And here are the explanations of this chapter:
-Geb is the god of the Earth, he is considered as the first of the Pharaohs. Thus, the throne on which all his successors sat is before all his, hence the sentence that will be pronounced by Atem in this chapter.
-A diorama is a miniature model.
Tell me, do you notice the references I make to the manga/anime, or did they completely escape to you?! XD
Each of his steps through the city brought new scents, new landscapes, making him feverish and marvelling at every second. The large alleys, on his right, bordered the town's rich district, lining up on miles immense and prestigious abodes. Extravagant dwellings, painted with dozens of sparkling colours, warm shades of red, orange and green, adorned with long marble columns and broad alabaster balconies decorated with gold filaments. And to his left, the shopping street, invigorating, composed of small shops with burgundy roofs and dressed with thin multicoloured linen curtains.
The further he advanced through the city, the more it galvanised, becoming more and more lively, noisier, the population becoming denser.
His mouth couldn't stop smiling as he twirled his head from side to side and from top to bottom continually. Always walking a little faster at every minute that passed.
How the palace seemed boring in front of this nameless show. The real fun being all around him. But perhaps this was too much distraction in itself. He did not know how he could have under his control so many things and people. How his responsibilities were becoming heavier, too. To have to protect such a treasure... it seemed impossible to him. He prayed to the Gods to help him in his task. This vision he had in front of his eyes, now that he had discovered it, he wanted to cherish it until the end of his life. And even after his death, when he would rest in the Afterlife, he wished to have the opportunity to continue to watch over this sacred diamond.
It was a desert of wealth that took place before him, so impressive that it was making his head spinning. What is the aim of this, how do we use that? The questions escaped from his lips without him being able or even wanting to do anything about it. Of course, Mana was not as informed as he had hoped for, but the simple fact of asking aloud was enough for the moment to silence his growing curiosity.
He had already sixteen, but he was feeling so ignorant. What was the point of locking oneself in the palace if it were, in the end, to learn nothing? The life that really had the merit of being praised was the one he had here in front of him and not the one that a king was living.
He narrowed his eyes, some agitation seeming to take place at the other end of the market, near the main square of Khemet.
"Mana, what if we go... "
"Hide! "
"What? "
The magician gripped his wrist forcefully, pushing him behind the surrounding wall of a shop, looking discreetly through it.
"What's going on? " calmly asked the Pharaoh, not seeming in the least worried, simply putting his clothes back, which had been disordered during their short run to find a shelter.
"Mahad! " the little priestess lamented, starting to nibble her nails in anguish. "Oh, I'm sure he already knows we're here! Of course, he knows it, how could he ignore it? Aaah, I knew it was a bad idea! "
Sighing under the incessant complaints of the young girl, Atem just turned her away so she would face him, ordering her to be quiet by putting a finger on his mouth, before taking her place, watching in his turn the magician working in the distance, stating:
"Would you calm down. Don't you think that if he knew anything, he would already be here to lecture us? "
"What if he was doing it on purpose ?! What if he was trying to better trap us? " exclaimed the girl, paranoid.
"Doing what exactly? " the sovereign whispered, turning to his friend, looking perplexed.
The silence that followed made him smile, and he nodded towards the back of the building.
"If we go this way, he will not see us. "
"But... "
"Let's go! "
Hurrying down the alleyway, the two teenagers started walking straight ahead, one seeming however more confident than the other.
"Don't you want to go home before Mahad really finds us this time. "
Shaking his head, the young king merely indicated right in front of him with an extending hand.
"There's something going on over there, I want to know. "
"Oh, please... it's probably just a fight between two drunkards, right? "
"No, it's on the market. It's really weird, it looks like half of the city is after something or someo... "
What his pupils perceived at that moment forced Atem to stop abruptly where he was, the rest of the words he was going to pronounce fading in the air as a dread thrill ran along his column spinal.
This sudden action obliged Mana to rush over him, as she, too, did not pay attention to the road, too busy spending her time looking over her shoulder for fear of meeting her mentor.
The Pharaoh's eyes widened in amazement, a boy being his spitting image trying to escape to a dozen people screaming loudly as they tried to catch him. Leaner than a twig of wood, he was fleeing at full speed in the opposite direction, never daring to turn once to check the progress of his pursuers.
"Catch him! Catch this slave on the run! "
What...!
The cries that constantly resonated behind him seemed to give the escapees the necessary motivation to keep running despite the miserable state in which he was.
