When the Pharaoh woke up, he heard that the magi had made a breakthrough during the night! Many of his wounds were laced with magic which was intended to make the injuries both resistant to healing magic and much slower to heal. It was a tricky type of magic they had not recognized at first, very characteristic of Bakura's personality.

He breathed a sigh of relief. There was hope yet.

Throughout the next few days, the magi carefully undid the magic that had been used on him, and slowly but surely the priest began to heal. Finally, a full 5 days after he had been at the palace, he burst awake, chest heaving as he realized he had been dreaming. It was about Bakura, torturing him again. He looked up and noticed the Pharaoh standing over him.

"P... Pharaoh! Am... Am I still alive?"

"You almost weren't," said the Pharaoh. "The priests were lucky enough to find you and bring you back here. You look upset though, what's the matter?"

"Oh... It was... Just a bad dream, but I was rescued?"

"Yes, Isis, Shadaa, and Karim located you shortly after you fought Bakura and brought you back here. You can thank them that you're alive."

"I'm very glad that they saved me. Pharaoh I promise to try to recover as quickly as possible so I can return to serving you."

The Pharaoh placed his hand on Mahaad's shoulder. "No. Stay and rest as long as it takes you to fully recover. I know you went through a lot back there, and I don't want you trying to get out before you're ready, okay Mahaad?"

"Alright Pharaoh... But as soon as I'm fully healed I'll be ready."

The Pharaoh spent a few more minutes talking with the priest, then apologized as he had to leave and work.

When he left, Mahaad laid back down and closed his eyes, feeling immensely grateful that his comrades had saved him. He'd have to thank them and apologize for his carelessness. And to the Pharaoh.

Suddenly he had an image of the thief laughing and his whip flying through the air at him.

He jumped and winced, scared that the image came so suddenly out of nowhere.

He calmed himself down, taking deep breaths.

"Where did that even come from? I wasn't even thinking about anything..."

He laid back down for a few more minutes when he had another vision; of Bakura's twisted face as he was pushing the knife deeper inside of him. Mahaad's stomach lurched and he found himself shaking.

"No... This isn't happening." Memories started filling his mind, of the awful things the thief had done to him. There were so many... He covered his face with his hands and tried to make the horrors go away. He felt tears trickle down his face uncontrollably. When it stopped, he found he was sobbing. He was afraid of his mind, and what it was doing to him.

He realized something.

He had killed Bakura, yes, but Bakura had won.