The white light from the pearls hung above were piercing to the eye as he slowly opened them and they quickly regulated to the intensity.
Zeras laid there for a while looking at the chandeliers made of pearls when a voice echoed out to him:
"You're Awake..."
He slowly sat up as he looked around the room, it was a simple room, with the bed he was lying on, some book racks at the far ends of the wall, a shabby wardrobe.
But what caught Zeras attention was the rusty trident that was hung at the top. It was strange to him, because the trident was almost twice longer than the normal tridents with rust covering some part of it.
He looked at himself and at bandage that wrapped around his stomach although he was sure he was fully healed. He could hear footsteps closing towards him from behind as he sat up and stared behind him in alert but soon relaxed. It was the Old Man he tried saving in the training hall.
"Drink this, it should help you get back your energy..." The old man said offering him a small bowl which holds a black sticky mixture.
Zeras took the bowl, drowning it in a single gulp. His face morphed to disgust due to the sourness.
"Thank you..."
"I should be the one taking you child. You saved my life." The old man said as he walked to his broom resting on the opposite wall.
Zeras looked at the man's retreating figure as he noticed something that shocked him speechless. The way the the old man was moving.
He wasn't swimming at all. He was walking like a human would on land.
The man's leg were placed on the water and almost unnoticeable ripples were being formed acting like a floor for him to move on.
A normal Atlantean would have thought this type of movement was due to the man's old age. But Zeras knew that only a human can walk like this.
"How?" Zeras asked surprised.
"Hmm..." The old man turned back looking at him strangely.
"How can you... Can you teach me how to walk like that. I'm really slow when swimming normally due to my slightly injured legs." Zeras asked trying to diffuse any confusion the old man might be having.
"I'm old, that's why I walk like this. You want to learn how the old walks?" The old man asked chuckling to himself in mockery.
"Yes. I do!"
The old man was surprised seeing the determination in the boy's voice. It was a strange request as none ever asked him how to walk like this.
His mind couldn't help but drift to the last generation.
The generation of true warriors. This is how the True Atlanteans of that time walk. They don't swim like fishes. But generation changes and this generation...
He looked at the boy as he opened his mouth to say something...
"I saved your life so you owe me one. Teach me how you managed to walk like that and we'll be even..." Zeras immediately cut him off pushing hims to a point where he couldn't say no!
"Ok, I'll teach you boy but..." A loud knock on the door cut the old man off as they both looked at the door which was rudely opened.
A figure waltzed into the room with a prideful expression on his face.
It was Plank.
"Hey, old foggy, the soldiers have complained of some of the rooms not being cleaned. Do you think I'm paying to goof off aroun..."
Plank's word got stuck in his throat as he looked at the figure on the bed and discovered it was that demon.
"Haha, I don't know you're..."
"How much do you pay the man to clean the colloseum for a week." Zeras asked cutting him off.
"It's 10 Atlantean coins..."
"You said I have 100 Atlantean coins for a reward as being an Atlantean Soldier right.
Then take twenty Atlantean coins. The old man wouldn't be available for this week." Zeras said shocking Plank speechless.
"Oh..Ok?"
"Good, you can leave..."
"Ok, here's the left over of your coins..."
Plank passed him 80 coins which was the coins he had left as he quickly scurried away.
"Here... Take this 20 coins too. It seems you'll have enough for the next two weeks." Zeras said passing them to old man who slowly let go of the broom in his hands.
"Ok. You forced me. I heard you're joining the competition." The old man asked.
"Yes I am."
"Then you're lucky you have me, or the results won't be certain." The old man moved towards the wall and touched some random part causing a part of the wall to sink in and therein were steps which extended into the abyss below.
"Come with me..."
Zeras immediately stood up from the bed as he chased after the man's figure with curiousity.
Just what secret could this ordinary cleaner be keeping?