《Tales of a Future God》


 1. ~Escape~

    ~Escape~


    Word Count:5,223k


    "If I''m going to leave home, I obviously need to bring my Chariot as well. To travel more comfortably."


    "Little Triton, your father will be very upset if he discovers you brought all that. Even that you''re thinking of going there would make him tremble in rage. I beg of you, please reconsider bringing fewer artefacts.


    "Fine, I''ll skip the Chariot. But I definitely need the portable turtle shell!"


    "Young master Triton, Please!"


    "Okay, okay, I get it! Tell me then, Uncle Diokles, what can I bring?"


    In the Sea God''s Palace, which unofficially went by the name of Triton''s playground, there was a young handsome man and a majestic sea lion currently in a heated discussion.


    The young man had a swirling, lion''s mane of gold hair which towered down his shoulders like a waterfall, giving off a very powerful feeling. He seemed to be moulded from a different cast than normal men. His navy-blue eyes had the same startling clarity as a mountain stream and the lineaments of his face were in perfect proportions to each other. As if chiselled by Hephaestus, there was not a single blemish on his fair skin, an appearance even women would envy and kill for. He measured two whole meters in height.


    "At max three treasures. Maybe four." the sea lion, Diokles, answered. He was a magical sea lion and served as both the young man¡¯s protector and servant. He was large and intimidating to most, his oily skin blending ash and ebon together in a dusky palate.


    ¡°So little?¡±


    "More is out of the question."


    Triton frowned with a defeated gaze. "I can''t bring the trident, can I?"


    Diokles lifted an eyebrow.


    "..."


    "......"


    "Fine, I got it. I''ll take these then."


    Triton pointed at four artefacts. A coral-shaped sword, a crimson armour, an angelic-white clam and a moss-green ring. They lay on top of the desk and all radiated mysterious, powerful auras that would make mortals'' hearts palpitatebeyond rapidly.


    "That can do but you definitely can not bring anything else," Diokles said.


    Triton nodded. Then he asked. "So will we still go with the plan?"


    "Mm." the sea lion nodded and swam over to the desk. He carefully picked up the treasures and handed them to the young man. "No changes, we will use the cover of your father''s birthday as we discussed earlier."


    Triton equipped the ring and bound the clam with a leather band before tying it around his neck. He then opened the clam and pressed the armour and the sword against it. The two artefacts slowly became smaller and entered the clam without resistance.


    "What about you?" the young man asked with worry in his eyes.


    The sea lion shook his head and let out a laugh. "What matters is that you can go. I myself would have loved to follow you, and take a look at what makes my little Triton so fascinated, but as you know, I have my duties."


    "You know that''s not what I meant." Triton quickly said. "How will he react once the truth comes out?"


    "That I helped you?"


    The young man nodded.


    Diokles laughed. "Let''s not think about that now, alright?"


    "Then¨C" Triton said and smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Diokles. Thank''s for everything you''ve done for me. I know that actions speak louder than words, father has repeatedly told me this, so I will let you hear words of my adventures from above."


    The sea lion looked at the young man with full of emotions in his eyes. He had looked after him for since a baby and nothing made him happier than being a faithful servant for the young master. ¡°Always a pleasure,¡± he said and bowed deeply.


    Little did the sea lion know, that his action once again barely entered Triton''s eyes. The one thing Triton knew, though, was that showing appreciating for Diokles would make sure the sea lion kept doing everything in his power to help him. He knew the Diokles personality and therefore would squeeze out every single juice of loyalty from him!


    Great legs, large chests, juicy meat... The young man''s eyes were full of expectation. Just you all wait! The great Triton is coming!


    ***


    There was a special kind of salt in the water of the sea kingdom this day of the year. A kind of salt that made one want to click his tongue in delight. Yes, it was no other than the birthday of a very important person. That''s right. Today, the twenty-third day of the coral calendar, was the birthday of the sea god, the great and mighty Poseidon. The sea god ruled the seas with his fearsome trident, and peerless mastery over the waves, and was one of the three greater gods in the world.


    "Soon... I can leave this place...?"


    The capital of the Sea kingdom was very large. Residents of the city travelled across its many corners through special swimming lanes as to not collide with each other. Though It was notable to mention that if a whale came swimming while you were leisurely taking a stroll, the effects of not noticing its impede in time could be disastrous. That''s why the sea god thought long and hard before ordering his officials to implement swimming lanes, means to avoid unnecessary accidents.There were even swimming highways, swimming lanes that demanded a very high speed to be used.


    Triton sat inside his mansion and looked out from his window, across the city''s closest swimming lane. Big and small, scales or fur¨C all sorts of aquatic creatures swam past him. Also here was it notable to mention that to become a resident of the sea god''s city, more than just being a member of the ocean was needed. You needed to have a certain level of intelligence. The waters covered ten times the space the land above the waters did and so the population was nothing short of endless. Only beings with intelligence on par with humans, like the magical sea lion who served as Triton''s bodyguard and was a general int he Sea God''s Divine Army, were allowed to live in the capital.


