Chapter 7

"For the crime of murder and treason, you are banished from Xebel. Guards! Take this scum away." I am stunned by the events. I didn't even get the chance to defend myself. What evidence? What witnesses? Why is this happening to me?

The guards carried me out of the hall and swam me to the edge of the barrier. Once there I see some of the mages on standby.

After receiving confirmation from the guards the mages began their assault on the barrier. Are they really going to kick me out? I can't survive on my own. Damn! How did this happen? Someone is definitely framing me. I may not care for my father, but that doesn't mean I'd kill him. Ahh, I don't even care anymore. Fuck em, they weren't my people anyway.

The mages managed to open a small enough hole in the barrier and the guard unceremoniously kicked me through. Passing through the barrier was disorienting. After stabilizing myself I looked around. Nothing but open sea in all directions.

Despite the chaotic events leading up to this moment. I feel free, free to do whatever I want. Maybe if I can make it to America and possibly find a hero I can be saved. I mean, what's the worst that could happen. But before any of that, I need to see the sun. It's been so long since I last saw the sun. Though my body is weak I push on.

Swimming to the surface took a lot of effort but I did it. I broke through the surface and enjoyed the warm rays hitting my face. I just float there taking it all in. "Ahh, I never knew how much I missed this. I know it's foolish, but I feel as though the sun is washing away all my troubles." I smile as I stare up at the sky and just enjoy the moment.

Lost in the moment I failed to notice the ship in the distance. A bell is being rung, perhaps they are trying to hail me? I straighten myself and watch the ship as it turns towards my direction. This could actually work. I don't trust in my own strength to carry me to land. Not only that, I haven't eaten in a few days. As the ship gets closer I try to make out the crew. Seems to be six men. As the ship stops beside me the men get a good look at me. I see most have looks of shock and pity.

"Hello friends, I'm in a tough spot. Would it be possible to make some room for one more?" The men just stare at me. "Guys, can I get some help here?" What the hell is wrong with them? Luckily one of them, might be the captain, rushed over to the edge.

"What y'all waitin on! Help us out!" After the captain barked his orders the others jumped into action. Once they managed to pull me up I felt different. The second I left the water my body felt significantly weaker. What is happening to me?

My mind becomes muddled and my vision blurry. I hear the voices of the captain and his crew but I can't make anything of it. Could this be due to my Atlantean physiology? No that can't be right. I know that Atlanteans suffer from dehydration much faster than ordinary humans. But something like that doesn't happen immediately after they exit the ocean.

I feel myself being placed in something. I can't make anything out. Maybe they are going to find help. I'm so tired. Ah, now I get it. How could I be so stupid. I was just imprisoned for who knows how long. Where I was barely fed and beaten regularly. And let's not forget I haven't been receiving my treatments for my stomach. Seeing this ship, the possibility of being saved from otherwise certain death. I allowed myself to relax and my body just gave out.

I open my eyes and the first thing that registers in my mind is pain. What, where am I? Did those men manage to save me? No, somethings not right. I try to move my arms but I can't. Looking towards my hands I see chains. It takes me a while to truly understand the situation I'm in.

From what I can tell my arms and legs are bound by thick chains. "Why am I in chains?" The last thing I remember was those men pulling me into their ship. Then came the weakness, unlike anything I have ever experienced.

I'm accustomed to pain, but that feeling was something else. As if all my energy was sapped away. I take a look at my surroundings and find I am in a cage. Damn, did I misjudge those men? What else was I to do? I hadn't the strength to go on my own.

As I was about to start cursing my horrible luck I heard a door being opened. "Dawg, bih woke up." I hear loud chewing from the other side. I mean lip smacking level. "Yo I ain't gon lie, yo mom know how to cook this jawn bussin." "Dang bih, didn't cuh say don't open dat door." "Shiiit, jit gon try tell me what I can and can't do? Bih he sleep."

What the hell are they saying? Is that even english? Whatever, I need help. I feel so weak, and my stomach is killing me. "He- help, me, me. H- help me." My voice is so weak and scratchy. They clearly didn't hear me.

