The sun revealed that the fifth hour had already begun by the time they reached the remains of Mahaado's tablet sanctuary. Siamun Muran feared the possible famine and destruction that would result from the fifth plague – a disease on the animals of the kingdom.
Mahaado had not moved since they made their retreat. The pillar of light that surrounded his body had only intensified. Ripples of black lightning coursed under his skin, tearing through his veins. The seal on his forehead glowed, a mark of the power surge within him.
Priest Akhenaden gulped. The sorcerer's power was likely the strength of a thousand sages, and only growing. Should the riddle be only a diversion, as Priest Seth believed, the shadow creature could easily crush them all with a mere flick of Mahaado's wrist.
"So, you return." The shadow bellowed, the ground shaking.
"Yes, we do." Priest Seth answered. He struggled to keep his voice clear and stern, despite the fear that was raging in his own heart.
"Master… I know you're in there." Mana added, still batting the flies and gnats from her body. Her skin was red and itchy, but it did not bother her.
"The magician is gone. Only Shadow remains."
"So you say." Siamun Muran countered. "But by the very nature of your curse, we beg to differ."
The shadow just laughed. Mahaado lifted one finger, and the stones beneath them parted away. He hovered the rocks over the priests, just to watch them scurry and cower.
"And I grow tired of this worthless game."
"Well, the game is over, Shadow!" Priest Seth shouted.
"That is right." Isis added. "We have solved the riddle."
The royal vizier stepped forward, clutching the millennium ankh tightly.
"Yes. The answer is Priest Akhenaden."
"I am the one whom you cannot destroy with your curse." The elder priest stood forward as well, his body trembling.
"Very good." The shadow laughed. "So you managed answer who. Now, why will this pathetic mortal live, if not simply for the fact that it is his act that brought me to this world?"
"His act that…" Priestess Isis glanced at Akhenaden with confusion.
"You treasonous fool. Akhenaden has done nothing!" Seth shouted, stepping forward again. Akhenaden kept a hand on the younger priest's shoulder, so that he would not try anything rash.
"You are as naïve as the pharaoh once was!" the shadow hissed. "The magician knew too much. He knew your secrets. And he wanted to dispose of me while he had the chance."
"You lie!" Seth shouted in return. "You are merely trying to buy time! Well, we will not stand here and argue pointlessly while the kingdom falls into ruin!"
The vizier nodded.
"The reason is simple. You fashioned this curse out of our history. The tenth plague will be the death of all first borns. Priest Akhenaden is the younger brother of the former pharaoh, therefore he will be spared!"
The remaining priests glanced at each other. The task was done. The riddle had been solved.
At the sound of those words, though, the shadow merely laughed.
"You are truly pathetic!"
"Is that not the reason?"
"Of course it was the reason." The shadow growled. "But did you honestly believe a simple answer would stop me from ensuring your destruction?"
Mahaado stood, waves of black energy rolling down the podium, forcing the priests to their knees with hardly a motion.
"It was you who set me free. That is why I should spare you, Akhenaden." The shadow smirked, strolling down the steps. Mahaado twitched with each movement, his mortal body barely able to contain the strain of the magic energy being forced through it. "You gave me the opportunity to find this… the instrument of your demise!"
"Leave my master alone!" Mana shouted, but Mahaado lifted a finger to silence her.
She felt the air rush from her lungs as a powerful ball of black energy burst from his fingertip. Small and precise, it struck Mana in the chest. She flew past the rubble, her body tumbling to a stop against the wall of the shrine of Wedju.
"Mana!" Priestess Isis gasped. Her body trembled with fear. "Mahaado, please…"
"The magician is gone!" he shouted again. "Only shadow remains!!"
Siamun stood back, observing. The creature shouted that as though he were not only trying to convince the priests, but also himself, which meant Mahaado might very well be alive.
"I knew it was all a diversion…" Seth grumbled, as Mahaado circled his hands in front of his chest. He bent his head down, and started casting another spell. The fire in his eyes pierced their souls, spreading terror wherever he glanced.
"What's going on?" Isis gasped.
"I have no idea…" Akhenaden answered. "I have never heard that spell."
"You may have translated the beginnings of the millennium tome." The shadow laughed. "But I have learned everything."
The powerful spellbook floated in front of Mahaado as he walked. As he chanted a long spell, the energy in his body started to grow. Pulses of black and white light ran like current through his trembling limbs.
"All the energy he's been collecting…" Akhenaden finally gasped. "He's powering up. He's going to attack!"