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After Maria and her family arrived in Atlantis, the world trembled slightly. It was not due to Maria's powers, which she had sealed away, nor the strength of her other family mbers.
No, it was because of one person in her group: Celes, the son of Nia. His soul trembled, sensing sothing deep within the mont he returned to the ho his soul had once fled, alongside a large group of rfolk.
A great Calamity had once struck this world, plunging the oceans into chaos with little solid land for refuge, save for a few islands. One mber of Atlantis's Divine Royal Family chose to escape with as many of her people as possible to a land that could welco them.
Her family was furious at her decision, and none joined her endeavor. Alone, she led the rfolk to Yggdrasil and its vast, beautiful oceans. Hidden from the surface dwellers, the rfolk found peace in these seas.
Until they were discovered by Odin's daughter, a young goddess who ruled the oceans. This woman sacrificed herself for their sake, swearing loyalty to the goddess, even humbling herself by kissing her feet, all for her people's safety.
A deal was struck, allowing the rfolk to thrive in Yggdrasil. Their savior was gone, but she remained in their hearts as a divine goddess. Even after generations, when those she rescued had died and only their descendants remained, she was never forgotten.
Despite their disappointnt when she left, her family never forgot her. As eons passed, they lanted their inability to say goodbye, always wishing their lost daughter would return.
They blad themselves for what happened and often wondered what could have been had they supported her decision, which proved wise, saving hundreds of thousands during the crisis that plagued Atlantis for over a century before they amassed enough divine power to defeat the Calamity.
Though Atlantis now enjoyed peace and prosperity, the scars of its chaotic past lingered within its divine, ageless rulers—spiritual beings of other worldly origins.
They believed Naiad had died or would never return...
Until now.
"Ah...! Wait, isn't this presence...?!"
"What?!"
"...Naiad?!"
"It's her..."
All four Divine Rulers of Atlantis felt it during another monotonous dinner in their castle, always haunted by thoughts of what could have been and who they lost.
Against all odds, her presence returned.
"It cannot be... I thought she died! Her link with us was severed! How...! Naiad! Is it truly her?!"
The tallest, strongest, and largest of the four gasped in disbelief. A muscular man with pale blue skin, a long fish tail, and scales covering parts of his titanic body, he had long blue hair and a beard adorned with colorful corals and starfish. A glowing golden crown embedded with blue jewels rested atop his curly hair.
He wielded a gigantic trident, radiating overwhelming divine and spiritual power, marking him as the greatest and strongest Divine Ruler of this world.
"Naiad... My dear Naiad...! She's back!"
Oceanus, King of the Ocean and Divine Ruler of Atlantis, shed tears as his lost daughter found her way ho.
"But how?! We thought she died! How... my sister... my baby sister is finally back?!"
The eldest daughter wept, a majestic rmaid-like giantess with pale blue skin, pink scales, and long pink hair, wearing a vibrant crown of gold and corals.
"She was barely a teen back then! She must be a full-fledged adult now! I wonder what she looks like!"
The most enthusiastic of the four was the eldest son, resembling his father in physique and strength but younger and slimr, with a youthful, beardless face and long blue hair. His handso face bead with hope as he smiled for the first ti in centuries.
"Oh, my dear daughter! I feel your Spiritual Soul, brimming with divinity! How strong you've beco! I'm impressed! Where is she now?! We must find her, greet her, hug her, love her for all the ti we've lost! We must apologize for everything we did wrong..."
The Queen of Atlantis, beside the King, cried tears of joy. A stunning rmaid-like giantess with long purple hair, purple scales, and sharp red eyes that now wept like a child's, she wore a crown of purple and gold and carried a divine harpoon.
"We cannot go ourselves; we'll cause a commotion!" the eldest son said. "We should send soldiers to bring her here."
"I sense she's surrounded by many people. Has she returned with friends?" the King wondered. "She's sleeping now. Her soul is weary from her trials. Let her rest. We will co for her tomorrow morning."
"But Father!" the eldest son exclaid, radiant azure light emanating from his ethereal body. "It's been eons! Must we wait hours more until our dear sister rests? Why not bring her to her chambers to sleep in the comfort of her royal bed?"
"Dear, I know you're excited. I am too," his mother said with a gentle smile. "But we must be patient. Her return has already healed my weary soul. I'm overjoyed to still be alive. Braving the Kraken and defeating him took so long, and we grew stronger from that event, but I always felt it took more from us than the kingdoms lost in its rampage..."
The Kraken, the Calamity that once tornted Atlantis and drove Naiad and the rfolk to Yggdrasil's oceans, was no re oversized octopus but a chiric monstrosity of ocean creatures, born to destroy Atlantis, a Calamity ant to end this world.
Yet the four Divine Rulers never gave up. They fought, learned its patterns, and grew stronger over centuries, surpassing their limits and evolving beyond their forr selves, reaching heights few in the Tower had achieved.
The Kraken was defeated, ushering Atlantis into a long, well-deserved era of peace.
"While she rests, we must prepare for her arrival! Arrange the greatest feast this kingdom can afford! Inform every noble! Gather everyone for the celebration of my dear daughter Naiad's return!" Oceanus declared, as the entire capital sprang into action.
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