Reincarnating As A Prince in the DC Universe

A/N: Before I continue, I'd like to apologise for the mistake I made in the previous chapters. The Dark Mages Aiden had killed were merely Archmage level Dark Mages, however I had referred to them as Dark Lords. A Dark Lord is someone on the rank of Grand Mage. And considering that Aiden has already surpassed the level of Archmages, I see no need in correcting it since they won't be mentioned again. His enemies would be on the rank of Grand Mage 

…

43

…

The grand throne room of Atlantis was alive with energy, both magical and intellectual. 

Grand chandeliers that usually cast serene light now flickered erratically, responding to the arcane experiments taking place. 

The polished marble floor was marked with intricate runes glowing faintly, forming a massive spell circle at the center of the room. 

A group of mages, clad in flowing robes adorned with sigils, hovered around several glowing orbs and strange crystalline apparatuses, their murmured incantations blending with the hum of active spells.

At the head of the activity stood King Atlan, his golden trident in hand, its prongs crackling faintly with energy as he directed the proceedings. 

His presence was both commanding and approachable with a voice filled with authority as he spoke. 

"Steady with the containment field, Magistra Liona," he instructed, nodding toward a silver-haired mage struggling to stabilize a pulsating blue orb hovering before her.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Liona replied, sweat beading on her brow as her hands moved in practiced motions, weaving threads of mana around the orb. "The energy signature is fluctuating wildly. It's as if the core is reacting to something beyond our parameters."

"Perhaps the spatial alignment is off," another mage suggested, a wiry man named Caelum, a sorcerer. He waved his hand, causing a translucent diagram to materialize in the air. "The ley lines running through the city may be interfering with the siphoning spell. I recommend we recalibrate."

Atlan nodded thoughtfully, tapping the base of the trident against the floor. "Do it quickly. If this experiment succeeds, it could revolutionize how we harvest energy from the ocean's depths."

To the side, another group of mages worked on a cylindrical device etched with golden runes. Steam hissed from its seams as a glowing liquid sloshed inside, illuminating their intent faces.

"This is the most concentrated sample of Etherium we've managed to extract," one mage said, peering through a crystalline lens. "If we can stabilize it, we could enhance the energy of our soldiers tenfold."

"Only if it doesn't explode first," another quipped, earning a round of subdued laughter.

Atlan, overhearing, allowed himself a small smile. "Innovation requires risk, but caution is the better part of valor. Proceed, but ensure no harm comes to the city."

If Aiden were here, he'd definitely be left speechless. So something could happen to the Palace but not the city? Where is the logic in that?

As the experiments continued, the air in the throne room seemed charged, vibrating with potential. The mages moved with purpose, but amid the controlled chaos, a loud knock echoed through the chamber.

"Your Majesty," a guard announced, his voice firm but respectful, "the Third Prince has arrived."

Atlan's face lit up with a smile that banished the sternness of his earlier demeanor. "Ah, my son! Let him in at once."

The massive doors to the throne room groaned open, revealing Aiden standing tall and composed. He was clad in a dark tunic adorned with Atlantean symbols, his gaze steady but warm as it met his father's.

"Come, my boy," Atlan called warmly, his voice carrying both relief and pride. "To see you standing here, fully recovered, is a sight that lifts my heart. Your mother assured me you were well, but there's nothing like seeing it with my own eyes."

The king stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of joy and anticipation, arms wide open. "But first, come closer. Let your old man look at you properly. It's been far too long since I've seen you like this."

Atlan stepped forward, his arms wide open, the golden trident in his hand set aside as he approached Aiden with a warm smile. 

Aiden moved into the embrace, allowing himself a brief moment of warmth as his father pulled him into a firm hug. 

The usually stoic king held him tightly, as if to reassure himself that his son was truly there, whole and recovered.

"I'm glad to see you too, Father," Aiden said, his voice soft. "I'm sorry to have worried everyone. But it's good to be back, and in one piece, no less."

