Embodiment Of The Sun

CHAPTER 7 : CORAL KINGDOM

Water was rushing inside his ears and nose as he was drowning. His black hair was flowing mesmerisingly in the clear water and he felt like he was in a dream, floating in the sky. Jake suddenly opened his eyes as he regained consciousness with a startle. He tried to scream but to no avail. Thankfully, he knew how to swim. He swam upwards with all his might. His arms and legs felt heavy but he pushed through the water and rose to the surface. Above him the sun was radiating weak rays of light as he gasped for breath. He looked around and was filled with hope as he saw the shore far away from him. As he kept swimming towards the shore, he could see weird tall looking buildings and structures along with palm trees on the beach. His whole body was becoming sore and he could feel himself losing the strength to swim. His eyes and muscles were burning as tiredness caught up to him. Before he became unconscious again, he saw a person jumping into the water and swimming with inhuman speed towards him. All he could feel at the last moment was strong arms holding him steady and taking him back towards the shore....

After what felt like an eternity, he woke up again and coughed up a mouthful of water. He was breathing hard and specks of sand clinged to his hair and shirt as he found himself on the beach. Then he noticed a figure crouching beside him, at first Jake thought it was a human being but then he saw the webbed feet, hands ears that person had. Gills were visible on both sides of the guy's neck and he had shimmery blue hair with shiny scales decorating his body. His robes were light which almost resembled a poor fisherman's outfit. That person rubbed Jake's back as he struggled to breathe.

"How the heck did I end up here? I saw you jumping in the water to save me, thank you, " Jake sighed while trying to get the sand out of his hair.
"I saw you falling in the water from the sky, at first I thought I was mistaken because I didn't get much sleep last night and was dozing off. But then I saw you swimming towards the city and my doubts were cleared. So I jumped in to help you reach the shore. I am glad you are okay, " said the man with a thin and squishy voice.
"A man named Akshen did this to me as he took away my friends one by one, I feel so much anger inside me... " he sighed.
"Akshen? So you are the boy from the prediction? But why will your friends be here too?" he asked.
"What prediction? I don't know what you are talking about. When my friend opened a box we were teleported to the middle of nowhere, and then that old man sent me here. I need to find my friends," Jake replied.
The inhuman looked at him through his pearl like eyes with confusion. " The prophecy included only one boy though... who will rival the tyrant.."
"I have no idea what you are ranting about, just tell me how I can meet with my friends again, I am really worried about them. Can you take me to them?" Jake urged.
"Well you must be here for a reason then, I don't know where your friends are but I know someone who can give you the information you need. I can take you to her. Oh! Silly me, where are my manners, I am Okuo. What's your name?"
"It's Jake. The faster you can take me to the one who can answer my questions, the better. These clothes are so damp now... " he whined.
"I have extra pair of robes in my station point. I think they will fit you, do you have the strength to walk or should I carry you?" Okuo laughed.
"You don't have to, I can walk on my own, thank you for your generosity, "
They started walking along the coast. Even though Okuo wasn't wearing any shoes, his feet didn't have a grain of sand attached to it.
"Don't your feet feel hot? I think the sand is quite heated right now, " Jake asked with concern.
"You see, our bodies are naturally humid, so I can make my feet feel cold against the harsh heat of the sand, and I don't like wearing shoes because it feels slimy afterwards," he replied with a disgusted expression."
"So why do you have a station point on the beach? Are you like a lifeguard or something?"
"Station points are the places that houses mechanisms required to lower this heaven of ours into the ocean depths. It also helps water flow easily into the city so that the infrastructures and buildings don't get damaged. Water might seem harmless but with the right pressure, it can destroy anything and everything."
Taken aback by his words, Jake stammered, " What do you mean by going underwater? Is this Atlantis or what? How will I breathe if it goes under the sea?"
"Ah Atlantis, the inspiration came from our kingdom actually, maybe the fourth Waterweilder built it as tribute, I will tell you the main story but first let's give you something to wear. Watch your head," he warned.
They had reached a one story building with a low hanging doorway, the abode wasn't in good shape but it was neat and clean inside.
Okuo removed a green trousers and blue T-shirt from a rack and placed it on the table for Jake to change into.