It was difficult to tell whether it was morning in Atlantis. There was no sun. Only an artificial sapphire-blue light filtered down from the massive glass domes overhead. Time did not flow here. It seemed suspended, as if trapped inside water. The team had gathered in the wide hall of the guest wing Prince Nereus had assigned to them. The table was covered with foods unlike anything on the surface: phosphorescent blue fruits, bread made of seaweed, and transparent drinks that tasted faintly salty yet strangely energizing.
Hope stared suspiciously at the blue apple-like fruit in his hand. Its texture was more jelly than flesh. "Its molecular structure resembles a jellyfish more than a fruit," he muttered. He took a bite. His face twisted. "It tastes like one too."
An unusual silence lingered around the table. Lypin poked at her food absentmindedly, her eyes distant. Yaat's loss was still a fresh wound in her fragile heart. Deniz, meanwhile, ate with his usual appetite, swallowing everything without questioning what it was.
Hope glanced at the empty chair. "Where's Conan?" he asked suddenly. "He wasn't there while we were collecting the loot. He wasn't with us on the way here either. The last time I saw him was in Vargo's office."
Kai took a sip of his strange drink and leaned back. "He's not coming, Architect."
"Why?"
"Because his job's done," Kai said flatly. "Conan didn't care about Vargo's loot or our friendship. He's an avenger. The only thing he wanted was information from Vargo. The Collector's location. The next shipment route. The moment he got it…" He snapped his fingers. "…he vanished."
Hope placed the jelly fruit back on his plate. His gaze dropped to the floor. "So he used us," he said quietly. "Used us like pawns to reach Vargo and left once he was done."
"Don't call it 'used,'" Bianca said while cleaning her nails with the tip of her dagger. "Call it mutual benefit. He gave us information to reach Vargo. We cleared the path. Deal over, partnership over. That's how the outside world works."
Hope exhaled slowly. A bitterness he couldn't quite name settled in his chest. "Isn't it strange?" he said, looking around the table. "Not long ago… you were trying to kill us. Especially you, Bianca. You nearly destroyed me. And Kai beat Deniz half to death."
"Hey, that didn't happen," Deniz protested sharply.
Hope smiled faintly and continued. "Then we became allies. Fought shoulder to shoulder. Defeated Vargo. And now… we're having breakfast at the bottom of the ocean. In a city of fish-people."
Kai smiled slightly. That rogueish grin made the scar on his face more visible. "Life's strange, isn't it, Architect? You'd better get used to it." He leaned forward. "Because… once we leave here, our paths will separate."
Hope's head snapped up. "What?"
"You heard me," Kai said. "We're thieves, Hope. Bianca and I… we don't put down roots. We don't bind ourselves to teams, missions, or causes. If we make it out of Atlantis alive, which is a big 'if,' we'll go our way. You'll go yours."
Hope's face fell. The flame in his green eyes dimmed. "Why?" he asked, his voice painfully innocent. "Aren't we… a good team? I analyze. Deniz tanks. Lypin heals. You deal damage. Statistically, our compatibility is near perfect. Separating would be… inefficient."
Bianca stood and walked to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Her touch was surprisingly gentle. "Not everything is statistics, little Architect," she said. "Don't worry. The world is small. Especially for people like us who attract trouble like magnets. Our paths will cross again someday. But this is the nature of thieves. We go where the wind blows."
Hope looked at her hand, then at Kai. His logic and… a small part of his heart… refused to accept it. "If being attached to someone contradicts a thief's nature…" Hope frowned. "…then how are you two together? You've been partners for years. You never separate. Doesn't that contradict what you just said?"
The table fell silent. Even Lypin looked up, curious. Kai and Bianca exchanged glances. Then they burst out laughing in perfect sync.
"This kid is sharp," Kai said between laughs.
"He is," Bianca agreed, winking at him. "It might sound strange, Architect, but our story… wasn't exactly planned."
