Lit by the warm flames of the prana braziers, Memorial Hall glowed in its everlasting splendor. A few employees on break were wandering around the central walls again, quietly discussing the singularities while taking occasional peeps towards the prestigious group of battle-clad servants at the outer wall. The group paid the glances no heed, for they relished in the afterglow of the recently finished malignant singularity.
Though it was only a placeholder, Nitocris watched with a small smile as the golden armored Gilgamesh stuck the polaroid picture onto the wall. It stood as a marker among countless other framed pictures posted nearby. Though the outer walls were completely unorganized, they had one theme in common among all of them. Whether from a singularity or within Chaldea itself, they immortalized countless memories of unity, friendship, and family found by different individuals.
The newest addition had a little extra meaning to her, but more so for the three central kings. Gilgamesh and Ozymandias stood side by side with one hand on each other's shoulder, while behind them, the taller Iskandar had both of his on their free ones. They smirked as they posed in front of the singularity's source, a stadium-sized chimera that resembled a demonic mammoth with draconic wings. The other pharaohs, Enkidu, and even Ishtar with Gugalanna in her arms, stood smiling at their flanks before the towering creature, making them resemble a bunch of trophy hunters on safari.
"Sheesh… We look so tiny compared to that thing," Ishtar noted as she hovered over the crowd with her mystical bull in arms. Nitocris nodded slowly.
"But it was even tinier compared to us!" Iskandar boasted, rousing laughter from Gilgamesh and Ozymandias.
Despite how terrifying the beast likely was to the singularity's denizens, it was easily put down by the combined might of the newly founded Egyptian-Urukian alliance. This singularity had been their first outing together, where they wished to show combined the might and potential of their cooperation. Of course, the bigger declaration revolved around the two pharaohs becoming Gilgamesh's friends; Their joint combat prowess led the charge for their teams. She was proud to have been a part of all of it…
…but being around so many more powerful individuals secretly made her feel even more inadequate.
"It's going to look great when properly sized!" Ozymandias proclaimed happily, making Iskandar chuckle and nod. "A shame it can't be bigger!"
Enkidu quickly laughed. "I'm just surprised you were fine with only three by five meters, Gil!"
The King of Heroes shrugged while staring at the polaroid, which did look tiny in the giant, reserved space. "It's a fair compromise for a sacred place. We must save space for future grand moments such as this. I, the King, do not wish to squander time from our war preparations to expand this room needlessly."
"Our next dinner together should be a feast of celebration!" Iskandar declared, and was met with firm nods.
As the others chimed in to collaborate, the gears in Nitocris' head began to turn. Though she wasn't as dazzling or powerful in combat like the others, she always tried to make up for it in other ways. Ozymandias was always more than pleased with her efforts when organizing events in their special room. His favorite was still her entertainment design for the reunion dinner with Arthur, but she still aimed to surpass that.
She was already struggling to suppress her excitement. This feast, a first for Gilgamesh to dine with them in the Pyramid, would make for the perfect opportunity for her to-
Ozymandias laughed, "Yes, we are free then as well! The day after tomorrow it is! Feel privileged, for this occasion, I, the Sun King Ozymandias, King of Kings, shall personally ensure everything is in order, Gilgamesh!"
Her mystical catalysts' ears drooped.
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Fragment 61: An Honest Dilemma
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Tesla carefully stepped around the massive, cylindrical generator the following morning. Towering nearly quadruple his height in the specialized room, the secondary generator was even greater in length. Unlike the rest of Chaldea, the room resembled a typical industrial space with reinforced grey walls and metal flooring. Pipes, wires, and other apparatus jutted from the cylindrical core, which resembled a tinier version of the primary generator.
The visible turbines remained silent as the battle-clad archer looked inside the generator at the working pharaoh. She had opted for skinny jeans and a white tank top since she didn't wish for her more elaborate clothes to be smeared by grease and grime; There was a disappointing amount she had to avoid working with this geothermal-mana hybrid generator. As if painstakingly reinforcing one of these messy machines wasn't enough, there were three more located at the other cardinal directions of Chaldea's lowest floor.
She was definitely glad she had wrapped her lengthy hair in a crazy, non-sensical bun before walking through the machine's access door.
Despite being far dirtier work than a pharaoh should ever have to do, she would permit it. Doctor Roman had asked very nicely to do this in Helena's stead since she was needed at the safehouse today. Though Chaldea was ahead of schedule on its multi-fold fortifications, there was discernible need for any extra haste with Solomon lurking in the shadows. It would have been an eternal mark against her station to dare delay such a necessary task over some… icky, sticky gray grease that-
Regardless of how well she tried to hide it, she struggled to mask her disgust. She was hardly one for menial tasks, and this was definitely no exception. It was gross! Really, really gross, and she wished Tesla would have done something to clean it in addition to checking the system's efficiency! She would have had some of her beloved Medjed do it, but then they'd get dirty instead! Definitely not something she wanted either. However, to openly show weakness to… grease… was also potential humiliation the archer could talk about.
Thus, her hands were tied, and she grumbled with slight frustration that only piled atop-
"It is not my business to know why you seem stressed, Pharaoh Nitocris, but I feel I must remind you not to let it damper your work." Feeling his gaze on her back, she suppressed a sigh and looked to him. His usual haughty smirk was gone, and was instead replaced with an even stare.
With a light huff, she turned back to her work. "How disrespectful for you to assume such! Trivial issues will not cause me any difficulty with my task! The secondary generators are not something to be finished with simple reinforcement, and I, a proud Pharaoh of Egypt, will take that responsibility seriously to ensure Chaldea's safety in a dire situation!"
Only silence answered her. She smiled to herself, content she had- "They don't seem very trivial to make you raise that pride like a shield, but I was just reminding you. Logic and lifelong experience dictate the best work is not completed when stressed... nor stolen and mass-produced."
There was no hiding it. Yes, she was definitely stressed from the arrangements made yesterday, and it did get to her work. She was proceeding slower than usual just to ensure she was doing her job properly. It didn't help she was second guessing some of her work. With her act caught, she simply sighed. "I admit you have raised a fair point, Tesla, but I can't afford to delay this. I'm taking my time to ensure it's flawless."
He was silent again, before he actually sighed. "Though I am not the best, if you feel you need to let out any frustrations to feel better, I can keep a secret. I know what it means to hold one's pride so highly, so I shall not tell anyone so long as you don't either."
Nitocris glanced back to the straight-faced archer before looking back to her own work. She remained quiet as she placed her hands on the generator's next greasy interior panel. Forging prana smoothly and carefully, she let it seep from her hands with a small murmur from her lips. The large shielding lit up for a brief moment before dozens of iridescent lines and accompanying hieroglyphics danced across its surface. They slowly vanished but the panel glowed lightly, indicating she moved on to the more intricate, refined follow-up that was near-invisible to most.
As she knit the ancient runes on a smaller level, she considered the offer once more. They were hardly friends. Then again, he was on fair terms with most despite how often he disappeared into his room or robotics office to do mysterious, untold projects even Da Vinci didn't know about. He was an upstanding man, though, and never went back on his word. The issue rested less with him and more with her.
She was a proud Egyptian Pharaoh, and though that haughty confidence was shared with the inventor, admitting one's problems was not something taken lightly. Regardless of how short her tenure was on the throne, it was in her very being to respect the title and status she loved, thereby defining her own prestige and praise-worthy stature. They were divine rulers and gods among their people, destined to look down on others in pity they couldn't reach their height.
