More exposition, a few easter-eggs for hardcore Yu-Gi-Oh! fans and who is that mysterious man?

It was a blessing from destiny that the one who found her was a scholar well versed in the study of ancient glyphs and historical tongues. Even if somewhat awkward and slow paced their communication was much better than what could have been hoped for had anyone else taken up responsibility for her.

The longer they talked the more questions surfaced to nag at her with their obvious lack of answer.

The crypt she was found in had been discovered just three days before their encounter, completely sealed with debris and seemingly untouched by tombriders. It had taken a day and a half to clear the entrance before Professor Hopkins had joined the first party of researchers who went inside to start charting the historical findings. Nobody had gone in prior to that or at least not someone with authorization. They said it would have been impossible to sneak in anyways, more so while dragging an unconscious girl… well someone must have done so because that was where she had woken up, the spilled life-blood still staining the sandstone floor was proof of that.

Then there was the subject of her identity. An image of her face, a sample of her blood and even a print of her fingertips was taken by uniformed people, supposedly with the purpose of locating her family. There was no such luck, the search came up blank on all fronts. As a last resort a poster with her image and general description was put up asking for information from the general public. They figured she had traits unique enough for someone to remember seeing her. They did receive some calls but all of them —including the one from a man who had first claimed to be his father only to come out as an opportunistic pervert— were all duds.

With the aid of the good Professor she started learning some English and as soon as she was able to sustain a broken but understandable conversation the interrogations began. It became clear very quickly that whatever happened to her must have been extremely traumatic as not only did she lack any memories from before Arthur and his colleagues found her but she also appeared to be completely unable to understand many of the basic concepts typical of their time such as cellphones, the internet and motorized vehicles. Hopkins did his very best to explain as they went but very soon the investigators lost their patience and promptly dumped her in the hands of a middle-aged female psychiatrist named Yasmine Hegazy to let her decide what would be the fate of this lost nameless girl.

She liked the gentle mannered woman better than most others she had encountered so far. She appeared the most understanding and together they came up with a placeholder name to stop the you-girl's and hey-you's that had become an insufferable nuisance while dealing with the Police.

"Tesem". She liked that, she liked that very much. The word had come from the hieroglyphs on her choker, a piece that while nearly uncomfortable in its tightness she had blatantly refused to part with even if it somewhat hindered the recovery of the bruised flesh of her neck. The doctors had fussed about that but she was adamant and eventually Arthur interceded on her behalf.

"I believe that is the ancient egyptian term for 'hunting dog', right?" Doctor Yasmine mused lightly, her intelligent dark-brown eyes scanning her patient's features as the younger woman thoughtfully glanced out of the window.

The teenager nodded and glanced back. "It sounds familiar, like it belongs. It makes me feel..." She motioned her hands in the air, trying to find the words to elaborate. It wasn't the language barrier but more her own struggle with sharing her emotions that made her struggle then.

"Nostalgic?" The older woman offered and Tesem dipped her head in assent.

"Well Tesem, I think that is enough for today. Would you please go fetch Professor Hopkins for me? I need to talk to him".

The teen once more nodded and swiftly stood from her cross-legged sitting spot at the sofa. She sauntered over to the crystal door and briefly glanced at her own reflection.

She found solace in the fact that her visage felt as much her own as the choker around her neck. From the icy hue of her slanted eyes, the caramel tan of her skin and the flowing length of black hair that swiped behind her with every motion, she recognized everything as part of her being. Losing her story was one thing but losing her sense of identity? She shuddered. The idea of gazing into her reflection only to be met by the visage of a stranger was something she didn't think she would have been able to cope with on top of everything else.

"Dr. Hegazy would like to speak with you, Professor." She announced upon spotting him with his nose buried in some ancient history book. He looked up and smiled, carefully saving the page for later before he stood up and went inside, leaving her to her own devices for a short while.

"Please take a seat Professor Hopkins." The smiling woman said after a formal handshake and the renowned archaeologist did so while matching her with an amiable curl of his mouth.