    The swimming lane was especielly crowded today. Triton saw how bustling it was and couldn''t help but feel an excitement growing within, not because of his father''s birthday, which was a joyous occasion of course, but more due to what he was going to do today. A smile appeared on his devilishly handsome face even Zeus'' wife would melt from seeing.


    "Young master Triton," Diokles called outside the room. "It''s time."


    "Coming," Triton said grabbed the clam by his bedside and pulled it over his head.


    Just as the young man was about to leave the room, he noticed all the countless of artefacts which lay on the desk. Grinning, he went over and stored everything in the clam. They are mine so why should I leave them here, is what went through his mind as the time.


    "Young master Triton, you look as handsome as always."


    As Triton left his room, Diokles stood outside, dressed in a black suit woven with exquisite sea silk. He also wore a red tie underneath the suit on his shirt, and carried a sheathed sword, with a likewise red sash to match the tie, by his waist.


    Triton shined up like the sun itself. He loved when people complimented him. "Thank you, Uncle Diokles. You don''t look too shabby yourself."


    "Oh my," the sea lion said. He then cleared his throat. "Shall we go?"


    As they arrived at the palace, the guards immediately opened up the gates and bowed respectfully. Triton and Diokles walked through and entered the Sea God''s New Palace. The old Palace had been given to Triton long ago, and so Poseidon had no option but to build a new.


    "Triton! My only son! You''re here!"


    Poseidon roared in joy as Triton walked into the palace. He was seated in his coral throne with a cup of wine in his hand but stood up with vigour the moment his eyes set sight upon the young man. He was the very definition of raging waves, a well-muscled giant with flowing hair and beard and moustache. He was triple the size of Triton and didn''t look like him at all. Maybe it was because Triton received most of his looks from his mother.


    The vassals around Poseidon instantly rose as well. To do otherwise when their king stood up was a sign of disrespect and defiance. They then bowed to Triton.


    "Father, you look stronger for each day I see you. Here, I brought you a small present."


    After a gigantic bear hug from his father, Triton handed him an old bottle of rum of which a servant of his had found a whole cargo in the deep sea a couple of months back.


    "Thank you, son. This is?" Poseidon asked, looking at the bottle with interest.


    "I believe it''s called rum. From the lands above." Triton said. "found it in a wreckage."


    "Rum? Certainly sounds interesting. Let''s try it with your mother later. It''s been a long time since we all shared a drink together." Poseidon said with a roaring laughter.


    Triton greeted the vassals around Poseidon and then got seated next to his father. His mother came in a moment later. As he saw her, he felt the urge to whistle.


    She was absolutely breathtaking as always, now wearing a rose dress which snug as loosely as a cloak on her sylph-like waist. Aphrodite had a flawless, ochreous hued skin and peach-like shapes. As her constellation-blue eyes found her husband''s, Triton noticed how her languid eyelashes fluttered and then came to a gentle standstill.


    Poseidon rose from his throne. "My, you''re truly beautiful in that dress," he said.


    Aphrodite broke out into a smile, her beguiling, oyster-white teeth making everyone in their room stare for a while until they regained their ability to stand up and bow to the goddess. Triton was the only one who didn''t fall under his mother''s bewitching act. It''s no wonder she''s the goddess of love and beauty, among else. She truly takes you by storm.


    "Please, join us." Poseidon continued and gestured for them to go somewhere more private. "Our son brought a bottle of rum from the lands above. Let''s share a cup together!¡±


    They retreated to Poseidon¡¯s private chambers. Triton sat down on a chair and watched as his mother and father got seated opposite to him. ¡°Son, mother and father have something joyous to tell you.¡±


    Triton smiled warily. "Please tell, father and mother."


    Poseidon looked hesitantly at his wife. Aphrodite gave him a nod. Then Poseidon nodded back.


    "Son,¡± the sea god began, turning to face Triton. ¡°I feel that it''s time you took over my mantle."


    Triton was flabbergasted. "What?" he exclaimed.


    "Yes, you see, I and you mother have thought about it, and soon, since you are all grown up and all, we''d like to retire from our positions and hand over the power to you." The Sea God said and downed his cup in one go.


    He then grabbed hold of his wife''s waist. "Right, dear?"


    "It''s exactly as your father said. I also feel its time for you to... become more like your father." Aphrodite told her son.


    "What do you mean by that? Is there something wrong with who I am now?"


    "Not at all," his mother laughed crispily.


    The young man sighed. "And when would this be?"


    "As soon as possible," his father admitted. "Now with age, I''ve come to realise how my powers are slowly but surely fading. Just like my two brothers. When you were born, we met and discussed the matter. We came to an agreement that when you were ready to take over my place as the god of the sea, they would allow their heirs to do the same."


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it."But I''m not ready!" Triton said. "I can''t become the Sea God yet. I''m not even half as strong as you."


    "Then you will come with me. We will travel across the sea and I will teach you all that you need in order to become a ruler just as good and strong as me." Poseidon announced.


    Triton hesitated for a while. Then he nodded.


    "Ahaha, I knew you''d understand me, son. We''ll set off after the celebration. Since this is on such a short notice, go now and get yourself ready to leave. You don''t need to stay here and celebrate this old geezer all day."


    "I''ll go and make myself ready then," Triton said and excused himself. "Mother, Father. Until I see you next."


