The warrior bellowed, charging at Aurelia with trident raised high. It moved with terrifying speed, the water parting around its massive frame like a tidal wave. Aurelia barely had time to react. She flailed, trying to dodge, but her awkward movements sent her tumbling head over heels in the water.
The trident narrowly missed her, slamming into the ground with a force that sent a shockwave rippling through the chamber. Aurelia spun out of control, struggling to right herself as her surroundings blurred.
"Get up!" Arielle's voice cut through the chaos. "You have to focus, Aurelia!"
The warrior didn't wait for her to recover. It lunged again, sweeping the trident in a wide arc. This time, Aurelia managed to push herself away using the currents, her movements clumsy but enough to evade the deadly swing.
"Okay, okay," she muttered, her chest heaving as she tried to steady herself. "Think, Aurelia. Do something."
The warrior came at her again, its golden eyes blazing with determination. Aurelia raised her hands, desperate, and once more, that golden light erupted from her palms. It wasn't controlled or precise—it was a wild, unfocused burst of energy—but it hit the warrior square in the chest, sending it reeling backward.
Aurelia's eyes widened in surprise. "That actually worked?"
The warrior recovered quickly, shaking off the attack as though it were nothing more than an inconvenience. It slammed the base of its trident into the ground, creating a shockwave that sent debris and powerful currents hurtling toward Aurelia.
She raised her arms instinctively, and to her surprise, the golden light formed a barrier in front of her, deflecting the attack. But the strain was immense. Her arms shook, and she felt like her head might split in two from the effort.
The warrior roared, closing the distance between them in an instant. It swung the trident down, aiming for her head. Aurelia barely managed to dodge, the weapon grazing her shoulder and sending a jolt of pain through her body. She cried out, tumbling backward.
"You're not going to win by running!" Arielle shouted. "You have to fight!"
"I'm trying!" Aurelia snapped, frustration and fear bubbling to the surface.
The warrior charged again, its trident glowing with an eerie blue light. It thrust the weapon toward her, and Aurelia instinctively raised her hands again. This time, the golden energy flowed through her more easily, forming a concentrated beam that collided with the trident's blue energy.
The clash created a shockwave that rocked the entire chamber. Aurelia was pushed back, but so was the warrior. For a moment, they both floated in the aftermath, staring at each other.
The warrior grinned, as if impressed. Then it let out a guttural growl and rushed her once more.
Aurelia knew she couldn't keep relying on instinct. She needed to control whatever power she had—or she wouldn't last much longer. Closing her eyes, she focused on the sensation of the energy within her, willing it to respond.
When the warrior struck again, she didn't just dodge. She spun to the side with surprising grace, using the water to propel herself. The movement felt natural, almost instinctive, as though the water itself was guiding her.
The warrior turned, swinging the trident in frustration. Aurelia raised her hands, and this time, the golden light formed into something solid—a shimmering, ethereal spear.
"Whoa," she breathed, staring at the weapon in her hands.
The warrior growled, charging again. Aurelia gripped the spear tightly, dodging its initial swing and countering with her own. The weapons clashed, sending sparks of golden and blue energy through the water.
The fight became a blur of motion. The warrior was relentless, its strength and speed unmatched, but Aurelia's newfound connection to the water gave her an edge. She moved with growing confidence, her attacks becoming more precise.
Finally, the warrior overextended, swinging the trident in a wide arc. Aurelia seized the opportunity, thrusting her golden spear forward. The weapon struck true, piercing the warrior's armor and sending it sprawling backward.
The chamber fell silent, save for the gentle ripple of water. The warrior groaned, struggling to rise, but it was clear the fight was over.
Aurelia floated there, panting, her golden spear dissolving into light. She turned to the councilors, who were watching with unreadable expressions.
"Well?" she said, her voice trembling but defiant. "Is that proof enough for you?"
The councilors exchanged glances, their murmurs too quiet to hear. Finally, the central figure stood, their voice calm but firm. "You have passed the test, Princess Aurelia. The blood of Atlantis runs strong in you."
Arielle swam to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You did it," she said, her voice filled with pride.
Aurelia wasn't sure what to feel—relief, exhaustion, or terror at what might come next. But one thing was clear: she wasn't just a girl from the surface anymore. She was something more, something greater.
~~~°~~~°~~~°~~~
Aurelia sat on the edge of the bed back in the room she had woken up in , her chest still heaving from the intense battle. Then realization hit her like a wave crashing against the shore—her dad. He had no idea where she was or what had happened.
"Oh no," she whispered, clutching her chest. "My dad... he must be worried sick."