"So what is new with-"

"Tesem" She interceded before he finished his sentence, earning a surprised and hopeful look from the man. She softly shook her head. "We decided to adopt that as a temporary name to help her feel more comfortable with the whole situation. She picked it herself."

"Hunter hound…" He hummed and pursed his lips. The furrowing of his brow was a clear signal that he saw the same problem that she had. The word had never been used for a human's name, it had always been the label of an animal.

"Mr. Hopkins I will be frank. I worry that this girl may have been involved with one of the lawless tribes from the Valley of the Kings." Her voice shifted to convey the severity of such a possibility. Such bands of rogues operated much like the gangs from the western countries, partaking in illicit activities such as the theft and sale of ancient treasures, distribution of illegal substances and even human trafficking. However you turned it, a connection to them was bad news.

"I see." He said as the severity of it all settled in. He had had to deal with said bandits before and knew of their traditionalist ways. The fact that Tesem had awoken knowing only how to communicate in ancient egyptian and the style of the engraved choker fit perfectly with the patterns of those people. Then there was that tattoo on her back, a massive pair of intricately designed isis wings colored in shades of red, turquoise and gold. Such a design in someone so young could very well be a family brand or perhaps a mark of ownership… He was visibly perturbed by the idea.

"I do not believe that she is dangerous by any means but perhaps with this possibility in mind it wouldn't be wise to press the search for her past any further. Not in the way the police wants me to anyways-" Ever since she had started counseling the girl the authorities had been a constant pain in her side demanding progress to push their investigation along. It was clear they just wanted to close carpet and call it a day. So much for caring about people's well-being. "-I believe that what she needs is peace of mind to start building her life anew and a responsible person to guide her while doing so."

The underlying suggestion was clear enough and the Professor leaned back against his seat, caressing his chin as he considered what was being asked of him. "You know I care deeply for Tesem's well-being but I must travel soon and I can't take her with me without legal custody."

Yasmine made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "I have enough pull to arrange such a thing, if you really choose to become her legal guardian." And she did, as a court psychiatrist she had the last say when it came to the future of a presumed victim of crime. Should the Professor refuse this responsibility it would be up to Social Services to find a surrogate family for Tesem but given the familiarity Arthur already shared with the teen she favored him as the best option. "I believe that putting some distance between her and all of this mess may be beneficial for her health. I could keep up with our sessions via phone call."

His demeanour softened and his gentle smile spread contagiously. "Then I am happy to take her. I am sure my granddaughter Rebecca will enjoy the company of someone closer to her age."

Matters were settled and the paper-work to recognize Arthur Hopkins as Tesem's legally appointed guardian was pushed along at the turtle pace that could be expected of any bureaucratic matter. In the meantime another month was spent in Egypt between archaeological excavations and Tesem's english studies.

She was diligent in her practice, doing as she was told to get ready for that so-called new life that awaited her in the States. She certainly tried to pour her mind and heart into the whole idea of starting anew, key word tried.

Something nagged at her like a broken promise. As if whatever she occupied herself with during the day wasn't what she was really supposed to be doing. Her thoughts often drifted back into that dusty crypt when they should be focusing on the conjugations of the verb 'to be' and once they did there was nothing that could flush out the intruding ideas that would pester her for hours.

Everyone insisted that she should push that place as far from her mind as possible. They preached on and on about it most certainly being a negative trigger for her trauma, whatever that was supposed to mean. Tesem despised being treated like a broken thing. Couldn't they see that she was strong beneath the scars? The truth wouldn't shatter her, she wouldn't let it, but it may make her complete.

Such a line of thought easily dissolved any level of concentration she had previously mustered to focus on her scholarly read and thus she closed the heavy book and put it aside to instead look up at the ceiling.

That was how Arthur Hopkins found her many a time, lounging on the sofa, seemingly trying to glare a hole into his roof and clearly lost in thought. He worried for her more than she knew but despite their shared trust they were still basically strangers to one another. He just didn't know the best way to ease her burden and feared he may do more damage than good if he tried and failed.

