YUGIOH: FORBIDDEN MEMORIES
PROLOGUE
The darkness obscured all around it, save only for the flickering light of a small flame from the torch he gripped in his hand, giving some small illumination to the dark halls he trod, whose silence was punctured only by the click of his heel that echoed into the shadow. The air was cold, the walls too, their sanctity disturbed by this usurper, whose cape flowed behind as he swept towards his goal: The forbidden power, sealed away forever... or so it was hoped. He paused briefly, to run his hand on the cold wall, feeling the hieroglyphs beneath his fingertips. He was so close. He swept on, the flame throwing shadows, lighting the way, as if a light from the gods themselves. He smirked at this thought. The gods would not help him in this quest.
He stopped at last, as a large wall appeared from the gloom, its golden light in direct contrast to the dark surroundings. He stepped forwards, reaching out, hands groping at the wall, his eyes flicking as he searched. It was here, surely, but his eyes found nothing. He continued, ever more desperate, sweeping his hand, almost frantic now. 'It must be here!' he thought, but he could not see it, his anguish building, growing steadily more animated, when suddenly, he stopped. Stood tall, dark eyes fixed on a single point on the wall. He reached out a hand, a single finger brushing the wall, joined by more as his eyes grew wide, pupils dilating as he threw his torch forward to stare at the forbidden treasure of the ancient sorcerers. "At last" he murmured as he read the glyphs. "I've found it". As he continued to read, the corners of his mouth contorted into a leer, until at last a laugh escaped his lips, quiet at first, but ever growing, until it rang through the halls, a loud, terrible noise. His torch extinguished, and the darkness consumed him.
THE PHARAOH'S PALACE
The young man wrapped his plain clothes around him as he slipped out from behind the pillar and into the dark night. He kept his head low and walked forward with haste, but not too quickly, lest the guards recognise who he was, and pulled his hood ever closer over his head as he approached. He hoped that the straggles of people who entered and exited the palace would give him sufficient cover so that he could-
A hand was at his shoulder, the voice low yet filled with meaning "My dear prince, are you going out to play cards again?". The young man tilted his head slightly, and saw the berobed figure of his trusted mentor, Simon Muran. The elder gestured at him, and they stepped aside, behind one of the sphinx statues that lined the path from the palace. Muran stopped, and looked into the eyes of the Prince of Egypt, Atem, and spoke again " We've discussed this, Atem. You cannot continue to disobey the wishes of the Pharaoh". The young prince merely stared back with his deep purple eyes, though Muran noted from experience that the young prince was sheepish at his detection. "You are of royal blood, and yet you walk the city streets dressed as a commoner?" The young prince would not meet his gaze. "Have you no shame, Prince? Muran continued in his low tone, though not a threatening one. This was a conversation that had been held often between the pair. Muran knew well that the young prince would not be stopped, and yet he could not be permitted to leave at such a time as this...
"I take my leave, master Muran." The prince spoke softly and eloquently, and yet underneath those words... power. Not malevolence, no, but something more. A playful smile played across Atem's face as he turned away from Muran, pulling his hood over his face again as he did "I shall return before the candles burn down, be assured" He silently glided away before Muran could find words.