A/N I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or anyassociated characters...
Josephine Jekyl: If you're still with me, I wanted to thank you for giving me some details in one of your previous reviews. You'll be pleased to know that I plugged a few in this chapter.
Yugikid: I was encouraged when I saw in your profile that you are a college student. I am a sophmore in college myself. And I am also involved in my school's newspaper. I happen to be the copy editor. And that is where we differ. I pride myself on my grammar, spelling, and punctuation skills. Oh, we also differ in the fact that I'm studying chem, and you're studying graphic comunication. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
To all readers: Please stick with me. These few chapters are building up to something you won't want to miss. Trust me.
"Please Mahado, I am unclear as to the process of receiving a guardian. Would you be so kind as to explain it to me?"
He turned away from her and closed his eyes. "As people gain skills in the games, their souls identify and become most comfortable with specific guardians. In most situations, the guardians chosen are those that the player has controlled in the mock games with the greatest impact on the opponent. But there are occasions when a player's soul will choose a guardian that has never been seen or used in the mock games. This is one of those rare occasions." Standing off to the side, Atemu smiled, expecting nothing less from his wife.
"Please, go on," Safiya urged, curious to know which guardian Mahado had seen for her.
"Yes, Mahado, please continue," Atemu agreed.
"Well, Safiya, you soul has identified with the green eyes gray dragon."
"I've never heard of that monster before. Atemu, have you?" She turned to look at Atemu, only to find his eyes wide with shock. "Atemu?"
"Y-Yes, I've h-heard of it," he stuttered. He shook his head, trying to regain his composure. "It has been said that the green eyes gray dragon is a ferocious beast, with a lust for destruction. But I've never faced anyone with the capacity to control it, and I had come to believe that as a guardian, it was just a legend. Mahado, are you sure?"
"I am just as surprised as you are, Atemu. But I am positive."
"Excuse me gentlemen, would you care to explain the meaning of all of this?" Safiya was thoroughly confused at this point.
As Atemu prepared to explain, Mahado turned away from them and returned to his workbench, placing the finishing touches on his previous project.
"Saph," Atemu began, "as I mentioned before, the green eyes gray dragon is a creature many believe to exist only in legends. Its intense ferocity is matched only by its extreme loyalty. This monster will go to great lengths to ensure the well-being of the one who is capable of controlling it."
"But what if I can't control it? Then what?"
"That has never before been an issue with players and their guardians." He placed a hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. "If your soul has identified with the green eyes gray dragon, then you need not worry." They remained that way in silence for a few moments, contemplating the weight of Mahado's discovery.
The silence was finally broken when Mahado exhaled loudly, saying, "It is finished." He turned toward them with a golden forearm band in his hands. "Safiya, this is yours. It is called a dia diank and it houses the embodiment of your guardian. Wear it at all times and you will be safe from harm. Now, give me your right arm." She held out her arm and he closed the band around her forearm, locking it shut. "Whenever you are in danger, all you need do is call upon your guardian and he will protect you. But until you call upon it, it will remain in this dia diank."
"Thank you, Mahado." She examined the intricate designs on the band, then turning to Atemu, she eagerly asked, "Can I test it?"
As pharaoh, Atemu wanted to see the dragon before allowing it to come before the whole of Egypt. "If we do test it, we should take it far from the eyes of questioning people. I do not need rumors of the green eyes gray dragon spreading throughout Egypt just yet. Mahado, would you care to join us?"
"No, my Pharaoh, I cannot. I have work yet to do. But I thank you for the invitation."
"Alright then Mahado. Until next time." They all bowed to each other, saying their good-byes. Atemu and Safiya then departed from Mahado's home and headed back toward the palace.
When they entered the palace, Atemu took her hand and lead her into the depths of the palace, to a section that she had never seen before. They took passage after passage and the air soon became cold, musty, and stale.
"Atemu, where are we?"
"We're almost there. It's just down this hall." He pointed down the long hall to a tall dark door. "Before the shadow games were practiced openly in the palace, the priests, priestesses, and pharaoh would play in this underground arena. This way, they could sharpen their skills and be better able to protect the nation, and not disturb others while playing. These games were always played in good spirits, but losing is never fun, and even among friends, games can get quite intense." He smirked, remembering games played when he was very young. "Ah, here we are." He placed his hands on the large door and pushed with all of his might. The door creaked and groaned, then opened slowly. When it had opened wide enough, he slipped through and Safiya followed.
She found herself to be in an old, abandoned arena. The air was thick and somewhat hard to breathe, but she managed. The first thing she noticed was that the floor was not made of stone as the halls were. The floor of the arena was soft sand. The second thing she noticed was the extremely high ceiling, as it seemed to disappear into the darkness. She then noticed several seats on the far wall, all facing the center of the arena. In her mind's eye, she could see the pharaoh, priests and priestesses watching the shadow game taking place in the center, learning from the players and their strategies.
