Hello~ It's been a long time, but here it is. Thank you for being patient with me. Let's see this story until the end.

Enjoy!

Secrets Underground

Chapter 24

I slept that night drowning in a pit of nightmares. Shadows danced and swirled around my body frozen and floating in an abyss. It was suffocating. A pain scorching my chest, burning through my throat that was sore, as if I had spent the entire time screaming, but that was impossible. The only sounds in this darkness was the beating of my own heart, and the hiss of the snakes encircling me. Trapping me.

Possessing me.

I trembled. I shut my eyes to block the sounds, to block the feel of ice on my skin and heat within my flesh, and I prayed. I begged for help, any kind of help to make it stop, to make the suffering go away, when a hiss transformed into words I could understand. It whispered,

"Let me in."

I covered my ears even though I knew it would do no good.

"No," I said, and I kept saying it, over and over and over as if it was the only thing I knew how to say. "No. No. No. No. No."

"Let me in…!" it whispered, slithering up my skin. Its voice became sharper, angrier, hastier, a pitch higher and more frantic as a light began to rise in the distance. "Let me in!"

I opened my eyes and looked into its beady gaze, only to see red eyes, dangerously wide. Its skin flared and peeled as the sun shone on its body, nothing but a black ooze, wispy and poisonous. It was desperate than before. Its mouth opened wide. Its teeth fell from its mouth. It gave a last screech.

"WAKE UP!"

I woke.

"Timaeus, wake up! Wake up!"

I shot up from the bed, eyes blown wide, my heart racing a mile a minute. I blinked. And blinked again, and through the darkness I began to recognise where I was. Not home, but in the palace. The hand on my arm was… I turned to see Amr who was scowling darkly at me. He gave me another punch, my heart starting to ease as the nightmare drifted away. I rubbed my eyes, hoping it would drive the memory away faster.

"We're going to be late!" Amr continued to hiss, and he got up, returning to his own bed. "Get up!"

The sight of the sunrise through the tiny window kicked my body back into working function. I jumped out of bed like a cat at the sound of a fallen bowl, and rushed about the room. I heard Amr sigh behind me, but I paid him no mind as I got dressed and washed my face and made my bed within ten minutes. Amr waited no more than a few seconds for me at the door as I hauled on the shawl Priest Shada left for me, and together we made our way towards the eating area.

We entered the room quietly, Amr finding his friends easily within the crowd of other people while I tried to be as inconspicuous as possible. I greeted the loud boys with as much calm as possible as I sat down, and ate just as fast.

A while later, just as the meals were ending and the others in the room slowly trickled out to begin their jobs while younger boys headed off to their lessons, I waited patiently. As patiently as possible anyways. There was an itch travelling up my chest and I didn't want to give it much thought. I was nervous. Nervous as hell, I didn't even notice at first when Amr greeted me farewell and good luck on my first day on the job, making me promise to tell him all the details when we met again that night.

After sitting by myself for a few minutes, a servant, a young boy no older than twelve maybe, came before me, and with a finger ushered me to follow him. He didn't speak, and that alone brought my nerves back to the forefront as he led the way quietly.

He walked fast. The hallways were like a maze, every turn and twist making me worry as to how I would ever find Priest Shada's work room on my own. I attempted to make landmarks out of vases and odd doorways, but soon the vases doubled and the doorways tripled while the hallways quadrupled and I sensibly gave up, promising to try again the next time while my head spun in place.

My hands clasped behind my back to ground myself as I walked, and I aimlessly glanced out the tall windows and took a deep breath. There was a heartening scent in the air. It was dense like a rainforest, a hint of spice, but then a strong breeze from the outside would sweep through the palace, clearing it away for a few seconds. The breeze was fresh and light, grits of sand brushing my skin. Actually, the sand was everywhere. Under my feet, on every ledge, on every wall the palace had. It was… earthly. Through the sand, nature proudly showed its face.

I smiled to myself, allowing this small reprieve. After so many days of worry and fear, of so much uncertainty, if an opportunity came about for me to feel at peace, I was going to take it. After all, I had come so far all on my own. My struggles were only beginning, so I'm sure Shadi wouldn't mind if I dared to be a little bit tension-free after he had gone M.I.A. on me ever since I got to the palace.

