Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea…) And this fic is beta-read by Pamster. Thanks a lot to her for checking it and her advice.

Author's Note: This will be the second to last chapter, apart from the epilogue. Think of these next two chapters as an overview of what happened once Set became Per A'a. There is also a new perspective for Sobek. And Adom, a name used for Set's new priest of the Scales, means 'receives help from the gods'. The Ancient Egyptian family also had around five to six children because of the threat that many kids were short-lived. There are also two more names, Madu and Luzige, that mean 'of the people' and 'locust'.

Summary: Thirteen years after Atemu's death, how has the country changed? Set attempts to sort out his duties as Per A'a but then gets some shocking news.

-o-

Chapter 47: Years Of Freedom

-o-

Thirteen years later…

Sobek looked across the duel stage from where he was standing in front of his mother, and as his eyes crossed the room, the teen's gaze fell onto where his father was sitting on the throne and watching the duels that occurred. There was almost a year to go until Sobek's own Ka would be sealed, the gilt armoured soldier, and he had always wondered why his parents had not done the same. And would it hurt?

The teen felt his mother's hands rest on his shoulders, his father rising from the throne to descend to the duel stage as his mother gave him a gentle squeeze.

"Don't be worried. It's a painless process," Neith told her son, looking at the duel stage.

"Are you sure?" Sobek asked.

Mother and son remained silent and watched as Set walked onto the duel stage. The holder of the Sennen Scales had rose to meet Set's challenge and would soon be on the receiving end of Set's need to unfetter his chains. It was the only way the Per A'a could relieve his stress as of late. Sobek could still not believe that he would soon be expected to be on that stage, having strengthened his Ka through blood, sweat, toil and tears. Now he knew how his father must have felt; mother had told him tales of father training Dious when he was younger.

Sobek watched on as a tablet on the priest's side began to rise, Adom's eyes closed as they usually were when he was summoning. The calm priest then opened his dark eyes and waited for Set to begin his turn. His father was holding a long golden sceptre that was the symbol of kingship, and Sobek wondered what Ka would be used. He had heard tales of the three gods housed in the Veju Shrine, but he had to wonder at what else existed out there.

The teen's eyes then perceived the familiar sight of the dragon that was carved on his father's tablet, Set himself having a cold, serious look on his face. Here it came, another lecture about power.

"True power comes from faith and loyalty. Power of the heart and of the soul; remember that. You must always be strong and unrelenting in the face of adversity; never give up or give in." Set then held the long sceptre before him, the Sennen Rod resting down by his side. "I guess it's time I show you what that true power is!"

Set then laughed in sheer delight as a white dragon appeared above him, its wings beating to keep it aloft.

"Oh Set." Neith smiled and shook her head, her hands still on her son's shoulders. "He never goes easy on anyone, you know, not even his priests. Don't expect him to show you any mercy once you start duelling with him, my son."

"I know, mother. I'll be ready," Sobek replied, enthralled by the splendour of the white dragon.

-o-

Nine years ago…

Sobek glanced up at the sky, sunlight shining down from above. He was bored. Bored, bored, bored. Father was busy with stately business and he had managed to get away from mother. Now the young five-year-old found himself standing just inside a small green alcove inside the palace. It was a place his father had built in honour of a fallen friend, or so he had been told. Whenever Sobek had gone past it before, he had always thought that there was this gentle presence watching him.

Someone kind, like Mother. Where is it? the boy wondered.

The boy's head whirled as he saw something move and immediately Sobek ducked for cover behind a pillar. Peering around the side, his mouth fell open and he gasped in awe. In front of him was a large dragon, encased in white armour that refracted the light. Its tail twitched as he watched, enthralled by its raw beauty. The dragon raised its back right leg to scratch its neck, after which its majestic head rested in the grass.

A peaceful sound echoed from its throat and Sobek bravely stepped forwards. Its tail was lying there, so peaceful and yet so tempting to a five-year old child like Sobek. It was a veritable ladder to a world of fun. The boy's hands twitched uncontrollably.

Before he knew it, Sobek's legs had carried him forwards and he was clamouring over the tail in an attempt to get onto the dragon's back. He knew he was not in danger; its presence was exactly that same as that kind watchful one he had felt often before.

