Lust and Love

Summary: Part One in \"The Waters of Tomorrow\" Cycle. A story on how lust and love can destory a contry and maybe, the future. My yarn on the story of Atlantis. Rated \"R\" for later chapters.

Note: This story and \"The Waters of Tomorrow\" Cycle is a tie-in with my Mermaid Challenge. If you would like to get in on it, please check it out. I will wait to put out part 2 untill there are more challenge ars. rs. I did some study on the subject of Atlantis and Critias, but I\'ve decided to think of this way: If the history of Atlantis was never writen, then facts and dates can all get mixed up or some facts totally forgotten. While I try to stay true to some of the historical facts of this, most of this is all in my head. Also, I myself do not belive in the story of Atlantis and I think either Plato or Critias made-up the whole thing. I think it\'s a great story, even so, and one that should not be forgotten. The Critias in my story is not any of the Critias\' in \"Timaeus and Critias\". 1 Yets = 1 Nautical Mile. Thank you.

For more on the real Atlantis, check out this site: http://www.activemind.com/Mysterious/Topics/Atlantis/

Disclaimer: “I do own characters here, but I make no money off this, at all.\"

Lust and Love
The island of Atlantis

Critias smiled lovingly upond the city of Atlantis. As a magic scholar and a royal mage, he lived the good life. He never went hungry nor did he want. Critias was also the youngest to be a royal mage and so, it sometimes got to his head, but he was a good man.

The island of Atlantis, at the most, at very lest, was some 600 miles accross and was some what round. It had a bay on the westen side and in the north stood the Kintores Mountains. The rest of the island, was farm land. The city was close to 100 squre miles with close to 100,000 people living there. What they could not grow, they imported. The island\'s main export? Magic! Mages sold their services or that of magical devises or objects, other wise known as \"artifacts\". Most of the people were really rich.

All the people of Atlantis could do magic of course, but a few knew how unlock the powers that lay just below the surface and Critias was one of them. He was the best and the brightest and the few who didn\'t fear the king, said he was the best on the island. Critias would smile at the king and say he knew that the king was stronger than himself, but he would inwardly enjoy the comments.

As he stood atop of the Kintores Mountains, he could see the ships coming into port. He love to sit on top of the highest of the mountains and get work done, all while watching the boats come in and out. Today, however, he was looking for one ship.

Critias placed a spy-glass to his right eye and looked out into the sea. The spy-glass was enhance with magic, so he could see an ant on the top of his roof. As he scaned the sea, he saw some Atlantians swimming somewhere around three \"Yets\" off the coast. They all had tails.

Now, the people of Atlantis knew all about tranformation spells. A real hit with the people was a what the Atlantians called, The Mermaid Spell. This trasnformation spell will let you have a tail instead of legs and let you go back to legs at anytime. Gils was popular with this spell and soon, it was included with the spell. Mostly, it was used by the young and sea fairing folk (just incase the ship went down), but everyone knew it because of it was simple to cast and use.

Critias himself distusted the spell, but did it it just in case. Not one Atlantian has been lost at sea when a boat shank due to this spell. Some, though, have gone out to sea and never return. They have been dub simply as \"Mermaids\".

Anyway, Critias kept watch for the ship he knows would come today. The King wanted to be the first to know when it arives and Critias could hardly say no to his king. They were great friends, seeing as they are the same age and friends for as long as both can remember.

Critias sigh inwardly. \'It sould have been here by now. Where could it-?\" Then he saw the ship.

\'Ahh, there it is. The King will be most pleased.\' Packing away the spy-glass, Critias contaue his thought. \'Maybe this will be a good time to ask the King for a vaction as well.\'

**********

\"M\'Lord! M\'Lord I have good news for you!\" said Critias as he busted into the King\'s office.

\"Critias, how many times have I told you to just call me name?\" said \"We are friends, or else I would not have let you barge in. Now tell me, has the ship come in yet?

\"Yes, Azore. The last I saw, it was out about ten Yets. It might be another hour or so, before it comes in.\"

\"Great!\" cried out Azore. He too broke a recored when he became the youngest King, one year ago. Azore was a little over 23-years-old and every so offten, he let his age show through. The King was around 5\'4\", blone hair, blue eyes, and well built. He got up and huged his friend.

