Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh.
My Notes: I humbly apologize for this long gap of time between updates. There's no real good excuse, it's a combination of things: massive writer's block, Xenogears, filling out internship applications, domestic problems, getting roped into helping a friend with a film project, depression, alcohol. Well alcohol did help me write this chapter, but I do not encourage getting drunk and then writing except in the most dire consequences. Anyways I'll try not to let it happen again. For some good news, I turn 24 in two days, officially making me old. Very, very old. Ancient. Anyways here's a chapter that I hated writing because I hated writing it. But it gets me going into rhythm, which I hopefully won't fall out of. Oh yeah, I remembered why I didn't want to update immediately. Cause the date showed that I'd been working on this story for three months! Three months of work! Remind me never to write another story for a very long time! I'm kidding, I think.
Impromptu Preparations
The High Priest's days had been monotonous, to say the least. He had inspected the quarry that was necessary for the needed limestone. He had several conferences with many of architects that had laid groundwork for the temple complex, and spend a few nights confirming the ground alignment with regards to the stars. He watched with insipid attention the carving works of the various sculptor s each depicting the same image repeated over and over while another group of painters were each discussing the future murals that would be needed once all the walls were up. He hardly had a moment to himself.
The above was all the more reason why he was savoring this simple moment. The High Priest was wide awake in the middle of the night listening to the symphony that was unfolding. Seated at a borrowed desk, Sethos enjoyed the sounds of soft warm breezes that were comforting to his ears. Much needed silence, he thought to himself. He would retire in one hour, which seemed far too short compared to the work that he faced the next day.
The knock at his door broke the dreamy spell. "Come in," Sethos said, with slight annoyance. His lion-haired brother came in, tucked under his arms were several scrolls. "What's all this?"
"Mail, honored brother," Menkura stated. "You're still an important as ever," he added as he started placing the scrolls neatly on one of the room's tables.
The taller brother rose from his work. "Whose has been sending these?"
"This one's from the Pharaoh, this one's from the Prophetess, this one is from father…," the young sibling pointed out one at a time.
"They must think I'm taking a holiday out here," Sethos exclaimed, shuffling through the mass of them. He broke the royal seal off a random one and read the parchment. His face stiffened.
"What's wrong?" Menkura asked curiously.
"Recent troop movements of the army are heading northward. There is a breach in the country's defenses." The High Priest returned to the desk and unrolled a map and exchanged glances between the scroll and the map. "Multiple breaches are along these points," Sethos said as his finger traced an unnatural line on the map.
His younger brother came and looked at the map. "But honored brother, that path is along the desert's edge. Surely we can't expect an attack from that direction."
I haven't told him of the sorcerers in the area. "That's not the important point. All stationed garrisons are now two days away at full horseback. If anything were to happen here," Sethos squarely pointed at the town they were currently occupying, "to send for and receive reinforcements would take upwards of four days, at least." His brow furrowed.
Menkura seemed unfazed, and smiled. "Yeah but that's not going to be a problem because you're here. I'm sure you'll find a plan to deal with this." When his brother merely grunted, it signaled to him that it was time to leave quietly. Taking a spare torch from off the wall, he exited the room, watching his brother mutter words as he pulled parchment and scrolls from various locales.
To defend a settlement this far out, the High Priest mused, will require a siphoning of the labor force, which will only serve to delay the Temple's construction. Sethos' eyes wandered the map and tried to recall where the recent attacks were and noticed an odd pattern. These sorcerers are attempting to divert attention from the south. But what could be happening in the south? The rulers of the Nubians know better than to invade, so what could the reason. I'll have to investigate this possibility soon.
The High Priest's face was engraved with the signs of sleep deprivation: the bags under his eyes; the slight disorder of his hair; the lips curled in an unnatural sneer. Anyone familiar with Sethos' behavioral habits knew these were all clues of the great possibility of provoking his wrath. So the wise complied with his every request while the foolish irked his patience.
It was a little a few hours after the morning sunrise, with the daily hustle and bustle of the town in full swing. Decked out in full battle regalia, Sethos was leading a small group of priests, along with a few armed escorts, to various parts of the town. The Millennium Rod served as a pointer as he began his lectures. "All summoned monsters are vulnerable to simple traps. This is due in part to the summoner's mind-spirit. An inexperienced sorcerer's monster will tax his mind greatly. Since most of that effort is directed towards maintaining a beast that does not truly exist here, both the summoner and the monster will be dulled and both can be lured into a trap." He removed a piece of parchment and pointed down upon the ground. "Typically the best places to inscribe these traps are upon the earth, though upon walls and doors will work just as well if they are available. An effective radius of the trap depends on the size of the creature in question so its truly variable rule. However if you place the same trap about five paces away, the two should be able to catch any stray monster that comes within this direction."
