Author's Notes
Yuugi decides...
Kisara stays...
In the palace, Atemu...
Atemu's friends...
Neb-i (a title given to those of high status or nobility in ancient Egyptian times; roughly translates as "My Lord".)
Hem-netjer (high priest and head of temples).
Hemt-netjer (high priestess and head of temples).
Hem has many meanings, from ruler to wife, from slave to servant. When used in the format "Hem- (Name of Netjer)", however, it is a title for a high priest and head of a temple.
ḥwt-nṯr (temple)
ḥwt-nṯr means "mansion or precinct of a god
Netjer (God/Goddess).
Hem-netjer is translated as "servant of God".
Hemt-netjer is translated as "handmaid of God".
Chapter 24 - Conversations
In his desperation, he focuses his Kiei, making small stones fly out of the ground at people. It was the same process he used to do with the branches, realizing that he really didn't need to pray and when he looked at his friend with concern, he realized that she had no fear in her eyes, but surprise and later admiration, making him blush slightly at the female attention.
During the melee, the silver-haired young woman made an unconscious movement with her arm, making everyone mistakenly believe that she was also capable of using magic, eventually drawing attention to her, with both not noticing a man who was watching them with clear interest, starting to mutter something to the others who were beside him.
Then, both manage to escape the fury of the people, losing the crowd in the alleys and after a few minutes, Kisara drops to her knees. She was panting, with Yuugi joining her, then looking around, spotting a partially cracked container from a pile lying haphazardly in a corner, with him picking up the object as he mentally contacted her friend, "Yukiko-chan , is it possible to use your magic to summon a thin ice in order to turn it into water so we can drink?"
"I think it's possible. But I'm not sure... Well, it doesn't hurt to try." The dragon speaks in your mind after being thoughtful.
"Then I will try to do this. After all, we can't face the villagers again."
"Feel free."
The silver is fascinated to see something white emerge discreetly from Yuugi's hands and which is deposited in the bottom of the kind of broken vase and when touching the object that was white, she feels the cold and displays fascination in her eyes.
"That's called ice." He speaks with his usual adorable smile.
"Ice?" She tilts her head to the side.
"It's frozen water. Water gets hard and we have ice. There's snow, which is pretty cold water, but it's not hard." He brings up some snow and Kisara notices the difference, becoming fascinated. "Where I lived there were mountains with snow."
"So you came a long way."
"Yes. I mean, I think."
She watches the ices turn to water and they both share the precious liquid, with the young man being happy to get water that way.
As they sip big gulps of water, the silver asks curiously, "What did you do with the stones?"
"I used my Kiei."
"Kiei?" she asks, arching her brow right.
"Kiei is a power that is passed only among the generations of high priests in my home village. I used to think that it took a prayer to the God of a certain element or object to use its power. I can use it without prayer."
"And can you use this power freely?"
"No. If I use too much, I get tired and I have to wait for my powers to recover and if I use it too much, it will take me longer to recover."
"Even having this limit is an incredible power. He remembers heika (magic) that the Holy Guardians of his Hemet's (Majesty) court and some villagers use, as well as the Per'a'ah (Pharaoh)."
"Heika?"
"It's a power reminiscent of their own although they can create various objects with magic, as well as infusing them into items, making them magical."
"This is interesting."
"I don't know why you're surprised, Yuugi-kun. My power comes from my magic they call heika. Or have you forgotten about that?" Yukiko speaks mentally.
"Do you use magic?" Yuugi's eyebrows folded upward, showing the clear astonishment on his face.
Yukiko is shocked, then recovers and after recovering from the surprise, she mentally asks hesitantly, "Hey... is this serious?"
"Well, you never told me what your power was. I assumed it was like my Kiei. You never said it was magic. Also, I've never seen you create things without being made of ice, any more than I've ever seen you imbue an object with magic." He speaks defensively.
"In fact, I didn't say I used magic. But what do you think is the object on your wrist that I put on you when you were very young? I created it with my magic, as well as imbuing it with additional magic so that it would be invisible to others. If this isn't an object created by magic and imbued with magical power, I don't know what else could be." She speaks, rolling her eyes.
