Chapter Two- The Shadows
The Millennium Ring started to glow and flare as Mahad descended the dungeon stairs the following morning. He had spent a lovely afternoon with Isis, talking about their duties, their dueling skills, their hopes and their future.
"I try not to dwell on the future," Isis had said. "It reminds me of the burden I bear being the owner of the Necklace."
"Of course. I, however, see a future where we no longer serve on the sacred court, are married, and raising a family.'
Isis had smiled at that. "That is a nice future and I hope it come true one day."
And it will, he thought. We will root out this darkness she foresaw and the kingdom's future will be bright again.
He stood at the head of the hall looking into the first of the two cells that lined the corridor. One prisoner had a hateful look that he fired at the priest while another looked fearful. Mahad surmised that he probably looked intimidating in his white robe and glowing Millennium Item. However, the evil in them were relatively minor and so would not be judged first. He proceeded down the corridor, pausing at each occupied cell to gauge their evil. He then listed each criminal, some lower on the list while others were higher. He knew one particular one that would be among the first to be judged. Indeed, his description was at the top of the list.
He was located at the end of the hall, looking infinitely smug and confident. His dark eyes stared intensely at Mahad before flaring red briefly. Again, he felt a chill go through him.
Folding his arms, Mahad informed him, "I would not be so confident if I were you."
"Really?" the man said in a deep, gravelly voice before giving a dark bark of a laugh. "Priest, you have no idea of the depth of my confidence. It is currently beyond your comprehension."
Mahad did not deign to rise to the slightly mocking tone in the man's voice. Instead, he dropped his arms to his side and said, "You will be judged first. Attempting assault on a member of the sacred court is a serious offense."
"Is it?" The man bared an evil smile. "Well, let's up the offense to actual assault." He reached through the bars and seized Mahad's arm. A dark aura surrounded the man's body before it leaped through the air and surrounded Mahad. The priest cried out as the dark arura wrapped itself around him before seeping into his body through the Ring, the Item flashing wildly. The man released him as the last of the aura entered Mahad. Mahad staggered back from the cell before fleeing up the corridor. What was that? he wondered. Have I been infected by his evil aura? If so, I should be able to defeat it. I am one of the strongest magicians in the land.
Mahad summoned some guards and handed them the list, stating the last one at the end was first. He headed up to the Throne Room to find everyone else already assembled. He took his place and waited only a few minutes before the strange man was brought in. Oddly enough, he didn't look smug and confident; now he looked scared and confused. The priests lined up before him and Shada activated the Key. It only took him a few seconds to find what he sought. "I see the shadow of a weak monster."
"Impossible!" one guard said. "Master Shada, I witnessed this man hurl a spear at Master Mahad. Indeed, I was the one who knocked it aside."
"There are also plenty of witnesses to this man's actions," Mahad added.
While the guard and Mahad were making these statements, Aknadin used the Eye to confirm Shada's assessment. "Shada is correct. I see a minor monster. Harmless, but it could be dangerous if left unchecked."
Aknadin's mild statement stunned Mahad. How could this man have attacked him if the monster inside him was harmless? He continued to ponder that during the trials, but shook it off when he hear Atem ask, "Isis, does the Necklace reveal anything to you?"
All eyes were on her as she focused on her Item. It glowed for a minute before fading. She opened her eyes, showing concern. "Darkness still shrouds the city, but now it blankets the land and the sky. The threat still exists and your reign to still fated to end, my pharaoh."
Atem kept his face impassive, but inwardly he was worried. Isis was predicting his death, he was sure of it. "All right. Mahad, run another patrol. Seto, see to the storage of the new tablets. Everyone else, study spells and strengthen your dueling skills. Dismissed."
The court left to obey Atem's orders and Isis saw mild frustration cross Mahad's face. "What's the matter?" she asked.
"It was my attacker. I cannot believe his monster was so minor considering his crime. I also had another strange encounter w2ith him this morning. He touched my arm and looked as if he was transferring a dark arura to me."
"Are you saying he infected your with darkness?" she asked, sounding afraid.
"If he did, then my magic must have defeated it for I feel no different."
"That's a relief. I would hate to think you were the threat."
"Me too." He lightly kissed her lips before leaving for patrol.
Mahad stretched as he got ready for bed and stifled a yawn. He had run several patrols, studied spells, and meditated on strengthening his dueling prowess. He was exhausted and decided to sleep. There were going to be more trials tomorrow before more patrols and studying. Mahad got into bed and was asleep almost instantly, not even bothering to remove the Ring.
He was in a black, shifting void that reminded him of the times when he dueled in the Shadow Realm or the shadow of a monster being extracted from evil-doers. He turned around to see nothing but more blackness. "Okay, so I appear to be in the Shadow Realm," he said to himself.
"That is correct, Priest," a chorus of voices echoed around him.
"Why am I here?" he demanded.
"We desire a magically strong person and you are perfect. In order to bring you here, we needed to flow into your Item, so we took over the human and had him attack you. When you came down to the cell this morning, we had the man touch you so we could enter your body via the Ring."
"Enter my body? Then, I was infected with darkness."
"You have, but it is not active. Eventually, you will be infected when it awakens. We will exist inside you and fill your heart and mind with darkness and shadows and your soul will turn evil."
"You will not succeed. I am strong enough to fight the evil power of the Ring and I will fight you. I will not become evil or serve you."
"That's where you're wrong. We have the perfect way to bring you to our way of thinking. We hereby lay a curse on you that you will eventually consider a gift."
Mahad suddenly found himself wrapped in shadow coils from chest to ankles. He saw a band of shadows coming toward his throat and wrap around his neck like a collar. There was a flash and the coils disappeared. "It is done," the shadows announced. "You are now cursed and will be influenced to be evil and dark." The Shadow Realm vacated Mahad's sleep and the priest slept on, dreaming of Isis and a bright future for the kingdom.
He awoke the next morning and he immediately thought of his visit from the Realm. He hopped out of bed and ran to the mirror. He examined his eyes and they looked normal. His gaze traveled down to see a glint of gold at the collarbone. He looked to see a gold band around his neck and in the center of it was a moonstone. He fingered the ban and found it was one solid band, no knots to untie and no clasp to be found. I can hide it under the jewelry I traditionally wear. I don't know if I am truly cursed and if so, I will fight it and if not, I will seek help from the others.