"Higher! Higher!" the boy chirped happily, his hands scrambling over the dragon's upper tail.

The child climbed higher but fell and clung on when the dragon roared, its head swivelling from side to side to see just whom was on its back and hopefully throw him off. Not that Sobek minded; he liked the rough and tumble of outdoor play, though Mother seemed to be overly concerned at times.

Unperturbed by the dragon's show of strength, Sobek climbed higher, carefully doing so until he had his legs dangling down either side of the dragon's neck. He leaned close to its neck for balance and his breath caught in his throat when the dragon turned its head and gazed directly into his eyes with its own.

They're so blue, Sobek whispered inwardly.

Then the strangest thing happened; there was a warm gleam in those eyes. It was as if it was smiling at him. Sobek's eyes quizzically lifted upwards and he almost lost his balance, clinging to its armour-plated neck fearfully before steadying himself once more.

"Sobek! What do you think you are doing? Get down this instant!" Sobek froze, instantly recognising the stern voice of his father.

"N- Nothing," he murmured.

Sobek turned his head to the left to peer down at his father, expecting to receive an angry glare in return. Instead, what he could see was a wistful smile on his father's face. The strangest thing was that it was not directed at him; father seemed to be looking at the dragon. What's more, the dragon seemed to be staring back at father.

"Kisara," Set murmured.

Kisara? Who's Kisara? Sobek wondered.

The young boy leaned around the dragon's neck and peered closer. Unfortunately, he was not to stay on the white dragon for too long. Its head seemed to nod at Sobek's father, after which the boy in question found himself being hoisted aloft by its jaw, the dragon being as careful with him as a cat would be with a kitten. Sobek was wide-eyed as the dragon deposited him into Set's arms, the child lulled into a quiet shock at what he had seen

Soon enough, Sobek had been led away from the dragon and inside the palace. He had offered it a wave and a smile as he had been carried away and had been amazed by the fact it seemed to show and understand emotions. Why was that? The dragon had watched them leave, a serene look in its eyes as his father had whispered goodbye to that Kisara he had mentioned earlier.

But now Sobek was deposited on the floor and found that he was standing before his angry father who towered over him, a stern look in his cold blue eyes. What had happened to the kindness that had been displayed only moments ago?

"Sobek, what did I tell you about playing with Ka? It's dangerous! You could have been hurt!" Set yelled.

The child looked glumly down at the floor and apologised, knowing that his father was right. He was always right.

-o-

Sobek gazed nervously at the blank stone slate that stood nearby, knowing that soon his Ka was to be extracted and put in the tablet. Father had told him that it would not hurt, but the teenage boy had an uneasy feeling all over his body that it would. Whilst being escorted to the Veju Shrine by two of his father's priests, his feet had felt like they had been encased in concrete. They had been forced to nigh on drag him up the steps to the platform below the shrine's open roof. Now he was being held in place by those two priests who had brought him here, Madu and Luzige; the holders of the Ankh and Eye. It was just himself, the two priests and father.

"Sobek, it will be fine. Try not to worry," Set said soothingly.

Sobek looked down at the floor as the torches flickered around the shrine, adding to the mysticism of the ritual, the teen deep in thought as the Ankh's holder came in front of him and raised the Ankh to the boy's head. Sobek seemed to go blank as what his mind held revealed itself, after which it appeared above the boy as a disembodied spirit with a nonchalant look on its face, like it could tell that none of those present was any threat to it or Sobek. Set then stepped forward with the Sennen Rod held up high.

Ever since he had been told of this day, Sobek had been mentally preparing himself for being separated from his Ka. He knew that it would be housed here in the Veju Shrine, his father taking care of it alongside his own collection of Ka, several of which Sobek would be allowed to use because of the family connection. Though there was one Ka he and no one else would ever be able to command: the white dragon. For some reason, it responded to no one other than the Per A'a himself. It reminded Sobek of that other tablet he had seen, the one that had not been used for over a decade, the one engraved with a magician.

Why is it those two seem to have a life of their own? the boy wondered.

"The poor thing doesn't even seem to realise we're done," Luzige chuckled, as darkly as ever.