Yuugi looks at the bracelet on his wrist, remembering it, making him surprised that he has forgotten the magical object in his wrist.
After all, he had used it for several years and because of that, he had forgotten about its existence.
The young man is embarrassed to realize this, then blushes, hearing the half dragon mutter in amusement, shaking his head from side to side after sighing, "Just yourself, Yuugi-kun."
"Is everything alright, Yuugi-kun?"
The tricolor haired young man comes out of his mind with Kisara's worried voice and looking at her worried face, he smiles sweetly to comfort her, with the young woman getting relieved.
"Can I give my bracelet to Kisara? So you can help her if need be. I don't need her because you're with me." Yuugi asks when mentally contacting Yukiko.
The dragon is surprised and after a few minutes, she says, "I understand the reason for your request. I removed my magic that forced the item to stay on your wrist. Now you can remove it. Instruct her to never comment on the object, which will also be invisible."
He consents and does as she instructed, removing the item and showing it to the silver, who is at a loss for words because it was beautiful.
"I want to give it to you. It's a magic bracelet. It's invisible to others. Can I put it on your wrist?"
"Are you sure about that, Yuugi-kun? She's very beautiful."
"Yes I'm sure." He speaks assent while smiling adorable.
The tricolor-haired young man gently takes your wrist, and then fastens the bracelet on it over the admiring look of the young woman when she sees the object in her wrist, with her stroking it.
"Since he is magic, no one else can see him. I ask you never to comment to anyone."
"So that's why you were able to keep him, even as a slave. I was going to ask how you managed to hide him from your masters."
They talk for a while until they decide to get away from the place, with both deciding to leave town, with the amethyst-eyed teenager happy to have another friend.
While they were doing this, Yukiko, who was bored, had decided to distract herself, remembering the day she found out that her love for Yuugi was maternal, with her wanting to protect and care for him, thus making her not feel jealous of Kisara.
In fact, all the dragon wanted was happiness for him and nothing more.
As she remembered the day she discovered her maternal feelings for her friend, the albino recalls Yuugi's recurring dreams involving a person with spiky hair and crimson orbs who carried in his chest a glowing object with his friend getting to see his tanned golden skin.
At least, that was how Yuugi described her dreams to her and even said that he felt united with this mysterious person that he could not fully discern although he had the strange feeling that he had known him for a long time.
In fact, she could feel the intensity of his feelings for this person, with them being far too intense and deep as she analyzed them, realizing that for some reason unknown to both of them, there was a connection or more precisely, a kind of unbreakable bond between theirs friend and that mysterious man who populated his dreams.
While the half dragon was lost in her thoughts, she abruptly leaves them when she feels that something has happened to Yuugi and when trying to intervene, she feels that something was blocking her when she tried to force the mind switch with her unconscious friend because she felt he wasn't there conscious.
In fact, the albino feels that if she forced this exchange it would only hurt his mind, making her too confused.
After all, she didn't know what was going on with her friend and Kisara, causing her to be worried about both of them.
As a precaution, although she feared the worst, she decided to wait, anguished, for him to awaken from unconsciousness so that she would know what had happened when using his vision and ears while she had decided to analyze what was blocking her, in order to advance a way to overcome this block, with the albino realizing that she would need to stay calm so she could find a way around what was blocking her.
Outside, some men had surrounded them both and hit them in the abdomen, knocking them unconscious, with their Leader putting on two magical gold collars with Egyptian inscriptions and which were endowed with immense magic, carrying out the orders that were given and punishing the bearer if the orders given to him were not carried out.
As a precaution, he ordered in a mutter that the collar subdue their power, with him unaware of the fact that the albino had no magic but a Ka and Bah because her spirit was shaped like a silver dragon with blue eyes, known as the fearsome dragon god because of his apparitions and survivors who witnessed his power.
Even though their leader wasn't able to use magic let alone imbue magic power in an item, he had bought these items from a wandering mage who traveled selling magic objects. He had ordered the items if there was someone with magic and it was incredibly beautiful, so he could sell it for a good amount of money.
