Chapter 21: Arc 1: Chapter 20: Leap of Hope

"Normally, a diver would need to need to hit the water hands first, to decrease resistance as well as lower the chances of danger. But considering you're jumping from the height of 200 feet, which is the craziest dive in the world, my experience can only go so far, so the rest is up to luck..."

"What I mean is, if you have any special abilities, now's not the time to keep hiding it. This is no joke!"

As midnight closes in, on the cliff coast outside the lighthouse, Tom takes many items and puts them by Merlin's feet.

He tells Merlin:

"There aren't any reefs under the cliff, which is the good news since you won't have to worry about falling to your doom. But remember, keep your body straight to reduce resistance for when your body hits the seawater. Also, don't forget your goggles, so your eyes won't get hurt."

"Most importantly, don't pass out!"

Tom tries to summarize all the crucial factors for Merlin:

"Jumping for that high means you'll get a bigger impact when your body hits the seawater. You'll have to hold on; otherwise, I'll be too late even if I jump in for you immediately afterward."

"I'll try."

Merlin was also nervous; he wore his diving suit and goggles and exercised his body by the cliff.

Just looking into the sea from 200 feet would make one feel nauseous. If Merlin had a different choice, he wouldn't be doing this.

The sea breeze blows on Merlin's face from the deep seas, making him feel cold. Merlin tries to calm his breathing as best he can so he is always in top shape.

Merlin did not fear death.

Countless experiments in the past have proven that the dark powers inside him would help him dodge the disaster in times of crisis.

What he was really worried about was that even if he jumped, he still might not be able to catch onto that flash of hope.

"Are you ready?"

Tom looks at Merlin nervously:

"Why don't we wait a few more days? Until you get familiar with diving?"

"No!"

Merlin grits his teeth and looks back at Tom:

"I can't wait on; if I do, I might lose all the courage I've mustered...thank you, Tom, thank you for giving me a chance."

"I might've given you a one-way ticket to hell."

Tom was a genuinely kind person, in the end, he regrets:

"I regret my decision, Merlin; maybe I shouldn't have told you about the undersea people."

"It's too late for that now; pray for me, Tom!"

Merlin holds the trident pendant in his hand, and after taking a deep breath, he runs towards the cliff and leaps as if he was gliding.

His body rises into the air, and as Tom had taught him, extends both hands to maintain balance. As his body rolls, he sees the sea under the night sky, and he sees Tom, who was waving at him from the cliff, then he looks down into the water once more.

Merlin kept his arms tightly to his body and rushed towards the sea like an arrow.

The cold wind slaps on his face, making him unable to open his eyes, his hair fluttering in the cold wind in front of him, the endless waves approaching him as if looking at a mirror.

The dark powers inside him begin to act as if sensing the impending danger, and Merlin's body slowly starts to 'melt' like fog.

"AHHHHH!"

Merlin felt the change in his body, which meant that the power believed that his life was in danger. The fact makes Merlin let out a scream.

As soon as his body hits the water, his body scatters.

Like a cloud of smoke being smashed, black dust clouds full of sparks explode on the surface of the seawater, causing it to rush upwards as if a bomb had exploded underwater.

As the food dissipates, Merlin reappears and falls into the seawater; he heeds Tom's guidance and keeps his mouth shut, as to get drowned.

Besides Tom, who's watching from the cliff, there is another person who witnessed Merlin's leap of hope, but as Merlin fell into the sea like a rock, the undersea person grips his blade and with a pitiful tone:

"Sound effect...full points."

"Diving Posture...0 points."

"Another ignorant fool suicides...one with the scent of demons too. May the great sea forgive his sins."

As he pities the fool, he waves his arms and prepares to leave.

But as he takes a last glimpse at the fool, he sees the trident pendant Merlin's grasping in his hand, which makes him stop.

Moments later, he leans forward, and like a cannonball, shoots at Merlin with incredible speed. Before Merlin could react, he grabs Merlin by the arm and makes a hard turn.

Merlin could feel the cold seawater splashing on his face; the kinetic energy of moving at sub-sonic speeds exerts onto his consciousness, like a heavy fist right into his jaw.

His vision through the goggles wobble; he could not see anything but a shadowy silhouette.

Merlin struggles subconsciously, making the undersea person grabbing his hand let out a despising grin, his legs wave in the water, and they speed up further.

The pressure exerted onto Merlin doubled instantly; he could even hear his spine click from the overwhelming pressure; the pain caused Merlin to blackout and faint.

The undersea person moves his fingers, and moments later, a dolphin appears and swims around them. It then carries the unconscious Merlin on its back and swims Southwards along with the undersea person.

By the time Merlin gained consciousness, he was on a white sandy beach; he could hear the waves rocking back and forth, as well as the seagulls flying above in the sky.

He opens his eyes and sees the sunlight shining down; it makes him subconsciously reach out his hand to block the sunlight. His mouth tasted seawater; the salty yet bitter taste made him very thirsty.

"Who are you?"

A voice resounds behind Merlin, and Merlin jumps up abruptly. He looks back and sees a stranger sitting on a rock behind him. In his hands was the silver pendant Tom had given him.

"You're from the undersea?"

Merlin looks at the stranger; his appearance is no different from humans; his black hair is tied into a weird bun, making people look twice. He was wearing a set of clothing similar to a robe, it was unlike human clothing, but it undoubtedly helped in moving underwater.

