~Escape~

Word Count: 5,223k

"If I'm going to leave home, I obviously need to bring my Chariot as well. To travel more comfortably."

"Little Triton, your father will be very upset if he discovers you brought all that. Even that you're thinking of going there would make him tremble in rage. I beg of you, please reconsider bringing fewer artefacts.

"Fine, I'll skip the Chariot. But I definitely need the portable turtle shell!"

"Young master Triton, Please!"

"Okay, okay, I get it! Tell me then, Uncle Diokles, what can I bring?"

In the Sea God's Palace, which unofficially went by the name of Triton's playground, there was a young handsome man and a majestic sea lion currently in a heated discussion.

The young man had a swirling, lion's mane of gold hair which towered down his shoulders like a waterfall, giving off a very powerful feeling. He seemed to be moulded from a different cast than normal men. His navy-blue eyes had the same startling clarity as a mountain stream and the lineaments of his face were in perfect proportions to each other. As if chiselled by Hephaestus, there was not a single blemish on his fair skin, an appearance even women would envy and kill for. He measured two whole meters in height.

"At max three treasures. Maybe four." the sea lion, Diokles, answered. He was a magical sea lion and served as both the young man’s protector and servant. He was large and intimidating to most, his oily skin blending ash and ebon together in a dusky palate.

 “So little?”

 "More is out of the question."

Triton frowned with a defeated gaze. "I can't bring the trident, can I?"

Diokles lifted an eyebrow.

"..."

"......"

"Fine, I got it. I'll take these then."

Triton pointed at four artefacts. A coral-shaped sword, a crimson armour, an angelic-white clam and a moss-green ring. They lay on top of the desk and all radiated mysterious, powerful auras that would make mortals' hearts palpitate beyond rapidly. 

"That can do but you definitely can not bring anything else," Diokles said. 

Triton nodded. Then he asked. "So will we still go with the plan?"

"Mm." the sea lion nodded and swam over to the desk. He carefully picked up the treasures and handed them to the young man. "No changes, we will use the cover of your father's birthday as we discussed earlier."

Triton equipped the ring and bound the clam with a leather band before tying it around his neck. He then opened the clam and pressed the armour and the sword against it. The two artefacts slowly became smaller and entered the clam without resistance.

"What about you?" the young man asked with worry in his eyes.

The sea lion shook his head and let out a laugh. "What matters is that you can go. I myself would have loved to follow you, and take a look at what makes my little Triton so fascinated, but as you know, I have my duties."

"You know that's not what I meant." Triton quickly said. "How will he react once the truth comes out?"

"That I helped you?"

The young man nodded.

Diokles laughed. "Let's not think about that now, alright?"

"Then–" Triton said and smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Diokles. Thank's for everything you've done for me. I know that actions speak louder than words, father has repeatedly told me this, so I will let you hear words of my adventures from above." 

The sea lion looked at the young man with full of emotions in his eyes. He had looked after him for since a baby and nothing made him happier than being a faithful servant for the young master. “Always a pleasure,” he said and bowed deeply.

Little did the sea lion know, that his action once again barely entered Triton's eyes. The one thing Triton knew, though, was that showing appreciating for Diokles would make sure the sea lion kept doing everything in his power to help him. He knew the Diokles personality and therefore would squeeze out every single juice of loyalty from him!

Great legs, large chests, juicy meat... The young man's eyes were full of expectation. Just you all wait! The great Triton is coming!

 ***

There was a special kind of salt in the water of the sea kingdom this day of the year. A kind of salt that made one want to click his tongue in delight. Yes, it was no other than the birthday of a very important person. That's right. Today, the twenty-third day of the coral calendar, was the birthday of the sea god, the great and mighty Poseidon. The sea god ruled the seas with his fearsome trident, and peerless mastery over the waves, and was one of the three greater gods in the world.

"Soon... I can leave this place...?"

The capital of the Sea kingdom was very large. Residents of the city travelled across its many corners through special swimming lanes as to not collide with each other. Though It was notable to mention that if a whale came swimming while you were leisurely taking a stroll, the effects of not noticing its impede in time could be disastrous. That's why the sea god thought long and hard before ordering his officials to implement swimming lanes, means to avoid unnecessary accidents. There were even swimming highways, swimming lanes that demanded a very high speed to be used. 