    As he left the hall, he went to find Diokles. "Uncle Diokles. We need to leave. Now."


    Meanwhile, in the palace room where the family of three had sat, Poseidon and Aphrodite were the only two left.


    "Our son has really grown up." The Sea God said to his wife. "I remember when he was small enough for me to hold in one of my hands. Time really flies by fast when you become a father."


    Aphrodite''s hand grabbed Poseidon''s crotch. "He''s not the only one who can grow fast, is he?"


    The giant man arched head back from her soft touch. "Dear, we have guests downstairs. We can''t do this now..."


    "Says who?" Aphrodite seductively pushed him down on the marble floor. She began to kiss his muscular neck with her puffy, full lips, constantly rubbing her soft hand with angelic fingers against his crotch.


    "How about a little birthday... present?" She worked her way down with that watery mouth of hers, kissing, nibbling, and eventually sucking the surging member between his legs. "Happy birthday, dear..."


    ***


    Diokles and Triton met up in the Sea God''s Palace.


    "Did you bring everything?"


    Triton gave the sea lion a hurried nod as he bit his lip. "We need to hurry Uncle Diokles."


    "I follow your every word, you know that, Little Triton. Do we leave immediately?"


    "Yes." the young man replied. "Now."


    "As you wish. Let us be off then."


    ***


    Poseidon sat in his throne very comfortably today. Especielly now, after having told his son, who received the news with joy,that the time for taking over the throne was ripe, and also getting a very nice birthday present from his wife. He nodded to himself that having fought for Aphrodite''s hand in marriage was one of the best choices in his life. Not only did he recieve a wife who outclasses everyone else''s but he also gained a very filial son.


    "What? Why is our son leaving the city?" Poseidon began to mutter. "And... he''s taken all his artefacts treasures with him?" Then he suddenly stood up. His Herculean body trembling, causing the palace floor to shake and nearby water to churn


    "K-king!" his vassals rose as they noticed their king standing up.


    "You didn''t think I would notice?" Poseidon muttered in rage. "This sea is mine, I control every inch of water. Even a small fish can''t go without my notice, let alone you, my very own son... very well, your father will show you the mighty power of the sea so that you''ll be more than aching to inherit my position!"


    ***


    Triton controlled the surrounding water to propel him and the sea lion forward at a mind-boggling speed. It was a trait he inherited from his father, the ability to control water. As they swam north and up, many aquatic beings such fishes and whales and sharks all made way for them as if it was within their very instinct.


    Suddenly, the water around them began to seethe in anger. Triton felt a tingling sensation in his chest. His father was coming. He just knew it. Diokles felt hairs rising on his body. "I thought it''d take longer for him to notice." he frowned. "I''m sorry, young master, I misjudged his control over the sea. It really is as peerless as back the then."


    The young man clenched his jaw but said nothing. Diokles smiled apologetically and asked. "Do you want to turn back? We can say it was my idea."


    Staring down at the bottom of the sea for a while, Triton shook his head. "No. I want to go to the land above no matter what."


    The sea lion slowly nodded. "Then we shall do as young master says. Maybe we can make it to shore before he catches up to us."


    Triton gently bit his lip. "You really think so?"


    Again, Diokles nodded. "it''s worth a try."


    However, as they made their way past a famous coral reef, they heard a roaring voice from behind. It was this voice that the sea kingdom''s enemies often associated with death. The voice of the sea god who was famed for his hefty temper. It was a known fact in the realm that only to his son and wife would he show his gentle side, a side so long neglected in battle.


    "Triton!" Poseidon spat out, foam billowing from his mouth. As the water parted from his very presence, his eyes protruded and his muscles flexed. "I know where you''re going! You''re going that puny mortal kingdom you are so damn fascinated with! Why? You are destined to rule the sea and inherit the throne! Your place is here! In the sea kingdom!"


    Triton adopted a challenging tone. "No! I want to go to the land above water.


    "Why?!" his father demanded.


    "Why? Why ¨C you say?!" the young man asked and began to laugh. All his pent up irritation burst out. "Because I''m tired of the sea. I want what I''ve read about in the ancient lyrics. Human females. Told to even ignite the desire of your older brother, Zeus. I want to experience them too! I don''t want to stay here in the sea for my whole life. I refuse!"


    "Refuse to stay here?" his father said." How about it. I''ll find you the cutest merm¨C"


    "I don''t want a mermaid, father!" Triton shouted. "I want a human female! What don''t you understand? What good is a mermaid? They don''t even have legs, and I love legs! I absolutely love them! And don''t get me started on boobs cuz'' they have none!"


    "You brat! I won''t let you go!" Poseidon bellowed and increased his speed.


    "Go ahead and try!" Triton returned with a snort. He also speeded up.


    The sea water churned and two powerful streams of water raced through the sea.


    In one of the streams, Triton and the sea lion stood. The sea lion shook from bottom to toe. He wanted to fulfil the wishes of his young master but couldn''t help to be afraid of the angry sea god.


    "He wants to fight? Right by me!" Triton snickered and opened the clam.


    He was, in an instant, clad the armour of the demonic crab, holding the trident of the sea in his hand. The ring of Kraken had also coiled around his finger like your everyday squid.