Kicking the thought of Shadi away along with the visions he always left me, I returned my gaze to the palace hallway and tried to prepare myself for the tasks at hand. Once more however my mind was distracted.

I locked eyes with the boy who had come to fetch me.

He had turned around for a split second to check on me, but that was enough for my eyed to be zeroed in on him. There was something… off.

He was quiet. Terribly quiet. His eyes on the other hands was depthless. It felt as if he held the world's knowledge and stories in his gaze, never before told to anyone. Immediately I wanted to talk to him, but something in my gut told me to stay quiet because I was surely going to do something foolish in the process. So instead I watched him, and from his interaction with those he passed in the hallway, I found my answer.

He was mute.

I pressed my lips together; glad I hadn't rambled when he had no way to answer me. While I was feeling embarrassment the size of a mountain though, he turned around and gave me a small smile, and I noticed his finger jabbing towards a closed door.

We had arrived.

"Thank you," I said, and he nodded.

He knocked twice on the wooden frame and waited. A few seconds later, a response drifted from within.

"You may enter." It was Priest Shada.

Pushing the door open the boy ushered me in first. I had to blink a few timed to adjust my eyes to the dim room. While the hallway was bright the sun lighting up the area from its high windows, this room was lit with torches lining the walls and lanterns littered on the floor.

Shelves were stacked with scrolls on both sides of the room, and through them I could see Priest Shada sitting at a desk, eyes scanning the writing before him.

"Timaeus," he said, briefly lifting his eyes to look at me as I stepped over scrolls haphazardly laying on the floor to reach him. "Right on time. Thank you for your assistance, Osaze."

The boy, Osaze, nodded once and quietly went to the shelves. He crouched down, and once by one began to pick up the scrolls from the floor. He gazed at the contents of each one for a while, being particular in which places on the shelves he eventually placed them.

"He's reorganizing," Priest Shada said, catching my staring eyes, and I smiled sheepishly.

I said, "I wondered why they were on the floor."

"Yes…" and he trailed off, eyes returning to the scrolls in his hand.

Silence fell once more.

It was terribly awkward. There were only two other people in this room with me and they all had a task that needed to be completed, while here I was, standing on the side, feeling more like one of those useless scrolls on the floor. I wanted something to do. I was brought here to help. So, to be left here like this… I couldn't help but fidget. I had to keep moving forward or else this trip down memory lane would never end.

After a few more moments, Priest Shada finally spoke again.

"How well is your writing?" he asked, and picking up a brush dipped in dark ink, he held it out to me.

"It's good," I answered honestly, and thanked the universe that I had been put in a position I actually knew something about in this time period.

"Good," and he rolled up the scroll he was reading and passed it to Osaze. "I will need you to write down the things I will say. As a test, to see your ability for myself."

I was genuinely surprised. At the time I didn't think he would test me. But I felt like a fool as I sat down on the rug and took the brush and a blank piece of parchment. Of course he would want to test me. It would be a shame on him and horror for myself should I be given important tasks right away and promptly flunked them. I would record wrong information and wouldn't even know it!

"Ready?" he asked, and he leaned on the desk and shut his eyes after seeing my firm nod.

I passed with flying colours. He had read a few lines from memory about Anubis to Osiris, and after that got up and grabbed random documents from the shelf. One was about a big shipment two years ago. Another was a complaint down in the village. One was about land ownership and figures of payment, and all else random but necessary. I raced to write it down as fast and accurate as I could, hands cramping from using a brush instead of a pencil like I was used to, but managed to deal with anyway.

Priest Shada looked over my work with a pleased expression. Relief flooded me, my legs pins and needles as I finally stood up. And just when Priest Shada was about to send me for lunch, a firm knock came from the door. Priest Shada hadn't even answered yet when the door was flung open and Priest Karim entered the room. His brows were knitted quite tightly, a frown on his lips.

"What is the matter?" Priest Shada calmly asked, while I went to stand next to Osaze who, like me, watched the interaction with a curious gaze.

"Have you seen the Prince?" Priest Karim asked, and from his voice I could tell he had went around asking the same question several times already.

Priest Shada's lips pressed tightly. "No. I have not. Is there a reason you search for him?"

