I gently place Sputrua on the bed, making sure not to aggravate any of her wounds. She takes a deep breath before her eyes flutter open.
"Hmm…?" I move so I am over her, letting her see it is me instead of them. She blinks slowly before her eyes focus on me. "Atem." She murmurs as her hand moves to cup my cheek. I only smile as I let her move her hand down to my neck. "You healed nicely. I'm glad." I only chuckle while her hand falls away.
"I'm glad to see you awake. You gave me a good scare when you passed out on the silver throne." I reply. She only gives me a weak smile before coughing. I look around the room, seeing if there is any water in the dusty room. Sputrua tugs at my arm, making me look back at her.
"Take Mahado down the hall and take a left. Go down the stairs until you come to a black door. Go through that and take a right at the second hall. Enter through the first door on your left and that'll be my old study and lab. Mahado will have a field day in there, but there is a natural spring in there that I use in my potions. Bring me some of that water." I nod, but I become worried about leaving her alone. "I'll be fine. The temple is still protected by the old wards. So nothing outside of the temple will get me. Go, explore the temple. It will be your home if you choose to anyway."
"Mana will stay right out the door. Call for her if you need anything." Sputrua nods in understanding before she relaxed against the covers.
"I'll sleep until you return. I'm just glad I'm free…" She closes her eyes as her wings cocoon her body. Her breathing seems to deepen as it slows as well. I do one more look at her before leaving the room. Mahado and Mana are waiting just out the door, looking a little worried.
"Anything wrong?" Mahado asks. I only shake my head.
"Mana, stay here and take care of her. Just let her sleep for now. Mahado, you follow me. I got a little surprise for you." Mana enters the room as I lead Mahado away. Following Sputrua's directions, I lead Mahado through the halls, noting how most of them is still in good condition until I open the first door to my left to a large study and lab. The counters are in a complete mess like Sputrua left her lab in a rush. Books covered in dust litter a marble top desk, in the same flowing scripture on the gate. Herbs hang the ceiling, ones I never even seen before. In the very middle of the room lies a pool of clear, rippling water. I go over to it as Mahado looks around the room as I did in the Kame Game Shop. I dip a talon into the water before I bring it to my mouth and running my lips across it. What water I get tastes so clean, it even put the water from the Nile to shame. I lick my lips clean before I feel invigorated.
"Ra above! Talk about putting your energy potions to shame!" I call over to Mahado, who is investigating some of the mess on the counters. He comes over and dips his hand in, taking a drink.
"Taste clean. But wh-" Mahado shivers as his eyes widen in surprise. "What is this water? I never feel so much energy like this in a long time!" I chuckle as I look around for a clean pitcher and goblet.
"This is Sputrua's study. She told me how to get here before she fell asleep. She also told me to bring some of the water from this spring to her room. We know why now." I muse as I pick up a metal pitcher and goblet.
"Careful, your talons seem to cut anything they touch." Mahado warns me as I tighten my hold on the handle. My talons don't even knick the metal as I take it off the counter.
"Maybe things in your palace, Mahado. But not down here. Everything seems to be made of a harder alloy or stone." I comment as I walk over to the spring and dip the pitcher into the water. I pull it up, a few drops falling back into the spring. "Are you going to stay here?" Mahado nods as he turns to the library area, leafing through some of the books on the desk.
"If I can find a translation reference, I can finally be able to read these books. To think all this knowledge was under our feet… Who knows what we can learn…" I only shake my head, knowing he is about to go into his work mode as Mana calls it.
"Don't get too wrapped up in those books. I'll be back to gather you for dinner."I say, my words probably falling on deaf ears considering Mahado is pulling books off the shelves and putting them on the desk. I only roll my eyes before closing the door. I retrace my steps, getting all the way back to the stairs before someone runs pass me. I jump, spilling water all over me, as Yami paused a few steps down from me.
"Sorry. Didn't know you were there." I only shrug my shoulder after I realize who streaked past me.
"Don't worry about it. What is the hurry?"
Yami grins like he's the cat with the creme.
"Yugi found something in the library. You'll want to come see as well when you are done with Sputrua." I nod before taking a few steps up the stairs.
"We'll see. I just want to make sure she's ok." Yami only gives a knowing smile before taking off down the stairs again. I only shake my head before taking the stairs two at a time until I come to the open wood door. I push to pass it with my shoulder, making it scream its protest. My talons chimes against the stone floor, finding them warm to the touch. Mana meets me out in the hall, looking very pleased about something. "Mana?"
"Oh hey! She's requesting for you. She told me something that I want to check out. I'll be back in a few." Mana takes off without another word. I only look at where she stood before sighing and enter the bedroom. I find Sputrua looking at me expectingly, her hands laced across her chest. She is dressed in a simple gown.
"I see you found my lab as well as taste the water in the spring. Your eyes dance with the energy of the water." I only smile as I sit the pitcher and goblet on the nightstand. A hand grabs my arm, bringing my attention to Sputrua. "Relax. You don't have to keep the form. You are also going to be exhausted soon since you are taking on the bulk of the Seal now, maintaining the form will make you tired faster." I blink at her, a little surprise she knew about my growing wariness. I nod before I let my form to recede, leaving me in my human form.
"I guess you would know about being a guardian more than I since you been at it longer." I comment as I pour water into the goblet and bring it to her lips. She takes a few sips before pulling away. Her skin seems to have more color than before.
"Take a few sips yourself. Then go see what your brothers have found. I'll be fine on my own. It's not the first time I been bed ridden." I take a few sips, letting the energy to flow through me like a flood, before setting it down on the nightstand beside the pitcher.
"Call for Mana if you need anything." I say again as I start to turn to the door.
"Two levels past the black door, there will be an old wood door with a dragon above it. Take a right once you go through it and go through the double doors. You'll find your brothers there. And there is a book on the table on your right when you first enter. Take it to poor Mahado so he can read my books in the study." I look back at her, surprise that she knows what is going on outside this room right by the minute. She only smiles a little.
"You will learn I have my own powers. I can only use ones that are low costing on my energy. But the more time you do as a guardian, the more you evolve." With that, she closes her eyes again and falls asleep. I only shake my head, trying to wrap my mind around what she said before just giving up. Mana floats back into the room, playing with something in her arms.
"What you got there?" I ask her as I move closer. My eyes widen as I see a griffin chick peeping in her arms.
"Isn't he cute? Sputrua told me this little guy just hatch and needed someone to take care of it. How she knew, I don't know. But I would gladly take care of him" I walk out of the room after that, not wanting to think what other little surprises are waiting for me. And I couldn't be more wrong…