The closer he got, the more the young king felt like he was being out of his depths. A strange sensation slowly making its way to his heart, electrifying his limbs even though his brain was no longer thinking.
"Mana! Go get Mahad! "
"What?! Have you lost your mind?! "
"RIGHT NOW! "
The sovereign's scream of irritation made her body shudder. Never once, had he screamed at her like that. Realising that it was an urgency, the little priestess did not hesitate any longer and turned back in a hurry, this time without a single glance back.
Seeing that the teenager was getting closer and closer to him, the Pharaoh narrowed his eyes, desperately searching around him with panic.
Eventually stepping into a dead-end intersection just wide enough to hide, he strategically positioned himself and waited patiently.
Forcibly grabbing the escapee's arm when he was within range, Atem tipped him behind him in the darkness of the alley, the latter shouting out of surprise. Wedged between the two sections of the wall, the boy, gasping for air, was shaking like a leaf.
At the approach of the men always after him, the young king raised with one hand his cape, the other firmly holding the teenager against him, wrapping up them both just enough to hide them of the sight of the pursuers who passed before them without seeing them.
Once sure they were safe, he turned to the boy sharing the same physique that his, smiling softly at him.
"Are you all right? "
Tending slightly to the question, the latter hesitated for a moment before lowering his head, answering in a whisper:
"Y-Yes... thanks... "
The voice of his new companion spread a certain warmth inside his body that made him chuckle with delight and, putting a look behind him for a second, the sovereign quickly reported his attention to the escapee, frowning while examining him carefully. The sensation that clasped his heart still not leaving him.
"Have we ever met each other by any chance? " he asked at once, now piqued with curiosity.
He genuinely doubted that it was the case, not really having the habit of going out of the palace. But the more he watched him the more he felt close to the puny teenager.
"N-No... " stammered this one, shaking his head from side to side, which made him feel dizzy.
Catching the boy in his arms, this feeling of closeness struck him even more clearly and, clutching him harder, he gently grabbed his chin between his fingers to raise his face towards his own.
"Name? " questioned the Pharaoh, his purple pupils dipping into those amethysts of his companion.
"I... "
"Well, I just saved your life, so I, at least, deserve the right to know your name. " he insisted, pressing his frail body against his.
"H-Heba... " confessed the escapee, his cheeks red.
"Heba... " repeated the young king, daydreaming.
Sighing, he released his temporary hostage, letting him walk several steps away as he thought about whether he had ever heard this name somewhere. Unfortunately, his wanderings stopped there, a moist hand gripping his shoulder firmly, the uncomfortable sensation making him open his eyes wide as he saw himself forced to turn around abruptly, a voice barking with anger:
"Here you are, you little vicious snake! "
Frowning again, a muted anger twisting the fine features of his face, he freed himself from the grip of the man with a quick wave of the hand, obliging the latter to back off to the point of losing his balance, instantly falling on the ground, right in the middle of the main square, completely exposed to the dazzling light of Ra.
"What...! Who do you think you are, brat!? "
Gritting his teeth, Atem grabbed Heba's hand, squeezing his palm against his own, stepping forward in front of the one who turned out to be one of the torturers.
An intense golden glow, in the shape of a pyramid suddenly shone around his neck, and the sovereign, looking up, scornfully smiled at his opponent.
"My name is Atem! Son of Aknamkanon! Heir to the throne of Geb, Pharaoh of the great land of holy Egypt! "
"Wha-...!? "
The millennium puzzle stopped gleaming against his chest and the Pharaoh let his eyes scan through the speechless crowd standing in front of him, watching the divine item with horror.
"Your Majesty! "
Turning to his right, the young king nodded in the direction of Mahad who was moving quickly towards him, a troop of soldiers and Mana at his side.
"Are you all right, my Pharaoh? " the magician asked, joining him, slightly surprised at the sight of the boy standing next to him.
"This man... " declared the sovereign solemnly, pointing to the individual. "Allow himself to accost me and desecrate my name. "
Turning with a quick gesture towards the tormentor who suddenly became silent, the shock paralysing him on the spot, Mahad rebuked in a tone filled with anger:
"What?! You, miserable little merchant, dares to address your Pharaoh and insult him in public?! "
"N-no... well... "
"Silence! The Pharaoh never lie! You will face the judgment of the Gods and will be condemned to wander forever in the Shadow Realm! Guards, seize him! "
The royal guards gathered around the slave merchant, gripping him forcefully as the latter struggled like a madman, stammering apologies, complaints and other incomprehensible words.