That was alright, for it was a privilege to be ruled by someone as magnificent as them.
Yet, Nitocris was afraid of those heights and how they often daunted her. It was becoming more and more often she was secretly questioning her own worth among so many others. Her anxiety for defending her title's prestige and her image had pressured her into her current predicament, but she could only blame herself for that. There was no going back, for that would only bring her dishonor and shame… plus whatever else Ozymandias would likely choose as consequences.
She silently gulped, and decided maybe she could ask him in a certain way. However, she would properly maintain her composure lest she mar her title. "Tesla… If you had a deadline to accomplish something outside of your specialty, how would you go about it?"
"…Your pride as a pharaoh made you commit to a project, yet you have no idea how to perform the task nor the resolve to admit you overstepped?"
Thankfully she had finished reinforcing the panel as he said that. She turned to him with an expression mixed best described as incredulous despair with a side order of dismayed failure. "That's not-! I-I mean…!"
He laughed at her façade's total collapse, making her ears droop in defeat as her anger rose quickly. "Disrespectful! It is blasphemous to laugh at a great Pharaoh!"
He waved his hand in reassurance. "I shall not tell a soul, as promised, but I had a general idea of your predicament. Ozymandias was naturally loud in the hallway this morning. He boasted to Gilgamesh your special cake will be the best treat on the table that evening."
The sun kissed Nitocris was growing paler than her Medjeds. "…He… The Sun King was boasting about my…?"
Tesla looked at her with open sympathy. "As ancient Egyptian royalty, you have no perception of how to cook, do you?"
Atop her head, the ears of her magical catalysts quivered with rapidly rising apprehension. In her dismay for Ozymandias taking her favorite job as an organizer for their little parties, she had requested, in private, to be allowed to do at least something. Though he was initially unsure of what, she was persistent that she be given something to help out so she could unknowingly prove herself to them. She really did wish to do so, but she certainly hadn't been expecting being delegated to make a special cake for all of them.
…It definitely didn't help she proudly and hastily declared she would do it with 'her own hands' too.
However, that had only simmered her bubbling stress. What Tesla just said… Oh, by the Egyptian Gods! If she failed now, not only would most of Chaldea know of a pharaoh's failure at a mundane task but… The Sun King! The great Pharaoh Ozymandias would be seen as a liar by his new friend for proclaiming the opposite! Such a blasphemous act would cause her to fall from his graces, and she would be that much farther from the Eternal Kingdom! She could already feel his glare incinerating her soul!
"Oh no! No, no, no, why!?" she openly panicked, making Tesla laugh as all her composure was tossed to the wind. "I don't know how to bake a cake, but I only have two days!"
"You'd better start learning as soon as you can." His advice was obvious, but she couldn't huff at that. She was in a panic. Her generator task this morning needed to be completed perfectly, so she couldn't leave until then! That was even less time to-! Nitocris whimpered and grasped the sides of her head with her hands. How could things possibly get any wor- "…I feel obligated to tell you that you've got grease in your hair now."
She blinked. Slowly, with sudden calmness, she lowered her hands so her amethyst orbs could stare at them in dismay. There was industrial grade machine grease all over them, and she already began to feel the yellowish goop in her once clean bun. Chuckling slightly in growing hysteria, she dropped her hands to her sides. Falling suddenly silent, Tesla released an exasperated sigh, coupled with a chuckle, as he slowly closed the generator's access door to seal her in temporarily.
Nitocris would have been happy for the considerate gesture had she not been releasing a now-muffled, tormented scream.
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Much like the rest of her sleeping quarters, Nitocris had given the walls of her bathroom a faux sandstone façade she made herself. A Sunscape Window hung overhead to provide a glimpse into a simulated late-morning sky. It illuminated the rest of her otherwise standard bathroom as she soaked in the bubble-coated bathtub. The wet scrubbing brush rested at the lip as she focused brushing her hair free of any lingering grime; She just knew there was a bit of that gross fluid in her hair. Thankfully no one else saw it since she fled to her room in spirit form after completing her task.
"Stupid grease… thank the gods Helena is resuming tomorrow…" she grumbled to herself as she carefully, yet swiftly, scrubbed her hair. She couldn't waste too much time on this with her predicament looming over her head. Between the unclean generators and Tesla's sudden revelation, she still hadn't thought of a good solution… and time was rapidly dwindling.
Feeling her heartbeat accelerating, she stopped her action to slowly breathe. One deep inhale, followed by a twice as long exhale. She repeated the process with closed eyes, listening to the melodic fizzle of her bubble bath as she did so. It was disappointing it wasn't working well, but what did she expect with the new consequences? She sighed in dismay, accepting that her nighttime bubble bath would not be her usual, end-of-the-day wind down she looked forward to.
A mewl caught her attention. Glancing to the side of the tub, she watched as her sphinx kitten's front paws grasped the edge. It pulled itself up with one swift movement to stare at her curiously. She smiled faintly, yet said nothing as its attention snapped to a large bubble that popped nearby. Crouching low, ready for ambush, it stared at another bubble. Amid its rainbow shimmer, its reflection stared back as it reached its paw out to gently-
Pop! The kitten flinched back momentarily, but kept staring at the many bubbles. It mewled again as it gently tried pawing more, making Nitocris' smile grow by the second. She giggled, though lighter than she usually would, when it flinched from another big bubble's demise. Reaching out with a wet hand, she let it drip for a few moments before gently petting the kitten. It mewled and rubbed its head into her hand.
Her heart was hammering at her chest. "You're so cute, Kamilah… I hope Ozymandias doesn't go back on his word of never taking you away, but he might tomorrow…"
It mewled, and though she had no idea what it said, it still stared at her patiently. She sighed, "I don't want to let Ozymandias or the other pharaohs down. I gave my word, but I'm in over my head. I don't even know the first thing about cooking…"
Why did her doubts have to flare up so fiercely in her heart? Ever since the first dinner with the Urukians at Enkidu's hopeful suggestion, her own insecurities began raging uncontrollably. Was it because she watched Gilgamesh and Ozymandias suddenly talking so evenly? It was difficult enough faking absolute confidence when it was just the overwhelming presence of Ozymandias, King of Kings. Yet, to add Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and Ishtar… she felt so minuscule under their combined might.
Ozymandias had told her several times never to admonish herself, yet she kept doing so. How could she not when she felt like the weakest pharaoh among such powerful names? Ozymandias could blot out the sun since he was even brighter and bolder than it. Iskandar had a heart of gold and an ambition that could take entire continents in his war path. Cleopatra's stunning combat prowess and visual elegance ensured she shined proudly from all corners of the battlefield…
Gently, the now saddened Nitocris picked up her kitten and gently held it to her chest. It didn't fight, and she was glad Kamilah was the only sphinx kitten that seemed to enjoy water. It merely mewled and rubbed its head against her neck as she sulked. Staring at the little celestial beast as it stared back, her ears drooped ever so slightly. "I don't know what to do… Where do I even start…? I need help but… pharaohs don't ask for-"
It mewled and pawed at her mouth. She stopped talking and stared blankly as it retracted the limb. Slowly, her frown began to form again with her palpable stress, but the kitten quickly raised its paw to swat at her expression. Her eyes lit up, and the kitten pulled its paw back and mewled. Upon rubbing its head back into the crook of her neck, she sighed and shook her thoughts free.
