She had changed into a dark gray tracksuit Yongye had pulled at random from System Space. Seawater and sweat had soaked most of her long golden hair, leaving it clinging to her neck and shoulders.
A flush still lingered on her face, and faint Kurenai marks showed above her collarbone. She walked more slowly than usual, the pull along the insides of her knees forcing her to shorten her stride.
But her back was straight.
Calm and relaxed, with a healthy glow to her face.
Arthur's gaze rested on Atlanna's face for three seconds.
Then his eyes dropped to the Kurenai marks on her neck, moved to the slight pink of her ears, and finally landed on Yongye behind her, grinning brightly enough to beg for a punch.
His brain took about five seconds to process it all.
First second: Who is this woman?
Second second: She's as beautiful and poised as Mera! No, she has more allure. She's more mature...
Third second: Wait. Her features, her eyes, the way she carries herself...
Fourth second: Long golden hair, pale amber eyes, those cheekbones...
Fifth second: Mother? Mother!
At the end of the fifth second, Arthur's pupils widened to their limit. His face shifted from blankness to shock, then turned deathly pale, as though lightning had struck him square on the head.
His lips trembled violently. From deep in his throat came a strangled whisper. "...Mother?"
Atlanna turned toward him. Her gaze settled gently on his face, streaked with seawater and tears.
"Arthur." She nodded, her voice steady, betraying little emotion. "You've grown up."
Arthur's lips opened, closed, then opened again.
He wanted to say, "You're alive." He wanted to say, "I thought you were dead," and "Where have you been all these years?" But every word lodged in his throat,