The man rejoices at the capture because he had seen with his subordinates what took place among the crowd and then their escape, with him being forced to wait patiently for both to get out of the crush of people in order to capture them.
"You were amazing boss."
"Yes. I ordered the collar to suppress their powers. Unfortunately, I'm no magician."
"Are you going to keep them both or are you going to sell them now that they can't use their powers?"
"If they're pure, they'll be sold at auction. So take both and check that out. Then put them in their cages."
"Yes, boss."
In this, they catch Yuugi and Yukiko, taking them to the place that had slaves, so that a man can make sure they are both virgins. Then, they are placed in different cages, but which were next to each other, with both still lying unconscious.
In the immense complex of the palace, he was watching the village from afar while remembering his dreams that had been recurrent since he was a child and that the mysterious person had grown up, although it was smaller than him.
Atemu sighs sadly at the thought of never being able to see the young man who inhabited his dreams.
After all, however much he had searched discreetly through the crowd all these years whenever he went out in his litter or when he rode, he had never found him and he feared he would never find him.
Then, the monarch leaves his thoughts and goes back to wearing the Pharaoh's mask when a servant enters his room, getting on his knees and with the fountain lowered as a sign of respect and submission, since Pharaoh was seen as God on Earth for being a child of the Gods, as well as the lord of everything and everyone.
The sovereign asks in his usual deep baritone voice, "What is it?"
"Neb-i Jounouchi, Neb-i Ryou and Neb-i Honda, as well as Neb-i Mariki, have just arrived, Per'a'ah." The servant speaks, not looking in the face of his sovereign because the servants, slaves, just like anyone else could not look unless they were authorized.
As for touching it, normally only the most intimate family members could touch it and in the case of bathing, massage and any other activity that needed to touch the Pharaoh's skin, only daughters and sons of nobles chosen by the monarch could touch it, as long as Pharaoh ordered or authorized it.
After all, he was a god on earth.
Therefore, touching or looking up to look at his face without his permission was a very serious crime.
"They should wait in my office."
"Yes, Per'a'ah."
Then Atemu dismisses the servant with a wave of his hand, stepping away while using his left foot in front to show that he has given his heart to the monarch, then leaving the room, with the sovereign taking a deep breath, waiting for the his childhood friends had some plan to relax him before he completed the ritual and later prepare for the celebration of his birthday scheduled for that day.
The monarch proceeds to walk through the corridors, the guards bowing their foreheads as he passes until he passes close to a vase as he reaches a reasonably private part of the corridor and with no guards nearby, he stops his step when he hears a sound coming from a of objects, to later see a tanned young woman jumping on him, grabbing him in the process, making him startle initially and then recognizing who had jumped on him while she smiled innocently.
"Surprised you?" she asks expectantly.
The monarch sighs, ignoring the female body clinging to him, as he manages to do so easily because he saw her as if she were a younger sister, in addition to knowing that she did it innocently and without any malice.
"Yes. What are you doing here? I thought you had classes with Mahaado in the morning" He looks at the young woman, arching his right eyebrow, then sighs, asking in a confirmation tone. "Have you been skipping classes again?"
"I just messed up the heika exercise a little bit. Because of that, I'm having to repeat the spell over fifty times. Why all this? I just messed up a little bit." She speaks in a mutter, pouting her lips as she snorted her cheeks, the sovereign effectively suppressing the smirk of amusement he wanted to form on his face at the sight of her face.
"Well, when I got it wrong, our master, mine and Mahaado's, would repeat the spell fifty times too." The monarch comments.
The mage's apprentice pouts and after a few minutes, sighs, until she feels someone pulling her away from the Pharaoh as she lifts her aloft and when she turns her face away, preparing to question who did this, she meets her master's stern look and swallowing hard, she heard him speak in an irritated tone as she was scolded by him, "Mana, you need to practice more. Besides, you're no longer a prince but Per'a'ah. How many times do I need to remind you of that fact? Besides, I'm tired of telling you to stop hiding in the palace vases. I also want to add that you're already a young lady and therefore you can't jump and stick to our monarch. Aliais, you can't do this to anyone. You are no longer a child."