"You have been studying hard these past couple of days, I believe you deserve a break." Her lack of freedom wasn't an enforced thing but the world still remained a foreign and disorienting place she wasn't ready to face alone and having travelled to Egypt for work the Professor's time was mostly spoken for, so she found herself confined to the rental house for the most part. She didn't complain but the way her eyes instantly lit up at the prospect of going out revealed just how desperate she had been for a change in the routine.

"Where are we going?" She asked without really caring for the answer. Out was out. She just wanted to make conversation while she put away the books and rearranged her appearance into something that didn't scream 'I really woke up like this'.

"Dinner at a nice restaurant downtown and then I'll show you the night-market. It is lovely this time of the year."

He fetched a light coat to ward off the surprisingly sharp chill of the desert nights while she purposefully left hers forgotten in her bedroom. It had been a gift as most of her current possessions and while she was indeed grateful for it she quite liked the cold and downright despised the feeling of too many layers of fabric constricting her movements. Honestly if she hadn't been thoroughly lectured in propriety after the first few times the nurses caught her ditching her hospital robes in favour of a much more comfortable state of nudity she would be walking around with nothing but a sarong and perhaps a few pieces of jewelry to accompany her ever-present choker.

He called for a taxi and together they took a slow ride to one of the busiest parts of the city.

She peeked out of the window, curiously eyeing the sprawl of new and antique buildings that made up the wealthiest part of Cairo, the far-off glare of the Nile River as it reflected the orange sunset like veins of molten lava and the ominous shapes of the Giza Pyramids as they were engulfed in the approaching shadow of the planet. The visage was surely breathtaking and the sheer scale of it all still hit her like a total wonder even if it had already been several weeks since they first arrived at the bustling Egyptian capital.

Perhaps she indeed hailed from a small town or a wandering tribe like the Police had guessed. It could explain why she found the idea of a shining metropolis inhabited by millions of people so surreal.

They went through large modern-looking avenues and then took a turn to enter a different part of the city marked by its tall European-style buildings and ample streets. Their going became tortuously slow but neither really minded as the Professor took advantage of the time to give Tesem a bit of a history lecture on that part of town.

They eventually reached their destination, just as the fiery sunset turned an ominous shade of scarlet that cast a mysterious aura over the city like a spell.

The restaurant was located inside what Arthur gingerly explained had once been a particularly important guest house for foreign diplomats and other members of high society and that in more recent times had been adapted to host about a dozen or so businesses that ranged from the luxurious to the more average street food joints.

The establishment they entered was somewhere in-between, nice and well-decorated but with a deliberate rustic undertone that gave the entire place an air of authenticity. Had she been more familiar with the concept of themed eateries she would have probably guessed that the place was specialized in traditional egyptian cuisine. As it stood she could only tell there was something unique about the place because instead of the chairs and hip-high tables she had seen everywhere this place had really low rectangular tables with flat pillows as seating. The decor was also incredibly accurate if only a touch excessive in places, with woven decorative mats hanging from the walls and intricate wooden sculptures of gods and goddesses sitting anywhere there was a square inch of available surface.

"Shall we sit?" He intervened politely to break her out of her reverie.

"Ah- yeah, yes."

They picked a table near an open balcony, the soft breeze bringing in the sounds and scents of the street below. She stopped to offer a supportive hand for Arthur to sit before she swiftly plopped down with her legs folded like a butterfly in a spot where she could glance out the window while also keeping an ample view of the establishment.

Their menus were brought up by a dark skinned waitress. Tesem traced her finger over the laminated rectangle where every item had its name written in colloquial egyptian in both the arabic and the latin alphabet, with a brief description of the dish provided in English for foreigners. She found that last part incredibly helpful as much to her chagrin the current language of the Country she assumed was her Homeland was as foreign to her as English had been before she started her studies.

"I think there is a missed opportunity here." He commented with an amused smirk, earning a quirked brow from her. "They could have used papyrus to print the menu in order to make it more authentic."

She chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "Papyrus was meant for important documents, an ostraca would be more likely." She spoke without thinking and didn't notice the intelligent shimmer in the aged man's eyes. He had the beginning of a theory cooking inside his brain but he wasn't ready to share his thoughts just yet and thus went back to picking his dinner.