"Wa-Wait! "
Heba's small voice, hoarse because of the dehydration, abruptly echoed through the ambient hubbub, catching everyone's eye.
"Let him go... leave him... "
"Heba... "
Atem frowned a little more, getting closer to the boy to put his hands on his shoulders, his face concerned.
"If you fear for your life, you don't have to worry, we will find his accomplice and... "
"N-No... " Heba murmured, his eyes deliberately avoiding those of his saviour after the revelation of his identity. "As monstrous as this man is by doing what he does, I don't think he deserves such a severe sanction... nobody deserves it... "
"Th-That's right! I'm sorry! I won't do it anymore... "
"Silence scavenger! "
The cry of the young king roared like the thunder between the houses, turning the villagers and onlookers' blood to ice while they were gathered all around the scene.
"Heba? " the Pharaoh called again, more calmly.
"As long as he releases the rest of the prisoners... "
Narrowing his eyes, Atem smiled mischievously, intrigued. In addition to his astonishing resemblance, there was something strange about this boy. It was the first time he met a person of his kind.
"That, if I expected it! "
At the exclamation of surprise of the little priestess, the crowd dispersed in a general agreement, each going back to what they were doing before the agitation due to this arrest by the hands of the Pharaoh himself. The soldiers also disappeared in the company of the torturer, leaving to find the slaves, always on sale on the stalls, to free them from their chains.
"Mana... " Mahad hissed as he crossed his arms over his chest, seemingly about to lecture his student.
"Ah, yes... I know... I'm going to have problems... But, can it wait later...? "
Not even waiting for her mentor's answer, the magician forced herself to appear less worried despite the terrible sermon to which she would be entitled when she'll return home, turning to the boy whom her sovereign had just saved, but only falling on complete emptiness. Blinking several times, she scanned the area to try to find him, fidgeting when she noticed him walking away slowly, with an unsteady gait.
"But... where is he going?! "
"Huh? "
Turning in his turn, the young king froze a minute, bewildered, before running after the teenager, standing in front of him to prevent him from going further.
"Hold on! Where are you going to go like that?! "
Looking away, Heba nibbled his lip in embarrassment, barely retaining a wailing of pain when his thin skin ripped off, fine drops of blood colouring his milky mouth.
"I'm really thankful for your help, but I'm going to handle things by myself now," he whispered, his pupils beading with tears as he stubbornly remained with his head bowed.
"By yourself?! " the Pharaoh exclaimed incredulously. "That's insane, you barely stand up, you're hungry, thirsty... And then, you're not from here, am I wrong? "
"I... "
"Please, let me help you... "
"No! "
His voice sounded a little harder than he would have wanted and the Pharaoh stepped back, shaken.
"I mean... Great One... you've done enough for me already... Thank you, really... " he tried to explain, panicked.
"Atem. " the sovereign simply whispered, his eyelids closed.
"I beg your pardon? " the boy gasped, not understanding.
Shaking his head, Atem crossed the space that still separated him from his double, and smiling, repeated:
"Atem. Do not ask me why, but I refuse that you call me in any other way than by name. And now, let me take you to the palace. If only to take off those irons and give you food to regain your strength, okay? "
Heba began to shift from one foot to another, uncertain. But not even waiting for his answer, the Pharaoh gently grabbed his hand in his own and began to turn back under the surprised gaze of the two magicians.
##########
The sound of his feet pacing up and down echoed through the empty council room. For the umpteenth time since they had returned from the city, Mana watched her mentor go around the huge rectangular golden table that almost all alone was filling the room, looking annoyed.
Stopping a second in front of the two massive cat statues, which was supposed to represent the Goddess Bastet, standing against the back of the room and surrounding the seat reserved for the Pharaoh, he grunted something that the girl did not understand and began to make circles again, looking even more bored than before.
The little priestess held a sigh, slightly worried. As long as Mahad did not lecture her, she stayed suspended. But it seemed that the magician also wanted to speak to his sovereign. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found, having mysteriously disappeared in the company of the boy whose he had saved the life a few minutes after their arrival at the palace.
The diorama depicting the city of Khemet and its borders that covered the table attracted her and preferring to focus on the small troops of royal soldiers in dried clay and the warships, she let her imagination wander so much that when the voice of her teacher resonated loudly, she jumped with fright.