"Cuh I know I herd bih say some." "Close dat damn door cuh!" "Cuh you don't got be hollerin at me cuh. I just sayin bih woke." "Bih if you don't close dat door ima have you slump like tay, on god bruh." "Tay? Bruh I just seen that fight bih. Yo cuh had cuh slump on the floor bih."

Before I could listen to anymore of their nonsensical speech the door was closed. Oh well, not like I could understand them anyway. Why me? I just want to live. Is that too much to ask? God dammit! I just want to live. Unbidden tears fall down my cheeks. "I just want to live."

"Well that's good to hear. I thought I was too late." I nearly have a heart attack at the sudden voice. Looking around frantically I spot an old man sitting in a chair right outside my cell. "Who are you? Can you help me?"

The man smiles down at me. "Who I am doesn't matter, but yes I can help you." What in the world does that mean? His face takes on a more sorrowful look. "Forgive me for that. Force of habit. Usually when I speak to mortals I put on this otherworldly countenance. But in this situation, well you don't deserve that."

What is this old man talking about? And did he just say when speaking to mortals? "Yes that is what I said. And yes I can hear your thoughts. Look I don't have much time so we have to be quick." Before I even have time to question his sanity I find myself in a white room sitting on a ridiculously comfortable couch.

Across from me is the old man sitting on a couch of his own with a coffee table between us. "Don't ask how, like I said not much time. I am what you would call a god." I look at him with suspicion but after this little display I have trouble naysaying him.

"Smart boy. Now as to why we are speaking. When you died, your soul was supposed to be cleansed and then sent into the cycle of reincarnation. Unfortunately there were some complications." I am shocked by the news.

"So you mean that I didn't have to suffer? And what complications are you talking about?" He raises his hand to silence me.

"I can't go into great detail but long story short. The system was under attack by chaos. Normally we are able to push it back and contain them. But this time was different, they learned a new trick. While not amazingly complex or even powerful. It was unexpected, enough to give them a decent head start to run amok."

He sits back into his chair with a tired look. "We had to suspend all activity and focus entirely on the threat. Unfortunately, the location the abominations first appeared was in your system. Your overseer was slaughtered and many of the souls that were to be cleansed were devoured."

I sat back shocked at the news. "Wait, how does that explain my situation?"

"We reacted quickly, but not quick enough. Many souls were lost, and your former world destroyed. Those that survived the initial invasion, were utterly decimated during the battle. By some miracle, you were the last remaining soul.

Normally upon death the overseer would remove all memories and send you on your way. But since he was destroyed you retained your memories. The arrival of chaos opened tears in reality and you slipped through the in between. The space that separates reality. And the domain of chaos.

When you came out the other side, you were touched by chaos. All those negative emotions you had due to your illness managed to, with the help of chaos, stick to your very soul. If you hadn't had your memories this would not have happened. But since you did, and the strongest amongst them being your illness. It made it a part of your very being.

That is why when you were born again you developed the same illness. And why your healers could not cure you. Nothing would have been able to cure you as it stems from your soul.

The symptoms could be pushed back. But it would never stay gone for long. In short, you were destined to die miserably. And because you were touched by chaos, upon death you would have been sent to another life with the same outcome for all eternity."

I, I don't know what to say. Such a crazy thing happening to someone as dull as me? I smile at my terrible luck.

"Anyway, the battle is still ongoing and I only had enough time to follow your trail to this world. For your unfortunate experience I will right what has been done. I will cleanse your soul of the taint of chaos. Don't worry you will keep your memories. But that illness of yours will be cured. Though it will take time for your body to grow.

On the bright side, this will make your soul incredibly strong. Giving you an unnaturally strong resistance to mental and magical assaults. On top of this I will give you three wishes. You may state them now."

Tears fall from my eyes. Tears of pain and relief. All those times I wanted to just give up, to end my suffering. The pain, the loneliness was eating away at me. And this latest event that I found myself in was definitely the breaking point. If not for this man finding me, I would have ended it all.