Atlan pulled back, his hands resting firmly on Aiden's shoulders as he studied him closely, his eyes gleaming with a mix of relief and pride. "Your mother told me you were well, but seeing it with my own eyes is a comfort words cannot provide."

Aiden gave a faint smile. "Mother's visit helped more than I could say. She mentioned you were occupied, though I can see why."

His gaze shifted past his father, taking in the throne room, now transformed into a chamber of innovation. 

Glowing runes pulsed faintly across the marble floor, shifting in complex patterns as they responded to the currents of magic in the air. 

Along the walls, floating crystalline tablets displayed shifting symbols, their meanings beyond ordinary comprehension. 

The air carried a charged sensation, thick with arcane energy, as if the room itself was alive, breathing in sync with the experimentations taking place within.

A circular platform at the center of the chamber radiated a soft, silvery glow. 

Suspended above it, a chunk of deep blue material hovered weightlessly, surrounded by interlocking rings of magic that spun in slow, deliberate motion. 

Occasional sparks flickered between them, casting brief flashes of light that illuminated the solemn figures of scholars and magi stationed along the edges, monitoring the unfolding research with quiet reverence. 

The faint scent of ozone tinged the air, a byproduct of the raw energy being harnessed.

Atlan laughed, stepping back as he gestured toward the grand display of arcane advancement. "Indeed, there's always work to be done. We've been conducting experiments to harness the power of this new substance, Etherium, and further enhance our defenses. You've arrived at quite the moment—perhaps your sharp mind can help us uncover what lies beyond the surface of our findings."

Aiden crossed his arms, his curiosity piqued as he observed the spectacle before him. "From the looks of it, you're delving deep into uncharted territory. Any breakthroughs yet?"

Although the term Etherium was new to him, he kept his expression neutral as his gaze swept over the complex apparatus spread across the throne room. 

Runes glowed in intricate patterns across the floor, feeding arcane circuits that pulsed in sync with the crystalline energy at the center of the experiment.

Yet, what truly caught his attention was the unmistakable signature woven into the substance. 

Divine Energy.

It was diluted, far weaker than the raw divine forces he had encountered during Darkseid's invasion, but unmistakably present. 

This meant that his father and the court mages had, whether knowingly or not, stumbled upon an artificial form of divinity, something more potent than mere mana but not quite godly in its true essence.

Atlan gestured toward the pulsating blue orb that Liona was carefully stabilizing, her hands encased in protective glyphs. "We've made progress, though not without complications. That orb, for instance, seems to resonate with a foreign energy beyond our understanding. We suspect the ley lines or something external may be interfering."

"Foreign?" Aiden murmured as he stepped forward. The glow of the orb reflected in his golden irises as he extended his hand, his domain flaring in an unseen ripple.

The moment his awareness touched the energy, something pushed back.

It was subtle but unmistakable. The resonance wasn't chaotic or wild like raw magic; it carried intention, an almost intelligent pulse that seemed to acknowledge his presence. 

It didn't resist him outright, but neither did it yield. It was tethered… bound.

To something.

Or someone.

'Poseidon,' Aiden surmised before quickly withdrawing his domain before the connection could deepen.

And as soon as he did, the air around the orb felt heavier than before, as if it had noticed his intrusion and was waiting for him to reach out again.

Silence stretched through the chamber as the mages exchanged wary glances. Atlan, far from alarmed, studied Aiden's reaction with intrigue rather than concern.

"Deliberate interference, you say?" the king mused. "Then this is a puzzle worth solving. And you, my son, have always been a master of unraveling puzzles."

Aiden let a smirk tug at the corner of his lips, though his mind remained fixated on the implications. 

If Poseidon, or another force, was actively tethered to Etherium, it meant the gods had taken interest in Atlantis' advancements. Whether that was a boon or a looming threat remained to be seen.

