As the light continues to blind them, Seth finally ordered his guards to take the peasants out into the palace courtyard. The Sha was the only one that was calm as all the residents of the palace came to see what was going on. After a few more minutes, the light finally started dying down, leaving the girl visible to everyone.
Her strangely wrapped sleeves were completely unwrapped and open, showing the same twin tattoos that only the young pharaoh has, making everyone but Shimon gasp. Said old man was crying in what could only be relief and happiness, as if he finally found someone precision he had been searching for. The Sha now went over to the girl and licked her hand, as if asking her to wake up. Shimon was getting desperate to get her to open her eyes and it really confused everyone.
Shimon had changed since he returned from mourning his daughter in the desert. Even when he was with Yugi, his son's only child, it was as if he was expecting something else. For years, poor Yugi thought that he was only a replacement for the older cousin that should have been born, but recently he had just written it off as his grandfather's old age. But Seth has always suspected that something happened to the old advisor that had made him even wiser, but lonelier.
He just hadn't expected it to be this.
Does this mean that Shimon knew where the one he was looking for was all this time?
Seth actually felt betrayed at the thought.
But he knew that the man must have had a reason not to tell Seth about his cousin, but what could it have been? The fear that she would be killed? Or something even worse? Seth just had to know!
Decision made, Seth walked over to the Sha and Shimon and just as he was going to speak, a pair of eyes that were more beautiful than anything he has ever seen opened and looked straight up into his own. It was as if she can see straight into his soul and Seth didn't know if he was grateful or irritated when she looked away from him. However, he forgot about it as she suddenly sprang up, looking at Shimon as if she were a small child and he was the center of her little world.
"Shimon!" She exclaimed as she threw her arms around him, her sleeves completely exposing the marks the gods left on her and her hood falling down, finally showing everyone her features. All present gasped at the strange, tricolored hair that somewhat resembles a sunset with its gold, red and black parts. It was slightly gravity defying and spiky, and there were goldenrod, lighting shaped bangs framing her heart shaped face and going upwards through the ebony part of her hair. Ra had kissed her face for long years, giving her a beautiful Egyptian tan and even Hathor would be jealous of her small nose, high cheekbones, smooth cheeks and full lips. She had a lethal beauty to her with slim hips and long arms and legs. Her neck was swan-like and her breasts were well defined even through the clothing she was wearing. But her sharp, crimson eyes, circled by long, ebony eyelashes with only the smallest amount of Kohl, were her most striking feature and it reminded Seth of the Sha's eyes when it was particularly angry. His own eyes were the same as the Set Animal's when it is calm.
"It is alright, little one. I'm here now. I am so glad to see you again." Shimon reassured the girl in a hushed voice. She nodded against his shoulder but didn't let go. "Where were you all these years?"
"In a temple, out in the desert. I've spent years with those sacred animals of the gods. They have raised me." As these words left the girl's mouth, Seth could see the sorrow and guilt in Shimon's face.
"I am sorry for not being there for you."
The pretty girl shook her head. "It is not your fault. I have been told that you got a grandson and that you had to go. I understood. I still understand. And although I loved being around you, I knew that you have a life outside the mission the gods have given you, outside looking after me ... " It surprised everyone who she looked so broken at the thought that she had burdened this old man who didn't even want to let go of her. She seems to have been blaming herself for Shimon's year long responsibility for her and it saddened the said man that she would think like that.
"I truly loved spending time with you, my little one." She smiles at him and hugs him one more time before getting up to her feet with the grace of the flowing Nile. Shimon let her help him up and then took her hand and led her to the gawking priests and priestess, along with one excitedly anxious pharaoh. "These are my friends, my colleagues and my family." Shimon said as they stopped in front of them.
No one could do more than nod shakily.
The girl, however, didn't feel so insecure and her greeting nod was strong and confident.
Seth followed the Sha as it happily went back over to its other Chosen's side. The girl started petting the Set Animal as soon as it was in reach and Shimon wisely kept quiet about the strange noise that resembles a purr that was coming from the proud creature. "Athena, this is our beloved pharaoh, Seth."
Crimson eyes met cerulean and both gasped as they felt their birthmarks burn through everything that is covering them. Seth hissed as he threw off his gold armbands and the girl had no choice but to pull off the strange extra clothing. The Sha's eyes were glowing and the Millennium Rod started reacting to the power present. However, the Rod wasn't the only one glowing. All the Millennium Items were as the Millennium Puzzle made itself visible to everyone. The observers all gapped at the Item they had thought was stolen when pharaoh Aknamkanon was killed, but Athena and Seth were still staring at each other.
Athena hissed as the Ankh birthmark surrounded by the representations of the three God Monsters on her left shoulder blade ripped off the back of her tunic and her kilt almost burned on her as the big Winged Sun disc around her thigh joined in with her other marks, burning like there was no tomorrow. Seth could only now join in on the gawking as he saw all these marks react to the obvious power hidden in the girl.
As the glow of the Millennium Items reduced, everyone could see the golden, glowing eye of Ra on Athena's forehead and they could no longer deny the existence of Aknamkanon's child that Shimon had insisted should still be found.
''So, you are my cousin?'' Seth whispered as those bright crimson eyes turned to the Sha, then once again to himself.
''And you are the little boy I have been seeing for years in my dreams?'' Athena whispered in awe as all the dreams played over and over in her head. She had always dreamed of this strange boy, taking her hand and leading her into a beautiful world filled with warm light and perfection. For a long while, she had thought she was going crazy, but seeing those same blue eyes had her feeling almost like she was home.
"Excuse me?"