"You're right. Thank you, my little kitty," Nitocris breathed as she rubbed her cheek against her precious kitten. "I shouldn't sulk. A pharaoh does not sulk, but holds their head high above adversity. I will find my way through this difficult task and come out shining brighter than before!"
It mewled again as she gently pet the little kitten on its head. Sulking would do nothing but waste time, but her anxiety would remain. It was against the usual composed and calm appearance she usually exuded, but it was always for the sake of others and her own image; How ironic it was essentially trivial problems that were making her panic outright... but no longer for this one.
She was Nitocris, Last Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt, and she was not going to be shown up by a measly dinner dessert.
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Her eyes shifted over the book with notable distress. "Oh… This recipe looks difficult too…"
Whispering to herself quietly in the library, she was thankful she didn't snag occasional glances from the librarians as they worked… except Shakespeare, who was absent for a secret rehearsal with Phantom of the Opera. The Egyptian caster in a form-fitting white wrap dress hardly cared as she sat at one of the couches, quietly masking her inquiries by taking out a bunch of other books as decoys. She had even switched the covers on two of them so anyone peeping wouldn't see she was reading a cook book.
Nitocris was far too preoccupied browsing the cake recipes, but she was still being wary. She couldn't let anyone figure out what she was doing, so checking the books out to read elsewhere was not an option; Sneaking them out was even worse, and a terrible stain on her title and image. Therefore, switching the covers was her best bet, but thankfully the librarians never approached. She was blissfully unaware Medusa and Hans were secretly smirking as they traded newer books for older ones in one of the aisles she had browsed.
"Oh…?" she mumbled to herself as she stared at a new recipe. Most of these had been chocolate cakes, which was rather routine in Chaldea. It was hard to go an entire week of salon desserts without seeing chocolate cake appear on the menu in some variety. That was likely the reason the lemon-blueberry layered cake looked much more appealing. It certainly helped the tag line had the description 'sunshine-sweet' to catch her eye.
Without a doubt, it definitely helped it didn't look too complex.
However, she was still clueless about cooking, so just reading the ingredients list was like deciphering another language. A worry started bubbling in her stomach. She pondered if the kitchen didn't have some of the ingredients in stock, but she quickly batted that thought down. They had a lot of bountiful supply sorties lately, so they definitely had the ingredients. All that would remain from her was getting it done, but the instructions looked very detailed.
With a smile, and growing relief, she glanced around the room quickly before beginning to jot everything down for later.
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Nitocris shined brighter than the sun while walking back to her room. Lunch had ended ten minutes ago, but she made proper arrangements to use the kitchen late at night. Boudica would merely make sure everything is set for her, give a small tour, then leave her in privacy. That was perfect! She would be free from concealing any of her nervous jitters, thus keeping her focus absolute. If her anxiety grew, she would just recompose herself with her practiced, relaxed methods since no one would be looking.
With one hand clutching her recipe tightly, as if it would just flee for the mountain tops, she strolled down the windowed hallway towards the stairways and elevators. She would take some of her free afternoon to relax any lingering nerves while going over the list. Playing with Kamilah would certainly calm her down while she relaxed and studied on her bed. With a renewed, genuine smile, she eagerly sped up.
Her catalyst's ears twitched as familiar laughter echoed from a nearby hall. Seconds later, a robot paused before entering a nearby corridor to respectfully allow three battle-clad servants to walk past. Iskandar chuckled again with Caesar, who walked with his arm around Cleopatra; They've been much more publicly affectionate as of late, but she thought it was cute. The group turned her way and quickly spotted her, making her heartbeat increase with mild worry. Regardless, it was more than easy enough for her to keep her smile and wave to them.
"Nitocris! I'm looking forward to the delicious cake tomorrow!" Iskandar grinned as he tossed her a thumbs up. They stopped to the side of the hallway, and she walked over to join them without potentially blocking traffic. "Do you need any special ingredients from the supply run?"
"Maybe some blueberries and lemons, if you don't mind." She was certain the kitchen, pantry, or storage had plenty, but it never hurt to be on the safe side. Her paranoia usually made her stress, but it also ensured everything she planned proceeded without a hitch.
"That'll be easy. The trick is making sure Iskandar doesn't eat some of them like potato chips," Cleopatra teased, though Iskandar only laughed with Caesar.
"There is no need to worry for that, Nitocris," the famed Roman reassured. "We were accompanying Iskandar on his mission to acquire some necessary sortie rations."
She blinked, but soon giggled. Sortie rations was the big rider's favorite code phrase for bags of chips. "I see. I shall not worry then. I hope it's a bountiful deployment!"
"Farewell until dinner, Nitocris!" Cleopatra smiled as she waved with her fingers. "Ozymandias is definitely going to boast to our friends, the Romans, just like he's done for the Urukians. Ah, but what pharaoh doesn't love hearing dear praises? I'm sure you're looking forward to hearing it!"
Nitocris smiled as Iskandar reached over and gently patted her head. "I hope you'll tease us with some boasts of your planned cake tonight! Until then!"
The trio waved and walked off, leaving the smiling Nitocris alone. She walked further down the hallway towards the corridor they appeared. After turning, and a few glances around the hallway, she felt content. There was no one else in the hallway, and the one robot had turned an intersection ahead.
Her smile completely faltered as she took quick breaths. One long inhale, followed by a much longer exhale. Did she seriously think Ozymandias was going to stop at just boasting to the Urukians!? At this rate, all of Chaldea was going to know! While she loved the idea of the great Sun King praising her abilities, he was praising a talent she wasn't even sure she had yet! Oh by the gods, why were the stakes rising so fast!?
Oh gods! She also revealed two of the primary ingredients! Wasn't it supposed to be a surprise!? She was messing things up so fa-
…Wait. She could feel servant presences approaching the intersection ahead. Quickly, she recomposed herself. She had already faltered today in front of Tesla, and she could not allow another disgrace of that magnitude! Thanks the gods Tesla swore to keep the entire thing a secret! She had committed great strides in order to ensure her image of being someone calm and composed under any serious pressure; The praises for her in-battle conditions proved this! Thus, to protect her image and title's sanctity, she forced a new smile to the surface.
Gawain and Mordred turned the corner ahead, but headed towards the stairwell like she did. With their armored backs to her, she sighed in slight relief for dodging a conversation; They looked rather upbeat and caught up in whatever they wer-
She gasped as a series of explosions rocked the stairwell corridor ahead of them. When she summoned her staff into her hand, Mordred and Gawain quickly drew their blades in preparation. She rushed ahead to join them, ready to help do her part. Then she heard the laughter, causing her to slowly skid to a halt as the knights' shoulders fell in exasperation. Coupled with no Chaldean alarms going off, this clearly only meant one thing.
Running out of the stairwell, laughing like he won the lottery, Merlin bolted towards them. The grinning caster had his staff in hand, but was hardly battle ready. His mystical clothing was replaced with simple tan slacks and a white polo that shimmered from the rainbow glow of his hair. Grinning like the Cheshire cat, he tossed a grin backwards towards the stairwell as his victims appeared. He yelled joyously, "You're going to have to do better if you want me to take you seriously, amateurs!"