"If I'm to help, I'll need more details on what you've been doing." He turned back to his father, humor flickering beneath his keen gaze. "But first… are you sure you've got everything under control, or should I prepare for the throne room to explode?"

The mages chuckled nervously at the jab, while Atlan barked a laugh as he clapped Aiden on the shoulder. "Fear not, my boy. Innovation is always a balancing act between brilliance and disaster. You'll find that we're treading the line quite skillfully."

"Well then," Aiden said, his tone light but curious. "Let's see what trouble you've managed to conjure this time."

As he said that, his gaze swept over the room again, taking in the humming artifacts, the unstable glow of experimental sigils, and the faint crackle of residual energy hanging in the air. 

He couldn't help but be amused at this side of his father. The proud king, yet careless in his scientific pursuits.

'No wonder the kingdom sank,' he thought dryly.

Atlan, oblivious to his son's silent musings, gestured for the mages to present their findings. 

One of them hesitated before hurrying off, as if second-guessing whether handing Aiden the documents would lead to a revelation or a reprimand.

The air of anticipation thickened as Aiden simply waited, his hands elegantly placed behind him, ready to unravel whatever chaos they had unknowingly set into motion.

Aiden POV 

It was a strange sight; seeing my father so immersed in something as chaotic as experimental energy creation.

For all his wisdom and strength, caution was never his strongest suit. The thought brought a faint smile to my lips.

No wonder the kingdom sank.

Still, I couldn't deny the curiosity bubbling within me.

One of the mages, a wiry man with sharp features and an anxious energy that seemed to ripple in tandem with the unstable forces around us, approached cautiously. He held out a series of scrolls and crystalline tablets, his fingers twitching as if afraid they might shatter in his grasp.

I took them without a word, my eyes skimming over the inscriptions and diagrams.

The research was… thorough, if not reckless. They had managed to refine a new form of energy, a substance they called Etherium—or Ether for short.

A hybrid of mana and divine energy. Far more potent than the former but mercifully less volatile than the latter.

Its potential applications were staggering: weapon enhancements, city-wide defenses, even long-term energy sustainability for Atlantis.

But there were risks.

The orb's fluctuating state wasn't just due to external interference. The instability hinted at an inherent flaw in their containment process. 

Etherium wasn't just unstable, it was expanding, pressing against its constraints like something alive.

Frowning, I traced my fingers over the glowing diagrams on the crystalline tablet, feeling the hum of raw energy beneath my touch. A key inscription caught my eye. 

One of their stabilization arrays. It was incomplete.

"Fascinating," I murmured. "You've managed to create something extraordinary, but your containment method…" I paused, scanning further, piecing together the implications. "It's insufficient. If this energy escapes, it won't just destabilize the orb—it could disrupt the ley lines across Atlantis."

A heavy silence fell over the chamber.

For the first time, I hesitated, the weight of realization settling in my chest.

This could be exactly what caused the island to sink.

Liona, the silver-haired mage, frowned. "We've accounted for the ley lines' influence, but if you have suggestions, Prince Aiden, we'd be eager to hear them."

I raised an eyebrow at her tone but let it slide. They were researchers, after all—meticulous and proud of their work, and rarely receptive to outsiders picking it apart.

"Your issue isn't just the ley lines," I said, my voice even. "Ether resonates with ambient divine energy, likely because of its composition. My guess? It's amplifying the natural flow of power in the area, creating a feedback loop."

Not to mention, that ambient energy was tied to the ocean itself.

I stepped closer to the orb as the raw hum of the energy thrummed against my senses. Extending my domain once more, I let my awareness seep into its current, not just searching for interference, but patterns.

Energy was never random. It moved in waves, currents, and eddies, much like the sea that surrounded us. If you understood the rhythm, you could control it.

The orb pulsed beneath my influence as the fluctuations slowed, steadying as I synced my domain with its resonance. 

Power rippled through it, raw and untamed, yet not chaotic.

It wasn't malevolent.

But it was insistent—like a river eager to break free of its dam.

