Siren: ^_^ okay so there's a lot of time skipping in the chapter sorry xD Also Mana starts off at 10 and Mahad is 20.
Color
Chapter Two
Growing up
"Mana!" Mahad yelled.
He shook her as hard as he could. Her eyes popped open and a bead of sweat dripped off her face. Mahad put his hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" He asked
Mana lifted herself up, breathing heavily. She held her hand up to her heart and sighed.
"Just a nightmare, no worries." Mana smiled.
Mahad hugged her tightly.
"Of course, I'm going to worry." Mahad said.
Mahad pulled her out of bed. He called servants to the room.
"Change the bed, it needs to be comfortable for her to sleep." Mahad said.
The servants nodded and continued to change the bed. Mahad grabbed her hand and led her into the next room. He grabbed the bottom of her night gown and began to lift it up. She rose her arms up and let him take it off. He grabbed another nightgown and slipped it over her.
"There. Nightsweats came be uncomfortable." Mahad said.
They both climbed back into bed and pulled the fresh covers over them. Mana laid her head down onto the pillow and turned towards the wall. Mahad looked at her back. Confused, he laid right behind her and placed his hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry I'm an inconvenience." Mana said.
Mahad turned her over and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"It's my job." He said.
They both nodded and fell asleep.
The sun brightly shined through the window into Mahad's bedroom, waking him from his slumber. He rose up from his pillow, squinting his eyes. He shielded himself from the sun with his arm and walked over to the window.
"So bright today." Mahad said.
Mana sighed and turned over, still sleeping. Mahad covered his mouth as he watched her move, luckily she didn't awake. Mahad smiled and headed downstairs.
"Ah, my son. I have been waiting for you." His father said.
Mahad walked past him.
"Hold on, I'm getting breakfast for Mana and I." He said.
"Is she awake? He asked.
Mahad leaned over the table and stared at his father on the other side. He picked a grape out of the fruit bowl and ate it.
"No, she had a nightmare last night. She will awake soon." Mahad said.
"It's good she isn't awake. I needed to talk to you." His father said.
Mahad dropped the grape he had just picked up as he noticed his father wearing battle gear. Mahad moved around the table to the other side and looked at his father who was looking at the ground.
"You're going to war aren't you?" Mahad said.
His father looked at him with a sad smile. He placed his hand on his son's shoulder.
"Yes. Don't worry, I will be back." He said.
He gave his son a fatherly hug and went on his way. Mahad stood there in shock as he watched him leave. Mana walked down the stairs, rubbing her eyes. She yamned and stretched out her arms as she reached the bottom step. She looked over and saw Mahad just standing there.
"Oh, there you are." Mana said.
Mahad's eyes widened as if he had heard the sound of shattering glass. He ran over to Mana and wrapped his arms around her waist so hard. She couldn't take the force, causing her to sit down on the ground with him still holding on. Mana looked down at Mahad as the tears rolled from his eyes.
"What's wrong Mahad?" She asked.
"My father is leaving, and I don't know when he will be back." Mahad cried.
Mana smiled sadly and placed her hand on his head.
"Don't you worry. Your father is one of the strongest men I ever seen." Mana said.
Mahad brushed her hand off his head and looked up at her, still smiling that sad smile.
"Don't worry, you won't be alone. I'm still here, even though I'm more of a liability then stability." Mana said.
Mahad wiped his tears away and nudged her cheek.
"Look at you being all smart." Mahad smiled.
"I learned from the best." Mana said, striking a manly pose.
Mahad rose up off the ground, reaching his hand out to Mana. She accepted and he helped her off the floor.
"Let's have some breakfast." Mahad said with a big smile.
"Okay!" Mana exclaimed.
A year has passed since Mahad's father went to war. The village has been completely peaceful.
Mahad knelt down in front of an authority figure. He placed a headdress on Mahad and placed his hand on his shoulder. Mahad looked up at the man.
"You are now an official member of the Royal Court. Priest Mahad." The man said.
The crowd clapped and smiled onto Mahad as he rose from his feet. He bowed again and turned around to see Mana standing there crying.
"Welcome Priest." A Priestess said.
"Thank you." Mahad said.
He nodded to her and she did back.
"I am Isis. We will be around eachother a lot from now on." Isis said.
Mahad glanced over at Mana still crying. He gave a quick nod to Isis and left. He couldn't ignore Mana any longer. He knelt down and put his hands on her arms.
"What's the matter?" He asked.
She wiped the tears off her face and smiled awkwardly.
"I'm proud." Mana said softly.
Mahad smiled and chuckled at her reply. He held back from hugging her.
"I am now a Priest, part of Royal Court." Mahad thought.
He looked down at Mana's smile.
"I can't treat her the same. I must be representable." Mahad thought.
He smiled and walked away. Mana stood there confused. She left the celebration and headed home. She walked through the castle's garden and stared at her reflection in the pond.
"Mana!" Atem yelled.
Mana looked across the pond and saw Atem playing with another boy. Mana waved back as they made their way to her.
"Atem, who is this?" She asked.
"This is my very best friend." Atem said proudly.
Mana looked over at the small child. She smiled and put her hand out.
"I'm Mana." She said with a smile.
"I'm Yugi." Yugi said shyly.
He took her hand and shook it barely.
"Welcome to the family!" Atem said as he patted Yugi's back.
Mana looked down at Yugi's hand and saw a mini sculpture. She sat down on the ground next to him.
