*A few weeks earlier*
In a secret cave within the depths of Atlantis, the representatives of the mermaids gathered clandestinely.
"The assembly of the Mermaids Council can begin" one of the representatives announced.
The situation in Atlantis kept getting worse.
The descendants of the ancient Atlanteans had been steadily imposing their dominance over other communities in recent years.
Fuelled by their new leader's belief in their inherent right to govern, as the original descendants of the sunken city, their grip on power grew stronger.
The once-thriving democracy of Atlantis now lay in ruins.
For centuries, the diverse inhabitants had coexisted harmoniously, but the ascent of a new leader, Praetor Pontius, adept at manipulating the masses, had dramatically altered the situation.
Initially, it began with innocuous public speeches about being proud of the original Atlanteans' heritage, seemingly harmless.
Embracing one's own history was encouraged, but the narrative was carefully crafted to marginalize "the others" considering them as mere inconveniences rather than integral parts of the shared story.
With the identification of a common enemy, those who adhered to the leader's rhetoric started looking at others with suspicion and distrust.
They even had organized spaces where only the original descendants of the Atlanteans could enter.
Exploiting their majority status, the descendants of the Atlanteans weaponised the mechanisms of democracy to pass laws that deliberately disadvantaged the minority groups.
Those who dared to voice opposition were warned and, if they persisted, were arrested.
"I would have never imagined that I would witness the fall of Atlantean democracy in my lifetime, the democracy that all other kingdoms envied us and tried to imitate and I did not believe that this meeting would be clandestine" a senior representative of the mermaids announced, bowing his head.
"We asked the Atlantean representatives for an update on our people's prisoners in their prisons… the resources we give them is no longer enough to feed them and they are so weak that they're losing their powers completely. They denied me to send a doctor to visit them" Kairos, another representative and member of the council announced, eyes shining.
"This situation is becoming unlivable. We can no longer use our powers publicly, we can't train our youth, we can't teach our children the history of our people besides what they allow us to teach them. What will happen next?" the senior representative added.
Ethan, sitting among the council members, listened carefully and looked down as he listened to the elders speak.
"I'm afraid the time has come to bring together the representatives of other peoples, always clandestinely, and decide what to do" Ethan's father interjected, rising from his seat.
"And what exactly do you propose, Nereus? We cannot afford a war; do you comprehend the countless lives we would uselessly sacrifice?" retorted Kairos, with an accusing tone.
"Then pray tell, what alternative course of action do you suggest? Shall we simply suffer and endure, confined within our homes until we can no longer step foot outside?" Ethan's father insisted, responding with the same tone.
"I'm just trying to say that a war could lead to our total annihilation", Kairos replied.
"We don't have enough weapons and we are too weak to use our powers properly".
Ethan, who had been silent during the whole meeting, decided to interject, even though he was still too young to be an active part in the council meetings.
"Are you all blind to what's happening? If we keep doing nothing, even these meetings will become impossible" he voiced, striving to maintain the calm in that heated discussion.
"And what alternative do you propose? A war against the Atlantean army, as your father suggests? You are well aware that we are a minority, inadequately armed too" Kairos retorted.
"No, that's not what I'm suggesting. However, we cannot simply ignore the situation and limit ourselves to periodic updates about our people's prisoners. These updates only serve understand the unsustainability of our circumstances, which worsen with each passing day" he responded.
"Enough beating around the bush. What actions do you suggest?" Kairos inquired.
"We must clandestinely organize ourselves, maximizing our training efforts to preserve our powers and autonomy" Ethan fervently declared.
"Are you out of your mind? Do you want our children to be imprisoned too?" Kairos retorted, growing increasingly frustrated.
"Our powers will be our salvation, alongside our youth. Without our powers, we will lose everything" he countered.
"The youth is already trained as best they can, while avoiding unnecessary risks" the other member chimed in.
"Speaking of powers... any updates on our army commander's family?" he cautiously inquired.
"Nothing new, the commander is in prison alongside his daughter, while his wife desperatly waits for them at home" another member replied.
"Didn't he have another daughter too?" Ethan asked, his confusion evident.
"Yes, but that girl is no longer within the realm of Atlantis. Her parents chose to safeguard her life when she was born" was the reply.
"Why?" Ethan queried, his perplexity deepening.
"Because her powers surpassed those of her father and sister combined, and her parents swiftly discerned the winds of change blowing across Atlantis under the new leader's arise" came the explanation.
"Where is she now?" Ethan pressed further.
"She lives on the mainland" interjected another council member.
Ethan's eyes ignited with determination.
"I will find her" he proclaimed, his voice resonating with unwavering courage.
"And how do you plan on finding her, please tell us?" Kairos retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"Even if you manage to find her, she won't remember anything about Atlantis and her powers are not developed" he added, casting doubt.
"We are left with no choice but to suffer or engage in a conflict, with a less numerous army and numerous mermaids members who have been stripped of their powers. She can help us" Ethan replied.
The oldest council member interjected "I believe you are correct. That young girl has the potential to alter the fate of the entire kingdom."
"Ethan, are you sure about what you are suggesting?" Nereus, his father, questioned him.
"Yes, I am determined to leave Atlantis and look for her immediately" he responded resolutely.
"It is dangerous, and you have never been outside of Atlantis" Nereus countered, attempting to dissuade him.
"I don't care. I will do whatever it takes to stop what that tyran is doing. With the aid of the Gods, I will find her and take her back to Atlantis" Ethan declared.
The senior council member turned to address the gathering, stating "As we remain a democracy, how many of you are in favor of Ethan's proposal?"
In unison, the vast majority of hands shot up.
The following night, Ethan managed to reach the residence of the mermaid army commander, where only his wife resided after her husband and daughter were arrested.
He decided to wear a black hood that made him unrecognisable.
He managed to break in the commander's house and waited for Lorelei, Delphine's real mother and wife of the commander.
"Who are you?" she exclaimed in a state of panic, her eyes filled with fear, believing him to be an intruder come to arrest her.
"Lorelei, don't be scared, I'm from the mermaid council. I need to talk to you" Ethan reassured her.
The woman looked at him, waiting for him to speak up.
"I have been chosen for an important mission" Ethan added.
"What mission?" she inquired, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
"I am going to find your daughter" he replied with unwavering resolve.
"No, it is far too dangerous. The prison is under constant surveillance. I don't want a young man like you to risk his life like that" she protested.
"No, not that daughter, the other one" he asserted firmly.
Tears welled up in the woman's eyes, and soon after, she started to sob out of anguish.
"My dear little girl..." she uttered between heart-wrenching sobs.
"I need your help to find her outside of Atlantis" Ethan implored.
"No, I cannot bear the thought of placing her in danger again" she responded, her words laced with pain.
"Your daughter represents our only chance of saving Atlantis. The alternative is our utter annihilation. I promise you that nothing will happen to her. I'll protect her with my own life" he vowed.
Delphine's mother, her real mother, overwhelmed by emotion, tried to provide him with every detail necessary to recognize her daughter.
Before departing, the woman halted him in his tracks.
Before Ethan left her house, she stopped him.
"May the gods bestow their blessings upon you and protect you... I have always dreamt of this moment, yet I am consumed by fear for her and for other young people like you" she confided, hugging him tightly.
Ethan reciprocated the hug, remaining silent.
He still didn't know whether the mission would be successful or not, but he was determined to find that girl at the cost of his life.
Hard days awaited him after that night.
First he'd have to learn to survive out of the water and control his powers on land, where he had never been before.
Then he'd have to leave Atlantis in secret, unaware of what would happen there in the meantime.