"You see that?" I gestured to the faint ripples forming across the containment runes. "It's trying to synchronize with the energy I exposed it to. The runes you've used to contain it are resisting that rhythm, and that's why it's unstable."

A chorus of murmurs swept through the gathered mages. Some leaned in, studying the shifting energy, while others exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

I didn't fault them for their confusion.

They were Archmages and Sorcerers, masters of spellcraft and elemental theories. But their expertise had yet to touch the deeper principles of energy in its purest form.

A younger mage, brows furrowed, hesitated before speaking. "So… the runes are the issue? Should we dispel them entirely?"

"No." I shook my head. "If you dispel them now, the energy will release in an uncontrolled burst." I paused, glancing back at the shifting orb. "What you need is to modify them. Make them resonate with the energy instead of suppressing it. Think of it like tuning an instrument. If the frequencies align, the instability will resolve itself."

A thoughtful silence settled over the room.

Liona's frown deepened, but there was no immediate rebuttal. Another mage adjusted his glasses, muttering under his breath, while a third stroked his beard, eyes flickering with understanding.

Atlan, however, was grinning.

"Well," he said, turning toward the gathered mages. "You heard him. Let's see if our resident problem solver is as sharp as he claims."

I shot him a sideways glance, suppressing a grin. "This is a temporary fix, at best. We need to adjust the runic array to complement the orb's frequency, not suppress it. That should stabilize it long enough for us to find a more permanent solution."

"After all, no matter how strong a dam is, constant pressure and time will always find a way to break through."

The mages exchanged glances, some skeptical, others relieved. I stepped back, motioning for them to adjust the runes. This was their project, after all.

"It's a delicate process, but I can guide you. Just… don't overthink it. Magic is as much art as it is science."

They hesitated at first, but soon, hands moved over the runes, etching careful adjustments into the array as I kept my domain active while monitoring the orb's response.

At first, the changes were almost imperceptible. 

A softening of the wild pulses, a shift in the chaotic energy's rhythm. Then, for a split second, the orb flared, its glow intensifying like a star about to collapse. 

I pushed my influence forward slightly, stabilizing the resonance. With my domain active, I can sense, analyse and synchronise the energy fluctuations of the Ether Orb.

Then, just as quickly, the flare faded. The wild surges dulled into a steady hum, its glow now bright and constant.

"Impressive," Atlan mused, arms crossed as he watched the process unfold. Pride laced his voice. "You've inherited more than just your mother's wit, my boy."

I glanced at him, allowing myself a small smirk. "I'd say it's a fair mix of both of you. But let's hold off on the praise until we see if this holds."

Still, I couldn't deny the quiet satisfaction that came with solving the problem.

As reckless as this experiment was, there was something undeniably thrilling about diving into the unknown and making it bend to your will.

Dangerous, really. 

I'd best not get used to it.

Wouldn't want to become a mad scientist now, would I?…

…

A/N: Runes and sigils both serve as conduits for magical power, but their nature and function set them apart. Runes are structured symbols with predefined meanings, often tied to specific magical traditions and used for stability, protection, and long-term enchantments. 

Sigils, on the other hand, are personal and fluid, crafted by the user to embody intent rather than tradition. They are spontaneous, designed for specific, often temporary purposes, and gain strength through the will of their creator rather than ancient law. 

While runes anchor magic in established principles, sigils mold it into something unique and fleeting.

Each rune carried a fixed significance—protection, wisdom, strength—etched into skin, weapons, armor, and buildings.

Unlike runes, Sigils are personal, crafted by the sorcerer's own intent. Each stroke of the design holds purpose, forming a conduit between will and reality.

I won't be delving into it much since it's complicated, but if you were paying attention during the earlier fight with the dark mages, Aiden used a Sigil to sever the connection between a mage and their technique. 

***

For more Chapters, Read extra Chapters on my Patre@n

patreon.com/JoshRichie2