Triton sat inside his mansion and looked out from his window, across the city's closest swimming lane. Big and small, scales or fur– all sorts of aquatic creatures swam past him. Also here was it notable to mention that to become a resident of the sea god's city, more than just being a member of the ocean was needed. You needed to have a certain level of intelligence. The waters covered ten times the space the land above the waters did and so the population was nothing short of endless. Only beings with intelligence on par with humans, like the magical sea lion who served as Triton's bodyguard and was a general int he Sea God's Divine Army, were allowed to live in the capital.

The swimming lane was especielly crowded today. Triton saw how bustling it was and couldn't help but feel an excitement growing within, not because of his father's birthday, which was a joyous occasion of course, but more due to what he was going to do today. A smile appeared on his devilishly handsome face even Zeus' wife would melt from seeing.

"Young master Triton," Diokles called outside the room. "It's time."

"Coming," Triton said grabbed the clam by his bedside and pulled it over his head. 

Just as the young man was about to leave the room, he noticed all the countless of artefacts which lay on the desk. Grinning, he went over and stored everything in the clam. They are mine so why should I leave them here, is what went through his mind as the time.

"Young master Triton, you look as handsome as always."

As Triton left his room, Diokles stood outside, dressed in a black suit woven with exquisite sea silk. He also wore a red tie underneath the suit on his shirt, and carried a sheathed sword, with a likewise red sash to match the tie, by his waist.

Triton shined up like the sun itself. He loved when people complimented him. "Thank you, Uncle Diokles. You don't look too shabby yourself."

"Oh my," the sea lion said. He then cleared his throat. "Shall we go?"

As they arrived at the palace, the guards immediately opened up the gates and bowed respectfully. Triton and Diokles walked through and entered the Sea God's New Palace. The old Palace had been given to Triton long ago, and so Poseidon had no option but to build a new.

"Triton! My only son! You're here!"

Poseidon roared in joy as Triton walked into the palace. He was seated in his coral throne with a cup of wine in his hand but stood up with vigour the moment his eyes set sight upon the young man. He was the very definition of raging waves, a well-muscled giant with flowing hair and beard and moustache. He was triple the size of Triton and didn't look like him at all. Maybe it was because Triton received most of his looks from his mother.

The vassals around Poseidon instantly rose as well. To do otherwise when their king stood up was a sign of disrespect and defiance. They then bowed to Triton.

"Father, you look stronger for each day I see you. Here, I brought you a small present."

After a gigantic bear hug from his father, Triton handed him an old bottle of rum of which a servant of his had found a whole cargo in the deep sea a couple of months back.

"Thank you, son. This is?" Poseidon asked, looking at the bottle with interest.

"I believe it's called rum. From the lands above." Triton said. "found it in a wreckage."

"Rum? Certainly sounds interesting. Let's try it with your mother later. It's been a long time since we all shared a drink together." Poseidon said with a roaring laughter.

Triton greeted the vassals around Poseidon and then got seated next to his father. His mother came in a moment later. As he saw her, he felt the urge to whistle.

She was absolutely breathtaking as always, now wearing a rose dress which snug as loosely as a cloak on her sylph-like waist. Aphrodite had a flawless, ochreous hued skin and peach-like shapes. As her constellation-blue eyes found her husband's, Triton noticed how her languid eyelashes fluttered and then came to a gentle standstill.

Poseidon rose from his throne. "My, you're truly beautiful in that dress," he said.

Aphrodite broke out into a smile, her beguiling, oyster-white teeth making everyone in their room stare for a while until they regained their ability to stand up and bow to the goddess. Triton was the only one who didn't fall under his mother's bewitching act. It's no wonder she's the goddess of love and beauty, among else. She truly takes you by storm.

"Please, join us." Poseidon continued and gestured for them to go somewhere more private. "Our son brought a bottle of rum from the lands above. Let's share a cup together!” 

They retreated to Poseidon’s private chambers. Triton sat down on a chair and watched as his mother and father got seated opposite to him. “Son, mother and father have something joyous to tell you.”

Triton smiled warily. "Please tell, father and mother."

Poseidon looked hesitantly at his wife. Aphrodite gave him a nod. Then Poseidon nodded back.