Nitocris almost felt bad for the prankster duo. Scrambling and slipping at the top of the stairs, the pair were covered in glitter, silly string, and what was likely whipped cream; They certainly pulled all the stop on their prank bombs, but they clearly backfired. Both of them were so covered, she wasn't even too sure what Mephistopheles and Nobunaga were wearing underneath. Those casual clothes would certainly be picked up by the robots for cleaning tomorrow.
"Get back here, Merlin! You got away from our ambush but we're not done yet!" "That was a pretty good surprise tho-!" "Whose side are you on, Meph!?"
"Maybe you should have worked harder!" he sneered back as he weaved between the trio. "Good afternoon, Mordred! Gawain! Nitocris! Afraid I can't stay to chat! Ta-ta!"
"…At least you're not targeting us anymore…" Gawain grumbled, though he snickered alongside the laughing Mordred. Nitocris was too dumbfounded to react properly. Merlin was a legend among the casters for his skill and prowess, but she just never thought the tales of his mischievous exploits were even worse than any story could do justice. Tomorrow was the first of June, two months since he finally manifested himself in Chaldea, and she still couldn't wrap her head around how absurd Merlin was.
The trio moved to the sides of the hallway as the sparkly, drenched forms of Nobunaga and Mephistopheles darted past, leaving one of the strangest trails in their wake. Nitocris peered ahead at the stairwell as an employee hesitantly looked within. The blonde flinched, and quickly pulled out a radio. "Security Central? Yeah… we're going to need a cleanup in stairwell two… What? …Yeah, it was the pranksters again. I… I've never seen so much whipped cream!"
Nitocris sighed. It would be for the best if she helped clean it rather than find another stairwell.
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Dinner with the Romans was mostly uneventful. Nero and Cleopatra had talked up a storm about a new dress design Medea and Naomi had come up with. While she and Altera chatted rather peacefully, the men shared in their usual loud banter. The two groups found dinners, both at the salon and resort, were far more pleasant in the other's company, but it was only done half the time. Groups and individuals moving around for dinners was hardly an uncommon occurrence, after all.
Nitocris was just thankful she sailed through the beginning with her composure in perfect condition.
With her sphinx kitten resting in her lap, she now sat at one of the window couches. On another one nearby, Hector had fallen asleep peacefully. The light flurry of snowflakes drifted past the window while robots zipped about the salon to finish cleaning. Mozart, Marie, and Jeanne quietly talked by the piano out of view while Mata Hari and Sanson served any lingering patrons at the bar. As she gently scratched behind the ear of her sleeping celestial pet, she gathered her focus for the coming task. It wouldn't be too long before Boudica came by to get her.
"You're here late." One catalyst ear twitched as her head pivoted to the source. She smiled as the green-haired lancer walked beside the couch. He had both hands behind the back of his sleeveless white button up, which was coupled with black formal pants. As he tilted his head to the side curiously, it caused his cord of friendship to sway ever so slightly. "Are you waiting for someone?"
She smiled at him gently and nodded. "Boudica. She's going to give me a small tour of the kitchen so I can make our cake."
The ambiguous lancer smiled back. "Oh! So you're making it tonight? I'm sure it will be even better since you're not rushing… not that it would be bad either way!"
"And you? Is Gilgamesh getting you two drinks?"
After making a quick glance back towards his friend, who laughed loudly by the bar with Ozymandias, Enkidu nodded his head and grinned. "He is, but I think he got a little sidetracked. That's definitely fine with me!"
With a light giggle, she nodded in gratitude as the sphinx kitten stirred in her lap. Enkidu noticed, and his smile grew. Quietly, he moved around the couch and quietly knelt on the floor, rather than taking the empty seat on the couch beside her. The kitten mewled lightly and turned to look at him. He turned to Nitocris with that graceful smile of his. "May I?"
"You don't need to ask," she reassured as Enkidu quietly reached out and pet the little kitten. It looked torn between nuzzling into Enkidu's affection or her own, so it somehow did both. They laughed lightly as it squirmed in their hands to rub against both at once. "Kamilah always liked you."
The kitten purred, coupled with a few mewls, making Enkidu grin. "She says she loves you more though."
Nitocris smiled, happy she was on great terms with one of Chaldea's premier phantasmal beast and animal translators. In truth, she was surprised how open and friendly Enkidu was considering how much of an impossible wall Gilgamesh is… or more correctly, used to be. Sure he was still a daunting and overpowering individual, but thanks to the seventh singularity and Enkidu's arrival, being around the King of Heroes was like night and day. It was obvious how much the titanic rival before her meant to him, yet he made her forever curious.
"Enkidu?" He turned to her as they played with the kitten. With Gilgamesh and Ozymandias nowhere in sight, she finally had the courage to ask. "You're held in high reverence… but you're so humble, pure, and kind. You don't even have… Ahem, What I mean is… shouldn't you carry yourself with higher importance?"
The green-haired lancer was a powerhouse in his own right and the one Gilgamesh appreciated the most, without any speck of doubt. Yet, here he was, placing others over himself and not acting unless receiving permission he requests. Someone who should rightfully have a condescending, snooty attitude and feel tangible superiority over most in Chaldea was unbelievably compassionate and considerate. It baffled her, but also made her feel some shame for holding her title-borne attitude so highly while this ambiguous individual could be so modest.
At Enkidu's confused tilt of the head, she suddenly realized her wording and began mentally panicking. Her composure held firm to contain the storm within. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean that in offense. I was only respectfully trying to inquire about how you manage to be so… huh?"
Enkidu was quietly chuckling at her, and it almost looked like her kitten was too. Smiling brightly, he shook his head lightly, "Nitocris, it's alright! I told you it's fine to be so informal with me! I prefer things light and casual!"
She opened her mouth to comment how this attitude was exactly what bewildered her, but she slowly closed it. Waiting quietly for him to continue, she merely watched him gently lower his hand and hold it out to her sphinx kitten. It reached out with its paw and lightly placed it in his without hesitation. He smiled, "I don't need anything else to make me happy because I have everything already. I've been reunited with Gilgamesh once more. That's all I'd ever need, and everything else is a bonus! Being on the same side, getting him to make new friends, making new friends and experiences for myself… It's all a great bonus!"
"But you're so highly regarded! You're an unstoppable force equal to him on the battlefield! Someone like you should be praised and heralded like another grand king! The Equal of Gilgamesh!" she proclaimed a little loudly. With a quick glance, she looked around the mostly empty room and sighed. A few glanced back, but nothing more.
"If I did, would I still be me?" the ambiguous lancer asked, baffling Nitocris. Without hesitation, he grinned. "I don't pay much attention to how I'm perceived or what others think I should act. If I did, I'd have listened to the Mesopotamian divines, and then where would I be? I only stay true to who I am... Is that so wrong?"
A strong presence walked past the couch, but she paid the Indian archer no heed even as she felt the silent glance upon them. She merely thought over what Enkidu said as he happily pampered her sphinx kitten. The lancer astonished her like Ozymandias did. For such highly regarded heroes to merely do as they pleased… it must be nice to act how one wished without worrying of consequences. She figured they could act like complete buffoons yet the rest of Chaldea would still see them as grandly.
