3 Chapter 3

I open my eyes to a familiar view. A city of foreign design. Well foreign as in not found on earth. This is an underwater city after all. Even after five years it still amazes me how a city can be under water. Just as strange is the people swimming around with such ease. The architecture is simply astonishing.

The city was Greek in design I think. With some other foreign things splattered around the city. Tall spires and beautiful colors. The best way to describe it would be an underwater paradise.

In the center of the city lies the royal palace. Home of the royal family. King Ryus, a good king I suppose. He is also my father. Still find it hard to believe that I am a prince. An Atlantean prince of an exiled faction.

This place is called Xebel and it's people are a former penal colony of Atlantis. For some reason they were banished and Imprisoned in what would be called the Bermuda Triangle. So turns out I'm an Atlantean or a Xebelian to be exact. I was more of a marvel fan so I don't know too much about the DC universe. I mean where else could I be but DC?

I was so excited when I figured out I was in the DC universe. Though I don't know which one but that doesn't matter. At least that's what I felt up until I turned four.

I had all kinds of plans, I would stand at the top. I wanted to join the justice league and become a powerhouse like Superman, Batman, the green Martian guy and Wonder Woman. I did not get a system or wishes like in the novels and fan-fics I used to read but I didn't care. I was born an Atlantean and that was a good enough start.

Not only that but I was born a prince. I may not know much about DC, but I know for sure that Atlanteans are physically superior to humans. Sadly all those dreams and aspirations came to a screeching halt when I turned four.

Just when I thought that this was a second chance. A new beginning. The same ailments that haunted my every waking moment in my past life have followed me. I developed severe stomach problems that made it difficult for me to eat and digest food.

Not even with the amazing magic of the Atlanteans could cure me. Father had all those who were skilled in the healing arts to try and help me but nothing worked. I became depressed. To be given a second chance only to find that I would be unable to take a step forward.

Since I had trouble eating I am so skinny and am unable to train. My body simply can't handle the strain of any strenuous activity.

It's been three years since then and I have come to accept my fate. Looking once more at the city before me one last time before I push up from the ground and swim towards the palace. I look back and see my supervisor following some distance behind. Father has taken to assigning me with a watcher in case my symptoms flare up suddenly.

It would not be the first time and most definitely not the last. I have grown used to it by now. I don't even know the name of my silent guardian. He never speaks and never removes his armor which covers his face. So I also don't know what he looks like.

The people of Xebel are warriors and those who are weak are looked down upon. Most see me as a disappointment or an outright mistake. I am all but shunned by my people. The only reason why no one makes a scene of humiliating me is because of my father.

So they resort to ignoring my existence. I arrive at the palace and make my way to the training grounds to find my sister.

As I approach I hear sounds of combat. Once there I see five men sparring with a young girl. I find a nice place to relax as I watch the fight. The young girl is constantly being pressed by the grown men. Every time she makes some headway a seemingly impossible strike hits her from her blind spot.

This young girl is my older sister Mera. She is seventeen years old, ten years older than me. Father has spared no expense in her training. She learns politics, history, kingly duties, combat and anything else he deems necessary.

From as long as I can remember she has been training. I only just recently discovered the purpose for such grilling training. For some ridiculous reason, the king, my father has decided that she will be the key to our people's salvation. Our ticket to freedom.

We are trapped in a barrier that separates us from the rest of the world. A prison imposed upon us generations ago by the king of Atlantis.

My father and his councilors decided to train Mera as an assassin so that she can kill the current king of Atlantis and free the rest of us. Crazy I know. But they have spared no expense in her training so she can accomplish her duty.

Along with her more mundane studies, she is also being taught the magic of our people. The power to bend water to our will. It's a signature skill of our people and she is a natural born talent.

Unfortunately I was not gifted at all. Father did not even bother to get me an instructor but he taught Mera personally. I was deemed too weak to learn. That the strain would be too great on my frail body.

Mera took pity on me and tried to teach me secretly but that resulted in me nearly dying. My body was simply too weak. Seems I am destined to be weak and alone. Nothing has changed from my previous life. Why was I even given this second chance? Are the gods mocking me? To place me in a universe with so many possibilities, only to make me a weak, frail and untalented nobody.