Title: It Started With A Dream
Author: starlight2005
Chapter 1: The Die is Cast
It stood firmly on the ground, majestically with the moonlight cast upon it, creating shadows from the pillars and the statues. Everyone knew how many years it stood against its enemies, threats to the state, how many blood was spilled on its walls with every battle, and how many princes had tried to climb its protective walls to search for a new life—or an adventure.
It has withstood civil wars, assaults from both sea and land, tragedies from the inside, and massacres. It has withstood attacks from shadow monsters and such, won all the battles a state can ever dream of, and has given birth to the noblest and proudest pharaohs of time.
Most importantly, it has housed one of the bravest and youngest, and reckless youths of all time. And they go by the name of Seth and Atemu, princes of Egypt.
Everyone in the household knew of their rivalry especially when it comes to dueling. They were rivals and they were the best of friends. With their cunning minds, they already have rocked the palace for uncounted times with their many pranks and follies that only aggravated their fathers more and more.
And to be friends with five more rascals? The pharaoh was definitely asking for trouble. But to everyone's relief, they grew out of it. But it was sooner than expected. They grew up and along with it were a new branch of problems that would grow into a huge tree of headaches and heartaches.
Their fates were already cast; the very gods decided it upon. And even though it hurt, they agreed with it. After all, who can ever deny the gods' wishes?
But it was the seed to the jealousy and the hatred Seth would feel for his younger cousin. It would lead them into a huge duel that would cost one of them their lives. It would lead them into a new and higher level of rivalry that deals with affairs of the state, deceit and deaths.
It would lead them to the very peak of their young lives.
Seth has barely reached 14 when he was taught and trained to be the pharaoh's High Priest. And it didn't take a scholar to figure out that he has bested even his teachers, beat his friend, Mahado, and all their childhood friends who were also destined to be priests.
A year after, all six were certified High Priests and bearers of Millennium Items.
Atemu, on the other hand, led a different life from his comrades. From the very beginning, even when he was merely 7 years old, it was already decided that he was to be the next pharaoh who would save them from the threat imposed by the opening of the Shadow Realm. But he didn't know. All he knew was, his father would forever be there to guide him into the right path of life.
Until he died five years after, following his wife who died when the Crown Prince was still young. Among them all, he matured earlier and gave up his childhood for the sake of the kingdom.
As the years pass by, the bond between the two cousins slowly dissolved until there was only the pharaoh and his High Priest. The Seth and Atemu, cousins, was no more.
And everyone can see that.
Especially Mahado who have begin to get close with his pharaoh.
"My pharaoh, we have returned from the town," he reported. The young monarch smiled a little, relieved that his friends are already in the palace. It would be a disadvantage if they get wounded when rebels are already threatening to take the throne.
"I trust that your trip has gone well?" Atemu asked, looking at his priest. Mahado nodded, "Yes, sire," he answered.
"No troubles or whatsoever?" Atemu asked again, knowing that his friend was hiding one small fact from him.
Mahado grinned sheepishly, highly uncharacteristic of a stoic priest, and stared at his pharaoh, "We met a small group of rebels."
The pharaoh raised an eyebrow, indicating him to continue and he did, "As expected, Seth blew them off again," he said with the barest hint of exasperation in his voice.
Atemu shook his head upon hearing his cousin's careless move. How can he be so reckless in using his Millennium Rod? Did he not know that it would leave him vulnerable to an attack?
Atemu sighed, "Not again, Mahado. Can you tell him to be careful next time?" he replied, "And yes, you may take a leave for the day. I'm sure you're exhausted," he added with a smile as his friend rose, bowed and left to look for his fellow priest.
Once the priest was gone, he sighed again. It didn't take a healer, or a scholar, or even a genius to figure out that he wasn't sleeping for the past days. Nor did it require impressive intelligence to know that he was heavily burdened and worn down with the occasional problems with the rebels, and his dreams that repeated over and over again.
It wasn't his fault that his parents died. They died of a natural cause. But why is it that whenever he sleeps, it always end up his fault?
"My pharaoh, I believe it is wise for you to retire," said his advisor, Shimon.
Weary crimson eyes look up at the elder and he nodded as he rose from his throne and left, knowing the advisor was staring at him worriedly.
Shimon shook his head. The youth is annoyingly stubborn. Atemu should learn how to take a leave and rest or he wouldn't live long, he concluded as he walked away to order food to be taken to his majesty's chambers.
The kingdom will survive the night without its pharaoh. He will make sure of that. Besides, there are six high priests, what other purpose do they have than to help?
"The pharaoh should know better than to be concerned about his subjects' welfare," Seth said as soon as Mahado told him what the monarch instructed.
"He is only concerned that you might get hurt with your recklessness, High Priest Seth," Mahado reasoned out.
Seth shrugged, "Well tell him I thank him but I don't need it. I can manage on my own," he answered and then he left.
Mahado sighed and turned towards the opposite direction and walked away. What would it take for the two to realize that they needed to fix the bond between them?
It was your fault.
No, it wasn't.
They died because of you.
They died because it was their fate.
There's no such thing as fate. They died because you killed them.
How could I kill my parents?
How could you kill your own parents?
Stop it. What do you want? Leave me alone.
I will never leave you. This is your punishment for killing them.
NO LEAVE ME ALONE!
Crimson eyes opened wide as its owner sat up and looked around, relieved to see everything, as they should be—dark and unmoving.
"Just a dream," he told himself as he regained his breath.
"Just a dream," he assured himself again as he closed his eyes and went back to a hopefully less troubling sleep.
Just outside, cerulean orbs widened in alarm as his king shouted out, and then everything was silent again. It was only a dream, perhaps.
They will talk soon.