    "Young master, you took all the artefacts!" Diokles exclaimed.


    "You brat! Dare to fight your father? Come! I''ll pummel some sense in you!" Poseidon cried out and bared his fist. His speed exploded exponentially and caught up to his son in a moment.


    "Recieve my fist of education!" shouted the sea god and punched at Triton. The water split apart and a rumbling filled his mind. Triton shouted in anger and stabbed with the trident!


    His trident met his father''s hand. A boom caused the sea to churn and the sea floor to shake. The recoil made Triton fly away like a cannonball. His arm trembled from his father''s mighty power.


    But Poseidon was in no better shape himself.


    The sharp trident had pierced the skin of his knuckle but gone no further. A drop of golden blood escaped, turning into a water horse which swam toward Triton.


    The young man gritted his teeth and used the trident to pierce the skin of his own arm. It bled golden as he pushed the ring on his left hand against it.


    Three large moss-green tentacles with pink suction cups wrapped around his bleeding arm, causing him to reveal a pained expression. Then, in the blink of an eye, the tentacles became thousands of times bigger, shooting out toward the seahorse and swallowing it whole.


    Poseidon snorted and waved his hand. Nine more seahorses appeared, galloping toward the green tentacles. Both sides collided and water sprayed in every direction, causing small whirlpools to conjure.


    As everything became still, there was nothing left of neither the seahorse or the tentacles.


    "If that''s everything you''ve got, son... you will lose." said the sea god grimly.


    "Why won''t you just let me leave? I don''t want to rule the sea! You know where I want to go!" Triton chimed, grabbed Diokles and shot away to the north, leaving his father behind, fuming with anger.


    "Little Triton, why did you bring all the artefacts, your father isn''t going to let you off the hook! And he''s a fisherman!" Diokles said as they swam.


    The young man gave Diokles a strange look. "Did you just try to be funny there?"


    Diokles cleared his throat. "Anyway, that''s not what''s important here. You even brought the trident!"


    "Who cares, he''s mad at me anyway. A bit more. A bit less. Makes no difference." Triton rebutted as they passed a wreckage. The speed in which they swam kicked up nearby sand and stirred fish to spread in all directions. "Get a grip of yourself, Uncle Diokles. I will need you to succeed."


    The sea lion wriggled, a shaky smile appearing on his face. He nodded several times.


    "What do you need me to do?"


    Triton hesitated for a moment and then said. "I know this is a lot for me to ask, but I''d like for you to stall my father for as long as you can."


    "Stall your father?" the sea lion felt a chill go through its body. It wriggled again.


    "Yes," Triton nodded and held up five fingers. "If you can keep him busy for even five minutes... no, two, then that will give me enough time. Can you do that for me? Two minutes is all I need."


    Diokles had a faint premonition that his young master was merely using him this time. However, with the long-lasting loyalty fostered for nineteen years, the sea lion repressed such thoughts and bowed. "I will do as young master Triton says."


    Without an ounce of hesitation, he left Triton''s water control and swam to face his king.


    ***


    "What are you doing, Diokles?" Why are you even here?"


    "With all due respect, your majesty, I follow every word young master Triton tells me. Even if all he''s doing now is using me. And if he tells me to stall for time, that''s what I will do."


    "That''s some loyalty there. Now when I think about it, I was right in assigning you to be his Protector." Poseidon told the sea lion as they floated in the water a couple of meters away from each other. "A pity my son is using that loyalty for all the wrong reasons. Wanting to go to the land above waters instead of becoming the new sea god..." he sighed. "How foolish."


    "All the wrong reasons?" Diokles laughed. "Your majesty, I''ve been with little Triton since he was born. I might even know him better than you, and if there''s anything I''ve learned that is that he hates doing what others tell him. As simple as that."


    "You mean to say I''m in the wrong here?" Poseidon snorted angrily. "That I shouldn''t force him to become the Sea god?"


    "Not at all, your majesty. I merely think that it''s... a bit too early."


    "So now you''re telling me I''m raising my children wrongly?"


    Diokles sighed. An angry Poseidon was an unreasonably Poseidon. But hey, at least it was an effective way to stall for time. The sea lion gave up his last shred of hesitation and replied.


    "No, I just think that Poseidon has to look from his son''s perspective this time."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well, you see. Nothing is black and white. Triton''s dream is to travel across the land above. Why should we stop him? Surely you can be the sea god for a couple years longer?"


    "If all could be that easy." Poseidon''s eyes darkened. He then straightened his back and looked in the direction Triton swam toward. "He''s is not too far from shore now so It''s time for me to fetch him back. Stay here, I''ll deal with you later."


    Before the sea lion could blink, Poseidon shot away toward the north, toward where Triton went.


    Diokles hesitated for a moment but then gave chase.


    ***


    "There! I can see the light!" Triton propelled himself in the water faster than ever before. He squeezed out every drop of his energy and could now see the light breaking the surface of the sea. It was a beautiful scene; glimmering, flickering, almost sparkling like thousand of pearls in the moon light He couldn''t help but marvel at the fact that he would soon see the real thing¨C the lands that lay above the water where he could live to his heart''s full content.


