The man clenched his fists, the wind bellowed feverishly as the weather mourned a heavy thunder. The waves rose high, clawing for the skies as if begging for forgiveness. There were constant melodies that dominated the eerie ambiance in the middle of the sea.

But he was not perturbed by the anguish and cries of the ocean, he stood stiffly against all the roars of the waves. The wind did not bother his
state, he stood rigid under the storm.

The man was not alone in the drizzle of rain, standing ten feet away from him was a man towering almost seven feet. Golden eyes glazed with pity and sadness yet face stone cold and filled with indifference.

"Did you not see what you've done, Orm?" The voice was hard, gruff, and remorseful.

Orm could only stare at his older brother with a pained expression, opening his mouth but closing his lips. His fulgent blue orbs clashed with his brother's golden electric ones. The wind howled harsher and somehow it accommodated Orm's state of mind.

He was troubled, confused, and lost.

"I know."

Orm could only gulp and look away, seeing damaged ships on his peripheral vision. Alongside the rain, fire and smoke emitted from broken engines and scraps of metal floating on the seawater. Bodies, as they both could sense, lifelessly fallen into the dark depths of the ocean, ingesting the lives of the sailors who met their doom.

Orm's heart thudded in his chest. "I hold no trickery under my sleeves, Arthur. I will not depart, I shall bear my mistakes in your accordance." He swallowed heavily, his sight of vision blinded by his dampened hair. 

This was his redemption, his salvation. It was the only way he could pay for the things he'd done. The tears his beloved mother shed for him. His death could serve as a payment for his debts.

He was a child of the past king, a king who bore no compassion but only hunger for power and fortune. Perhaps the rumours of the governors of the kingdom and other merpeople were correct.

He was just like his father; ruthless and a murderer.

Arthur, decked in his suit, clasped Atlan's triton tightly. It hurt him, to see his brother suffering. But he has to take action or else the people, both land and water dwellers, will perish if he will not stop Orm. He read the prophecy, the Kraken solely told it to him.

But is death really necessary for his dear brother he came to love? He was family for crying out loud! They were connected by blood, and no amount of power in the world could break that bond.

He took a step, the water quaking before him. "Orm, you and I both know this is not the way. I can still–"

"There is no way, Arthur!" Orm answered instantly, his anger rising. "You ought to know that I could do much worse than this," He motioned around them, tears stinging his eyes. "The corpses. The broken ships. If I continue to breathe, I could end lives. One by one until nothing is left. I cannot control my powers, Arthur. It is a part of me that even you cannot take."

Arthur shook his head, brows stitched together. "No, there is always a way. I won't kill you and I'll be damned to lose another family." He whispered the last part, but it reached Orm's ears.

The weather did not stop, it continued to growl, the wind thrash, and thunder and lightning resounded.

"Please, Arthur." Orm was begging now. He knew his capabilities, he could kill hundreds with a flick of his wrist. His inner demons were slowly eating him away from his sanity and he knew if he lived any longer, he will wreck havoc and catastrophe.

"Kill me. It is the only way."

Arthur closed his eyes, calming his inner turmoil and meditated. He had to save his brother, he was not able to saved his father and their mother, but he has to deliver Orm from death. His chest tightened at the mere thought of losing his family, he lost two lives he can't bear to lose another.

Finally, at his last resort, one thought came to Arthur's mind. A part of him hesitated upon doing it. He knew it would hurt his brother beyond imagination but it will be worth it. Orm will understand sooner.

Gripping the triton with both arms, Arthur brought it infront of him and inserted a big amount of energy. Giving a small prayer for success, he hoped that this plan of his would work. Arthur could vividly see how this would backfire yet he couldn't care less. Right now, Orm's life is at stake and he needs to take risks.

"In the name of Atlantis," Arthur carefully stated, gripping the triton and lifting it to the skies as the thunder answered. "I, the current ruler of the seven seas, the King of Atlantis, and successor of the almighty King Atlan, do hereby sentenced Orm Marius . . ."

Though Orm was expecting it, fear crawled to his spine. He recoiled from his position. He's actually doing it, it will all be over soon. He thought, slightly convicted. Orm could only spread his arms, embracing his tragic fate. If this is how he'll die, then so be it.

"I hereby sentence Marius Orm from being an Atlantean citizen and royalty!"

Orm's eyes opened abruptly from shock, his body tense from the revelation.

"W-what? Arthur!" He called to him, sprinting towards the King.

Arthur continued, the triton glowing a luminescent golden hue. The weapon vibrated as thunder clashed to the waters. "Let his power strip away from him, I cast Orm Marius away from Atlantis and hereby banish him to the surface world."

Orm felt betrayed. His jaw clenched and he grit his teeth, his eyes flared with fury. "Stop this nonsense, Arthur!"

With one last sorrowful look, Arthur gave Orm a small smile.

"I'm sorry."

That was the last thing Orm heard and saw when he was hit by a blinding light before losing consciousness.