"Not I, actually. His father. The Pharaoh wished to see him since daybreak and so far, we haven't found him anywhere."

"In that case I would think he's escaped once again," Priest Shada said.

Priest Karim let out a suffering sigh, and a hand reached up to rub his temples. "I fear so too. I will have to report it to Priest Set."

"He will be furious."

"I'm aware." Priest Karim sighed once more. "Thank you. And, er, sorry about the entrance. I'm just tired."

"Not a problem," Priest Shada said, and just when Priest Karim was about to leave, he called out, "Oh, one favor you can do for me in return," and chills ran up my arm as his gaze locked on mine.

Priest Karim stopped. "What is it?"

"As you need to report to Priest Set, I assume you are heading to the Main room?"

"Yes?"

"Can you take Timaeus with you? Please send him back with the scrolls I had left there."

Priest Karim eyed me for a second, but nodded as he responded wearily. "Priest Set will be angrier."

I mentally cried at the thought of facing those cold blue eyes and hoped that Priest Shada wouldn't send me straight to the den of the man who hates me the most, but Priest Shada said nothing. He gestured for me to follow, and with fear frozen behind my calm nod, I left the room with Priest Karim.

Priest Karim was a big man. I could see nothing infront of his large frame as he walked ahead of me. And, he was silent as well. Not the same silence as Osaze. He was scarier. Heavy with tension, and I didn't want to prod an annoyed predator. He said nothing the entire way, and I firmly kept my mouth shut.

The closer we got to the Priests conference room in the hypostyle hallway, the room I had first officially met the Priests and where that confrontation with the Prince occurred, the brighter the palace became. The windows were wider, more of the hot sun shining through. Many people passed by and greeted Priest Karim, and none paid any attention to myself as Priest Karim led me through the Palace.

We stopped infront of the Main Room, and I once more admired how the white, decorative columns appeared gold in the sun, shining and glittering all the way towards the big opened doors at the end of the hallway.

The throne room.

I took a peek even though I knew there was nothing there for me to see other than the Pharaoh himself. I looked away a second later though, the thought that the Prince might be a short distance away attacking my nerves incessantly. I need to stay calm, especially since Priest Set was right on the other side of this door.

"Wait here," Priest Karim said, and I nodded in understanding, my feet locking into place and back ramrod straight as the man finally addressed me.

I felt sorry for him yet grateful when he opened the door and heard Priest Set in the middle of shouting.

"… preposterous! He was guarded! How in Ra's name did he go missing?! If I have to head out on horse and search for him once again, I'll-"

The door closed. I was left blinking at the thick wood, hearing nothing but muted voices.

I sighed. The situation had only escalated then since the previous night. If the Prince does nothing but retaliate, shouldn't they get to the core of the problem? And, if my visions are indeed correct, there's something going on with him that no one can see. Even I don't know what, or why, exactly, and I'm not in a position to help anyways, but something needed to be done. The Prince is their only heir to the throne, but no one in the court appears to have hope in him.

If his present is so grim, no wonder his future is the same. Remembered through time as the Nameless Pharaoh, dying at a young age. And from what I've seen, his death was not a peaceful one. Especially if those shadows surrounding him had anything to do with it.

I needed to learn more. I needed to get close to him even if he currently scares the hell out of me. But how? Who can I ask? Definitely not Shadi since the man who sent me here vanished without a return weeks ago.

"You."

The voice had me whirling around in shock. I calmed myself, seeing it was only Priest Mahad. His voice was soothing but chilling all at the same time. His demeanor was kind though. And now that I saw him again, I recalled he cared about the Prince to some degree. His helpless silence during fights more than enough proof. Perhaps talking to him would get me some answers, but I dismissed the idea. Now was not the time. Who was I to go about asking about the Prince? I already had enough problems on my hands already. I didn't need more accusations thrown my way.

"Priest Mahad," I said, voice dripping with respect.

"Timaeus, was it?" Priest Mahad said, and he stepped closer. "What brings you here?"

"Priest Shada sent me to collect his scrolls. I am waiting for Priest Karim who led me here." Despite my clear sentences, my whole body shook. I was nauseous despite my earlier reassurances, and with a lowered gaze I hoped Priest Mahad wouldn't drag Priest Set into the matter. If anything, I wanted to leave without the man ever seeing me.

