Athanasios Perseus Apollyon - The Forgotten Tide

Prologue

 The Birth of a New Generation

The city of Atlantis lay in its full, breathtaking glory beneath the waves of the vast Atlantic Ocean. Ancient, and yet timeless, its towering spires and sprawling courtyards were bathed in the soft glow of bioluminescent flora and shimmering crystals embedded in the coral structures. The entire city thrummed with life, a testament to the power and magnificence of the god who ruled its waters.

In the heart of this magnificent city, within the grand palace carved from the living rock of the ocean floor, the gods and Titans of the sea gathered in anxious anticipation. It was a day unlike any other, for today, a new god was to be born-a child of great prophecy, destined to wield unimaginable power. Outside the grand chamber, where the birth was taking place, the air was thick with tension and expectancy.

Poseidon, the mighty god of the sea, paced restlessly before the entrance to the chamber. His usually calm and commanding presence was marred by the anxiety of an expectant father. Dressed in flowing robes of deep blue and green that mirrored the hues of the ocean, Poseidon's trident was clasped tightly in his hand, its prongs occasionally sparking with latent power as his emotions threatened to bubble over.

Beside him stood his in-laws, the ancient Titans Oceanus and Tethys. Oceanus, the primordial Titan who ruled over the vast outer sea that encircled the world, was a towering figure, his skin the deep blue of the ocean depths, his beard and hair cascading like white foam. His eyes, dark and endless as the abyss, held a rare look of concern. The birth of his grandson was a momentous occasion, and even he, a being of immense power and age, felt the weight of its significance.

Tethys, the gentle and nurturing Titaness of the sea's nourishing flow, stood close to her husband, her delicate features strained with worry. Her flowing robes of silver and blue shimmered with the light of the ocean, and her usually serene countenance was shadowed by the tension of the moment. Her hands, usually so steady and calming, were clasped together in front of her, fingers intertwined in a silent prayer for her daughter, Amphitrite.

Amphitrite, the goddess of the sea and Poseidon's wife, was within the chamber, attended by Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, and a retinue of skilled Oceanid nymphs. The room had been prepared with the utmost care, adorned with soft, glowing corals and delicate sea flowers, the walls lined with translucent curtains that shimmered like the surface of the ocean under the moonlight. A gentle current flowed through the room, carrying with it the soothing sounds of the ocean-an attempt to ease the labor pains of the goddess.

The palace itself was unusually quiet, the usual bustling activity of the Atlantean court hushed in deference to the significance of the event. Even the creatures of the deep seemed to sense the importance of the moment, their movements subdued as they swam in the surrounding waters.

Poseidon continued his pacing, his mind a tumult of emotions. He was the Lord of the Seas, a god of immense power, but here, at this moment, he was simply a father awaiting the birth of his firstborn. His thoughts raced as he considered the prophecies surrounding his son-whispers of a god who would wield not just the power of the sea, but of time itself, of fate, and of the unknown.

The prophecies had spoken of a child born under the sign of the tides, a being of such immense potential that even the Fates had taken notice. Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos had appeared to Poseidon and Amphitrite in a vision, their ancient voices weaving a tapestry of destiny that foretold both great triumph and terrible challenges.

The doors to the birthing chamber remained closed, and the muffled sounds from within only served to heighten the tension. Oceanus, who had been silent for much of the wait, finally spoke, his deep voice resonating like the rolling waves of the outer sea.