"How did you meet?" Hope asked. "Childhood sweethearts? Thieves' guild?"
"No," Kai said. "We tried to rob the same man."
Hope blinked. "What?"
"There was a fat Baron in the Western Kingdom," Bianca began. "He kept a massive ruby called the 'Dragon's Eye' in his vault. I spent weeks planning. I infiltrated the mansion, bypassed the traps, evaded the guards. I opened the vault. And just as I was about to grab it…" She shot Kai an annoyed but fond look. "…this idiot dropped from the ceiling on a rope and snatched it right in front of my face."
"Hey!" Kai protested. "I was there first! I was just waiting for the perfect moment in the shadows!"
"What happened next?" Hope asked eagerly.
"What do you think?" Kai shrugged. "We fought. Hard. Inside the vault. I threw knives at him. He fired poisoned needles at me. We made so much noise the Baron and every guard in the mansion woke up."
"We had to flee," Bianca said, laughing. "The ruby shattered in the chaos. We ended up broke… and on the kingdom's most wanted list."
"And then?"
"Then…" Kai looked at Bianca. A rare softness entered his eyes. "…we realized running together was easier than running alone. And since then… well. We've been each other's problem."
Hope stared at them. "That's it?"
Kai glanced at Bianca. "Yeah… that's it."
Hope's disappointment was obvious. "That's your love story? No dramatic first meeting? No sunset confessions? No poetic gifts? There's zero romantic data in this narrative!"
Kai laughed loudly. "Hey! That's not fair! We have meaningful gifts!" He turned to Bianca. "Remember when I broke into the dwarves' underground city to steal the famous Black Diamond for your birthday? Just because you like black?"
Bianca gave him a playful look. "Yes, darling. I was very impressed when you had it crafted into a necklace. The hundred furious dwarves chasing us slightly ruined the ambiance though."
"And the Ogre Camp?" Kai added excitedly. "For our first anniversary, we tried to steal the Ogre Chief's golden tooth! Remember? He almost boiled us alive! It was hot… and action-packed!"
"Yes," Bianca sighed. "Very romantic. Blood, sweat, and gold."
Hope stared at them like they were aliens. "You two…" he shook his head. "You've lost your minds. Theft, assault, mortal danger… those aren't romance parameters. That's trauma."
Kai smirked. "In our world, Architect, love isn't buying flowers. Love is knowing that when you turn your back, the only person who won't stab you is her."
Hope inhaled deeply and stood. The conversation felt like an insult to his logic. And yet… he envied their strange bond. He turned and walked toward Lypin by the window. As he passed, he muttered loudly enough for Kai and Bianca to hear: "You're nothing like I expected. No aesthetic sense whatsoever. Lypin and I… we'll definitely be a better, more logical, and more romantic couple than you."
Kai and Bianca exchanged amused glances and snickered. Lypin was gazing out at the ocean. She hadn't heard him. Or perhaps she had… and the faint blush on her cheeks suggested she chose to pretend she hadn't.
Suddenly, the massive doors of the hall opened with a heavy sound. Armored guards entered. Between them walked Prince Nereus, carrying his usual noble presence. But he was not smiling. He was serious.
"I hope you've eaten well," the Prince said, his voice filling the hall. His eyes locked directly onto Hope. "Because playtime is over, Architect."
Hope swallowed. Mira tensed on his shoulder. "I'm ready," Hope said.
"We'll see," said the Prince. "Follow me."
Atlantis Training Grounds – The Mirror Dome
Prince Nereus led Hope to the deepest levels of the palace, near the city's foundations. It was nothing like the luminous city above. It was dark. Cold. The ocean's distant rumble echoed through the walls.
They passed through a large circular door. Inside, it resembled a massive water tank. Floor, ceiling, and walls were made of transparent reinforced ice. The chamber was filled with water, except for a small central platform protected by a magical barrier.
"We call this the Mirror Dome," Prince Nereus said. "Normally, this is where royal guards test their willpower. But for you… I made adjustments."