Set looked at the man who held the Sennen Eye.

"I prefer to think of my son not being so poor that he deserves such an address." The Per A'a then looked at Sobek. "Hey, wake up. You're embarrassing yourself."

"What? I…" Sobek murmured

Sobek turned around as Set smiled and looked up at the tablet, gazing at the image of the soldier that had been placed there. It was encased in gilt armour and bore a sword and shield. So this was his Ka? He had seen it before during training sessions, but to see its carved image like this was a new experience.

The teen then smiled.

-o-

Neith turned her head to the side so she could watch her husband as he undressed and removed his robes, his slender hands easily making short work of the clasps and golden neckbands. The clothes he usually wore when sitting in office were placed upon a table. Neith did not even need to see the look in Set's eyes to know what was there; her husband was in a most heated mood.

"How did it go? Was our boy strong?" Neith asked.

The woman did not move as Set climbed onto the bed and sat at her feet. Her husband never was this calm and thoughtful unless he wanted something, and she could guess what it was. She had guessed it perfectly.

"He took it like a man," Set stated, rubbing her left foot and staring the game the same way as always. "But you, my dear; you have been avoiding me."

"Oh Hem Ntjr, you wound me with such lies." Neith felt confident enough to be up for a game; she had missed the fun such danger presented.

"But I'm not the Hem Ntjr now, am I, lotus?" Set said, smirking.

Neith laughed loudly as Set descended on top of her, pinning her to the bed.

"Now I must put you in your place, my dear," he whispered lowly.

Neith looked up at Set's face as she felt his fingers link into her own. He had become such a masterful lover over the years, even more so than he had been all that time ago. They had grown even closer and produced several children, though she still needed to come to terms with the fact that two of them had been claimed by disease before they had reached their second year, suffering terribly before finally being released in death. It still hurt Neith inside, even though she had gone on to have a boy by the name of Jibade. Why did it have to happen to her? If she had anymore she would not know what to think.

-o-

Sitting in the audience chamber nine months later, Set stopped listening, waved his left hand and ordered the two of the guards who were present leave with the villager and sort out the problem that had escalated between the man and his neighbour. As he rested his chin in his hand, the Per A'a found his mind occupied by other matters. After the last child the Netjer had gifted him with, he was expecting another one; right at this moment, in fact. It was no wonder he found it difficult to think about anything else.

Goddamned children. I have enough on my plate as it is looking after the five of them without worrying about one more, the Per A'a thought bitterly, remembering the long sleepless nights that came with the birth of a new child.

Set then looked to the right as he heard Isis approach him, the priestess having a grave look on her face. Wondering what was wrong, he tried to ignore the increasingly sick feeling he had in his stomach. Isis came right up to the Per A'a and then whispered into his ear so no one else would hear what she had to say.

"Set, I think you should come with me for a moment. I'm afraid there's some bad news," Isis told Set. "About Neith."

The tall man fell silent before dismissing those in the chamber and pulling himself out of his throne with a sigh, his old injured leg aching as he put weight upon it. Gods, he was getting old! Set then followed Isis out of the room. As soon as he had heard those two little words, he had felt even sicker than he had before. And now there was an increasing feeling of dread in his heart, especially when he had seen the serious look on Isis's face. She was always calm, but the priestess had never been as sad as he had seen. He then came to a stop once the priestess had guided him upstairs, staring at Isis. That was when he noticed that the midwife was standing outside of the room, an equally sad look on her face.

"What's going on? Is the child all right?" Set asked the two women.

"Per A'a, I..." Set shot a cold glance at the midwife, whose head dropped mid-sentence. "The child is fine."

Set stepped back from the two women, a look of realisation upon his face. Isis seemed to know as well as the midwife what had happened. He should have known that what he had felt earlier would come to pass. Last night, he had experienced a foreboding feeling that he could not explain and it had continued to worry him well into the night, even after Neith had been led away.

"What about my wife?" Set asked, trying to remain calm, but deep in his heart he already knew the truth.

"Per A'a, I'm afraid that the labour went badly. The child was born, but her mother lost a lot of blood. There was nothing we could do but save the child." Set turned to face the midwife. "I'm afraid she's dead."

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