"Good, young man. You have learned the basic steps of the Wave in very little time. It is a good result." The old man said as he looked behind him flashing Zeras an approving smile before focusing back on rowing.
Zeras let go of the trident and instead stood upright. Staring at the water which reflected his face, he took a deep breath in as his body relaxed before his leg stretched forward gently onto the water surface.
While one might be expecting his leg to sink in, they stood there for about 5 seconds until they began sinking but Zeras already drawn his leg back before then.
Slamming his butt on the boat's floor, he breathed out loudly as he muttered.
"Is that it... Is that how you walk instead of swimming." Zeras asked absent-mindedly but what he got was a smile from the old Man.
Zeras finally understood why the Old man could walk in water Instead of swimming.
While trying to sense the waves of water, some currents flowed, and some were stagnant and blocking his paddle from moving backward. Those stagnant waves were like blocks.
If one could properly sense them, then they could use the blocks as a platform. But the blocks aren't stable and will soon sink in.
"You have learned the basics of the Wave and can even apply it a little, but your concentration should not be on standing on the stagnant currents. It is to use the flowing current to support your movement.
That will enable you to make the slightest of burst, but with the flowing current moving, it will take you forward with even more speed, expending even less energy to move faster." The man said as he closed his eyes while padding, seeing all that Zeras was doing even though his eyes were closed.
Zeras took a deep breath in as he suddenly jumped from the boat and onto the water. He sensed one of the stagnant waves and used that to rest on the water but he could sense the stagnant wave breaking making him jump on another one and another.
"Try using the moving waves to aid your movement." The old man commanded.
"I can't. The stagnant waves are thwarting quickly. How would I balance on the ones that are not even stagnant." Zeras asked as he jumped from one place to the other.
"Just do it."
"I'm not ready..."
"You'll never be ready. Do it."
Zeras's figure moved from one stagnant current to another as tried following a moving current but his face changed as the moving current shifted his right leg forward, making him lose his center of balance. He skidded forward but before he could fall in the water, he quickly stepped on another stagnant wave and then another and another causing his body to eventually balance.
"Now, you know the worst that could happen if you stepped on the moving waves right?
So is there still anything to be afraid of." The man asked Zeras with a smile.
Zera's eyebrows knitted as he realized the old foggy was right. Now even if he knew he would fail on the moving waves, he could always find his footing using the stagnant waves.
A smile appeared on his face as he began moving around the boat, walking on the water with speed, he would use the moving waves occasionally even though he skidded a little, he was slowly learning to stand longer on the moving waves.
'His comprehension is fast, and his body is healthy. His mind is clear and clean. He's suited to the old ways.' The old man thought as he watched Zera's figure flickering around the water slowly grasping the power of waves.
-- -- --
10 hours later.
A young man with blue hair flickered across the water surface, as his feet seemed to skid across the water surface, yet they never dipped into it all.
Zeras felt himself moving around the water, easily using the moving Waves to propel himself and the stagnant ones to act as a platform to rest on.
Right now, his speed could at least match an average Athlanthean, and if he activated his skill- Dash. Then there was no doubt he would surpass the Athlantheans soldiers In pure speed.
He slowly breathed out the air lowing in the place, with a relaxed expression on his face.
Skidding across the river surface and breathing in the deep hair, was an exercise he was slowly growing to love as he felt his head clearing while his attunement with the waves grew even more.
Zeras eventually opened his eyes as it rested on the man before slowly moving towards him.
"Thank you," Zeras said bowing to the man. With his speed right now, he could confidently say he would match Dyvan In speed and that was all thanks to the old man.
"If you want to thank me. Then defeat Sammodra Zean." The old man said while paddling.
Zeras sat down back as he looked around him seeing the different statues.
They have been paddling for almost 16 hours now and they have yet to see the end of this long cave.
Who even knew there was a cave like this underground that wasn't filled with water and Instead air? He was also surprised the old man could even breathe in air. But he guessed it made sense. The Atlanteans weren't fishes, so they should be able to breathe on land as well.
A possible notion but wrong.
"Where are we even going, old man."
"If you want to know, then act." The old man said as he pointed to the two paddles.
Zeras grabbed hold of the paddles as he also joined in rowing it forward, using it as an opportunity to learn rowing.
-- -- --
30 minutes later...
"We're here..."
The old man's voice broke the silence as Zeras opened his eyes and before him was a large golden-coloured door.
In front of the door, two large Athlanthean were drawn on it in a clashing motion as their trident locked together in a deadly battle.
"Welcome, young man, to the Ancient Athlantheans training grounds." The old man said with pride filling every ounce of his voice while a loud rumbling sound echoed out in the place as the golden door slowly opened.