"But it's fun and I managed to surprise Iry-pat (crown prince)! Besides, that magic isn't fun. It's boring." She speaks, pouting with her lips at the end as she crosses her arms.
Atemu smiled at the scene, allowing her mask not to be on her face because they were alone in that stretch of hallway.
The reason for her smile was because Mana was very childish, even though she had the body of a young girl because her mind was still that of a child. He saw in her eyes the childlike innocence and that her actions were not meant to attract him sexually or anything like that. When he jumped on it it was with the spirit of an innocent child, without any malice.
However, this was a matter of concern, both for him and for Mahaado because she was so innocent that someone could do something mean to the girl, especially since she was becoming a girl.
"It's Per'a'ah, Nsw (king), Heru (Horus), Hemet (majesty) or Nsw-bity (King of Upper and Lower Egypt). You choose." He speaks, massaging his temples, then lowers it. "By the way, how did you get past the guards?"
"I used heika (magic)." She said proudly.
The King and the Hem-netjr who was also the superintendent of the mages' court, as well as the Holy Guardian look at each other, only to realize that the guards in the corridors adjacent to where they were standing seemed to be in a kind of trance when they realized that the his eyes were glazed over.
A discreet smile appears on Atemu's face as he struggled to show the seriousness of his position, to help his friend rebuke Mana.
"We cannot do that with the guards. They protect the castle. If you wish to see the Per'a'ah, preferably, without hiding in a vase, request an audience with him."
"Audiences are boring..." She pouted, like a small child, putting her arms behind her neck as she pretended to kick a rock.
"Now, undo the heika you threw at them." He speaks, crossing his arms.
Mana turns to the guards and focuses her magic, making a few flourishes with her staff.
However, she cannot undo the magic on Mahaado's exasperated sigh while Atemu avoided showing the amused smile that wanted to appear on her lips, to help her childhood friend to scold her while it was to not encourage such a practice, with him confessing that he loved having these moments of relaxation, out of the public eye, at least for a few moments.
Mana raises a huge scroll and magically opens it, looking for the counter-spell to undo what she did and after a few minutes of reading, she manages to find it and executes it, making them wake up from their trance, with many showing confusion on their faces.
"See master? I did it." She proudly comments, making the parchment disappear as she sends it back to its original place.
"In fact, he managed to use the counter-spell, but he needed help and only managed it after a few minutes." Mahaado speaks in a serious tone. "Do you understand, now, the reason for training heika? You have talent. But you need concentration and training to be able to master this power."
"I understand... It was just boring." She speaks crestfallen after sighing.
"We can't always do everything we want. Now, go back to your studies. I want to check on your progress after lunch because you'll have the afternoon to prepare for the evening ceremony. Don't use your heika on the guards again. Got it?"
Dismayed, she consents, then walks through the corridors to the magic study chamber, with Atemu commenting after the young woman walks away,"She mastered a high-level heika. Of course, she couldn't perform the counter-spell. Still, it's an incredible feat."
"Yes. She has talent. She just needs to be as diligent in her studies as she is to run away from them." The mage speaks in a whisper, massaging her forehead "I feel like I've aged several years."
The sovereign laughs lightly.
"That's absolutely true" Then, he breaks the smile. "I'm worried about her. After all, her mindset is still that of a child."
"That worries me too."
Atemu watches a spot ahead of her, becoming reflective, then looking at the mage.
"Whenever I see the two of you, I see a father and his daughter. I've always had this impression of both."
The Magistrates' Court Superintendent consents and after recovering from the surprise that overtook him at his deduction, he comments, "I see myself that way too, many times. In many moments, she seems more like my daughter than an apprentice about my guardianship."
"Anything, Isis can help you. She seems to have a vocation to be a mother." Atemu speaks with a wink.
Mahaado blushed slightly as the Pharaoh smirked because the monarch knew of the love his childhood friend had for Hemt-netjr Isis, bearer of the Sennen Tauku (Millennium Necklace) while Mahaado had the Sennen Ringu (Millennium Ring) with the tan also harboring deep feelings for the magician because the monarch had watched closely the discreet glances they exchanged with each other when they thought no one was watching them.