After a few minutes of uncontrolled and unbridled bawling, I pulled myself together. This is it, my reward for all those years of suffering. I can turn my life around. I would sometimes berate myself for my willingness to give up without a fight. But after having had confirmed that all resistance would have been futile. I feel like a burden was lifted. Silly I know. Who was I trying to impress? What was I trying to prove by enduring? Well, at least it paid off. If I had given up sooner I might not have been granted this opportunity.

I look up at the man with resolute eyes. "Before I make my wishes I must know. What of my sister Mera? Did she perish? Did the king of Atlantis defeat her?"

"Ah yes, your sister. Don't you want to know about your family from earth?" I can't keep the scowl from my face. "Fuck those people, now can you please tell me if I have to mourn and avenge my sister."

He smiles for a moment but tells me what I want to know. "She lives." Joy, unrestrained joy blossoms in my heart. Then dread comes crashing down, snuffing out the short lived light. "Is she a prisoner?"

"Not at all, she is in fact the queen of Atlantis now. Quite the upgrade if I'm being honest." Dread is quickly replaced by confusion. "How is she queen? If she killed the king, then why has she not returned for us. For me?"

He smiles sadly at me. "She did not kill the king. She married the king. They are living happily. She has even helped him on his adventures on land as a hero. I hear they are planning on starting a family soon. She is a wonderful queen and all of Atlantis loves her. Some say even more than the king."

Pain. Like a knife sawing into my heart. It shot through my being like fire. Exploding in my mind with a blinding whiteness. It made me dizzy. It made me reel. But then it faded to a dull throbbing. Then it dissipated, like fog off some terrible lake. She left me. She abandoned me. She forgot me! She betrayed meee!

All those years where I wanted to die. She would push me, push me to keep fighting. To hold on. That she would save me. To wait for her. And now, after all that waiting. She finds new family. A new life. Forgetting about poor old Naman. She is even thinking of starting a family of her own.

She is a liar! She lied to me! I waited for her in pain, but I waited. And she forgot about me! I didn't care about the king. I told her she didn't have to do it. If she married the man so be it. But the fact that she married him and never came back. How long did she want me to wait!?

And what's this about being a hero? So she had time for that! But not enough time to come back for me! She is a liar! She is a betrayer! She is dead to me!

"I am ready to make my wishes. My first wish is for the powers of Aquaman one million." I was never allowed to learn the magic of my people. They thought it was a waste to teach the pride of our people to someone so weak. Now I will make them envious with my power over the water.

"My second wish is for a trident. Only I can lift it. It is indestructible and no matter where it is I can summon it to me. I can also send it into a pocket dimension that only I have access to. Place an enchantment on it that lets me fire concentrated blasts of magic. I want to be able to alter it's length at will." I will show them who is the king of the seas.

I pause to think on my last wish. I have all I want with the first two wishes. What else could I ask for. I think back to all the food I wished I could eat. The foods I never knew the taste of. The emptiness I felt whenever I ate. Like chewing on the void itself. Lacking in everything but the feel of teeth softening, something. To later be swallowed and, in many cases regurgitated. Then I think back to Mera's words. That we would travel the world and she would give me all kinds of food.

Well, I don't need her for that. I will make my own food. And it will be the best food in the whole world. People will come from not just across the world. But from distant stars to try my godly cooking.

"My final wish is the skills of a god of cooking. All knowledge and technique to cook any dish be it from earth or alien and bring out it's full potential. That my cooking brings out true feelings. That is what I want." I finish with tears running down my face. I will eat good food. And I will love every moment of it.

"Very well, it shall be done. I will send you back to your body. However, since you are in an unfortunate situation at the moment. And you can't really use your new powers effectively, I will fully unlock your powers for ten minutes. All I can do. Your body will be on auto pilot and will react to the situation accordingly. This is for the best as you have no fighting experience. After you are safe, you will have to relearn how to use them. I have already helped out with that farce of a court case. What? Did you think that they would simply banish you for killing the king? No they would have killed you without a doubt. I just did a little meddling to give you a chance, a taste at freedom. I had to be sure you wanted to live. It was a test. the cooking skills will remain after you escape. Now I wish you a good life, farewell boy."