Turning Tides

Chapter Thirteen: Hidden Treasures

It felt... different. Relaxing.

She was almost disappointed when they stopped hours later—that is, until Beatrice gave her a small smile.

"Go ahead," she said, pointing her chin before them.

Malia belatedly realized she had been staring at the woman, and she hurriedly nodded before looking forward.

There was nothing. Sure, there was a stretch of rugged seamounts, adorned with scraggly seaweed and colorful coral. But other than that, it was no different than the rest of the ocean.

"It's... beautiful," Malia said, trying her best to imitate enthusiasm.

Beatrice chuckled. "Go closer."

Doubtful but curious, Malia did, slowly approaching the dull rocks. She only had to move a few feet before the world transformed before her eyes.

It was a city, but it was nothing like Okeanos. Whereas Okeanos looked like it was carved out of the rocks, this city was seemingly built on top of them, as if it was a technological hub she would see on land.

Glowing skyscrapers towered over them, reaching for the distant sunny waters. Spirits zipped over complex paths in crafts akin to small submarines, the propellers glowing similar to the orb of light in her own hand. A monorail was even intertwined between the buildings; when the vehicle passed by, the free-standing track glowed.

At least a minute probably passed before Malia realized her mouth was hanging open.

Her mind was reeling at the magic surrounding her, and she couldn't decide on what to focus on first. She slowly backed away to analyze everything from afar, and her decision was made for her when the city suddenly disappeared.

She paused, then moved forward; the city instantly emerged from the dark waters. She moved backwards; it vanished.

"No way!" Malia whispered, continuously moving back and forth. "No way, no way, no way!"

At last, she stopped long enough to turn to Beatrice with a wide grin. "It's invisible! This whole place is invisible!"

Beatrice's smile was soft and amused. "It is."

A part of Malia was self-conscious of her childish excitement, but she knew Beatrice wouldn't tease her for it. With that in mind, Malia turned back to the city and ran her hand slowly through the water.

"The energy feels different right here," she said, holding her hand at the place in question. "I know there are theories of using negative refraction to mimic invisibility, but no one's applied it practically yet—not on land, at least. They must be using the energy in the water to change its refraction index. It probably changes the magnetic field too, and that could be like a shield against human sensors."

When Malia realized she was rambling, she turned sheepishly to Beatrice. "Sorry, we probably didn't come here for this."

But Beatrice's smile only grew. "Don't be sorry. In fact, that's exactly why we're here."

She joined Malia's side, her own eyes glowing at the city before them. "Welcome to Atlantis."

With that revelation, Malia was speechless, and she could only stare at the city with wonder.

Eventually, they swam closer, but they couldn't travel far when Malia stopped to inspect everything around them.

"These are powered like the light balls are!" she whispered when she got close to one of the miniature submarines parked in front of a shop. "I wonder how it stores energy so efficiently."

When a line of "pedestrians" zipped by in front of them, she couldn't help but hold her hand out into the path. "There's a current here! Is this generated by the city? It's like the pneumatic tube travel concept!"

She stared up in wonder every time the monorail passed over them. "It's levitating with electromagnets! Well, not exactly electricity because, you know, electricity and water is bad, but it's probably the energy we feel in the water."

Then, she trailed after someone using a phone-like device. "I wonder if the invisibility shield around the city also blocks these communication waves. It must be producing a magnetic field then!"

They joined a crowd watching a show projected onto the water. "Wow. Wow."

It took them ages to travel a few blocks to a vast park of sand. Once they were there, they sat on the side and watched the world around them, vaguely keeping an eye on Sebastian befriending the local spirit canines. Malia was sure she looked like a tourist as her wide eyes continued to survey the city, and more than once, she turned to Beatrice to apologize. But every time, she'd find Beatrice already looking at her with a small smile, and Malia knew that no apologies were needed.

"Who knew that all of this existed down here?" Malia whispered in awe. "That so much innovation was happening just out of sight? And the fact that Atlantis is actually real."

Beatrice chuckled. "I told you when we first met, it's east of Okeanos."

"I thought you were joking."

"Hm."

After a beat of silence, they laughed.

"This is really amazing," Malia continued. "I never thought I'd feel this again—this... wonder for the world, for science." She turned to Beatrice, not caring that her eyes felt warm with emotions. "Thank you."

Beatrice's own eyes twinkled in the glowing lights of Atlantis. "You're most welcome."

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