"No. It's beautiful." If Nitocris were to do that though… No. It wouldn't work out. She's thought over this idea countless times. Status as a pharaoh needed to be upheld properly, as Ozymandias often declared. She had a duty to be a shining example, and it would be blasphemous of her to show otherwise.
She looked back at Enkidu, who gazed back with an amused expression. She managed to suppress a surprised blush under his rather intense gaze, but he chuckled. "Thanks! I know it sounded like I don't care about anyone else's opinions, but I do! I just don't let them shape who I am anymore."
"After Gilgamesh told you you're a person and not a weapon…" she quietly added, making him nod happily as the ball of celestial stars purred.
Slowly, an all-powerful aura approached, but she didn't need to turn to see who it was. She still did out of respect, as Enkidu's expression brightened at his best friend's approach. The golden archer, with slicked back hair and his signature leopard-print formal suit stopped by the couch with two distinct bottles of wine. He nodded quietly to Nitocris, who smiled and returned the gesture, before he turned to Enkidu. "The Queen of France was boasting of this new wine, so I thought it fair to bring it back to the suites to judge ourselves."
Enkidu chuckled. "I'm sure it's good! Marie has great taste in luxury."
"That she does, I shall concede," Gilgamesh agreed while the lancer stood up. The archer turned to her with a small smirk, and she could already feel the impending doom of his next words upon her. "Ozymandias has heralded your cooking skills on the level of Chaldea's best cooks. I look forward to tasting your dessert and deciding for myself, though a pharaoh will never disappoint."
And just like that, her stress at others' expectations was sky rocketing again.
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The kitchen was eerily empty, with not even a robot in sight. The light remained bright, shining on the pristine counters and kitchenware. It resembled more of a show floor than a used kitchen, but that spoke of the staff's discipline and cleanly routine. She would be sure to make her counter just as clean before she left.
Calmed and composed, Nitocris stared at the mass of ingredients on the central kitchen counter. After Boudica gave her personal tour, she had been left alone, but was already content and relieved she remembered where everything was. All of the ingredients were here in copious amounts, and her earlier paranoia had been completely erased. If anything, she was ecstatic to have some leeway in case she messed u-
No. Pharaohs do not mess up!
Shaking that thought free from her head, she reignited her confidence and looked at the recipe instructions. On the counter nearby, nestled into a soft pillow on top of a kitchen towel, her sphinx kitten watched her with its tail gently waggling. It stared at the ingredients, but obediently did not make any attempt for the treats. Instead, it watched Nitocris' expression contort with a mix of confusion and growing anxiety.
It was ridiculous, but she was on step one and already second guessing herself. She moved over to one of the nearby ovens, and set it to one hundred seventy-seven degrees Celsius, as instructed. That was easy, but it was the cake pans that were bothering her. She needed to lightly coat them with non-stick spray in preparation for baking… but what was lightly coating? Did she need a specific non-stick than the options she brought out? Would any of them add an unnecessary flavor!?
Nitocris cursed herself for not doing extensive research, but she would prevail! She was a pharaoh, and she was endeavored to get this right on the first try! Everything would be perfect, she would be praised, but most of all she would stand proud with her dignity intact! She would not fail!
She picked up a spray can and proudly coated one of the three metal pans. Her motions were orderly, swift, yet precise. Content with what she did, she stared down and felt her smile slowly falter. Though she made certain to do it properly, some of the spray wasn't perfectly even. She brought her face closer to the pan to scrutinize some of her offending overlaps. Should she wipe it down? It didn't say anything about wiping down, so should she start over? Would the overlap make a difference?
Pouting, she sprayed the second and third pans even more carefully and stared at them. Though it wasn't as obvious, the same issue happened. She fumed at herself. Though she could start over, time was being wasted over being a perfectionist… but then again pharaohs were perfection, so…
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After twenty consecutive tries, she finally mastered a perfectly even distribution of the spray. She had moved on to the first steps of the batter, but she was not content to using the mixer. She would do this properly with a beater, so that she could rightfully say she did it by hand! There was no need for extra modern appliances to take further credit away from her skill and prestige; The oven didn't count.
Thus, with a serious expression, she reached for the small egg timer, smacked it quickly, and then picked up her mixing bowl. With her other hand, she used the beater to thoroughly mash the cup of room temperature butter. It was a mix of precision and finesse, for she was trying her best, but also attempting not to bend the bowl or utensil with her fierce concentration. The soft butter was quickly turning into a cream, and by the time a minute had elapsed, she was done.
Proud she had accomplished the easy task to perfection as her kitten mewled, Nitocris added the sugars and repeated the process. They were soon followed by the vanilla and eggs, but she made a small slip. She gasped as pieces of the last egg's shell landed in the mix. Panicked at first, she took deep breaths to calm herself down before quickly grabbing a spatula. Slowly, and with utmost care, she tried picking up the tiny egg pieces, but the large utensil was too cumbersome for the task.
She glared into the bowl, focusing on the offending pieces. She wanted to reach in and pluck it out, but that would taint the mixture with her touch! …Or would it be better because it was touched directly by a pharaoh? Regardless, she tried again, failed, and huffed. "Stupid egg shells!"
Then again, it was the caster who had gotten too ahead of herself. Her booming confidence upon rapidly completing steps made her careful actions slip. She frowned, "Calm down, Nitocris. You need to calm yourself before you make more mistakes. Ozymandias will not accept incompetence in this task!"
Her kitten mewled, but she only reached over and gently petted it as she extracted the last egg shell fragments. Though it mewled again, she moved to the next step. Using the measuring spoons, she began with the tablespoon of flour. Opening the small bag nearby, she took the necessary amount, but then calmly held it over the open bag. Using a butter knife, she carefully shaved the excess flour off, but did not stop there. She made repeated passes, ensuring it was absolutely flat with no excess grains before pouring it all into another bowl.
After ensuring every grain made it into the other mixing bowl, she repeated the process with the baking powder. Her kitten mewled again, and she smiled at it. "I promise I'll make a bit for you so you can taste it! Don't worry, my cute little kitty!"
She had been so distracted with her cooing, that she dumped the tablespoon of baking powder into the bowl after smoothing it with the knife only once. The carelessness of her act was blasphemous! Everything counted, and here she was, nonchalantly throwing bad measurements in. Panicking, she picked up the bowl. "Ah! No! What if that's too many grains!?"
But it was too late to start over; It was partially mixed with the flour. To toss it aside would also be a waste of resources from Chaldea! She would be like Nobunaga and Mephistopheles so casually squandering whipped cream for pranks! Pharaoh Nitocris was no heathen-
Giggling made her freeze in her tracks. Slowly, she looked towards the salon door and paled. Boudica leaned against the nearby wall, still wearing her white evening wrap dress and accompanying red sash. She suppressed further giggles with one hand as she calmly approached the stupefied caster. "Sorry for disturbing you, but I never thought you'd be so funny to watch while cooking!"
"…Boudica?" Nitocris managed to murmur through her growing despair and anger for not being informed. However, as she focused on Ozymandias' suggested, trying to quell her boiling anger, it allowed her mounting anxiety to take unprecedented control. It snowballed quickly as a sudden calm fell over her expression; Within, all her composure shattered drowned in the onslaught of piling anguish. The rider didn't notice, as she opened up a nearby storage drawer to pull out her purse.