Arielle, standing beside her, tilted her head. "You mean your surface father?"
"Yes!" Aurelia said, standing abruptly, though she wobbled slightly in the water. "He doesn't know anything about this. I disappeared from the beach, and now it's been—how long has it even been?" She glanced around in a panic.
Arielle looked thoughtful. "Time moves a little differently underwater, but it's probably been several hours. Still, I understand. Family bonds are strong. We can return you to the surface soon."
The blond Atlantean, who had introduced himself as Caelum during the battle, swam forward, a look of concern on his face. "You're not fully trained yet, Aurelia. Returning now could be dangerous. Seraphina and her allies know who you are. They'll stop at nothing to find you."
Aurelia frowned, her golden eyes sharp. "I understand the risk, but I can't just abandon him. He's my dad. He's all I have up there."
Caelum hesitated, then sighed. "Very well. But we'll need to be careful. The journey back won't be easy, and we'll have to disguise your trail. They'll expect you to go home."
"Let's not waste time," Aurelia said firmly, though her voice wavered slightly. She wasn't sure how she'd handle explaining all of this to her dad—or if she even could.
As they swam toward the surface, Aurelia couldn't help but marvel at the life surrounding them. Schools of colorful fish darted past, a majestic whale glided nearby, and even the sharks seemed calm and curious rather than menacing. It was as if every creature in the ocean knew who they were, acknowledging their presence with a kind of reverence.
Breaking through the surface, Aurelia took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air against her face. But the moment her feet touched the sand, her body felt heavy, as though she was carrying an unseen weight. She tried to take a step, but her legs wobbled, and she stumbled backward.
Before she could fall, Caelum was there, steadying her with a firm grip. He looked every bit the part of royalty, dressed in attire that somehow combined the elegance of a prince with the raw beauty of the sea. His intricate armor shimmered faintly, adorned with coral and pearls, and a faint bioluminescent glow seemed to radiate from him.
"Walking on land takes some readjusting ," he said with a small smile. "You'll get used to it again."
Aurelia nodded, though she felt embarrassed. She'd spent her whole life on land—how was it that now she could barely stand?
They made their way to her father's house, the small, cozy seafood restaurant attached to it dark except for a single light in the kitchen. Peeking through the window, Aurelia saw her dad sitting at the small round table, his head in his hands. The sight of him like that—defeated and clearly worried—made her heart ache.
"Dad!" she called out as she burst through the door.
Her father looked up, his eyes widening in shock. "Aurelia?"
Before he could say more, she ran to him, throwing her arms around him. He stood, embracing her tightly. She could feel him trembling, and it wasn't long before they were both crying, the relief of being reunited overwhelming them.
"You're okay," he whispered, pulling back to look at her. "Where were you? What happened? I was so worried."
"I'm sorry, Dad," Aurelia said, her voice breaking. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just... I got lost."
Her father cupped her face, searching her eyes as if to confirm she was really there. "You're here now. That's all that matters."
It wasn't until they sat down that Aurelia remembered Arielle and Caelum were with her. They lingered near the door, and her father noticed them for the first time. His brows furrowed slightly as he took in their strange appearances—Arielle's wet hair and flowing sea-green dress, and Caelum's regal, almost otherworldly attire.
"Who are your friends?" her dad asked cautiously.
Arielle stepped forward, offering a polite smile. "I'm Arielle, and this is Caelum. We're... friends of Aurelia."
Her dad's expression softened, but there was still a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "Friends? I've never seen you two before. And what's with the... outfits?"
"We helped Aurelia when she got lost," Caelum said smoothly, his voice calm and reassuring. "It's a long story, but she's safe now, thanks to us."
Her dad nodded slowly, though he still seemed uneasy. "Well, thank you for bringing her back. I don't know what I would've done if something happened to her."
Aurelia reached across the table, placing her hand over her dad's. "I'm okay, Dad. I promise. I just need some time to explain everything."
"Explain what?" her dad asked, his gaze shifting between her and her companions.
Aurelia hesitated, unsure of how much she should reveal. "It's... complicated. But for now, I just want to be home."
Her dad gave her a small smile, though his concern hadn't fully disappeared. "All right. We'll talk when you're ready."
As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Aurelia couldn't help but feel the weight of everything that had happened. She glanced at Arielle and Caelum, who exchanged a subtle nod. They knew this was only a temporary reprieve. The world she'd grown up in and the world she now belonged to were colliding, and sooner or later, she'd have to face the truth—not just for herself, but for everyone she cared about.