"Son,” the sea god began, turning to face Triton. “I feel that it's time you took over my mantle."

Triton was flabbergasted. "What?" he exclaimed.

"Yes, you see, I and you mother have thought about it, and soon, since you are all grown up and all, we'd like to retire from our positions and hand over the power to you." The Sea God said and downed his cup in one go.

He then grabbed hold of his wife's waist. "Right, dear?"

"It's exactly as your father said. I also feel its time for you to... become more like your father." Aphrodite told her son. 

"What do you mean by that? Is there something wrong with who I am now?"

"Not at all," his mother laughed crispily.

The young man sighed. "And when would this be?"

"As soon as possible," his father admitted. "Now with age, I've come to realise how my powers are slowly but surely fading. Just like my two brothers. When you were born, we met and discussed the matter. We came to an agreement that when you were ready to take over my place as the god of the sea, they would allow their heirs to do the same."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"But I'm not ready!" Triton said. "I can't become the Sea God yet. I'm not even half as strong as you."

"Then you will come with me. We will travel across the sea and I will teach you all that you need in order to become a ruler just as good and strong as me." Poseidon announced.

Triton hesitated for a while. Then he nodded. 

"Ahaha, I knew you'd understand me, son. We'll set off after the celebration. Since this is on such a short notice, go now and get yourself ready to leave. You don't need to stay here and celebrate this old geezer all day."

"I'll go and make myself ready then," Triton said and excused himself. "Mother, Father. Until I see you next."

As he left the hall, he went to find Diokles. "Uncle Diokles. We need to leave. Now."

Meanwhile, in the palace room where the family of three had sat, Poseidon and Aphrodite were the only two left.

"Our son has really grown up." The Sea God said to his wife. "I remember when he was small enough for me to hold in one of my hands. Time really flies by fast when you become a father."

Aphrodite's hand grabbed Poseidon's crotch. "He's not the only one who can grow fast, is he?"

The giant man arched head back from her soft touch. "Dear, we have guests downstairs. We can't do this now..."

"Says who?" Aphrodite seductively pushed him down on the marble floor. She began to kiss his muscular neck with her puffy, full lips, constantly rubbing her soft hand with angelic fingers against his crotch.

"How about a little birthday... present?" She worked her way down with that watery mouth of hers, kissing, nibbling, and eventually sucking the surging member between his legs. "Happy birthday, dear..."

***

Diokles and Triton met up in the Sea God's Palace.

"Did you bring everything?"

Triton gave the sea lion a hurried nod as he bit his lip. "We need to hurry Uncle Diokles."

"I follow your every word, you know that, Little Triton. Do we leave immediately?"

"Yes." the young man replied. "Now."

"As you wish. Let us be off then."

***

Poseidon sat in his throne very comfortably today. Especielly now, after having told his son, who received the news with joy, that the time for taking over the throne was ripe, and also getting a very nice birthday present from his wife. He nodded to himself that having fought for Aphrodite's hand in marriage was one of the best choices in his life. Not only did he recieve a wife who outclasses everyone else's but he also gained a very filial son.

"What? Why is our son leaving the city?" Poseidon began to mutter. "And... he's taken all his artefacts treasures with him?" Then he suddenly stood up. His Herculean body trembling, causing the palace floor to shake and nearby water to churn

"K-king!" his vassals rose as they noticed their king standing up.

"You didn't think I would notice?" Poseidon muttered in rage. "This sea is mine, I control every inch of water. Even a small fish can't go without my notice, let alone you, my very own son... very well, your father will show you the mighty power of the sea so that you'll be more than aching to inherit my position!"

***

Triton controlled the surrounding water to propel him and the sea lion forward at a mind-boggling speed. It was a trait he inherited from his father, the ability to control water. As they swam north and up, many aquatic beings such fishes and whales and sharks all made way for them as if it was within their very instinct. 

Suddenly, the water around them began to seethe in anger. Triton felt a tingling sensation in his chest. His father was coming. He just knew it. Diokles felt hairs rising on his body. "I thought it'd take longer for him to notice." he frowned. "I'm sorry, young master, I misjudged his control over the sea. It really is as peerless as back the then."