Because they were both loyal, in addition to wanting to avoid trouble for the sovereign or inconvenient murmurs at the Royal Court for being members of the Holy Guardians, they kept the love they felt for each other hidden in their hearts and it was something that made the sovereign sad because he wanted to that they were together so they could be happy.
The magician starts to question himself, if his friend knew of the love he felt for Isis and hers for him.
As if reading his thoughts, Atemu speaks, "I know how you both feel for each other and I don't agree with the idea of you guys being estranged because of your titles. I see the intensity of the look you have for each other when you exchange fleeting glances during meetings and meeting in the hallways."
"You are the Per'a'ah. Therefore, we wish to avoid gossip and anything that might harm you." The mage speaks after recovering from the surprise.
"I don't see how it can harm me. Besides, there's always some gossip, especially among the nobles. I don't think your exchanges have gone unnoticed. I don't want you guys to be separated because of my title. I want them to be happy." The monarch speaks after crossing his arms.
Mahaado smiles as he is happy for his concern and wish to see them happy, with him expecting this reaction from his childhood friend because he has always been distinguished since he was young.
In fact, his father also had a certain distinction.
Of course, like Per'a'ah, he needed to hide his true nature and heart in public.
After all, it took a firm and equally authoritative divine hand to maintain order and peace along with the fact that Per'a'ah was seen as a Netjer (God).
Therefore, he must act as if he were a deity in public.
Therefore, Mahaado knew that he could only see his true nature when they were in a place far from the public, where he could go from being a living God to just being Atemu.
"Are you ready for your birthday ceremony?" The mage continued to speak normally to him as they were away from the guards as they walked down a corridor that provided access to the royal office where their friends were waiting for them.
The sovereign sighs and speaks, "Yes. But it's boring. Especially since I have the ritual I need to do before lunch and afterward, I'll spend the entire afternoon getting ready for the ceremony."
"Well, you have to look immaculate as if he were a Netjer (God), no matter what the ceremony. Unfortunately, there's no choice."
"Yes." The king speaks, looking at the horizon while he was thoughtful.
The magician notices the thoughtful countenance and asks worriedly, "What happened to Atemu?"
"Do you remember our conversation, before the preparations for me to ascend as Per'a'ah? We had this conversation in this same place."
"Yes, I remember that day perfectly. You were nervous, which was normal. After all, you would be carrying an empire on your shoulders along with the demand for an Iry-pat (crown prince)."
"True. I was nervous and commented on my concern because I feared that I would not be able to live up to my father's teachings in preparing me for public life and as heir to the empire. After all, when my father was in public, he would undress of the title of man and became a Netjer, and I have to do the same, only I can be myself away from the public."
"If I'm not mistaken, you clearly showed your fears because even though you were prepared to assume the throne since you were little, you didn't feel confident. Which was completely normal."
"I came to the conclusion that no matter how much training you've studied, you'll never be fully prepared and there will always be fear. After I said that, I even commented that I didn't feel so confident because I feared I wasn't up to the job. others expected of me. Or rather, than they expected of Per'a'ah."
"Yes. You also mentioned something about the decisions you would have to make."
"In fact, I knew that when I was crowned, I would need to make decisions that even though they hurt my heart were necessary for the upkeep of Kemet (Egypt), just like my father did. In fact, there were many decisions and orders that I did. I took them, which I need to live with and even though I know they were necessary, nothing changes the fact that they hurt my heart." He speaks at the end, twisting his fists, and then opening them while sighing.
"It was the same with your father, Akhenamkhanen, who suffered from many of the decisions he had to make for the good of the empire or the maintenance of order or for both." The magician felt sorry for his friend because he understood what orders he was referring to , as well as the sentences he had to utter.
"I promised myself that depending on the situation, I would lessen the judgment of my hand as much as possible, staying on the threshold of what would be minimally accepted because I am fully aware that an authoritative and ruthless divine hand is needed to maintain the order of such a grand empire."
"True. You've managed to do that in a lot of decisions and sentences... But why are you talking about it?" Mahaado asks, arching his right brow.