All the blank-faced pharaoh could manage upon seeing her reason of return was a simple, "…Oh…"
The British Queen giggled again. "I forgot I brought it to the kitchen with me today. I was so excited to do tonight's dessert collaboration with Tamamo and Kiyohime that I- …Nitocris!?"
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The pharaoh forgot how much time she had wasted on that floor in her nervous breakdown, but she still didn't care. "I have declared it multiple times! Nitocris is not here anymore! Medjed does not know what you're talking about!"
"Aww… Nitocris, please. There's no need to feel bad for anything."
Curled into a corner of the kitchen in shame, Nitocris had acted on impulse. A custom presence concealment cloak made just for her, made to look like a giant Medjed, covered her entire body. Underneath, she hugged her knees and pretended this was just a nightmare; she was at least thankful her anger didn't spill out instead, though this wasn't much better. Beside her, Boudica had sat down and gently tried to reassure her.
"There, there… it's alright, Nitocris." The caster only whimpered more.
No, it wasn't! Boudica saw everything! She had seen how many times she messed up with just the trays and easily assumed this was her first-time cooking! One of Chaldea's most talkative and friendly servants, and among its top cooks, had casted light on her lie! Her title and image were ruined even before she hastily retreated into her cloak and whimpered in the corner so pathetically! She only shrank further as Boudica rubbed her shoulder sympathetically.
"No! Look away and leave! I command it! You have seen nothing here!"
Boudica giggled softly patted her back gently. "You should have told me! I would have been happy to teach you how to cook!"
No matter how many times she tried to get her to exit, leaving her to sulk, the queen refused. "No! For my pride as a pharaoh, I have to do this alone! I would ruin my title otherwise! I can't just-!"
"Nitocris, everyone gets help sooner or later," Boudica stated quietly. "There's nothing wrong with that. Your pride will only be damaged more if you fail."
Quietly, she sighed under her cloak. The queen was right… Even Ozymandias had found help in his own way. Yet here she was, clinging to her presumed responsibility and prideful image months after witnessing such a spectacular shift of perspective. But she couldn't help it! She had so much to prove to everyone, especially now that the Urukians and Romans were closer now than ever before! She had to continually prove her worth to her beloved pharaohs, lest she make them all look bad.
…Yet if she failed tonight, would she even be acknowledged as anything but a failure?
Swallowing her pride, she shifted lightly, making Boudica retract her hand. The pharaoh lifted the front of her cloak, revealing her dismayed expression that made her kitten jump into her lap in attempt to comfort her. "…You promise not to tell anyone…?"
Laying a hand over her own heart, Boudica smiled. "I promise absolutely. I'll only supervise you and give advice, that way the cake was completely made by you."
Slowly, a tiny accepting smile spread on Nitocris' face, making Boudica's grow vibrant. "…Then this pharaoh shall accept your tribute… Thank you."
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Nitocris should have swallowed her pride sooner.
Not only was the cooking going spectacularly, but she was learning that some tiny shortcuts were allowed. Her perfectionist edge was being tempered by Boudica's calm guidance and reassurance. She was no longer second guessing as many steps or constantly rechecking measurements thanks to her. Instead, she had proceeded smoothly through half of the process and was now working on the frosting while the batter baked in the oven.
"Like this?"
"Yes, perfect." Though Boudica ensured it was, she still felt it was off. However, she stowed her pride further and trusted the experienced cook. Beating the cream cheese and butter by hand was slower, but she still wished for as many parts to be done by hand as possible. Boudica had asked about it curiously once, but the caster presumed her accepting smile and nod proved it was alright; She did recommend trying the mechanical ones for future projects though.
Quickly, in less time than expected, the lumps were disappearing in the frosting mix. It secretly worried her, but Boudica seemed to pick up on that instantly. "It will turn out great, don't worry."
"Sorry… I'm just used to following plans to the letter," Nitocris admitted quietly. Wanting to feel of use, she had always helped her brother, then the King of Egypt, plan many activities. They were fond memories she held close to her heart, and even dearer after his conspirators put him to death. In a long-term scheme, she had then turned her flawless planning to condemn them to a gruesome vengeance by drowning; She was satisfied that she got to return to her more peaceful organizational roots in Chaldea.
However, her methodology stuck true, and it troubled her to break so far from a plan. It did so in battle when the situation went awry, but she would never show it publicly. As a pharaoh, she had to remain composed and strong to set the example for others, no matter how difficult it often was for her. Even now, her nerves were telling her something was wrong, but Boudica smiled to prove otherwise.
"Don't worry~! Not everything needs to be perfect, Nitocris." Boudica hummed as she took an unused bowl and began making a side mixture. Nitocris, while beating out the final lumps, watched in surprise as Boudica took rather rough measurements and added them to her bowl. Using the machine mixer, she began mixing them while smiling to the caster. "Recipes are just a well-thought out guidelines, but they're not the exclusive way to a great result. What matters is the thought and the chef's touch to bring everything together."
"Is that what you meant by add any extras you wish?" she asked quietly, eyeing the frosting before her.
There was a happy nod in reply. "You got it! But remember: Always in moderation, and nothing that competes!"
Staring at her bowl, ready to mix in the next ingredients, she decided against her screaming instincts to experiment. She spread the vanilla extract and salt evenly on top, but didn't properly measure the sugar and cream. Boudica watched proudly as Nitocris began mixing the ingredients again with a tiny smile on her face. It was secretly exhilarating to go against a plan, but also reassuring that Boudica hadn't said anything against it. It was such a small act too.
"Extra sweet I see," Boudica observed as she turned off the mixer.
"I like sweet things," she admitted. However, there was one nerve-racking hesitation, and she decided to placate her concern. "…Will it compete with the lemon though?"
"Nope! It's still part of the recipe, so even if it's changed just a bit, it'll turn out just fine."
She stared at her frosting and smiled. It did look a little tasty, but she should not- Before she realized it, as her anxiety rose, she had dipped her finger along the side of the bowl to snatch some frosting. Such a blasphemous act done so subconsciously, but she just wanted a taste! She licked a bit of the frosting, and was content when it tasted so wonderfully sweet. She wanted to lick the rest off almost immediately.
Instead, her kitten mewled lightly on its little pillow bed, making Boudica coo. Quietly, she reached over with her frosted digit to offer the treat to her kitten. It leaned towards her and gently licked the frosting with its tiny tongue. Nitocris giggled, letting the celestial being enjoy more by offering a different finger, newly dipped from the frosting. "You love it, don't you? Here~! Have some more, my little cutie."
It mewled again as it gently licked the treat from her other finger. Discarding the bowl temporarily, she reached over and picked up her kitten to gently nuzzle it. As she cuddled her little pet, Boudica giggled, making the smiling caster turn to her. "I'm glad I got to witness all of this."
Nitocris' expression slowly faltered, but Boudica waved her hands in correction. "I wasn't referring to earlier. I meant right now! It's nice seeing you so carefree. It looks so natural!"
Quietly, the pharaoh realized her revelation, but blushed lightly in embarrassment. Boudica only giggled again, "Don't feel ashamed! It's a nice side of you! You usually feel so stiff."
"…Stiff?" she asked quietly as her kitten purred under her scratching.
Boudica happily nodded. "It's not too noticeable, but it always seemed like you were trying too hard to uphold an image. You reminded me of Martha back when she was too strict with herself. I'm not sure why you're hiding this cute side of you though. It's so wonderful~!"