The young man clenched his jaw but said nothing. Diokles smiled apologetically and asked. "Do you want to turn back? We can say it was my idea."

Staring down at the bottom of the sea for a while, Triton shook his head. "No. I want to go to the land above no matter what."

The sea lion slowly nodded. "Then we shall do as young master says. Maybe we can make it to shore before he catches up to us."

Triton gently bit his lip. "You really think so?"

Again, Diokles nodded. "it's worth a try."

However, as they made their way past a famous coral reef, they heard a roaring voice from behind. It was this voice that the sea kingdom's enemies often associated with death. The voice of the sea god who was famed for his hefty temper. It was a known fact in the realm that only to his son and wife would he show his gentle side, a side so long neglected in battle.

"Triton!" Poseidon spat out, foam billowing from his mouth. As the water parted from his very presence, his eyes protruded and his muscles flexed. "I know where you're going! You're going that puny mortal kingdom you are so damn fascinated with! Why? You are destined to rule the sea and inherit the throne! Your place is here! In the sea kingdom!"

Triton adopted a challenging tone. "No! I want to go to the land above water.

"Why?!" his father demanded.

"Why? Why – you say?!" the young man asked and began to laugh. All his pent up irritation burst out. "Because I'm tired of the sea. I want what I've read about in the ancient lyrics. Human females. Told to even ignite the desire of your older brother, Zeus. I want to experience them too! I don't want to stay here in the sea for my whole life. I refuse!"

"Refuse to stay here?" his father said." How about it. I'll find you the cutest merm–"

"I don't want a mermaid, father!" Triton shouted. "I want a human female! What don't you understand? What good is a mermaid? They don't even have legs, and I love legs! I absolutely love them! And don't get me started on boobs cuz' they have none!"

"You brat! I won't let you go!" Poseidon bellowed and increased his speed.

"Go ahead and try!" Triton returned with a snort. He also speeded up.

The sea water churned and two powerful streams of water raced through the sea.

In one of the streams, Triton and the sea lion stood. The sea lion shook from bottom to toe. He wanted to fulfil the wishes of his young master but couldn't help to be afraid of the angry sea god.

"He wants to fight? Right by me!" Triton snickered and opened the clam.

He was, in an instant, clad the armour of the demonic crab, holding the trident of the sea in his hand. The ring of Kraken had also coiled around his finger like your everyday squid.

"Young master, you took all the artefacts!" Diokles exclaimed.

"You brat! Dare to fight your father? Come! I'll pummel some sense in you!" Poseidon cried out and bared his fist. His speed exploded exponentially and caught up to his son in a moment.

"Recieve my fist of education!" shouted the sea god and punched at Triton. The water split apart and a rumbling filled his mind. Triton shouted in anger and stabbed with the trident!

His trident met his father's hand. A boom caused the sea to churn and the sea floor to shake. The recoil made Triton fly away like a cannonball. His arm trembled from his father's mighty power.

But Poseidon was in no better shape himself.

The sharp trident had pierced the skin of his knuckle but gone no further. A drop of golden blood escaped, turning into a water horse which swam toward Triton.

The young man gritted his teeth and used the trident to pierce the skin of his own arm. It bled golden as he pushed the ring on his left hand against it.

Three large moss-green tentacles with pink suction cups wrapped around his bleeding arm, causing him to reveal a pained expression. Then, in the blink of an eye, the tentacles became thousands of times bigger, shooting out toward the seahorse and swallowing it whole.

Poseidon snorted and waved his hand. Nine more seahorses appeared, galloping toward the green tentacles. Both sides collided and water sprayed in every direction, causing small whirlpools to conjure.

As everything became still, there was nothing left of neither the seahorse or the tentacles.

"If that's everything you've got, son... you will lose." said the sea god grimly.

"Why won't you just let me leave? I don't want to rule the sea! You know where I want to go!" Triton chimed, grabbed Diokles and shot away to the north, leaving his father behind, fuming with anger. 

"Little Triton, why did you bring all the artefacts, your father isn't going to let you off the hook! And he's a fisherman!" Diokles said as they swam.

The young man gave Diokles a strange look. "Did you just try to be funny there?"

Diokles cleared his throat. "Anyway, that's not what's important here. You even brought the trident!"

