WHEN MEMORIES WOULD NEVER BE ENOUGH
Chapter Thirteen - Hope Returned and Lost
Upon emerging from the mystical portal, the sun's rays hit Atemu's eyes - making him momentarily flinch. As his eyes were acquainted from the light, he knew where he stood. He stood on top of the hill - overlooking the abyss where he was trapped earlier, and seeing the outskirts of Egypt before him.
Sadness and worry fell upon him, as he saw the beauty of his land and remembered the dangers that the mysterious figure had warned him about. He mused, "What would you have done, Father, if you were in my shoes? Too many want a piece of Egypt - wanting her to fall on her knees, desiring to subjugate her, and killing her children in the process. The very court itself is threatened by this loathsome thief. I pray to the gods that I could follow your footsteps, as well as emulate your good judgment...."
As if it were the response to his petition, he heard the loud flap of gigantic wings up in the sky - making his heart race in joy.
Miles from where Atemu stood, an overjoyed Isis looked at her two fellow high priests and exclaimed, "Superia senses the Pharaoh! He is alive!" She then had her horse gallop ahead from the rest of her group - pulling her chariot as fast as the horse could manage.
Responding with a smile of renewed hope, Shadah and Karim sped off in their respective chariots behind Isis. The group of soldiers also followed suit.
As the mighty and regal winged creature - a cross between a bird and a dragon, as well as the product of Isis's ka - found its place beside the injured Pharaoh, Atemu mused as he stared at the beast, "Ah, Superia. Thank the gods that you and your mistress came to my aid...."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hours had already passed since Xandra, as well as the troops she took with him, separated into groups and combed through the most recent massacre site for the second time. She had been away from the palace for almost an entire day - leaving Shimon and the high priests behind to oversee the kingdom's internal matters.
Much to the protest of her troops, they have set camp last night at the massacre site - their moans being slightly stifled not only out of fear, but also due to the fact that she slept at the tent closest to the carnage.
At least, the men thought that she slept.
Many matters bombarded Xandra's mind, as her eyes kept wide open throughout the night: Atemu's disappearance, the massacres, the impostor who issued Hyperion's release, her unsettled feelings for Set, the possible infiltration or betrayal within the Mages' Council, and the concern for the kingdom's well-being. Aside from this, the second massacre - which proved to be more brutal than the one before it - made her spine chill and blood boil at the same time.
Now that the waking hour was upon them, each one respectively cringed and felt pity at the same time for each bloody body passed on the way. The men wanted to return to the palace - far away from the carnage and the nightmares that it would produce.
She, however, had one intent in mind: find Hyperion and make him pay for his crimes. This time, there would be no leniency or clemency - especially since Atemu was not around to stop her. As she went in each area - whether it be home, tavern, stable, or establishment - she scanned her surroundings for tell-tale signs or clues.
"It seems as if the butchers had wild beasts with them, but this still does not make sense," said one of the army commanders leading her group.
As the group stirred from curiosity, she approached the commander and knelt beside him.
On the newly tilled ground lay teeth.
"It does not make sense, commander," she muttered, as she picked up a tooth. However, she shuddered as her memory recalled something dreadful from the past upon recognizing which beast would have the peculiar tooth. Startling the commander, she abruptly stood up and kept her eyes glued on the ground - intermittently stooping and closely examining each item she picked up.
The men around her stopped and stared, as they wondered what Xandra was uncovering.
Confirming that the teeth belonged to the same species, she muttered under her breath with narrowed eyes, "Dragon's teeth.... I should have known that Hyperion would stoop so low...."
"What is it, my Queen?" asked the commander who followed her a few feet behind. "Is it the Hyskos?"
She stood, looked up to the sky, and clenched the teeth inside her fist - making them imbed into her flesh and letting blood ooze from the fresh wounds. After closing her eyes and letting out a heavy breath, she firmly said, "Commander, gather all our men. We are returning to the palace."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So, you are finally awake," echoed a rich voice within the dank cell.
The young foreigner's eyes glanced towards the dungeon door. Sapphire eyes gazed into the owner of that voice, as she replied, "Where am I?"
The owner of the rich voice stepped further inside - revealing himself to be Set. "You are in the palace dungeon. As poor as your surroundings are, your safety is guaranteed here."
The prisoner's eyes misted, as she recognized the man before her, stammering, "Thank you, my Lord. If it were not for you, the villagers would have stoned me to death. How could I repay your kindness?"
"You can start by telling me your name," said Set, as he comfortably crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Kisara, my Lord. My name is Kisara...."