"…Cute?" the blushing Nitocris asked again, tilting her head as her catalyst's ears twitched.
"Mhmm~! Your reactions are always so vibrant and memorable," Boudica explained as she quickly went back to her own, small mixture. "Marie was the first to point it out months ago! We don't get to see it often, but occasionally something happens, you can't contain yourself, then we get to see a glimpse of who you really are! Like when you fainted seeing all the sphinx kittens for the first time or crying over the possibility of losing Kamilah or... oh, you get the idea! You're not just a composed, mighty pharaoh on the battlefield, but a lovely woman with her own colorful emotions."
So… others didn't judge her negatively seeing who she really was? More specifically, they saw through her careful self-management to see her true colors? While it made her feel warm that others liked the personality beyond her title, it also struck a new nerve. This had apparently been obvious for months. Her carefully constructed and managed pride had several holes punctured in it due to certain situations, two of which had just been named. Had she not played it off well or ensured no one saw? In essence… she had been openly embarrassing herself as a pharaoh for a while! Such sins…!
As Boudica poured her own mix into a cupcake mold, she beamed. "I don't mean to push you in any direction, but you're a beautiful soul, Nitocris. There's no need to hide who you really are just to keep a certain im-"
Boudica finally turned to see Nitocris quickly trying to don her cape again. "Wait! Nitocris, no! It's alright! You don't need to be ashamed of all of that!"
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With a blink, it was already late afternoon of the following day. Nitocris walked down the windowed hallway to the salon, practically shining in her white, off-shoulder evening dress. Complimented with a daringly high side slit on one side, she attracted several glances from occasional passing employees. Though many nodded to her when caught, she did not chastise them for her insolence; She allowed them to milk her with their eyes. It was one of the few times she felt as beautiful as Cleopatra.
Despite her bolstered haughty confidence, she had been mulling over Boudica's advice in her head all morning and afternoon. Regardless of her best efforts, she was slowly coming to terms with the idea she had let her true self shine, and even bits of her lack of self-belief. It still bothered her greatly, but it was reassuring Boudica was so accepting and encouraging. It gave her just a little bit more belief, along with Enkidu's admittance, that maybe it was okay to be who she was.
"Hey, Nitocris!" a voice chirped up, making her look behind her with a smile. Elizabeth, dressed in her frilly white idol dress, skipped up to her with a million-dollar smile. The lancer had been wearing it ever since Robin had found the missing link, and she was happy for her little friend. "You look really beautiful today!"
"As a pharaoh properly should, but the same could be said for you," she complimented. "Going for another photo shoot?"
With a bright grin, Elizabeth nodded and began skipping further down the hall with her tail waggling happily. "Yup! I can't be too late or my producer will get annoyed with me! I just wanted to say hi to one of my fans! As an idol properly should!"
Nitocris giggled lightly and kept walking to the salon. She was on good terms with Elizabeth, and their usual superior facades faded into light jokes in each other's presence. Truthfully, she had thought the lancer was strange and presumptuous of her position at first, but then Gabrielle rather bluntly pointed out they seemed pretty alike in that regard. Who would have thought it would lead her to a strange friendship?
It made Nitocris ponder again if she could dare be a more casual with others like others seemed to encourage.
Walking into the salon, she waved pleasantly to the two uniformed bartenders while Gilles and D'Eon shined some crystal glass nearby. Her eyes panned across the dining area while Mozart's music drifted through the air- She froze. At one of the tables on the far side of the salon sat Chaldea's four children. Dressed in a smorgasbord of colorful sweaters and jeans, they were playing a game of cards, but that was not what caught her attention.
There were slices of lemon-blueberry cake on plates before them, and only crumbs remained on the main plate.
She could feel her anger rising exponentially. Children or not, she wanted to go over there and reprimand them… to yell at such insolence and disrespect to a pharaoh's blessing to others! At the same time, her anxiety and panic were welling up, screaming that she was doomed. Her gift to the others was ruined, but would her dignity fall further if she went over to yell at them or not? Her mind was a mess, yet she did the impossible.
Following Ozymandias' occasional reminder, and her own personal wish for self-improvement, she managed to calm herself to think. She shouldn't jump to conclusions. The cake was stored away and labelled, and Boudica promised to keep it safe. Though a friendship was only just budding, she trusted the queen would not betray her in such a fashion. However, it was still difficult to hold her usual, flashfire temper back.
Deliverance arrived in a rider clad in a backless red spring dress. Nitocris turned to Boudica, who held a plate with one of the cake slices and a worried expression. "Nitocris, I promise you your cake is safe."
To the rider's relief, Nitocris smiled. "I'm pleased and understand. You made another cake after I left?"
Last night, Boudica made a small lemon-blueberry cupcake for Kamilah to personally enjoy. Using her usual tendency to jump to conclusions, she instead redirected it for a more positive outcome, rather than negative. Thankfully, it paid off this time, even after a few deployments of having that belief tried and tested. The rider giggled. "Mhmm. I thought the girls might want to have one since it's been months since the last one was offered."
Though she still believed she had a way to go on jumping to conclusions, Nitocris was glad she was occasionally making some progress.
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Filled with soft, traditional music from both Mesopotamia and Egypt, the diners in the Pyramid had enjoyed a delicious dinner. As promised, Ozymandias had delivered upon everything using the flexibility of his imperial privilege. From sphinx kitten entertainment with a pre-dinner lightshow to food that Gilgamesh admitted rivaled the ones made from his own mystical tablecloth, the Sun King had more than proven his worth. He even had supper for Gugalanna and some sphinx kittens to enjoy on the other side of the table.
It made Nitocris feel that much more minuscule in his shadow. Ozymandias' food had come and gone, and it was absolutely delicious compared to anything she could have mustered with learned magecraft. It was a reminder of how much further she needed to go to even compare herself to him, even if he insisted she should never doubt herself. How could she not help it? To be in the presence of other mighty names, especially him… she felt so…
Seated at the head of the table, dressed in a pristine white formal suit, Ozymandias' presence amplified in her eyes as he laughed. To his right, the Urukians were seated. To some surprise, they had color coordinated, coming in a perfect assembly of formal tan suits and a beige evening dress. They were matched on the opposite side by the pharaohs, also dressed in white attire. Despite being matched as one, she couldn't help but feel dimmer beside Cleopatra in her stunning one-shoulder.
She felt even smaller beside Iskandar in his white formal suit with red undershirt, but who didn't next to the giant pharaoh?
The time of pleasant conversation had ended as the dinner plates disappeared off the grand table with a wave of Ozymandias' hand. New sandstone dessert plates appeared, making Nitocris' nerves skyrocket. She was given only one thing to do, yet everything rode on it. It didn't help all eyes turned to her, ensuring she did everything in her power not to shrink under the combined weight of their anticipation.
"Pharaoh Nitocris. I trust you have hidden the cake somewhere safe away from prying fingers? I know the temptations for but a taste of the Heavenly Queen's cuisine would be irresistible," Ozymandias complimented, though it sent mixed happiness and terror thundering through her heart.
Still, with mustered tenacity, she managed to remain composed. "Of course! It would be improper of me to let it fall into the wrong hands, but there is no need to worry!"
