The white light from the pearl chandeliers hanging above was piercing as he slowly opened his eyes, and his vision quickly adjusted to the brightness.
Zeras lay there for a while, watching them, when a voice echoed out to him:
"You're awake..."
He sat up and 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 walls, and a shabby wardrobe.
But what caught Zera's attention was the rusty trident hanging to the side.
It was strange to him because the trident was almost twice as long as a normal one, with rust covering parts of it.
He looked at himself and at the bandage wrapped around his stomach, though he was sure he was fully healed.
He could hear footsteps approaching from behind as he sat up and turned, alert at first, then relaxing.
It was the old man he had tried to save in the training hall.
"Drink this. It should help you regain your energy," the old man said, offering him a small bowl holding a black, sticky mixture.
Zeras took the bowl and drank it in a single gulp.
His face twisted in disgust at the sourness.
"Thank you..."
"I should be the one thanking you, child. You saved my life." The old man said as he walked to his broom resting on the opposite wall.
Zeras watched the man's retreating figure and noticed something that made his eyes go wide in shock.
The way the old man was moving.
He wasn't swimming at all.
He was walking like a human would on land.
The man's legs were placed on the water, and almost unnoticeable ripples 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 could walk like this.
"How?" He mused unconsciously.
"Hmm..." The old man turned back to him."
"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 ease 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 walk?"
The old man asked, chuckling to himself.
"Yes. I do!"
The old man was surprised to see the conviction in the boy's voice.
It was a strange request, as none had 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 walked.
They didn't swim like fish.
But generations change, 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 him to a point where he couldn't say no.
"Okay, 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 disdainful expression on his face.
It was Planck.
"Hey, old foggy, the soldiers have complained that some of the rooms aren't being cleaned. Do you think I'm paying to goof off around..."
Plank's words caught in his throat as he looked at the figure on the bed and realized it was that demon.
"Haha, I don't know you're..."
"How much do you pay the man to clean the colosseum for a week?"
Zeras asked, cutting him off.
"It's 10 Atlantean coins..."
"You said I have 100 Atlantean coins as a reward for being an Atlantean Soldier, right?
Then take twenty Atlantean coins. The old man wouldn't be available this week," Zeras said, shocking Planck speechless.
"Oh... Okay?"
"Good, you can leave..."
"Okay, here's the leftover of your coins..."
Planck passed him 80 coins, the ones he had left, and quickly scurried away.
"Here... Take these 20 coins, too. It seems you'll have enough for the next two weeks."
Zeras said, passing them to the old man, who slowly let go of the broom in his hands.
"That's quite gracious of you. 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 toward the wall and touched a random spot, causing a section of the wall to sink in, revealing steps that extended into the darkness below.
"Come with me..."
Zeras immediately stood up from the bed and chased after the old man with curiosity.
Just what secret could this ordinary old cleaner be keeping?