"For years I dreamed of a place decorated in gold and a lonely boy sitting in a garden amongst exotic flowers. The boy was always accompanied by what resembled a dog but was actually the Sha. I understand everything now; the reason they let me wander the desert when, for years, they told me it was far too dangerous."
''You mean to tell me some lived with you in the desert?'' Shimon asked, now feeling a bit lost. Hadn't the gods have guided her away from humans since they thought them to be too corrupt for the innocent girl who held so much power? If they had let just anyone be near her, then why couldn't Shimon stay by her side?
''Well, yes. The jackals, the apes, the ibis', the cats and crocodiles and the falcons and-''
''So, not people?'' Pegasus asked, surprised by the growing list of sacred animals.
''No.'' Athena shook her head.
''Then how do you walk and talk as if you were raised by people of high education?'' Karim, a tall, well muscled man with short, black hair and green eyes asked. He was the priest of the Millennium Scales and the palace scribe. He was in charge of the temples that provided kids the opportunity to learn.
''Easy! After I had to leave Shimon, my studies were taken over completely by Thoth, Seshat and Isis, although I often learned things like justice and about the land of Khemet from Ma'at and Geb and about the stars from Nut.'' Athena continued, not noticing the stares of pure shock and fear around her. ''And Horus liked to play with me and teach me how to fight, but I never liked hurting others. Isis mostly thought me magic and Ra told me the stories about his many journeys. Best was fooling around with Bes and I loved exploring around the little temple with Anubis. Set even thought me how to predict when he will send a storm!'' Only Shimon and Seth weren't oblivious to the pure joy and excitement in her voice as she talked about her godly family.
''Are you trying to tell us that ... the gods are the ones who raised you?'' Pegasus finally asked.
Athena smiled as she remembered all the happy times she had had with her ''family'' and happily nodded, completely oblivious to how the others were looking at her. She apparently didn't understand that her life isn't something normal. ''Yes. I must say that Anubis was one of the ones that almost always came. Besides my teachers, and Seth, Ra also liked to visit me, but mostly at night.''
''Why at night?'' Seth found himself asking, although he had a good idea of what the answer might be.
''Well, I would think that he is a bit busy during the day,'' She said with a shrug that actually looked quite adorable.
''I think that is enough talk about gods at this moment, before we all go crazy from it, so I think it best for us to introduce ourselves.'' The only Priestess said as she stepped towards the strange, but apparently sacred, girl. ''I am Isis Ishtar, Priestess of the Millennium Necklace and the temple of the greatest seer of all times, the mother Isis and the official Court Seer.''
Athena smiled at her and nodded.
Mahad was quick to follow, kneeling before the child and pressing a fist to his heart to show his new-found loyalty. ''I am Mahad, Priest of the Millennium Ring and the temple of Anubis, Court Sorcerer and Captain of Guards''
Athena's smile brightened as he looked at her, actually looked at her and Mahad had to try, and fail, to hold in a gasp. ''I know you!''
''What!?'' Again, the room yelled in surprise and confusion. But Mahad and Athena didn't say anything and Shimon looked as confused as the rest of them. Shada decided to follow his fellow Priests example and introduced himself. ''I am Shada Hasan, Priest of the Millennium Key and a helper to my brother, Karim, in all that he does.''
Athena nodded at him with curious eyes but smiled non the less.
''And I am Karim Hasan, Priest of the Millennium Scales and of the learning temples in the town, along with being the palace scribe and the representation of Ma'at's judgment.'' He looked surprised and curious when his last claim caused the girl to scuff but she didn't comment on it, so they just let it slide. Although Seth suspected it had something to do with actually being raised by said goddess and having seen her at work.
''And I am Maximilian Pegasus, lord of a city not far from here and I was chosen by the all-knowing Millennium Eye-''
''Wait, you're not a priest?'' Athena sounded so confused and angry at the same time, but no one could explain why. So far, she seemed like an extremely gentle soul, so to hear such a harsh emotion such as anger from her was more than surprising.
''No, although I'm thinking of becoming one just to spite out beloved pharaoh.'' Pegasus said with fake cheeriness even as he fought with himself not to glare at the girl. After all, she did just point out just how below all the other priests and Priests pf the court he really was. He had a feeling that he should be careful of what he says and does around the girl. Being, supposedly, raised by gods would have made her a grave threat to his plans.
Athena didn't seem any happier, but she wasn't going to point out that the Millennium Items are sacred relics that should be wielded by only those chosen from birth and trained to use them. After all, she knew what the results could very well be. She's seen many men who tried to steal her Puzzle brought to the brink of insanity, die or truly go insane so they killed themselves in the end. Others had become so dark that not even the gods could save them and thus had to destroy them altogether.
''Still, you're not a priest now.''
Pegasus huffed. ''Well, neither are you and you are wearing the most powerful of all of the Millennium Items. Perhaps you'd tell us how you got it?'' He rises his eyebrows expectantly, but Athena just smiled.
''Since I was born, I was taken away from whoever my parents are and I think the cord was around my neck ever since that moment. For the few months that I remember with Shimon, I didn't understand how he didn't see it, but Isis told me that they thought it best that no one knew just who I was until the time was right, whatever that meant.''
''But I already knew you were Aknamkanon's daughter.'' Shimon said in confusion. Athena could only shrug at him helplessly.
They talked like that, trying to figure this or that out for another two and a half hours when Athena suddenly swayed on her feet. It was Seth and the Sha that steadied her and the young pharaoh declared that it was enough for now. He ordered a couple of servants to prepare the room across from him for Athena, as soon as she confirmed that she wouldn't mind staying in the palace, and then led her to the gardens so she could relax. As he watched her sitting in the shades of a tick tree, he wondered what the results of finally finding his cousin would be.