Chapter Two: Isis' Prediction
Atemu raised his head in the direction of the disturbance. Isis had gasped quite loudly, indicating she had had a vision. Atemu sat up on his throne, and turned his attention on her, as did the rest of the High Priests.
"What is wrong, Isis?" asked Mahaado, holder of the Millennium Ring. "What did you see?" Isis turned fearful eyes onto her comrades.
"A plague is headed for our city," she said softly, causing Atemu to lean forward in his seat so he could hear her. "Your Greatness, your people shall suffer by the hundreds. So much that they wish for death, and yet they cannot even have that..." Atemu frowned.
"Is there no way to stop this?" he asked, aprehension in his voice. Isis hesitated.
"Isis!" called Akunadin, holder of the Millennium Eye, using a harsher tone then he intended. "If there is a way, you must tell us!" She only lowered her eyes.
"Please, Isis," pleaded Shadah, holder of the Ankh. "The lives of our people are at stake." Seth, who held the Millennium Rod, turned away so that no one could see the aprehension and fear on his face. Karim, who wielded the Millennium Scales, frowned at the Priestess.
"Out with it," he snapped. "If there is a way to stop this from happening, we must do all that we can." Isis sighed.
"There is a Healer who could stop it," she said softly. "But...I do not think he will agree to help..." Atemu frowned deeply.
"And why not?" asked Akunadin.
"He is a Healer!" agreed Karim. "It is his job to help others in times of sickness!"
"...Isis...?" asked Mahaado, noticing the tension in the Priestess' shoulders. She turned her gaze onto the Pharaoh.
"He is not a supporter of you, my Pharaoh," she said finally. "He will not agree to helping you...after what your father, the former Pharaoh, did to his people..." Seth frowned deeply, as did Atemu.
"How dare he think ill of the late Pharaoh!" he said irritably. "What could he have done that was so horrible!" At that, Isis' complexion paled slightly.
"I...cannot speak of it..."
"You mean," asked Mahaado, fear in his voice, "the Pharaoh did do something horrible...?"
"Mahaado! Certainly not you, also!" snapped Akunadin. "You cannot doubt the decision of our Pharaoh. What he says or does is law!"
"Send for this Healer," Atemu said, stopping the ensuing argument immediately. "He may not be willing to help me, but surely he would help my people. Where does he reside now?"
"In the city of Mut, within the Dakhla Oasis," replied Isis.
"You cannot be sacrificing yourself," objected Seth. "You have yet to have an heir who will rule in your place!"
"You have not even been ruling for two summers yet," added Karim, a frown etched on his face. "You have yet to live your life. You cannot throw it away so soon!"
"This is for my people," Atemu replied cooly. "I cannot sit idly by, worrying about my life, when my people's are at stake! I am not that kind of ruler." The Priests looked at each other, and sighed in resignation.
"Very well." Atemu turned to Mahaado.
"Send a messenger to Mut, and have him bring the Healer back here." Mahaado bowed, though reluctantly, and left the Throne Room.
"Who is this Healer?" asked Seth, slight disdain in his voice. "He cannot be so great that he can stop a plague." Isis frowned.
"I could not see his face clearly in my vision," she replied softly.
"Then look again." Isis raised her hands to her Millennium Necklace, and closed her eyes. Silence rang within the Throne Room as they waited with baited breath.
"...He is under aprenticship with a more experienced Healer,and he does not yet know his own potential," she said slowly, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. "He is under the favor of Ra...as well as Bastet, Horus, Isis, Maat, Anqet, Imhotep, Khensu, and Khepera...!" Gasps sprang from the other Priests, turning to each other in amazement.
"So many gods adore him," said Karim. "He must be great...!"
"His name...is Rayah," continued Isis. She gasped in surprise, and opened her eyes.
"What is it, Isis?" asked Akunadin in alarm.
"H-he is only fifteen summers old!"
"That is impossible!" countered Seth, a deep frown on his face. "He is barely older then the Pharaoh himself! Check again!"
"Seth!" Atemu called, frowning at his cousin. "Has Isis ever been wrong in her predictions?"
"No, but--"
"No buts. He is to help us, whether I am included or not." Atemu sat back in his seat thoughtfully. "To be so young, and yet so favored and talented..." he smiled, "I cannot wait to meet him." Seth growled lowly in his throat, but said no more.
Hope you enjoyed the second chapter. I know, there hasn't been any shounen ai so far, but there will be soon.