTRO VAN DYKE" He said louder than necessary.
Gus realized it. The regal clothes, the blond hair, the snarky grin. This boy was from the Great Van Dyke house. He might have some talent but it seemed to be blinded by his royal pompous attitude.
"A pity" He thought to himself as he signed Castro's name down.
However that attitude ceased when he saw this next person.
"Micah Alanis Sir!"
This guy was big. Maybe 195cm? Strong too. He had a body similar Ostrgund's elite swordsman. But more than that he had something of an aura. An aura of pure strength.
Gus smiled to himself as he signed Micahs name.
Castro who just finished registering was waiting for him.
"Come Micah" He barked.
"Yes sir!" Micah responded as he walked off with Castro. Gus figured it out. That Alanis family, the sworn protectors of the Van Dyke Household. "What a waste to have such a talented kid defend this snob." Gus thought to himself.
More people with no personality signed up. Row on row of pampered nobles and weak willed hopefuls who Gus knew would snap at the first stage of the exam. Gus thought the boredom would last for ever...
Until this dude appeared. Before even looking up Gus could feel the pressure.
He was a tall young man with black hair in a ponytail and the greenest eyes you could ever see. His body was fully bandaged like he just been mauled by a bear, but his eyes emitted unwavering strength. This was nothing like that Micah child , this was animalistic, beastly power.
Gus felt like he was prey staring at the apex predator. He thought his hand would turn to jelly.
"N- Name"
"Ariel Snow " The guy replied.