A hand was raised from one of the younger priests. Sethos acknowledged the question, though it broke his routine. "How many monsters can a sorcerer summon?"
"Typically no more than five and that's exceptionally rare." The High Priest raised his badge of office. "This Millennium Item allows me greater mental control over my monsters. Thus anyone wielding one of these is to be attacked immediately, unless you have undeniable proof that they haven't betrayed Egypt."
The younger priest seemed to be in shock. "So we are authorized to attack you, or even the pharaoh?"
Sethos smiled sinisterly. "If we interfere with your current objectives, do not hesitate to bring your own monsters to the field of battle. Just be prepared to deal with whatever monsters are in our possession, for they may be far out of your league." His mood changed as he watched the new priests discussing that fact among themselves. "I've heard rumors that the pharaoh has something called a 'god-monster.' So you'd best be wary, if you decide to face any of the ordained guardians of Egypt.
"Moving on, if you manage to defeat a monster that a rogue sorcerer has summoned, not only do you return the monster back to its plane of existence, but you do damage to the summoner himself. You will ultimately strike the mind-spirit which will weaken its hold on the physical body. A severe enough blow may even separate the mind-spirit from the body, rending the sorcerer ineffective for a small period of time. But realistically, the more you weaken a sorcerer's mind-spirit, the less he will be able to summon any further monsters and the greater the difficulty he will have controlling the ones already under his control. Once control has been lost, conventional weapons will prove effective against the sorcerer."
The High Priest took a spear from one of armed soldiers before twirling it around in complex combatant positions. "All priests are expected to be fully capable wielding a sword or spear in addition to the spells and monsters in your codex," he said as he planted the spear's end on the ground. "As you move up the ranks, your fighting ability should move up as well. Mental progress should increase steadily as you handle more complex monsters. If you cannot withstand the pressure and demands of serving the divine and of Egypt, you will be effectively transferred to the Scribe Caste. Failing that, you will rejoin society again. So I will ask again, are you prepared to serve the Gods and Egypt?"
Many were very impressed with the High Priest's skills and all the young priests answered in the affirmative. "Very well," Sethos stated. "Guards, escort the new inductees to their chambers and have them familiarize themselves with the area around the temple."
One of the guards reclaimed his spear. "Are you sure it's wise to have new priests overseeing this temple, sir?" he asked, and who also bore and uncharacteristic resemblance to Kaiba's guard Roland.
"They will be placed officially in charge after we leave the area. We still have a few more tasks to attend to before we make it home to the capital. Make sure to station our undercover soldiers near the sites we inspected today. It should provide a loose parameter for the settlement, if we need it."
"Of course, your eminence. But won't you be needing escort?"
"No one will attack a holy man as he is heading towards his place of work, save the weak and foolish. I will not be harmed." Sethos watched his armed detachment walk off before he too marched off alone. Off in the distance, he could see the partially built shell of the future shrine. He went about his way uninterrupted, until he heard some shouting and someone ran into him. "What is the meaning of this?!" Sethos shouted as he turned to the scene that was unfolding.
A young woman was holding on to his belt before kneeling at his feet. Shouts were coming from a merchant, who was coming from his vegetable stand. As he stared at the young woman at his feet, he mentally cursed her name. Sethos crossed his arms and waited for the merchant to plead his case.
"Your eminence! This mere slave was caught stealing my produce. I demand justice! Retribution! The laws must be held in place!"
The royal official merely took out a small sack and threw it at the petty merchant. "That should cover your loss, no?"
"But my lord! What about her punishment?!" the bearded merchant asked frantically.
"She is but a slave," the High Priest started, his anger starting to boil again. "Everywhere she will go; she will be shunned due to her status. The only hope of her future is if she manages to work off her debt, and considering this one has been trouble more times than I'd like to remember, she effectively has no future to speak of. Her master will punish and will not spare the rod on such a frail body. To kill her is no great loss and to sever a limb would only make her a more useless slave. Is this not punishment enough?"
The merchant was obviously taken aback. "The High Priest is most wise," he said as he kneeled.
"You may go," Sethos said before turning his attention to the truant slave. "As for you…," he took out some rope and tied the young woman's wrists together firmly. Some additional bindings were made so he could fashion a short leash. "Come along," he said as the young woman was forced to follow. The young woman with white hair trailed behind.
There was at least a half-dozen things Sethos wanted to say to Kisara and many of them did not sound remotely pleasant. But he did admire her and his brother's ingenuity at this 'chance' meeting. Even though it wasn't the greatest of settings, they were together. Society was forcing their roles now. Soon that wouldn't be the case.