He hid his amusement from hearing and liking the ring of her name in his ear. Maintaining his rigid demeanor and with probing eyes, he asked, "Where are you from?"
Kisara closed her eyes and murmured, "I do not remember, my Lord...."
After heavily breathing, he then inquired, "What else can you tell me about yourself?"
Once minutes' worth of silenced passed, she gazed into his eyes once more and answered, "All that I remember is my name - nothing more."
He would normally press harder for those who responded just as she did. However, there was something in her gaze that made him believe her. Through her eyes, he saw through her soul - revealing her innocence, a good heart, and unconditional kindness. He then relaxed and said, "You need to rest. If you need anything, tell the guards and we will see what we can do."
Slightly bowing, she then said, "Thank you, my Lord. I owe you my life."
He then turned around and marched out the door. As the sentry closed the door behind him, Set firmly told the guards, "Let no one else enter this cell, and no one will ever speak of her or her whereabouts. Dire consequences await those who break this order. Does everyone understand?"
Seeing the grave expression on Set's face, the guards stammered, "Understood, my Lord."
Set then walked away from the area and towards the High Priests' meeting chambers. During his absent-minded walk, he repeatedly mused with a light smirk, "Kisara.... Such a mysterious and lovely name.... We shall see soon enough if you harbor the white dragon god within you, and whether that ka is meant to serve me...."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Within the confines of his bedchambers, Akunadin lay restless - just as he had been for many days, and most especially nights. Something in his surroundings did not feel right at all, and his ill feelings go beyond his doubts, his guilt, his fear of going blind, or any other self-inflicted turmoil.
He lay still. Even though his eyes were mostly closed due to the bandaging, sleep did not visit him. The throbs from his left eye socket, as well as the memories of the past, came to haunt him tenfold. His inner self cried in such agony and desolation, as he repeatedly mused, "My wish.... The Eye was stolen with the wish still unfulfilled. What will happen to me, and to Set?"
"My contract is with you, Akunadin - not the Eye...."
The elderly high priest held his breath in shock, as the monotony of hours' worth of repeating his musings was finally broken by a voice that seemed to belong from the the grave. Just as he felt from time to time, the air became bone-chilling cold - making his breath condense on contact with the air. What scared him the most was that he could not see anything.
"We are one, Akunadin, so do not fear."
"Who are you?" asked the elderly man, as he did his best to hide his fear.
Amused to see an old man's struggle to hide his terror, but still seeing his failure by looking at how his lip trembled, the voice replied, "I am Zork, old man. I am the one who would fulfill your deepest wishes."
"But the Eye -"
Interjecting, the voice said, "The Eye is but a pawn. It will come back to you soon, this I guarantee. However, you do not need the Eye's power, once we start solidifying our business."
Eerie silence dominated the room.
Minutes later, the voice continued, "You and I are one, old man. You have walked the straight and narrow most of your life, while you suppressed me for so long. However, you chose to release me to create the Millennium Items. Those dark powers that you have made a covenant with years ago solidified your darkest self - thereby spawning me."
"What do you want?"
With a sinister chuckle, the voice replied, "Your doubts are the ones that held you back these years, old man - not your brother, nor Atemu, nor Xandra. Your sickening notion on how conscience should dominate ones life is what held you back. I am now here to remove those doubts and fears within you."
Shortly thereafter, Akunadin's screams and pain and fear permeated and echoed throughout the room. His chest felt as if it was ripped open, and his heart being clenched and squashed. He felt the life and the soul being sucked out of his being. His ears pounded, as blood rushed to his head - as well as the loud banging of the door by the sentries.
Minutes later, the screams disappeared - making the eerie silence dominate once more. Instantaneously, the sentries were finally able to barge in the door - frantically rushing by the injured high priest's side.
One of the guards went closer to him, held his sweaty arm, and asked, "My Lord...."
"I am all right," said Akunadin.
"But the screams -"
"I am all right," the elderly man repeated more firmly. "Leave me be."
The guards gave each other a puzzled look, and then closed the door behind them.
Once the door to his bedchambers were closed, Akunadin mused with a mischievously delighted smirk on his face, "Now, dark one.... Now that we are one, I will destroy everyone who stands in my way - starting with my nephew and his foreign whore...."
End of Chapter Thirteen
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Author's Notes
Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. Emrys / Xandra, Hyperion, and this fanfic are the author's property.
This fanfiction was written for entertainment purposes only, thereby releasing the author from all liabilities.