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100 years had passed and Kage remained locked in the stone cell, his Atlantion prison. The days passed like years, the years like separate eternities. His beatings weren't kept to a daily regiment. Some days he was left in complete solitude while on others he was tortured from dawn until dusk. With the use of swords, maces, knives, whips, chains, flails, fire and lightning he was put through an seemingly endless cycle of suffering.

On the surface of the island the political turmoil of how he was being treated raged on without Kage knowing that some of the mermaids hadn't agreed with locking him away until one day a young Atlantion girl came to his cell but not to cause him harm.

Kage was on his knees holding the same position as when he had first awakened in the cell. Outside his cell he heard voices growing closer. A pair of guards argued with a lone girl no older than 20 in a futile attempt to keep her from reaching his cell. "I don't care who ordered it! The senate has granted me permission to enter the dungeons and visit any prisoner I choose. You're only task is to open the doors I tell you too and if you do not then you will hand the keys to me and leave!" The young womens voice grew closer as Kage's eyes raised to glare coldly at the door. "Lady Ambrosia, If we open that cell it will be at the cost of our heads! We cannot without the generals permission." The group stopped just in front of Kage's cell. "Open it." Ambrosia ordered. "But M'lady-"

"Give me the key."

"I must protest-"

"The key!" With that Kage heard the rattling of keys fallow by one sliding into the lock on his door. "Stay here or return to the surface. The choice is yours gentlemen." The lock rattled and the door was opened. Kage's eyes locked onto Ambrosia as she entered calmly being instantly greeted by the smell of blood. Her eyes immediately widened seeing Kage's scarred body. Cuts, lacerations and burns covered every inch of his exposed flesh. With an inward gasp she covered her mouth as the key fell from her hand too the stone floor. "You poor man...this...this is horrible." "Save your pity, fish." Kage responded solemnly to her sympathetic words. The two guards remained outside the open door watching vigilantly. Ambrosia looked back at them and closed the door. Kage watched intently as she turned back and took a few steps towards him. "Your hostility is too be expected but I'm not here with malicious intent." She said calmly taking a leather canteen from her belt. "Here have some water." She took the cork from the end of the canteen and stepped closer. Kage glared at her through the metal mask that had remained locked to his head. "No." He protested as she reached the circle of runes that surrounded him causing her to stop where she stood. "It's just water, I assure you." "Why further my torture if you've come with no malicious intent?" He knew even a small amount of water would leave him craving more only to be starved from it again. She stared at him with sympathetic eyes as she stepped closer. "It wont be the last drink I bring you. I promise." As she lowered the canteen closer to his mouth he spoke again. "Save your promises. I have no reason to believe you and no reason to drink." With that she knelt in front of him as silence fell across the room. "I only wish to lessen your suffering."

"Why? Your people locked me away to rot and you expect me to believe you to be the one that would show me mercy?"

"Yes...I do. Because I'm here offering it too you now. Not all of us agree with you being held prisoner and submitted to this...appalling treatment." Getting no reaction nor response from Kage she continued. "My mother and father are the leading politicians that appose your treatment in this way and I, like many others, agree with them. This is beneath everything we believe in."

"Such courses of action are never beneath any race. Your's is no different." Kage protested. "You may be right." She agreed. "But that doesn't mean individuals can't appose a popular belief." Despite his defiance to her presence Ambrosia remained optimistic to her intent. She would show him the mercy she, as well as others, felt he deserved. "Would you like a drink now?" She asked in a kind voice. Kage remained silent as she looked into his eyes. After a few moments she held the pouch of water to the mouth of his mask and watched as he opened his mouth allowing her to pour the water in. The cold refreshing water was some of the best he had tasted.

As she took the canteen from his mouth he swallowed the last of what she gave. "If you want more just say so." She said as she took a seat a short distance in front of him. "I can tell by your eyes you have grown to hate my people...Is there any chance I could change that?" Her curiosity and concern showing through to him. After a few moments of silence Kage finally answered. "No...I came seeking aid and was locked away. That is something I cannot forgive." She looked down at the floor sadly and then back too him. "It is within you too forgive and show mercy. You came to find it did you not?" Kage remained silent. "I will not give up on that. You came here for help and that's what I've come to give."

"Stubborn girl."

"Yes, I am." She laughed. "But I get results." Kage just stared at her. He didn't want a mermaids help by this point but considering the circumstances he had little choice.

For the next several years the girl would visit him almost daily. In between torture sessions, just before or just after. She talked with him and brought him food and drink. Ambrosia was the first and only mermaid that would pay him these kinds of visits. As the next few years would pass she would help he find what it was he was seeking within himself, but she could not put an end to his hatred of her kind.