    "Had your fun yet?"


    Triton turned his head and saw his father coming toward him at full speed. The young man''s heart began to thump faster.Hell no I''m going to fail now when I''m so close.He went past his limit in a desperate attempt to escape his father''s grasp, burning his lifeblood.


    "Burning your lifeblood? Are you out of your mind, Triton?!" Poseidon''s eyes bulged.


    "Out of my mind or not, you will not stop me!" the young man returned.


    Poseidon shook his head and almost teleported next to his son. After all, he was the Sea God. His speed was ten times, no, twenty times even faster than Triton''s. "Son, I have and will always love you," he said. "But becoming the sea god is your filial duty. Your responsibility. I cannot let the mere inkling of a desire take that away. I told you befo¨C"


    The Herculean man abruptly stopped speaking. A pair of grey fins were wrapped around his arms. Triton could hear the sea lion''s voice from behind his father. "Little Triton, now! Escape while I can still hold him! Go catch that dream of yours, make it a reality! Don''t let this all be for anything! Gooo!!"


    Triton didn''t hesitate for a moment. He shot away and broke the surface of the water, leaving his father fuming and the scared, for what was going to happen to him, sea lion behind. As soon as he came up, Everything became white.

 2. ~Divinity~

    As soon as Triton woke up, the smell of the sea greeted his nose. For him, this was only natural¨C he had lived in the sea for his whole life¨C but there was something else mixed within, could he sense, something that made the smell carry an exotic scent. He couldn''t quite figure out what it was and was soon faced with a difficult problem that caused him to furrow his brows. His mouth was dry. Now you may wonder, why was this a problem? Well, his mouth had never been dry before.


    He lay on a shore, as was described in the ancient lyrics as the point where sea and land met, and the sun, a brilliant, dazzling bulb of light that made heat wander his body, hung on top of the sky, staring down at him. Everything was very weird up here, did he think. His clothes, that worked fine underwater, were now wet, causing sand to stick to him. He tried to walk but the clothes were very heavy and uncomfortable, especielly now when they had sand sticking to them, and as he moved his body, the sand tore against his skin. He grimaced, undressed, revealing an extremely fit body with cords of muscles hanging about, rippling with a faint, bronze hue, and lay his clothes to dry in the sun.


    His mane of golden hair was also wet. Sighing, he grabbed his hair and twisted. Water poured out and wetted the sand. He turned toward the sea and looked. An endless patch of cerulean blue spread out. He couldn''t even see the end out it. A few gawking birds circled above in the clouds, donning feathers of both white and ash-gray and having outstretched wings far longer than even their own bodies. Creatures that can fly. He hadn''t seen those in the sea. Would they perhaps be able to fly up to heaven and shit on Zeus when he was eating lunch? He snickered at the thought.


    Triton had no idea where to go. He wore no clothes but it didn''t bother him. In fact, it was just the opposite. Wearing no clothes and having the wind smooch his skin was one of the most amazing feelings he had ever experienced, did he discover, on par with being baked by the sun. He trudged along the shore, hoping to find a road or way to a human city. As he walked, the hot sand slipped through his toes. It was very relaxing, fulfillingand slightly ticklish.


    The shore stretched for miles, clams and seaweed dotting the beach. Waves met the sand,foam bubbling, softly advanced before coming to a still, then retreating, as gently as it came, as if it was all a harmoniousstate of nature¨C a mutual relationship. Why was it so that his father and the other two greater gods refused to acknowledge the humans? Well, except for Zeus''s visits with the ladies. Wasn''t this encounter between sea and land proof of that coexistence was possible? A lot of questions wandered around Triton''s mind, just like he wandered around the beast, searching for a road, just like those questions were searching for answers.


    Slowly, time passed and Triton hadn''t found a sign of a single human. Dusk was approaching and would soon befall the world like a curtain of ash, then turn into a veil of darkness. The young man''s body was dry but he had long ago left the place where he left his clothes, not that he needed them anyway¨C there was only him on the beach.


    At least that''s what he thought. On the edge of the beach, not too far from him, a suntanned, dark-skinned old man with bare chest sat cross-legged. His hair was bundled up in a ragged cloth, his eyes closed and his body skinny. It seemed as if the man would fall if even a wind raced across him, as frail as the sapling of a tree¨C as vulnerable as a newborn child.


    Triton walked toward him and then cupped his hands in greeting. "Hello!"


    A bubbling excitement coursed through him. This was a human! Although not a female, it was an actual human. To his disappointment, however, the human sat still without moving, as if he hadn''t heard his question. Triton frowned greeted the man again, now with a louder voice. Again, no answer¨C not even a movement as a reply.


    Without many options, Triton slightly tapped the man''s shoulder.


    "Young one, why the rush? Can''t you see I''m meditating?" the old man''s voice was hoarse, not so much like Triton had expected it to be. No, it was filled with a vigorous power, different from the man''s appearance. However, even as the young man touched the old man, the old man didn''t open his eyes nor react surprised, instead only parting his lips.


    "Meditating? What''s that?" Triton asked.


    "The way to attain sublime enlightenment." the old man said. "To eternal freedom"


    "How do you know I''m young?"


