The exit of the Hidden Sea lay concealed just behind the throne of the first King of Atlantis.
In other words—without the golden trident, one would remain trapped in the Hidden Sea for eternity.
When Fenric led Atlanna away from the Hidden Sea, the colossal sea monster Karathen followed closely behind.
"What are you doing trailing after me?" Fenric asked with a frown.
"Mmhh—"
Karathen's original duty had been to guard the trident. Now that Fenric had claimed it and the beast had chosen to yield, following him was only natural.
Though Fenric didn't fully understand Karathen's guttural sounds, he could roughly guess their meaning.
"Don't follow me for now," Fenric instructed calmly. "I still have important matters to handle. Go enjoy yourself in the open sea and wait for my command."
The sea monster let out a thunderous cry of joy. After all, it had been confined in the Hidden Sea for countless years. At last, it was free to roam again. Watching Fenric and Atlanna depart, Karathen dove into the depths, disappearing toward another part of the ocean.
—---
An hour later, Fenric and Atlanna arrived at Ci'en Port.
Though Fenric was unfamiliar with the place, Atlanna knew it well. Despite the passage of twenty years, the memory remained etched deeply in her heart. She was the one who guided him here.
Her reason was simple—someone important awaited her in this harbor.
Tom Curry.
The lighthouse keeper of Ci'en Harbor.
The husband she had left behind.
The father of her son, Arthur.
Fenric's plan was straightforward. Using Atlanna's return as leverage, he would strengthen her ties to the surface world before turning her presence into a key piece of his strategy to seize control over Atlantis. But for now, he would allow her this moment of reunion.
From afar, the towering lighthouse came into view. Atlanna halted suddenly, hesitation clouding her face.
"Why did you stop?" Fenric asked.
"I… it's been twenty years." Atlanna's voice trembled. "What if Tom has already built a new family? What if he's moved on…?"
Fenric understood her fears. Twenty years was a long time. Few people would cling to the hope of a vanished lover.
"Rest easy," Fenric reassured her. "Tom never remarried. He raised Arthur alone. Every morning he goes to the docks, staring at the horizon, waiting for your return. For twenty years, he has never stopped. He has never forgotten you."
"..!"
Hearing this, Atlanna could no longer hold back her tears.
Fenric gently patted her shoulder. "Go."
Nodding, Atlanna wiped her eyes and slowly approached the house beneath the lighthouse. At the door, she drew in a shaky breath and knocked.
Knock, knock, knock.
A voice soon called from within. "Who's there?"
At the sound, Atlanna's heart quivered.
The door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man. Time had weathered his face with lines, yet to her eyes, he was still the man she loved.
Atlanna smiled softly, even through her tears.
Tom's eyes widened in disbelief. "Atlanna…?"
"It's me, Tom. I'm back," she whispered, her voice breaking.
For a heartbeat, Tom stood frozen. Then, with sudden desperation, he pulled her into his arms. They clung to each other for what felt like eternity, unwilling to let go.
When at last they parted, Tom's voice still shook. "I—I'm not dreaming, am I?"
"I'm sorry, Tom," Atlanna murmured, her expression full of sorrow. "I've made you wait so long…"
Once more, they embraced, their tears mingling as years of separation poured out in wordless lament.
—---
Half an hour later, Tom finally understood everything. He realized now that his wife had not abandoned him, but had been imprisoned by circumstances beyond her control.
"Where is the one who brought you back?" Tom asked.
"He was just here…" Atlanna turned, only to find Fenric gone.
In her heart, she knew she would cross paths with that black-haired, dark-eyed "Poseidon" again.
"Tom, where is Arthur?" she asked softly.
"At this hour," Tom replied, glancing toward the sky, "he's likely helping villagers on a nearby island. I'll call him back."
"Wait," Atlanna said quickly, unease in her voice. "It's been twenty years. What if he doesn't recognize me?"
Tom smiled reassuringly. "I've always shown him your pictures. Don't worry—he'll know you the moment he sees you."
—---
As soon as Atlanna reunited with her husband, Fenric had quietly slipped away.
He knew better than to linger. After twenty years apart, husband and wife deserved their privacy. There were words only they could say and emotions only they could share.
Now, beneath the waves once more, Fenric raised the golden trident.
Its power allowed him to command all sea creatures. With a single thought, he summoned Karathen. Energy rippled outward from the trident, spreading across the ocean.
Wherever Karathen roamed, it would feel the call.
After an hour, the leviathan finally appeared, rushing toward Fenric with a triumphant cry.
"Mmhh!"
Sensing Fenric's impatience, Karathen tried to appease him with a submissive bellow.
Fenric did not waste words. He simply mounted the beast's massive head.
"You know where Atlantis lies. Take me there."
As the ancient guardian of the first King of Atlantis, Karathen knew the way well. With a surge of power, it carried Fenric through the darkened depths toward the hidden kingdom.