章 30: A Teacher?

The white light from the pearls hung above was piercing to the eye as he slowly opened them and they quickly regulated to the intensity.

Zeras lay 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 and 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, and a shabby wardrobe.

But what caught Zera's 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 trident with rust covering some part of it.

He looked at himself and at the 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 an 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 that 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 thanking 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 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 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 to see 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 walked. They don't swim like fish. 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 him 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 around..."

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 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 for this week." Zeras said shocking Plank speechless.

"Oh...Ok?"

"Good, you can leave..."

"Ok, here's the leftover of your coins..."

Plank passed him 80 coins which were the coins he had left as he 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.

"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 that extended into the abyss below.

"Come with me..."

Zeras immediately stood up from the bed and chased after the man's figure with curiosity.

Just what secret could this ordinary cleaner be keeping?