The following days were a blur of training, quiet meals, and restless nights for Nereus. Each morning, Victor led him to the underground gym, where they practiced combat skills.
The graceful flow of the ocean was slowly finding its way into Nereus's movements on land, but every strike, every dodge reminded him of how alien this world still felt.
Victor's patience never wavered, though, and that steadiness kept Nereus grounded.One afternoon, after a particularly grueling session, Nereus collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily. Victor offered a hand, pulling him to his feet."You're getting better," Victor said, his voice low but encouraging.
"Faster. Stronger."Nereus wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I still feel like I'm stumbling through this. It's so different from what I'm used to."
Victor's gaze softened. "It's normal. You've only just started. But trust me, you're adapting quicker than anyone I've ever trained."The praise sent a small rush of warmth through Nereus, but it was tempered by the reality of their situation.
He hadn't seen much of the outside world since they arrived at the estate. Every time he asked to explore the city, Victor's answer was the same: "It's not safe." Nereus understood, but it didn't stop the growing sense of confinement in his chest.As if sensing his thoughts, Victor spoke again.
"I know you feel trapped. But believe me, there's more going on than you realize."Nereus looked at him, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"Victor hesitated, his eyes flickering with something Nereus couldn't quite read.
"Come with me. There's something I need to show you."Nereus followed Victor through the mansion, his heart pounding as they wound through hallways until they reached a part of the house he hadn't been to before. The air was cooler here, the walls darker. Victor led him to a door at the end of the hall, one reinforced with steel locks.
He unlocked it and pushed the door open, revealing a small room. Inside, the walls were lined with papers, maps, and photographs. At the center of the room stood a large table covered in documents and strange artifacts—some familiar to Nereus, others completely foreign.
"What is this?" Nereus asked, stepping inside cautiously.Victor closed the door behind them and gestured to the papers. "This is everything I've gathered on the people after you. They're not just ordinary criminals. They're part of something older. Ancient."
Nereus's breath hitched as he moved closer to the table. Some of the maps showed locations deep in the ocean—places he recognized from his childhood. Others were marked with strange symbols, ones that seemed familiar but eluded his memory."They're called the Trident," Victor continued, his voice low and grim.
"An organization that's been hunting for power for centuries. They believe in the old legends, that there's a source of control hidden beneath the ocean—one that can bend the sea and its creatures to their will."Nereus swallowed hard, his fingers brushing against one of the maps.
"I've heard stories about ancient powers, but I never thought they were real."Victor nodded, his jaw tense. "They are. And the Trident thinks you're the key to unlocking it."Nereus's mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. "But why me? I'm not—there's nothing special about me."
Victor's eyes locked onto his, intense and unwavering. "You're more special than you think, Nereus. The sea chose you for a reason. Your connection to it runs deeper than you know. And they want to exploit that."Nereus felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had always felt different from the others in his world, but he had never thought it made him important—let alone a target.
"What do they want to do with this power?"Victor's expression darkened. "Control. The ocean is the last untapped force on this planet. Whoever controls the sea controls everything—trade, weather, even life itself. The Trident wants to use it to reshape the world in their image."Nereus's stomach twisted. The idea of the ocean being used for such destruction was unimaginable.
The sea wasn't just his home—it was a living, breathing force that belonged to no one. "We can't let them have it."Victor's voice was steely, resolute. "We won't."There was a brief silence as Nereus absorbed the enormity of what Victor had revealed.
The Trident, this secret war over the sea's power—he was at the center of it all. And the weight of that realization felt crushing."But how do we stop them?" Nereus asked, his voice tinged with desperation. "I don't even know what this power is, let alone how to protect it."
Victor stepped closer, his presence calming yet firm. "We start by finding out what the Trident knows. I have contacts—people who have been watching them for years. There's a lead I've been waiting on, but we'll need to move soon."
Nereus felt a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty. Victor had a plan, and for now, that was enough. But there was something else gnawing at him—something that had been on his mind since the moment he'd been pulled from the sea.
"What if I could… communicate with the ocean?" Nereus asked quietly, his eyes meeting Victor's. "What if the power they're after isn't just a force—but something alive?"Victor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You mean… the sea itself?"Nereus nodded slowly, his mind racing.
"In my world, the ocean is more than just water. It has a spirit, a will of its own. Maybe that's what the Trident is after—a connection to that power. But if I could reach out to it, maybe I could find a way to protect it. To stop them."
Victor's expression was thoughtful, his sharp mind already processing the implications. "It's risky. But it might be our best chance."Nereus took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination.
He wasn't just a pawn in this game—he had a role to play, a way to fight back. And if there was even a chance he could protect the sea, he had to try.Victor crossed his arms, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"You really are something, Nereus.
Most people would run, but you're ready to face this head-on."Nereus met his gaze, his heart steady. "I don't have a choice. The sea is my home. If I don't protect it, who will?"Victor nodded, a glint of respect in his eyes.
"Then we'll do this together. We'll figure out what the Trident knows, and we'll find a way to stop them. But first—"Before he could finish, the door to the room burst open. Luca stood in the doorway, his face pale and alarmed.
"They've found us," Luca said, his voice tight with urgency. "We need to move. Now."Victor's expression shifted in an instant—calm replaced by cold determination. He turned to Nereus, his voice low and commanding.
"Get your things. It's time."Nereus's heart pounded as the weight of the moment crashed down on him. The Trident was closer than he had realized, and now the fight was coming to them.
But he wasn't alone. Victor was with him.Together, they would face the darkness ahead.