"Who cares, he's mad at me anyway. A bit more. A bit less. Makes no difference." Triton rebutted as they passed a wreckage. The speed in which they swam kicked up nearby sand and stirred fish to spread in all directions. "Get a grip of yourself, Uncle Diokles. I will need you to succeed."

The sea lion wriggled, a shaky smile appearing on his face. He nodded several times.

"What do you need me to do?"

Triton hesitated for a moment and then said. "I know this is a lot for me to ask, but I'd like for you to stall my father for as long as you can."

"Stall your father?" the sea lion felt a chill go through its body. It wriggled again. 

"Yes," Triton nodded and held up five fingers. "If you can keep him busy for even five minutes... no, two, then that will give me enough time. Can you do that for me? Two minutes is all I need."

Diokles had a faint premonition that his young master was merely using him this time. However, with the long-lasting loyalty fostered for nineteen years, the sea lion repressed such thoughts and bowed. "I will do as young master Triton says."

Without an ounce of hesitation, he left Triton's water control and swam to face his king.

***

"What are you doing, Diokles?" Why are you even here?" 

"With all due respect, your majesty, I follow every word young master Triton tells me. Even if all he's doing now is using me. And if he tells me to stall for time, that's what I will do."

"That's some loyalty there. Now when I think about it, I was right in assigning you to be his Protector." Poseidon told the sea lion as they floated in the water a couple of meters away from each other. "A pity my son is using that loyalty for all the wrong reasons. Wanting to go to the land above waters instead of becoming the new sea god..." he sighed. "How foolish."

"All the wrong reasons?" Diokles laughed. "Your majesty, I've been with little Triton since he was born. I might even know him better than you, and if there's anything I've learned that is that he hates doing what others tell him. As simple as that."

"You mean to say I'm in the wrong here?" Poseidon snorted angrily. "That I shouldn't force him to become the Sea god?"

"Not at all, your majesty. I merely think that it's... a bit too early."

"So now you're telling me I'm raising my children wrongly?"

Diokles sighed. An angry Poseidon was an unreasonably Poseidon. But hey, at least it was an effective way to stall for time. The sea lion gave up his last shred of hesitation and replied.

"No, I just think that Poseidon has to look from his son's perspective this time."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you see. Nothing is black and white. Triton's dream is to travel across the land above. Why should we stop him? Surely you can be the sea god for a couple years longer?"

"If all could be that easy." Poseidon's eyes darkened. He then straightened his back and looked in the direction Triton swam toward. "He's is not too far from shore now so It's time for me to fetch him back. Stay here, I'll deal with you later."

Before the sea lion could blink, Poseidon shot away toward the north, toward where Triton went.

Diokles hesitated for a moment but then gave chase. 

***

"There! I can see the light!" Triton propelled himself in the water faster than ever before. He squeezed out every drop of his energy and could now see the light breaking the surface of the sea. It was a beautiful scene; glimmering, flickering, almost sparkling like thousand of pearls in the moon light He couldn't help but marvel at the fact that he would soon see the real thing– the lands that lay above the water where he could live to his heart's full content.

 "Had your fun yet?" 

Triton turned his head and saw his father coming toward him at full speed. The young man's heart began to thump faster. Hell no I'm going to fail now when I'm so close. He went past his limit in a desperate attempt to escape his father's grasp, burning his lifeblood. 

"Burning your lifeblood? Are you out of your mind, Triton?!" Poseidon's eyes bulged.

"Out of my mind or not, you will not stop me!" the young man returned.

Poseidon shook his head and almost teleported next to his son. After all, he was the Sea God. His speed was ten times, no, twenty times even faster than Triton's. "Son, I have and will always love you," he said. "But becoming the sea god is your filial duty. Your responsibility. I cannot let the mere inkling of a desire take that away. I told you befo–"

The Herculean man abruptly stopped speaking. A pair of grey fins were wrapped around his arms. Triton could hear the sea lion's voice from behind his father.  "Little Triton, now! Escape while I can still hold him! Go catch that dream of yours, make it a reality! Don't let this all be for anything! Gooo!!"

Triton didn't hesitate for a moment. He shot away and broke the surface of the water, leaving his father fuming and the scared, for what was going to happen to him, sea lion behind. As soon as he came up, Everything became white.