"Did you make that?" Mana asked.
"Yes." Yugi said quietly.
She picked it up and started examining it.
"Mana makes them too! She made me one for my 5th birthday." Atem explained.
Yugi gasped and looked at Mana. She nodded and played around with his toy.
"Yours is much better though, Yugi." Mana said.
"You must make me one, Yugi!" Atem said with a smirk.
"You're about to be 12, you are too old." Mana said.
She sighed and stuck her nose up. Atem looked at her with an annoyed look.
"You appear to be Atem when I look at you Yugi, but you are better then him." Mana said.
"There you are, Prince. Your father has requested you." Mahad said.
Atem looked up at him with a grimace. He rested his head on his arm and sighed.
"Oh Mahad, but he is so boring." Atem said.
Mana and Atem both rose to their feet. Atem ran over to Mahad and waved at Yugi.
"Bye Yugi! We'll play again later!" Atem said.
Mana watched Atem run to Mahad. She looked down at Yugi and smiled.
"Goodbye Yugi. I'll be heading home now." Mana said.
Mahad turned his head and looked behind him. He saw Mana running home. He fought his urge to run after her and continued to follow the Prince.
"I can't! What is she thinking going off alone." Mahad thought.
He put his hand on his forehead and smiled awkwardly.
"Maybe I am overdoing it. She doesn't need to be baby as much anymore. She'll be twelve in two days." He thought.
Mana walked into the flower shop and the door closed behind her ringing the bell.
"Hello?" Mana said.
The storekeeper turned around as she cleaned a pot.
"Oh, Mana. How are you dear?" She asked.
Mana sat down behind the counter on a stool next to the shopkeeper.
"I'm okay." Mana said hesitantly.
The shopkeeper put down the pot and sat down beside her.
"I know that's not true. You've been coming here since you were 3 to see me." She said.
Mana smiled and looked down at her feet.
"Everything is changing. I don't know if I can handle it. Mahad is acting like I'm nobody, Atem is playing with everyone but me, and Master hasn't returned from war!" Mana exclaimed.
The shopkeeper smiled and placed her hand on her shoulder.
"I don't have all the answers you need, but Mahad has grown up Mana. He is now a Priest and has other duties to attend to. As for Atem, He is the Prince and lives in luxury. He may not know how hurt you are unless you tell him." She explained.
Mana calmed down and frowned.
"I'm so stupid." Mana said.
"Come with me, I have something for you." She said.
Mana got up and followed the shopkeep to the greenhouse.
"Here." She said.
Mana was handed a pot of dirt. Mana held it confused as to why she had this.
"I want you to take care of this flower. Nurture it from seed to fullgrown flower." She said.
Mana smiled and waved goodbye as she ran home.
"Ah, almost there!" Mana thought.
She ran up the steps and inside the front door. She ran into the living hall and put the pot under a faucet.
"I'll take good care of you." Mana said.
Mana took the little pot into her hands and walked upstairs to Mahad's room. She placed the little pot on the window seal where the sun dimly.
"The sun is setting. I should get some rest." Mana said.
Mana turned towards Mahad's bed. She hesitated as she reached out for the blanket. Mana walked away from the bed and frowned.
"It's different now." Mana said.
Mahad bowed to the Pharaoh and walked down the hall. Isis walked out of the room ahead.
"Good evening Mahad." Isis said.
He nodded and left the castle. The guards moved out of the way as Mahad made his way down the steps. He walked through town making sure Mana wasn't out by herself at night. He heard a jingle and saw the flower shop keeper leaving.
"Oh hello, Priest." She said.
"Has Mana gone home?" He asked.
"Yes, she went home about an hour ago, Priest." She said.
Mahad nodded and continued on home. He walked up the steps and through the door. After he closed the door behind him, he took off his headdress and set it down on the table beside him. He walked over to the living hall and hung up his cloak.
"I'm hungry." Mahad said.
Mahad grabbed a handful of grapes and headed towards the stairs. He popped a grape in his mouth when he looked into his room and saw Mana wasn't in there. Mahad dropped the grapes and ran into the hall. He checked the upstairs rooms before running into the living hall.
"Mana!" He yelled.
He ran down the hall and checked those rooms. Sure enough he saw Mana sleeping in her baby room. He panted and leaned up against the wall. He sighed as he saw her sleeping in her old bed.
"This room brings back memories." He tought.
-flashback-
"I can't wait to grow up. Then I can help the prince and Pharaoh more. But I am only Ten." Mahad sighed.
A cry echoed through Mahad's ears.
"A baby? Out here alone?" Mahad thought.
Mahad searched every nook and cranny and found a baby girl in the grass.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you.
-end-
Mahad covered Mana with her blanket and left the room. He continued back towards the dining hall.
-flashback-
"No! Let me in! I want to see her!" Mahad yelled.
Mahad was held back by two Priestesses. He pushed and shoved them as hard as he could.
"Mahad, She is sick and likely to get you sick as well!" They yelled.
He finally pushed them off and opened her door. Mahad panted as he knelt at her bedside.
"Mana, Are you alright?" Mahad asked.
She turned over, her face completely red.
"Mahad, I get you sick. Go back." She said.
"Nonsense, I'll stay. I am 13. I can handle anything." Mahad said.
-end-
He walked through the living hall and stopped at the front of the stairs. He placed his hand on his forehead, covering his eyes.