Aurelia stirred as muffled voices drifted in and out of her awareness. People were talking, their words indistinct, like they were speaking from underwater.
She jolted awake, her body tensing as her golden eyes snapped open. The room she was in wasn't familiar—it looked like a bedroom, with soft lighting and an ornate bed draped in shimmering fabrics. But it wasn't her room. Where was she?
Her chest tightened as panic set in. She sat up, her hands gripping the edge of the bed. The strange, weightless sensation hit her first. Everything around her felt light, almost dreamlike.
"It's okay. You're safe," a soothing voice said, cutting through her spiraling thoughts.
Aurelia turned sharply toward the voice. Standing by the edge of the room was a young man with blonde hair so luminous it looked like spun gold. His eyes were an electric blue, so vibrant they seemed to glow faintly. His entire appearance radiated an unearthly beauty, his features sharp and perfect, his skin glimmering faintly like it was kissed by sunlight.
But then she noticed something odd—his hair wasn't just golden, it was flowing. No, floating?.
Her breath hitched as a realization hit her like a wave. The weightless feeling, her hair floating lightly around her face—she wasn't just in a strange room.
She was underwater.
"What the—" Aurelia's voice caught in her throat as her body stiffened. She touched her own hair, feeling it drift around her fingers as though caught in a gentle current. Her panic spiked, her breaths coming short and quick as she began to thrash.
"No, no, no! I'm underwater!" she cried, the words bubbling out of her mouth. She instinctively tried to inhale, only to feel water rush into her lungs.
"Stop!" the young man exclaimed, stepping toward her. His voice was calm yet urgent. "Don't suck in water! You'll hurt yourself!"
But it was too late. Aurelia doubled over, clutching her chest as her vision blurred. She expected to choke, to feel the crushing weight of drowning. Instead, a strange warmth spread through her chest. The water in her lungs didn't suffocate her—instead, it dissolved, like her body knew what to do.
Her frantic breaths slowed, her body adapting in a way she couldn't understand. She stared at the young man with wide, frightened eyes.
"W-what's happening to me?" she gasped, her voice soft yet clear, as though the water wasn't there at all.
The young man gave her a kind, reassuring smile. "Your body is remembering. You're Atlantian, Aurelia. Breathing underwater is part of who you are."
Her golden eyes darted around the room, taking in every shimmering surface, the flowing curtains, and the glowing coral structures on the walls. It looked like something out of a dream—or a story she might have read.
"This—this isn't real," she whispered, shaking her head. "It can't be."
"It's very real," he replied gently, kneeling in front of her. "You're in Atlantis now. Welcome home, Princess."
The word hit her like a tidal wave. 'Princess.'
Before she could respond, a familiar figure entered the room. Arielle, her fiery red hair now unbound and flowing behind her, swam in gracefully. Her face lit up when she saw Aurelia awake.
"You're okay," Arielle said, relief evident in her voice. She swam over and sat on the edge of the bed, her green eyes scanning Aurelia for any signs of injury. "I was worried after everything that happened."
Aurelia looked between Arielle and the blonde man, her mind racing with questions. "What is this? Why am I here? And how am I breathing underwater?"
Arielle exchanged a glance with the young man, her expression serious. "We'll explain everything," she said. "But first, you need to know this: Seraphina wasn't the only one looking for you. You're in more danger than you realize."
Aurelia's heart sank. As much as she wanted answers, she could feel the weight of something far larger than herself closing in. For now, all she could do was listen—and try to make sense of the impossible truth unraveling before her.
Aurelia tried standing up, but the moment her feet touched the floor, she was immediately pushed upward by the buoyancy of the water. It was impossible—she couldn't walk; she was *floating.* Each attempt to find balance only made her drift further from the ground.
"Great," she muttered, crossing her arms in frustration as she bobbed in place.
Behind her, muffled snickers reached her ears. She turned to see Arielle and the blonde man exchanging amused glances, clearly entertained by her struggle.
"Glad you're enjoying the show," Aurelia said dryly, rolling her eyes.
"Sorry," Arielle said, though her grin betrayed her lack of sincerity. "You'll get the hang of it eventually. Atlantian bodies are naturally weightless in the water. You just have to… think about where you want to go."
"Think about it?" Aurelia repeated, incredulous. "I'm not a fish!"
The blonde man chuckled softly. "It's more intuitive than you think. Just focus."
Aurelia ignored them, determined to distract herself from their laughter. She spotted a balcony nearby, its rail glinting faintly like polished silver in the dim light. With great effort, she managed to propel herself toward it, her movements awkward and clumsy as she grabbed hold of the rail.
When she finally steadied herself, she looked out—and her breath caught in her throat.
Atlantis.
The city stretched out before her, shimmering like a dream beneath the endless expanse of ocean. Glowing coral towers spiraled gracefully toward the surface, their colors shifting between hues of iridescent blues, pinks, and golds. Bioluminescent plants lined the streets, casting a soft, ethereal glow that illuminated the pathways winding through the city.
Buildings carved from crystalline materials sparkled like they were made of starlight, their intricate designs mimicking the flow of ocean currents. Arches and domes adorned with pearlescent mosaics glittered with every movement of the water. Schools of vibrant fish swam lazily through the streets, their bodies flashing like living jewels.
At the heart of the city stood a massive palace, its spires so tall they seemed to merge with the ocean itself. The palace gleamed with a golden light, surrounded by swirling currents that formed protective barriers. The domes atop its towers were encrusted with glowing pearls the size of her head, and water danced around them as if responding to an invisible symphony.
Above the city, manta rays and jellyfish with luminous tendrils floated gracefully, their movements synchronized in a rhythm that seemed almost magical. The entire city pulsed with life, the light reflecting off the water creating a kaleidoscope of colors that shifted and changed with every ripple. Technology here was kind of advanced.
Just think of Atlantis in the Aqunan movie if you don't understand, it's sort of like that
Aurelia's jaw dropped. "This… this is Atlantis?" she whispered, her voice filled with awe.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Arielle said, swimming up beside her. Her voice was softer now, as though even she couldn't help but be enchanted by the sight.
"Beautiful doesn't even begin to cover it," Aurelia said. Her golden eyes scanned the scene, taking in every detail. She couldn't believe something so extraordinary existed, hidden beneath the surface of the sea.
"This is your home," the blonde man said, his voice steady and warm. "You're part of this world, Aurelia. You always have been. You just didn't know it until now."
Aurelia swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the railing. Part of her wanted to deny it, to insist this was some elaborate dream she'd eventually wake from. But the other part of her—the part that had always felt the sea calling to her—knew it was true.
She turned to Arielle, her voice trembling. "If this is my home… why do I still feel... "her words drifted away.
Arielle hesitated for a moment before replying. "Because it was hidden from you. Now it's not and you probably feel overwhelmed and unsure, it's natural"
Aurelia's gaze returned to the city, her heart pounding as a strange mix of wonder and fear coursed through her. She didn't understand everything yet, but one thing was certain—her life would never be the same again.