Hope stepped onto the platform. Something moved in the surrounding water. Shadows.
"The System," the Prince said from the control platform outside, "told me you are an Architect. That you analyze structures and build strategies in combat. But Hope…" His voice echoed inside the chamber. "Do you know your greatest weakness?"
Hope said nothing. [SYSTEM INTERFACE ATTEMPTING MANA ANALYSIS…] [ERROR: UNKNOWN MANA TYPE.]
"You have no purpose," said the Prince. "You fight for Lypin. You fight for Deniz. You mourn for Yaat. But who are you, Hope? If Lypin dies… what will you become? Nothing?"
Hope clenched his fist. "Lypin won't die."
"Everyone dies," the Prince replied coldly. "And those who do not live for a purpose die as extras in someone else's story." He raised his hand. "The test begins."
BOOM. The barrier around the platform vanished. But water did not rush in. Instead, shapes rose from the water. Humanoid silhouettes formed from liquid. Faceless.
Hope summoned his scythe. Green flames ignited in the frozen chamber. "Liquid golems?" Hope muttered. "Simple. I'll vaporize them."
[SPIRIT OF THE FLAME TYRANT: ACTIVE]
He swung. A wave of green fire struck the nearest golem. It evaporated.
"Too easy," Hope said.
But the steam lingered in the air. Then reformed. The golem changed. A face formed. Hair. A weapon. A scythe.
Hope narrowed his eyes. It was him. A water-made copy of Hope with green eyes.
"What?" Hope stepped back.
Nine more figures rose. All of them became Hope. All of them held scythes. All of them stared at him with cold, analytical eyes.
"Water is memory, Architect," the Prince's voice echoed. "Water takes shape. Water reflects. These are not ordinary golems. They analyzed you. Your speed. Your strength. Your reflexes. They possess all of it."
One of the copies spoke in Hope's voice, distorted like it came from underwater. "Target analyzed. Weak point: left flank. Emotional state: unstable."
Another responded: "Commencing elimination protocol."
Hope stared in disbelief. "You can't copy me!" he shouted. "I'm… me! This has to be illegal or something!"
"This is no time for jokes!" the Prince snapped.
All ten copies raised their scythes simultaneously. Hope attacked. The copy blocked him perfectly. CLANG.
Another struck exactly where he would have dodged. Hope twisted at the last second, but a deep cut opened across his shoulder. Blood dripped onto the frozen floor.
"How…" Hope gasped.
"They know you better than you know yourself," said the Prince. "Because they are pure logic. They are what you aspire to become. Emotionless. Purpose-less. Mission-driven machines."
Hope attacked again. Blocked. Countered. Overpowered. He was being crushed by his own technique. Ten "Perfect Hopes" versus one "Flawed Hope."
Within five minutes, Hope was on the ground. His body was covered in cuts. His scythe lay out of reach. The copies surrounded him, raising their weapons for the final strike.
"Enough…" Hope wanted to shout. Prince Nereus did not stop the test. "There is no exit from here, Architect," he said coldly.
He raised his hand and brought it down. Water burst from the floor.
"Level Two: Rising Waters."
Water climbed to Hope's ankles. "There is only one way out," the Prince said. "Defeat them. But you cannot defeat them with strength. You cannot defeat them with intellect. They are your strength. They are your intellect."
The water reached his knees. The copies moved faster within it.
"To defeat them…" the Prince continued, "…you must find the one thing they cannot copy."
"What?" Hope choked as the water rose.
"Your TRUE SELF." "Find who you are. Find your purpose, Hope. Not for Lypin. Not for Yaat. For yourself. Or you will drown here."
The water reached his waist. "Become one with the water, Hope! Stop analyzing. Act on instinct. Let yourself flow!"
All ten copies lunged at once. Hope sank beneath the water, surrounded by his own reflections. Breathless. Helpless.
This was not training. This was an execution. And his executioner… was himself.