Anyways, just looking at his appearance wouldn't make one think that he is from the undersea.

He had no fins, no scales, no tail...very un-fantasy-like.

"To be precise, I'm Atlantean."

The man looks at Merlin, light flashes in his green eyes; he raises the silver pendant in his hand and asks:

"How do you have the token of Queen Atlanna? Where did you get this?"

"Tom Curry gave it to me."

Seeing as to the person admitting his identity, Merlin was excited, so he tells truthfully:

"Tom discovered your activities around Amnesty Bay, so he's worried whether or not this is a warning from the undersea people. He is a father, and his children are always a father's greatest weakness...he wishes to know if you come in peace? Or with ill will?"

"Tom Curry..."

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The black-haired Atlantean says this name with a gnashed tone:

"I should've killed him five years ago; if I had done that, none of this would be happening."

"You arrogant surface dwellers, thinking that the world revolves around you...Tom is just a dispensable mortal; the only reason I'm in Amnesty Bay is for Arthur, Arthur Curry, prince of Atlantis, he has the noblest blood of the seven undersea kingdoms, nothing more."

 "Tom wishes to know whether or not he should keep Arthur close to the sea?"

Merlin asks:

"Arthur has a gift. I've seen it myself; he could command the underwater creatures, from fish...to sharks and whales. But from my experience, this gift isn't a good thing for young Arthur; he has to hide his talent if he wishes to live in human society."

"He can command the fish?"

The Atlantean was surprised, and he asked Merlin:

"Are you certain? The last time I came by, Arthur showed no such ability!"

"Last time? When was that?"

Merlin looks at the Atlantean in front of him confusingly; the latter contemplates the time difference between Atlanteans and humans and says:

"About a few months ago, I had some other things to do. Queen Atlanna is my friend, but my loyalty to the king comes first."

Merlin's keen attention noticed a hint of pain in his eyes when he spoke of Arthur's mother; it made him assume something terrible had happened.

But he chose not to point that out and says:

"Young Arthur told me it was an ability he had discovered when he was in the aquarium last month. You must've missed it since you weren't here."

"Mmm, it would appear so."

The Atlantean nods:

"As it should be, since the blood of the Atlanna's family flows through his veins, he's destined for great things...but you, surface dweller! You will stay away from him!"

The Atlantean's tone grows cold, he looks at Merlin, as if he saw through all of his secrets, and warns:

"Dark powers enshroud you, so too does misfortune. From here on, I forbid you from appearing at Arthur's side; if you do, I will not hesitate to throw you to the trenches!"

"I know!"

Merlin grabs his chance, looks at the Atlantean, and says:

"This is why I'm searching for you. Tom told me that the undersea people could use magic, and as you can see, I'm cursed by misfortune, everything including these cursed dark powers, is not what I want...I implore you to help me, please, even if it's just a way to dispel this misfortune?"

"You mean, you want me to help dispel the dark powers inside you?"

The Atlantean smiles and asks back:

"Let's not say about whether or not it's possible to do so, surface dweller...more importantly, why should I help you?"

Without waiting for an answer, he continues:

"Atlantis has been around for far longer than you can imagine; human civilization grew under our watch. In my long life, I've seen countless surface dwellers search for power, and people like you were common in the so-called Medieval Age...those associated with demons got what they deserved."

"To me, you're no different from your mad kin, not worthy of being saved."

"But I didn't want any of this!"

Merlin points at his eyes and retorts:

"I've never wanted any of this! That demon forced it onto me; if I could, I would rather none of this ever happen!"

"Oh?"

The Atlantean smirks and points at Merlin's eyes:

"Dark powers flow through all corners of your soul, that is the sign of a demon contract, and since it is a contract, it means you made a deal...you've exchanged all this for something from the demon."

"Surface dweller, look into my eyes and tell me, even if I gave you a chance, would you reject that contract?"

"I..."

Merlin had wanted to say yes, but he hesitates as James Coulson's face appears resurfaces in his mind.

Was he willing to turn back everything and watch James die in a car accident?

Was he willing to give up this one chance to save James' life?

Maybe...

The Atlantean was right.

The contract was fulfilled; James had lived, the price being the unholy state he was in right now.

The Atlantean did not miss the hesitation in Merlin's eyes; he shakes his head and says:

"It would appear that you understand yourself, right?"

"Everything you're going through may not be of your own free will, but it originated from your choice. Surface-dweller, we undersea people have always known one thing, that is every creature must pay the price for their actions, you made a choice, and thus you must pay the price...there is no going back in this world."

He turns around and prepares to leave:

"What you're searching for is but a faint image of remorse; what you need isn't redemption, but to accept reality."

Bitterness fills Merlin's eyes, he looks at the Atlantean as he leaves and reaches out his hand, yet he knows not what to say to persuade him to stay. Seconds later, Merlin asks coarsely:

"Alright, I get it. But, could you tell me whether or not there is a way to dispel this misfortune? It's driving me crazy; more importantly, I wish not to bring harm to others, I want to do good...so please, help me!"

"Oh, so we're on this question again?"

The Atlantean looks back at Merlin and says:

"Are we friends? What obligation do I have to help you?"

"I'll keep Arthur Curry's abilities a secret; I trust my friend to do the same. I will, as you wish, stay away from Arthur and never come back."

Merlin squints his eyes and grits his teeth:

"Most importantly, I'll keep his mother's condition a secret from Arthur."

"She's...gone, isn't she?"

 

 

 

 

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