"But where did he go?! "
"He's in the kitchens. "
Turning suddenly, the two magicians looked with the same surprising way at the man who had just entered without even being announced, completely impassive.
"Seth. " Mahad called in a whisper.
"He's in the kitchens with the boy. " repeated the guardian of the millennium rod, still calmly.
"The kitchens? But it's the first time he set foot there! What... what is he doing there? " asked the wearer of the millennium ring, dumbfounded.
"He's watching the boy having something to eat. " simply replied the priest, rolling his eyes.
"He's watching him eat? " Mana said, stunned.
"And all smiles on top of that! "
And indeed, the young king was in the place that the priest Seth had indicated, doing exactly what this one had said he was doing.
Carelessly leaning on his elbow, on a small wooden table at the other end of the kitchens, his head resting in one of his hands, the Pharaoh was gazing at the former slave on the run, his face gaping.
The latter, however, seemed not to care, too busy to dip into each of the dishes he had in front of him, a real buffet having been prepared.
Mahad stopped at the entrance to the room, unable to utter a word. His sovereign being in all likelihood hypnotised by their guest. It is true that their strange resemblance deeply intrigued the magician, but his curiosity was not comparable to the one that was showing the young king.
"My Pharaoh. " he finally called, getting a grip on himself.
"He's a blessed being of the Gods, Mahad. " Atem whispered, never looking away from his host. "Have we never seen a heart so pure before? "
"Certainly, choosing to spare his tormentor was very altruistic on his part. "
"Altruistic?! If the decision had been mine, I would have killed him with my bare hands! " declared the Pharaoh, getting up hurriedly, joining the priest on the doorstep, crossing his arms over his chest while continuing to observe his companion.
"Majesty... I never heard you talk like that. "
"I know. I surprise myself. But you see, I feel connected to Heba. I feel like it's my duty to protect him. "
"Like every inhabitant of Egypt... "
"No, him more than anyone else. "
"But you hardly know him. "
"And that's what I do not understand. My millennium puzzle did not push him back, so I know he's not dangerous, but there's something else. "
Sighing, the magician stepped back, bowing low in front of his sovereign while announcing:
"I can inquire if you wish. "
"No, Mahad. "
Opening wide his eyes of wonder, the ring-bearer straightened up, questioning the young king silently.
"It is not up to us, mere mortals, to contest the fate chosen for us by the Gods. " revealed Atem, frowning, placing a hand on the shoulder of his faithful subject and friend, adding: "Heba ended up on my path, whatever is the reason for such a circumstance, I will accomplish my task without fail. "
Slowly nodding, the magician disappeared into the darkness of the corridor without a word, walking up the basement stairs and going back to his quarters to continue to instruct his student.
Leaning his back against the edge of the table, the sovereign began to smile tenderly and asked in a soft voice:
"I hope you enjoyed this meal? "
"Y-Yes... " Heba answered, blushing, putting down the glass of water that had spent half of the time between his lips. "Thank you... "
"Don't thank me, it's perfectly normal. Can I do something else for you? Would you like to take a bath and put on some clean clothes? " asked the Pharaoh, tilting his head to one side.
"N-No... it'll be fine... I've already abused your kindness too much, Majesty... " the teenager murmured, looking away, intimidated.
"Atem. And I'm telling you it does not bother me. "
"B-But... " stammered the boy, his amethyst pupils clinging into the purple ones of his saviour.
"Listen... I refuse to let you go only for you to sleep outside like a beggar. I can send emissaries to your home, to warn your parents that you're fine, for example. " the young king explained, resting his palms behind him on the edge of the table.
"Y-You would do that?! "
"Of course. So? "
"I would be very grateful. "
"At one condition. " whispered the sovereign, facing his double, narrowing his eyes maliciously.
"W-Which one? " said Heba, worried.
"You'll stay here with me until your parents come looking for you. Deal? "
Reaching out a hand, the boy seemed to hesitate for a second before handing his own, clutching the Pharaoh's, a grin stretching the corners of his mouth.
Atem froze at this vision. It was the first time he was seeing the teenager smile since they had met. An intense warmth spread again throughout his body, making him shiver with happiness.
Not releasing his hold, he forced the former slave to get up, dragging him behind him as he returned to his apartments.
"Tell me, Heba, do you know how to play cards?! "