The room was lively. Flutes, double pipes, clarinets, lutes, harps, drums and even a couple of lyres, tambourines and rattles could be heard; people danced, chatted, drank and sang.
The jester walked to the centre of the room, she raised her hands and cleared her throat.
Once people turned to her and she acknowledge the attention, she spoke, loud and confident.
"Let me tell you a story," she said, everyone looked for a place to sit and get comfortable "About how a boy became a God" she turned to look at the king, waiting for his permission, he smiled and nodded.
She started the tale.
Prince Atem rode into the forest, his mare, Heqa, huffed, she clearly wasn't happy to be there.
It was high noon, so the sun was high in the sky, illuminating the forest.
He was in a forest on the borderline of his kingdom, Asaur and their rival neighbour, Osar.
The forest was, in a way, unique, barely anyone dared enter, for it was said that there lived a human eating dragon that would kill anyone who dared enter his territory, and it wasn't that he didn't believe that, but he needed help, and dragons were known for their wisdom.
He was quite surprised when deep in the forest he found a shack, it was small, and smoke came out of the chimney.
He got off his mare and knocked on the door.
He heard footsteps running to the door, and it was opened, by a boy who looked around his age (and who looked a lot like him). The boy gaped at him, and he hesitated a little bit when he greeted.
"Hello?" said the prince, that snapped the boy out of his trance.
"Oh, yeah, hi, hello" responded the boy rapidly, stuttering a bit as the words rushed out of his mouth "What can I help you with?" he asked.
"I am looking for a dragon" he explained "I am in need of his wisdom"
"A dragon?" said the boy surprised "Didn't you hear that the one who lives here has a tendency of eating people?"
"Yes, I am very aware of that, but right now it's my only option"
"Why is that?" He asked but nervously added one he saw his imprudence "I-If I may ask"
"I can only say my home country is in danger and I need help" he explained.
"Still, are you sure is a good idea to go to Gandora for help?"
"Gandora?" he asked and the boy's eyes widened slightly at that "Is that the dragon's name?" the boy nodded nervously "May I ask why do you know that?"
"I live in this forest, it's only natural that I know the name of my neighbours," said the boy.
They heard a strong whistle and the boy returned inside in a hurry, cursing under his breath. Atem heard some clashing of plates, then a scream along with another curse word.
"Are you alright in there?" asked the prince.
"Ah yes! I just burned my hand with this stupid teakettle!" responded the boy "Come in if you wish, I was finishing making dinner, do you want to eat with me?"
A little hesitant, Atem entered the house. It was modest, upon entering he found the dining room and kitchen, there were three other doors, one must be the bedroom and the other the bathroom, tho he had no idea what the third room could be.
"Are you sure you want a stranger to enter your house and eat with you?" he said.
The boy was bandaging his left hand.
"I don't really care; it's not as if a lot of people come to this place anyway, most of them probably die before I have the opportunity to meet them," he said matter of factly, while he tried his best to set the table with just one hand "Though now that I think about it I'll have to make some more food so there'll be enough for us both" he added apologetically.
"Thanks, but there's no need for-"
"Don't worry it'll be ready in no time, after all, it's only eggs?" he said while grabbing two of them "Oh, by the way, my name's Yugi, sorry to not tell you before, I got excited, it's not every day I get to meet someone" he commented while cooking.
Instead of saying his name Atem asked, a little hesitant.
"For how long have you been living here?"
"All my life. I think" he said, attentive to the eggs "My memory isn't the best, or more like I don't really remember anything from my childhood, or before this place? I guess? If I ever lived somewhere else"
"And have you no memories of living with someone else? Parents? Family? No one?" he asked, a bit unsettled by Yugi's living condition and lack of memory.
"I'm not sure," he said serving Atem the eggs, "I think I lived with someone, because, someone had to raise me right?" Atem nodded in agreement.
Yugi sat down in front of him, at the other side of the table.
"Is Gandora really your only option?" asked Yugi, playing with his food, not really looking at Atem "I mean, there must be many other dragons just as wise that don't eat people"
"I know but-" he said "It's the only one I know the location of, other dragons move around and or stay hidden so they're really hard to find" he was also playing with his food.
"I see" Yugi finally started eating, and so did Atem "By the way, I don't know your name yet," he said, although he said it as if it were something funny.
"Ah, you're right, sorry for my poor manners" he excused "My name is Atem"
Yugi smiled; both finished their food and Atem went for Heqa, Yugi washed the dishes and went to the door to bid Atem farewell.
Atem rode Heqa deeper into the forest until he found it.
Gandora was gigantic, black scales and red spheres covered its body. Atem was frightened, for an instance he forgot all about his quest and could do nothing but stare at the beast and tremble.
"What brings you into my domain human," said the beast without moving its mouth.
It took a moment for Atem to get himself together and speak up.
"I am prince Atem Sennen of the kingdom of Asaur, and I'm in need of your wisdom," he said looking directly into Gandora's eyes.
The earth trembled when Gandora laughed.
"And what makes you think I'll help you little prince?" asked the dragon.
"Please! Mighty Gandora I need help" he said, sounding more and more desperate.
"I would have eaten you long ago if you hadn't been blessed by the enchanter," said Gandora, and Atem shuddered, starting to sweat cold sweat.
"The-the enchanter?" he asked, very confused and afraid.
"He's the boy who lives in these woods"
"You mean Yugi?"
"He might be able to help you, but be aware his powers have been restricted, you'll have to free him of those restrictions first"
"Wha-How do I do that?"
"I can't tell you" Gandora shook its head "I'm only allowed to hint that it might be related to his lack of memories" Atem opened his mouth to speak but Gandora continued "Now leave me alone or I'll ignore the enchanter's blessing and kill you" growled the dragon.
Heqa retreated before he could command her to, his mind processing the information he had been given. He arrived at Yugi's home at night, the boy was outside, sitting beside the entrance and playing with the ocarina.