"I've been Per'a'ah for a year and I confess that I want to know if I'm being a good Pharaoh so I won't have any regrets. Perhaps it's the anxiety of the early years as ruler of such a vast empire."
"At that time, you were already up to being a Per'a'ah, and in that period, you demonstrated all your ability to manage an empire. In my opinion, you are a splendid Per'a'ah, Atemu. The empire is at hand in order, the administration is impeccable, the borders are well guarded and fortified with soldiers, the kingdom also has enough guards to maintain order, and the courts are functioning exemplarily. Furthermore, the farmers are being well assisted and you have demonstrated an innate ability to manage the Nile floods, as well as a natural diplomacy. You were excellent at handling meetings involving other monarchs and representatives. Furthermore, the people worship him and not only as a deity. Your judgments are fair and you know how to dose your hand to the point of maintaining an implacable divine authority and an imperceptible kindness for many when it is necessary. Few are the ones who manage to maintain this balance. I bet many rulers would envy him. Don't forget the fact that you also managed to suppress the rumor about your child's mother, thus preventing her behavior from spilling over onto him. The way you managed it reached, keeping this rumor false instead of true, as well as quietly smothering it, ensured your son's future, even if he wasn't born as a copy of you. Of course, their appearance helps, but the strategy they adopted and the way they applied it made all the difference, to the point where they didn't care about the child's appearance."
He smiles and speaks, looking at his friend, "Thank you, Mahaado. In fact, I noticed this look in my people along with the fact that I made my escapes by disguising myself as a villager with a disguised escort too and as for the rumour, I have practically performed a miracle. Furthermore, I must give due credit towards the empire to those who respectively look after every detail and function. I may be the Per'a'ah, but it is an undeniable fact that a ruler is not can manage an empire without having people who take care of the various matters and who, in turn, have superiors to oversee them. The credit for the stability and development of the empire should not be credited only to me. It is a joint effort, with each person fulfilling their respective part. I only receive the information and make the decisions, when my opinion is necessary or if I notice something wrong in the reports."
The magician smiles, admired for his friend's humility while expecting this consideration from him, and begins to feel even more pride, as well as devotion.
Then Mahaado steps back a little further, assuming a respectful and submissive posture to the sovereign as they meet in a public place, with several guards standing by in the hallways and doorways.
After all, the Superintendent of the mages' court had to act in accordance with etiquette for the sovereign's annoyance while Atemu had put on the Per'a'ah mask again, once his friend adopted the respectful posture.
So, he enters his large and luxurious office, followed by Hem-netjer. There were some servants laying out several parchments on a beautiful table with gold accents.
As soon as the monarch entered the place, Jounouchi, Ryou, Mariku and Honda showed due respect, bowing their foreheads after putting their left foot forward because you symbolically placed your heart in the sovereign's hands, thus symbolizing your respect, humility and submission.
The monarch nods and the guards, as well as the servants and occasional slaves, leave the room, then close the door.
Then, he removes his mask while the mage starts acting naturally, just like their friends.
"And to think it will have to be this way my whole life while we're in public." Atemu comments with annoyance in his voice.
"Actually, this is boring." Honda consents, with everyone relaxing their postures.
"Makes it boring." Mariki speaks as she sighs.
"Hey, Atemu, how about we run away?" Jonouchi asks, wrapping his arm around Atemu as Mahaado arched his right brow.
"Can he do that, gang?" Ryou asks showing concern on his face. "I thought there was a ritual in the main ḥwt-nṯr (temple) of the palace complex before the anniversary ceremony."
Honda, Jounouchi and Mariki look inquiringly at the albino who asks confused, "What's wrong?"
"Is there a ritual before, Ryou?" the blonde asks with obvious surprise on his face.
"Yes. Well, it was my dad who told."
"In fact, I have to participate in a ritual before any ceremony." Atemu speaks smiling.
Mahaado clears his throat, then arches his right brow, looking at them all in disbelief.
"What do you mean to 'run away'?" the mage asks.
"What do you understand. We could escape from the palace for a little fun before the birthday party."