With her staff summoned into one hand, she waved it at the center of the table. In a column of brilliant light, she had teleported her cake from Chaldea's fridge to the table using pre-placed hieroglyphic runes. Relief flooded her soul at the impressed sounds and expressions that surrounded the table; So far, so good.
She had made last minute additions to her purely hand-made blueberry-lemon cake. The sides were engraved with sprinkle hieroglyphics that spelled out 'Egypt' and 'Babylonia' repeatedly. Blueberries garnished the top of the cake, but the central topper had been the real last-minute touch. Columns of tiny Medjed held up a platform that depicted little figures of all seven of them fighting in a circular formation.
"I'm surprised you made it look symmetrical with Iskandar the giant," Cleopatra pointed out, making the three male kings laugh.
"It was a simple task for a Pharaoh of Egypt," Nitocris boasted, mostly to reassure herself as she waved her staff once more. The topper levitated as the cake was sliced by blades of air. Slowly, select pieces hovered to the nearby plates. Deposited perfectly, she replaced the cake topper onto the evenly distributed remaining slices so it could remain standing. "I hope all of you enjoy this! This lemon-blueberry cake was designed by the touch of a pharaoh to have the taste of the everlasting sun itself!"
Ozymandias looked at Nitocris with a tiny smile, and she did her best not to shudder or blush under his approving gaze. He chuckled, "Let us waste no time, then! At your leisure, my friends!"
Her eyes fell onto Gilgamesh, as he eyed the slice with a rather blank expression. He glanced towards his best friend, who happily took the first bite of the table. Seeing his delightful expression as he chewed, Gilgamesh then took the plunge with his own fork. Ishtar's eyes lit up after taking her bite, and she began eagerly attacking her slice, bit by bit. Iskandar had practically inhaled his while Cleopatra looked perfectly elegant and composed taking her tiny nibbles from her fork.
The King of Heroes speared his slice again, but smiled approvingly. "The praise was not misplaced. This is delightful."
Just hearing his praise sent her into the heavens, but it didn't stop there. Though Iskandar's quick destruction of the slice said everything, he flashed her a grin and thumbs up to remove any lingering possibility of doubt. Ishtar smiled, "If Emiya wasn't teaching me to cook, I would have asked you for your secrets."
Gilgamesh's eye twitched, but Enkidu quickly rubbed his shoulder to calm him. He merely sighed as Ozymandias put his fork down after the third bite, ignoring his silent irritation. The caster's relief exploded as the Sun King smirked at her. "As expected of you, Nitocris. You never disappoint when it matters."
"Thank you, great Pharaoh, Sun King Ozyman…" She trailed off upon repeating the last line in her head. When it matters!? Oh no! He still remembers all of her past failures! Were they the ones where she failed to compose herself!? Was she being judged this hard the entire ti-
The table's laughter knocked her out of her panic, making her look around in confusion as her ears twitched in fear. Ishtar pointed at her and giggled, "Your face!"
"Why were you so scared for a moment?" Enkidu asked genuinely as he tilted his head.
"Oh no, I let it show!? How improper of me!" she quickly stammered, but Iskandar chuckled as she hastily corrected herself. "No! I mean I wasn't scared or-!"
"As cute as your reactions always are, you should be a lot more honest with yourself, Crissy," Cleopatra suggested casually with an amused smirk. "You've been rigid for far too long."
"But I shouldn't! It's not proper or becoming of a pharaoh!" she countered, but it made Gilgamesh and Ozymandias chuckle and look to Iskandar. The large pharaoh was shamelessly sucking some cake from his fingers with a wide grin… but he could get away with it! "I-I can't! I'm so far from all your greatness, I can't afford to-! I must keep working hard in order to-!"
"Must I continue to remind you, Nitocris, that you have nothing to prove to any of your fellow pharaohs," Ozymandias declared with finality. She eyed his suddenly serious expression with mounting dread, but he alleviated her concerns with a smile. "Even now, you struggle with that confidence in yourself. Leave no room for doubt. You have earned your place as Pharaoh of Egypt, for were you not summoned to Chaldea to stand among us?"
That was true, but… He sighed, and she felt more ashamed of herself for having to be reminded. "You are often trying too hard to present an ideal image, for you fear your greatness cannot carry you. However, you are our equal, Pharaoh Nitocris. I command you once more, to never forget that."
"Ozymandias took today's organization and planning on that basis," Iskandar noted, making her turn to him. She was very aware the Urukians were watching with interest, but she didn't care, nor did anyone else seem to. "He wanted you to relax, and prove that you weren't some low-class maid or servant to do his chores... even though you keep offering yourself as one."
She turned to him uncertainly. Ozymandias, the greatest among the pharaohs, willingly doing tasks in place of others while he could be content to do nothing. She was further inspired by him, as he nodded with a smirk. "It is true! I didn't want you doing the cake either since I knew you can't bake, but I decided otherwise."
Even if she paled with the revelation he knew she had lied, Gilgamesh chuckled. "Did you not hear your appointed leader? He reluctantly gave you a task he knew you were not capable of handling... yet you surpassed yourself to make it happen even after he raised the bar. Though a mundane task, this was his trial for your resolve and commitment, and you've passed."
"As pharaohs, it is only proper we have our glorious images to uphold!" Ozymandias declared, making the Urukians chuckle. "However, Nitocris, do not let that title restrict who you are. Be honest with yourself, and let the title help raise your image further."
"A girl's gotta let herself run free every now and then, title or not," Cleopatra winked to her, coupled with Ishtar's agreeing nod.
With total relief, Nitocris looked around the table at the support. The situation was surprising, and a bit embarrassing, but she still smiled warmly; It took her these past two days to finally acknowledge she could be more honest without sacrificing her prestige. The title she loved felt lighter on her shoulders since her need to hide undesirable qualities and reactions was alleviated. It would take a bit to get used to, but she wouldn't waste any more time.
Nodding to them among the comfortable silence, she giggled. "…I will try more often then. I promise to you, my fellow pharaohs, I won't be ashamed of showing who I am, but I will not embarrass any of you either! I will continue to be a proper pharaoh!"
"Oho! That's the spirit!" Iskandar noted as he casually stood up, reached over, and shamelessly speared another cake slice to add to his plate. The table erupted in laughter at his total lack of grace, but she interpreted his bold actions differently this time. She didn't see it as his status protecting him, but his courage to be who he wants without being contained to a name. Her resolve was renewed, and her shoulders felt lighter.
Still, Ozymandias was not through. "Truthfully, I had another cake prepared in case you did somehow falter. However, since you proved yourself, it is only right you are rewarded in an appropriate manner to ensure you follow your new promise…"
His staff was in his hands, and before she could question what was about to happen, a flash of light appeared beside her plate. Upon seeing the sprinkled stars of yet another tiny sphinx kitten, her true self seized complete control and shoved her pharaoh persona off a cliff. Squealing happily, she quickly wrapped the little kitten in her arms and rubbed her face against it, making the rest of the table erupt in renewed laughter. Now she had two cute pets!
"Well that was easy," Enkidu pointed out, though she only laughed with them this time. "Don't forget about your slice! Iskandar might grab it next!"
Nodding in understanding, she smiled happily as she finally took the first slice of cake onto her fork and slipped it into her mouth. Combined with the purrs of a new little kitten, her first one pawing at her calf, and her fellow pharaoh's approving smiles, it was the sweetest bite Nitocris ate to date.