    "Who else would bother an old man drawing his last breaths?"


    Triton scratched the back of his head. "Do you know the way to the nearest town? Is there perhaps a road close by?"


    "Roads are made by two feet. You have two feet, don''t you?"


    "So is there a road or not?" Triton asked confusedly.


    There was no further answer from the strange old man. He continued to sit silently his eyes shut, meditating. Triton decided not to bother the old man anymore. Did every human speak in riddles? If that was the case, then he understood why his father didn''t want Triton to go to the land above waters. Thinking long and hard about what the man said, the young man decided to go north. If he could find no road, he would do as the old man implied, make a road of his own. After all, he had two feet!


    Triton left the shore and gasped at the sight. In front of him was a plain thousand of meters wide. Behind that was a forest and a mountain range that pierced above the clouds. There was not an inkling of a sight of humans or cities, and all Triton could see was nature. He wondered how the man got here and turned to look, but the man was gone, like the wind, not a trace of him left. Triton looked in all direction but couldn''t even see his shadow. Was the old am only a figment of his imagination?


    Still naked, the young man began his long walk across the plain. His mouth was even drier now, and he desperately wanted to find out why. It had never been dry before and it was very uncomfortable, even worse than the sand that had torn against his skin. The grass beneath him was lush and soft, and although his circumstances were not too good at the moment, the excitement of venturing into an unknown land with these kinds of pleasures, like wind smooching his skin or lush grass pampering his heels and undersides of his feet, was far better than to study how to become a good ruler under his father.


    However, not all was good. Triton didn''t know when, but all this walking had made him very tired. As if the energy from his body had been sapped. Maybe it was a result of burning a part of his life blood earlier, or having a dry throat¨C Triton was unsure. Nevertheless, the drowsiness didn''t disappear but in fact increased, causing him to stagger forth, his eyelids wavering between closed and open. After a while, he couldn''t handle it anymore. He lay down in the grass, looked up at the sky, gasping at the beautiful sight. Thousands of shining light dotted the dark sky. A crescent shaped white sun was there as well, shining with a faint blue, purple sheen. Triton stretched out his hand and imagined himself catching it. Then, with a snicker, he fell asleep.


    ***


    "Shh, he''s waking up! Quiet!"


    Triton slowly opened his eyes. Only one word could describe was he saw. Beautiful. He was greeted with a woman''s face, staring at him with curiosity and worry. Her oak-brown hair was properly combed and slid down across her neck, slightly nudging his cheeks. Her face was oval-shaped, decorated with big blue eyes, the dimples on her cheeks the colour of a cherry. His heartbeat quickened as his eyes swooped further, glancing at her revealing cleavage. It wasn''t abnormally large, but the view he had was beyond incredible. Snowy mountain peaks, like the picture shown in books. Yes, that''s what described them best. Was this the allure of a human female?


    "Are you alright?" she asked sweetly.


    He swallowed, giving her a nod.


    She smiled and helped him up. He gladly took her hand. A boy no older than seven stood beside her, watching the young man quietly. They looked similar and so Triton decided that they must be siblings. They were in a small barn and Triton had laid on a stack of sticky yellow straws before standing up. His body was stiff from sleeping, maybe because of the yellow straws. Or from having fallen asleep on bare ground previously, but that thought didn''t enter his mind.


    "We found you in the plains." the girl told him and then asked. "What were you doing there?"


    "In the plains?" he thought back, then said."I was sleeping... I guess?"


    "Sleeping?" the girl said. She seemed to be sixteen or seventeen. "Are you perhaps an adventurer?"


    "No," Triton said. "Why?"


    "Well, only adventurers dare to travel across the plain by themselves. So I thought you might be one."


    "I''m not." he assured her.


    "Then, don''t you know that goblins live in the outskirts of the Greenwood forest? If you aren''t an adventurer you may get killed. Even adventurers risk their life every time they fight against monsters." the girl said.


    "Monsters?" Triton laughed. "No monster can ever hope to defeat me. Don''t you know who I am? I''m th¨C"


    "Mary! Billy! Leave the poor man alone!" a voice abruptly interrupted Triton.


    The young man looked out from the barn and saw a woman in the middle of her forties scurry forward. She carried a bowl of water, her sleeves pulled up, and wore a bright smile upon her slightly wrinkled, kind face. She put the bowl down on the ground and entered the barn.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "Good morning, I''m Addison. These are my children, Mary and Bill," she said and put an arm over her children. "My husband found you in the plains on his way back from chopping firewood, thinking you might be injured. Goodness, you weren''t. Here, I prepared a bath for you. Wash up and then come into the house¨C my husband''s very eager to meet you for some reason." she smiled and lead her children into the cottage not too far from the barn.


    Very eager to meet me... huh?Triton looked around the barn. There was a horse here, brown with white stripes, its mane a work of art. The horse gently stirred as he hushed to calm it down. No animal would be afraid of a demigod like him, after all. The young man patted its back twice, left the barn and removed his cloth¨C clothes? When did he have clothes?