"Don't you think this is an irresponsible act?" The mage comments while folding his arms in front of his chest.
"Mahaado, you have to relax more. I understand that you are a Hem-netjer who is part of the Holy Guardians and is Superintendent of the mages' court, but you need to learn to relax." – Mariki speaks.
"I'm considered Atemu's right hand man and I have a disciple, who despite being sixteen, acts like an eight-year-old child, making me need to have two eyes behind my head to see her, in addition to the fact that I to be organizing the ceremony with the Royal Councilor and Tjaty (Vizir), Shimon, as well as Hem-netjer Shada, Hem-netjer Karim and Hem-netjer Seto. Therefore, I find it difficult, if not impossible, to find time to relax ."
"I don't want to be in your shoes, buddy." Honda comments.
"I don't think anyone would want that." Jonouchi comments, then looks at Atemu. "What's up? Have you decided? We can go undercover to the market."
"And the ritual?" Ryou asks again.
"Ryou, don't you want our friend to relax?"
"Of course. But he is the Per'a'ah and he has the ritual and afterward ceremony." The albino speaks. "Today is a complicated day to do this."
"It's just a quick escape, what's the problem? No one will notice his absence."
"I think there's time to get away before I have to put up with the ritual in the morning, and then spend the whole afternoon being prepared by the daughters of the nobles I've chosen and servants at times. Thankfully at lunch, I did. I will be able to see my son."
"Owl father." Mariki speaks smiling.
"How do you know?" Atemu asks, arching his right brow.
"Kesi commented that all you have to do is for little Iry-pat (crown prince) to make a sound, that you jump out of bed and reach the crib before she even reaches it and sees that her bed is next to the crib. She also commented that the its speed is incredible and we know that when the first rays of sunlight from the Netjer Ré (Rá) appear, you find yourself with your child in your arms for a few hours, besides always trying to be with him when possible, not to mention that you bathe him every now and then. Did I forget to list something?" Harry asks smiling as he lifts his fingers as he counts.
"Yes. I am a doting father. When you are parents, you will understand." The monarch speaks after laughing as he smiles.
"Apparently, yes." The albino comments smiling.
"I'm surprised you agreed to run away with us instead of being with your son." Jonouchi comments, showing surprise on his face.
"I know his schedule. He must be dozing now. By lunch he'll be awake and I'll be able to play with him a little. When you experience fatherhood, you'll understand how I feel. Trust me."
"I don't doubt it." Mariki speaks.
"Well, the conversation is good, but we must get away!" Jonouchi exclaims excitedly.
"Yes!" Honda and Mariki exclaim excitedly while the sovereign laughs lightly.
"Guys, is it the ritual?" The albino asks again.
Honda puts an arm around his neck and says, smiling, "You have to relax Ryo."
Mahaado clears his throat again and Jounouchi arches his right brow.
"Ryou is right. Before the ceremony, Atemu must go to the main ḥwt-nṯr (temple) of this complex and participate in the ritual before his birthday ceremony. We will have some chants to honor the Netjer (Gods) and show our respect. All the Holy Guardians and priests chosen for the ceremony will be on site to pay their respect and obedience. I don't think you have time for an escape. After all, the palace would be in an uproar behind the Per'a'ah." Hem-netjer speaks.
"Do you really think there won't be time for us to get away?" the monarch asks.
"By my calculations, it's impossible."
The monarch is thoughtful and then sighs.
"In fact, your calculations are correct. Today is a complicated day."
Jonouchi, Honda and Mariki are crestfallen as they become dismayed while Ryo sighed in relief.
"You can talk a little. When everything is ready, I'll call you. You can play something, what do you think? It always relaxes you." The mage comments because he knew that Atemu loved games.
As they realized it was not possible to leave the palace, they opted to play with their friend as Mahaado left the office, only to find Isis in the hallway, both looking at each other as they blushed slightly, before taking a deep breath, then returning to assume the posture of Sacred Guardians, with her approaching, showing concern on his face, causing the powerful mage to show concern on his face.
"Did something happen, Isis?"
"I had a vision with my Sennen Tauku."