"What will you be having?" Asked the waitress after taking note of their respective drinks, iced tea for the Professor and sparkling lemonade for her. She had craved a beer more than anything but it seemed that in the eyes of the law she was too young for alcohol consumption, which she didn't understand, 16 (or maybe 17, her birth date remained a bit of a mystery) years felt old enough and she could have sworn that she had already enjoyed the substance before… No luck, even her benefactor wasn't that indulging.

"Ful medames for me." Said the aged man, politely declining the offer of a dessert.

"And you Miss?"

"Ta'amiya and the lamb kebab." Tesem merrily announced, handing over the menu after also refusing the offer of something sweet to wrap up their meal. She had a feeling that the Professor was planning something special for after dinner that may need a little wriggling room under the belt.

They ate and made pleasant conversation, discussing the upcoming flight to the USA and the following steps they ought to take to fully initiate this new chapter in her life. She didn't fully understand the concepts of highschool and university but she was sure that riding a metallic bird across the ocean ought to be something else. She was excited and her mind positively distracted. Arthur was just glad to see her smile.

After their meal they left the restaurant and walked down to the tourist route that ran alongside the Nile river, following it South until they reached an older part of town marked by its islamic medieval architecture and the prevailing tan tones of sandstone.

She decided right then and there that she much preferred this side of town. The streets were narrower and more lively with antique shops and street vendors offering their exotic wares. Less traffic went through and thus it was the noises of people going about what prevailed over the unpleasant ruckus of cars.

The night hours didn't seem to quiet down in the slightest and Tesem found herself feeling exhilarated by the electricity in the atmosphere. Young adults gathered around corners dressed up and ready to party, older men and women exchanged animated tales as they tended to their businesses. The thick smoke from lit incense and outdoor grills gave the entire scene a dream-like haze.

Her nostrils flared at the mixture of delicious scents that hung on the cool breeze. Her stomach growled even after having just enjoyed a delicious meal, she couldn't help it, Tesem could practically taste the fried batter and the syrup from the sweets stall down the road.

She gazed up at her companion with eyes that could rival a starved pup.

Arthur didn't need much more coaxing than that. When they finally arrived at the bazaar they did with hands sticky from the sugary syrup and covered in crispy crumbs.

Tesem absently licked them away as she browsed through a row of carved figurines of animals and other traditional imagery.

Amused by the intricate trinkets she paid no mind to the passerby that gave her curious looks and the occasional rude eye-swipe. By then she had already come to terms with the fact that her golden choker and equally flashy choice of complementary accessories were out of the ordinary. Changing her style would be an easy thing but those adornments felt very much a part of her undisclosed identity, perhaps something of religious value in her life before she was found by the Professor or maybe she had simply been an eccentric gal. Whatever the case, they made her feel more like herself, a benefit that far outweighed the minor inconveniences that were the dirty looks from random strangers on the street.

Maybe this time around she should have been paying attention. Then perhaps she would have noticed the scrutinizing gaze from an individual that was more than just a curious witness, someone that recognized the eye of Anubis carved into her choker and knew more about its meaning than the experts that had already taken their turn to investigate the piece.

Had she turned at the right moment she would have no doubt suspected his knowing gaze, proceeded to pursue him through the sea of people and likely gained some insight from the resulting confrontation… but she didn't turn, and when the Professor came to invite her to move on to the next store the strange man was gone.

The rest of the evening progressed pleasant and uneventful. By the time they made it back home Tesem found herself happily exhausted and ready to pass out as soon as she touched a bed.

Sleep came easily the way it hadn't since forever and this time her dreams weren't laced with a foreboding undertone that startled her into an early awakening. She just ran and ran across an endless desert, feeling the warm breeze and the sun hit her face before unseen wings spread and she took to the sky.

The next morning she couldn't quite recall what the dream was about but the vague sensation of soaring amongst the clouds was one that lingered with her and like a happy memory brought many unbidden smiles to her lips throughout the day.