    He looked down at his clothes. They were not similar to his previous ones at all. They were simple. Brown stitched pants and a red vowed shirt with white buttons that had faded away by time''s ebb. Patches had been added along the way, noticed Triton, probably because the clothes had been torn and then restored.


    Triton undressed and stepped into the barrel of hot, scalding water placed outside the barn.


    "Ahhh~!" he couldn''t help but shout in pleasure. His dry throat disappeared almost immediately. So that was the cause! He finally understood why his throat had been so dry all the time. It was the lack of water. He felt home in the water and couldn''t help but shake his head in denial; did he miss home that much? Certainly not! This was what he dreamt of! Travelling across the lands and bathe in an endless expanse of human females'' legs and breasts!


    He quickly washed off and got dressed. Then, he walked into the cottage.


    "Ah, you''re alive. Just kidding. How are you feeling? A bit stiff maybe"


    Triton was met with a muscular man the size of a mountain. If not for having met his father, he''d be very shocked. The man had brown hair and a big moustache. His sleeves were rolled up and his eyes were blue and clear despite his age. A few white hairs dotted his both his hair and facial hair but other than that he could be anything from thirty to forty years old.


    "How did you know?" Triton replied.


    "Experience." the man answered and laughed. "I''ve been down the plains more times than I can remember ¨C even before moving out here with my family. You could say it was where I trained and quested as a novice adventurer. The ground is where I often slept on, and I would always wake up feeling stiff the morning after. Lush grass but hard soil. A terrible place to sleep!"


    "Father is an adventurer, you know." added the girl, sitting by the living table of the cottage. Her mother sat with her son close to the stove. The boy still hadn''t said anything to Triton. A man of few words, perhaps.


    "That was a long time ago, Mary. Now I''m just an old man." the middle-aged man said to his daughter. He then stretched out his hand to Triton. "John."


    "Triton." the young man said. "My name''s Triton."


    "So, what were you doing in the plains?" John asked. "It isn''t the best place to sleep, as you surely know by now."


    Triton nodded. "Ehm, I was looking for a road. Trying to find the nearest city. You don''t happen to know where that is?"


    "Looking for a road? You aren''t from around here right?"


    "No, why?"


    "Well, the nearest city is quite some miles away. Anyone who comes from here knows that."


    Triton fell into silence.Yet more miles to walk. Dammit.


    "Why do you want to find the nearest city?"


    "I want to become an adventurer," Triton said. "I suppose my chances are better if I go to a city."


    Upon hearing the young man mention the word adventurer, the middle-aged man''s eyes flickered.


    "Certainly. Every city contains an adventurer guild." John agreed. "So, I take it as you... are confident in your strength?"


    Triton nodded. "Of course. I doubt anyone can beat me."


    "Oh," the middle-aged man slowly grinned. "Do you want to test that out?"


    Triton understood what he meant. "Now?"


    "Why not?"


    "Sure, I''ve been itching for a fight," Triton said and cracked his fist.A human dares to challenge him, the son of Poseidon into a fight? Did the old man have such confidence in his strength merely because he was a retired adventurer?


    Just as they were about to leave the cottage, a voice caused them o stop in their tracks. "Lunch''s ready."


    Both of the men''s stomachs rumbled from piercing hunger. They looked at each other and nodded in mutual understanding. Food first. Fight after.


    The table was normally set for four people. John, Addison, Mary and Bill. Today, there was one extra member by the dining table. Triton sat at the far end of the table, and the other four opposite to each other on their usual seats. It felt a bit awkward to intrude, but being Triton, whose ignorance sometimes was a bliss, didn''t mind this at all.


    "So Triton, you wish to be an adventurer? Why do you want to be that?" Addison asked while pouring up stew to everyone. The inside of the cottage was very bright since it was the day, making everyone at ease at the table.


    "Because he''s a man! All men want to be adventurers? Isn''t that right, Billy?" John answered before Triton could even open his mouth. Billy stared at Triton and back at his father before lowering his gaze to the food, starting to stuff stew into his mouth with a wooden spoon, as if he didn''t hear his father.


    "Billy''s a bit shy, you see," John said. "But he dreams of becoming an adventurer himself one day. Right, Billy?"


    It was a fruitless attempt as Billy still didn''t respond. John shook his head with a slight smile.


    Triton cleared his throat, smiling. "Well, I guess it''s like you say. I want to travel the world. I''ve heard stories about great adventurers and their breathtaking journeys across the land."


    "Admirable. I was just like you once upon a time." John nodded fiercely. "Well, until I met Addison. And gained two beautiful children. It''s been over ten years since I quit. Mary''s soon fifteen and Billy''s eight. Time really flies quickly."


    Triton almost spat out his stew. Soon fifteen? That means... only fourteen?


    "What''s wrong?" Addison asked worriedly.


    "I¨C Triton coughed. "Wrong throat."


    ***


    "Let me do the dishes today, honey. I heard you and Triton were going to spar and I know there''s nothing that gets you going more than a fight." Addison sighed. "Go on then."


    "Thanks, darling." John pecked his wife on the cheek and gestured for the young man to follow.


    They left the house and entered the barn. The middle-aged man opened up a dusty chest that lay in the corner, containing several swords as well as a set of decorative leather armour. "I suppose you don''t have a sword. Here, you can use this." he threw a sword to Triton and grabbed one himself before closing the chest.


