WHEN MEMORIES WOULD NEVER BE ENOUGH
Chapter Six: The Secret Unveiled

As Xandra held Atemu's hand, she led him towards the other side of the mystic symbol – the Council's secret meeting place.

The four mages – fully robed and cloaked – patiently waited for the two new arrivals in their circle.

As Xandra let go of her husband's hand, he scanned the entire cavern with a mixture of amazement and suspicion. His rich voiced bounced against the cave walls. "Where are we?"

As Nabil handed Xandra the same dagger that she used on herself six years ago, she then had the blade rest on her open palms. Facing Atemu, she intently said, "Approach the two golden tomes, and use the Millennium Puzzle. Follow the incantation that the book will reveal to you."

The Pharaoh coldly stared at the jeweled dagger, and then curiously glanced at his wife.

"Do you trust me, Atemu?" a tight-lipped Xandra asked.

After minutes of silence, Atemu nodded, took the dagger from Xandra, and walked towards the two golden books.

As the other five chanted, the Millennium Puzzle activated and the two tomes illuminated. Shortly thereafter, an incantation of fire appeared before them.

Following the ritual before him, Atemu gashed his left palm and allowed his blood to trickle on the gold books. He chanted:

To the gods before me here
I humbly plead my case
Grant me thy open ear
Show me thy nature and face

I add my name to thy circle
As a mortal witness to thy knowledge
So now I request my passage
To the secret realm and mystic cycle

I beseech the gods to kindly allow
Lift the dark veil of secrets - let this mortal see
Before these five, I make a solemn vow
Never to tell anything I see before me

After being covered in blood, the two tomes lit up once again and emitted a shrill sound. Once the light and sound disappeared, the five took respective sighs of relief as they approached Atemu.

The four wizards bowed before Atemu, revealed their faces, and introduced themselves.

Nabil - the first wizard - greeted, "The gods have spoken, and have granted you access to our world. You are now in our private realm, dear Pharaoh. Since the history of the Council, only member mages have been allowed within our midst."

As Xandra dressed his fresh wound, Atemu asked in a calculated tone, "If what you say is true, then why are we now here?"

Djer, the second wizard, approached the royal couple. "Your wife and Sister, the Queen, has been a member of our circle for six years - and counting."

The stunned Pharaoh gazed at his wife. He reactively tightened his fist - making the fresh wound reopen and the blood flow freely once more. "So this is your secret?"

Minutes after receiving a quiet nod from her, Atemu cautiously relaxed and then quietly demanded, "Why did you keep it from me?"

Kamose, the third mage, approached the monarch and explained, "She made a covenant with the gods, dear Pharaoh. The covenant forbade her to divulge anything regarding her oath, her ties with this Council, or her powers. However, the times have changed and a new enemy now threatens Egypt."

"I am sorry, Atemu," she said to him with a rueful smile. "Days after we were wed, I have joined this circle. I have to use whatever means necessary to protect our people and kingdom."

Atemu vented out his frustration with a heavy sigh. "We have the Millennium Items. Between the seven wielders, we can stop any enemy. I just do not see why you saw the need to do this."

Staring into his amethyst eyes, Xandra's simple reply was, "I did not want to cower like a coward anymore."

Atemu kept silent as he remembered those words that he said to her long ago. After minutes of pondering, he then sadly asked, "Is that why you have insisted on leading our troops and fighting in the battlefield? Is that why you insist on taking such great personal risk when left behind to protect our kingdom and people? Is that why you have sent Set back to the palace, after I asked him to accompany you?"

Xandra shook her head. "The noble and brave Queens before me had done the same, Atemu. They have done even much, much more. Years ago, you and I made an oath to each other that we would do everything for the sake of our people and land. I am just doing my part, and how I wish that I could do more."

Sensing that the Pharaoh had calmed down, Kamose said, "The magic from the Millennium Items came from the same chaotic source as Atlantean magic. Just as the Eye became your symbol, the pentagram became ours."

Atemu stared at Xandra with deep-rooted concern as he inquired with the mages, "What type of consequence does my wife have to face once she has joined your circle?"

Xandra then approached her husband and murmured, "Keeping a secret from you for many years is the heaviest consequence that I had to face. Now that you know our secret, then you are bound by oath never to reveal what you know about this place and the Council - not even to Shimon."

Narmer, the mute one, then mentally communicated to everyone - including Atemu, "The magic that this Council operates on is neither good nor evil. It solely depends on the wielder on how he or she wishes to use the mystical powers. Similar to anything in nature, every action – good or evil – has its corresponding consequence. Even the most powerful mage could never escape that cardinal rule. That is why we have to practice caution and responsibility whenever we use our powers."