\"Come Critias, my friend. Let us have a drink and talk about the future.\"

Critias sat down beside a desk as Azore poured the drinks. Critias himself was very like the king, but he had deep red hair and bright green eyes. He was a little older at age 24. Also 5\' 4\", his body was a little less define then the king. Being a mage for a living, he didn\'t do much. But what he lacked in muscles, he made up for it, in his mind.

\"You are really looking forward to this, are you not?\" said Critias as Azore came back with the drinks.

\"Yes and no.\" Azore said as he sat down in a chair next to Critias. They both faced a table in which the king worked. \"It will mean that I might get an heir, but I fear that I will never be as free as you after today.\"

\"You have never been free. Your title wouldn\'t alow such a thing.\"

\"That is true enough, but little can be done about it now. Well, I guess I have have to prepare myself. First essiessions is the best!\" Azore down the drink and stand from the chair next to Critias.

\"Oh sire, I have a question for you.\" He got up and started to follow Azore, but was stoped.

\"It can wait. I have much to do and I\'ve spent too much time talking. Although it\'s been fun, I must get ready.\"

\"I understand. Afterward then?\"

\"Very good, I will talk to you then.\" Azore turn to leave, and as soon as he got to the door he trun back to his friend. \"You must also get ready also, if you are to meet my future wife.\"

**********

Critias was walking down the street to his house, when he notice his mentor\'s house down another street. He smiled at himself because he hadn\'t thought of him in years. So without thinking too much on it, Critias started to make his way to the house of his mentor, Maxmoz. Maxmoz was a good teacher, but he was very smart. Sometimes a little too smart for is own good. He had conculed, about three years ago, that Atlantis would fall into the sea and all it would take, would be an earthquake.

\'What rub-\'

\"No, it is not rubbish.\" said a man writing in a scroll just inside the house. The table he was working on was small, like most funiture in the house. He looked up to see his surprize student. \"No, I didn\'t read minds. It\'s the standard greeting now. What do you want Critias?\"

\"I came by for a drink and a wish to see if you where well.\"

\"Now that,\" said Maxmoz as he got up poinpointed at his old student. \"That is rubbish!\"

At age 47, Maxmoz was a respected teacher untill he made his claim of impending doom. Now, he\'s living off of what he earned and sometimes barrowing money.

\"Oh, I can say for myself that I\'m always up for a drink, but I did come to see how you are doing. I have heard of some interesting news about you.\" Said Critias as he took a drink from Maxmoz. He sat down and waited for his old master to say something.

\"Yes.\" answered Maxmoz after thinking about it. He sat across from Critias and then the young mage saw how old his former master looked. \"I\'m dying and there is nothing the so-called shamans can do about it, ethier. Even if there was something they could do, I would refuse. I\'m too old as it is.

\"I\'m glad you came too. I have been working on some other stuff and I\'m only going to share it with you.\" Maxmoz reached over and grabed another scroll and handed it to Critias. Critias read it in silence.

\"If- if this is true, then you have just proven that there is a multi-verse out there!\" He looked in surprize horror at his master. The idea has been worked on and still being worked on, but most think that it will still be hundreds of years before they could even prove the theory. Maxmoz not only proved it, but had a working spell to open doors between the multi-verse! \"May I tke this, so that I might study this more closely?\"

\"Yes, but that is just one copy. The Science and Magical Arts are reviewing my theories now and will release my findings soon. Hopfully, they will give me back my honor.\"

\"Don\'t trust me?\" Said Critias with a mocking smile. \"I also hope that they restore your honor.\"

\"So, when does the new queen arrive?\"

\"How-?\"

\"Gossip is a powerful and quick weapon. I find it has best serve me since my student has become royal mage. I the the good ones because of you!\"

\"She should be in soon. That reminds me, I have to get ready for her arrivel. The King wants me to be there when she comes. I thank you for the scroll and will return it as soon as I\'m finish with it.\"

\"Do not worry, I have more copies made. Tell the king of my wishes are with him and his new wife!\"

\"I will and good luck Master!\"

End of Chpter 1