    They walked out to the where there was a bit more space. Now that Triton looked, they were in the outskirts of a forest. However, he was reminded of one thing¨C didn''t Mary tell him that it was dangerous here? That goblins lingered around the outskirts of the forest and that even adventurers could fall under their hands.


    As if John knew what he was thinking about, he said. "If you wonder about how we can live in the forest so peacefully¨C Addison knows a bit about magic. So she''s built a barrier that makes goblins and other creatures unable to notice our presence."


    Triton was genuinely interested. "Magic? What''s that?"


    "You don''t know what magic is and you want to be an adventurer?" John was flabbergasted. "Well, I guess it isn''t necessary... wait, do you even know what aura is?"


    "Aura? Not a clue in the universe. Why?"


    John scratched his cheek, sighing. "Nevermind¨C you''ll notice soon enough. And here I was expecting to get a workout. Don''t make me so fired up for nothing next time okay?"


    "Are you implying I''m weak?" Triton asked in annoyance.


    "Not directly¨C but people without aura usually have no chance of beating those with, say no less about magic."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t disappoint you." the young man returned. He gripped the sword in his hand, flung it around a couple of times, feeling its weight although he knew nothing about swords. He had never been taught how to fight. His father never wanted him to do battle anyway. What he did know, however, was that every monster he had fought had easily died by his hand. Whether it was demonic crabs or ghost hunting sharks; his strength made his sword slash through it with ease!


    "Well, then ¨C prove me wrong!" John said with a smile, leisurely holding his sword as if it was an extension of his arm. A brat without a single shred of aura or magic power wanted to challenge him to a fight? Dream on!


    Triton shot forward and slashed at the middle-aged man, his sword swishing as it hurtled down toward its target.This will definitely give him the fright. Maybe I shouldn''t have used so much power.Triton grinned but kept himself fully focused the whole time so even if John wouldn''t be able to block it, he could still stop his swing.


    "Yet again¨C your confidence gets my fired up only to disappoint me soon after," John muttered and flicked his wrist. The sword in his hand nudged the young man''s and fell to the side, getting stuck in the ground. Triton followed, falling to the ground with a bang. "You don''t even know how to use a sword. You''re like a little baby. No way you can become an adventurer."


    Triton''s face contorted. He looked at the sword stuck in the ground and felt a warm feeling make his cheeks red. Fine by him, then divine energy it is. No more holding back! The young man pulled out the sword from the ground and looked at the middle-aged man, who stood there, a smug expression on his face. "You asked for it," John said.


    "And so did you," Triton said in a low voice. "I don''t need this by the way. Never did."


    The ground started to shake, and nearby trees withered at a noticeable speed. John''s eyes widened at the sight. What the heck? Triton grinned as water from the surroundings surged toward him and formed into arrows of water. John cursed. Didn''t the young man say he had never heard of magic? And why, then... why did he now use magic?


    With a swish, Triton''s hand fell, and as if it was a signal, the arrows gracefully attacked. The middle-aged man''s former adventuring skills came into action as he threw himself into a bush, barely avoiding the arrows that came hurdling. Triton smirked at the scene. "That''s right. Not so cocky anymore are we."


    "You little bastard." John''s head popped out from the bush, a vein bulging red on his forehead. "You dare lie to me..."


    "Lie? What are you talking about? I''ve neve¨C"


    The middle-aged man leapt from the bushes and dashed toward the young man. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Triton. His sword, like a flash of silver, slashed down at the young man from above without the inkling of intention about showing any mercy. Triton felt the hairs on his body rise as the sword became eminently closer. If this blow hit, and he didn''t use his divine energy to protect himself, he would be cleaved in half no matter how durable his body was.


    "Ah fudge, I used too much power.. and now I can''t pull back! Young man, I''m sorry, if you perish here, I promise you that I''ll at least give you a proper funeral. Ahh, and what do I tell my wife...? Ok, ok, no problem¨C I''ll tell her he had to leave, that he was in a hurry to the city. Problem fixed.John sighed and could no nothing as his sword swept down like a typhoon. Either way, the energy wave in his sword couldn''t be averted even if he changed the direction. It was set in stone.


    "Bastard." In a moment of life and death, Triton erupted with his hidden innate power. After all, no matter how weak a deity was, it is not someone a mortal can compare to. From the bottom of his very being, his dormant divine power was unleashed. Divine power was a power like mana and aura. However, there was a fundamental difference. Like the difference between heaven and earth, divine power was thousands of times more powerful.


    Just as John''s sword was about to pierce through the young man''s skin, a blue, goldish light swept outward like a barrier. John felt a tremor in his sword hand, and then everything blurred as he was thrown across the grass and forest like a meteor, plunging straight into the trunk of a large tree. He spewed out a mouthful of blood and knew that several ribs were broken. He looked up, seeing the young man rise without being damaged. His voice was hoarse as he spoke. "W-what are you?"


    "Me?" the young man said. He looked at his body with big eyes. What just happened? What was that power?Well, who cares! He turned to John and said with a grin. "Triton. That''s who I am. The son of Poseidon."