She stared into his amethyst eyes, as her hazel ones misted. "I have never meant to deceive you, my love. From the time that I have arrived in Egypt to the time that we have wed, I was afraid to think that I could wield mystical powers. I feared the corruption as well as the harm that I could cause. My ancestor killed his spouse because her corruption turned her into a monster. He, on the other hand, betrayed his own people by wishing to eradicate human life – starting with them. Those who escaped his perverse plans started a new Atlantean civilization – my home. It too, was doomed."

As her fellow wizards fell silent from her tale, Atemu remarked, "You do not have to follow their path. Even though the same blood flows from your veins, it does not mean that you are evil."

A tight-lipped Xandra then said, "I followed my heart as well as your advice, and deemed that it would be best to develop my gifts. After all, this was the destiny that the Oracles had predicted for me before I left my homeland."

With a tone filled with thought, the young monarch with the tri-colored mane noted, "So this new enemy that you speak of has the same powers as the five of you do? Does this new enemy have any ties with Thief Bakura?"

Nabil sat on the ground beside the pedestal wherein the two golden tomes rested, as he replied, "The Thief works alone. As to this new enemy, although they draw power from the same source they have much leeway to cause destruction. They have also made a pact with the dark forces. Their total lack of remorse, their blatant disregard for the consequences of their actions, and their endless thirst for more power are the matters that make them more powerful than us. As to why they are still after our Sister is a mystery to us."

"You are all good mages, then?" Atemu asked with a raised eyebrow.

"None of the five members of this circle have made pacts with the dark ones, and we work together on what is just," responded Djer. "Although you do not officially belong to the Council as one of its five mages, the ritual that you have performed welcomed you in our circle of confidence. If you ever need anything from us, then come visit us once again. You can visit us alone, or with Sister Xandra. However, pay heed that you are now bound to the same secrets and covenant as we all are for you are now a Brother and peer among us."

"May the gods continue to watch over you, and our people, Brother Pharaoh," Narmer mentally communicated as he bowed. "Sister Xandra, we hope that it will be easier to help your husband and kingdom now that he is among us."

Kamose then approached the young couple as he rested a hand on Atemu and Xandra's shoulder. In his most gentle and most fatherly way, he said as he glanced into their eyes, "The love that you and she have for each other, as well as your people, primarily allowed you in our circle. Just like before, let her help you. She is a powerful and disciplined mage. You could definitely use her gifts, especially now that your enemies are growing mystically stronger."

For the first time since he arrived in the mages' presence, Atemu gave a gentle and relaxed smirk. As he spoke, he firmly held her hand. "Thank you, wise ones. Any friend of my wife and Egypt is a friend of mine as well."

"Until we see each other again, Brother Pharaoh," said Djer.

As pentagram of light appeared before them, the two reverently bowed before the four mages. They then passed through the mystic portal - crossing over and returning to their bedchambers. Upon arriving safely, they then sat on their bed.

Minutes of silence later, Atemu said, "Six years, and I did not know something very important about you..."

"Please do not be angry with me," begged Xandra with a worried look on her face.

"No, Xandra – I am not angry anymore." he said with a reassuring and gentle tone. "I should have known that you have taken the words of a ten-year-old as a dare."

"There is truth and wisdom in what you have said," she said with a smile, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "No matter how young we were then, Atemu, you see matters objectively."

An impish smirk curled from Atemu's lips as his amethyst eyes playfully lit up. "So, after years of heavy debate between us, you have finally chosen to relent over to my theory."

"And what theory might that be?" Xandra inquired with pursed lips and a frown.

He teasingly replied, "That I am much better than you are, and instead of magic then you could have given them some of your cooking. Your culinary handiwork will prove more potent than your magic."

With feigned annoyance and a smirk, Xandra slapped Atemu's arm once. He, in turn, tickled her.

Shortly thereafter, the two enmeshed in a battle of wrestling and tickling - with each one letting out a burst of giggles. As the two panted from their playful war, they then kissed each other.

A deep masculine voice then malevolently snickered, "How poignant... No one will ever know the answer to that great debate of yours because none of you will ever live to tell the details."

Everything happened in a blink of an eye.

Stunned, the two abruptly released each other from their embrace. Bolting out of bed and glancing at where the strange voice came from, their eyes widened as they saw a tall and fully cloaked man inside their bedchambers.

The mysterious figure then placed his hands together and formed a mystical fireball. Using all his raw strength, the stranger hurled the deadly fireball directly at the couple.

End Chapter Six

Normal Disclaimer

Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi.

Xandra / Emrys, other non-YGO characters / OCs, as well as this fan fiction belong to the author.

Thanks for reading and constructively reviewing. As much as this fan fiction stands alone, it is part of the Lost Souls Story Arc.