"I see," he said, and just as he was about to enter the room the door opened.

Priest Karim, looking more frustrated than before, handed me the scrolls. I could see his brow twitching. From the shouting within, Priest Set definitely didn't take the news well.

"Can you make it back to the room on your own?" Priest Karim asked.

"Yes, yes of course," I said, trying to get a good grip on the many scrolls. The room wasn't that far down. I would manage.

"Alright, quickly go," and he ushered me away.

I didn't waste time. I knew I shouldn't. I left fast after greeting the two Priest farewell, and just in time too because a few seconds later Priest Set exited. I could hear his loud grumbling as he marched straight to the throne room.

My days continued like this. After getting lost a couple of times finding my way to Priest Shada's work room on my own, I finally managed to remember. And as soon as I entered the dark room, I was put to work. I helped him rewrite transcripts and took notes as he spoke. He was an avid note taker, I learned. He wrote every thought, every prose that jumped into his head. Every idea, every solution to problems he could think of. Priest Shada's brain thought faster than the hand to write, because while I took notes, he did as well. And the more scrolls I filled, the more I noticed why Osaze's work never ended. He was practically organizing Priest Shada's every reasonable thought.

I laughed about that quietly with Amr, who still kept his lips sealed about the Prince's so-called secret every night I asked. Information was hard to get, so I stuck to working hard and learning as much as I could.

Nearing the afternoon one day, Priest Shada gave me, in my opinion, an important task. I was to go to the throne room and deliver a note to the Pharaoh's advisor, Shimon Muran. I was to quietly hand the letter to one of the guards, or preferably one of the Priests, and have them give it to him. The single advise he gave me as I left, was to stay out of Priest Set's sight.

I made my way there, blowing strands of hair that managed to escape the scarf to the side. I would then blow my face, attempting to cool my skin which was dampened with a layer of sweat. To say it was terribly hot would be an understatement. The palace was so heated in the afternoon it was suffocating. Made me wish I had an attendant who followed me around with a large palm leaf to help keep me cool- like in the movies. But there was no such thing. Everywhere I looked, people seemed unaffected by the heat.

I held the scroll in my hand, tight to not drop but also loose so to not wrinkle, especially as I neared the throne room. There were no guards posted outside, so I could only assume they stood within the room. From outside though I could tell there was quite a number of people gathered inside.

I approached hesitantly and refrained myself from knocking. That would draw attention. I poked my head through the opening and glanced about. Around twenty people were gathered. What they were looking at I had no idea. In the big room the voices bounced and from this distance I could make nothing of it. I did as I was supposed to and looked for the guards, only to realise, that there were none. It was at this moment I panicked, and looked around harder.

Slowly I had to near the group of people, and hope to see a guard because I sure as heck didn't know who Shimon Muran was. And since he was the advisor, he would be next to the Pharaoh. I definitely could not go up on the platform and give it to him in person, so not seeing a guard, I began looking for a Priest nearby.

All six of them were not here. I could see about three of them that I knew. Priestess Isis standing on the platform near Priest Set, and to my relief so was Priest Mahad who stood closer to the platform. He looked to be inspecting goods of some sort displayed on the ground. And now that I was closer, my skin prickled and a sour expression crossed my face as I recognized a voice booming through the room.

"…my Pharaoh, our goods are second to none! Why don't you reconsider who you receive your supplies from?"

Nakht.

Nakht is the boy I met when I was still living in the city. I witnessed him terrorising the younger children, forcing them to play games with him and then taking what they had. And upon seeing me the first thing he did was slander the Prince in an attempt to accuse me of some sort of treachery. He punched me after I scolded his shameless behaviour, and I managed to punch him back before Mana entered the scene, promptly putting him in his place. He was a bully. Obnoxious to the core. Everything I absolutely hate in a person. And here he is, with who appears to be his father, once more slandering others to boost his ego. And from the grin his father wore, I could tell the seed didn't fall too far from the tree.

"Ramose's family harbored a traitor, it's only right to not want-"

What?! My eyes went impossibly wide, my hands instinctively clenched as a fire burned inside my chest. He did not just say that. I wanted to go over to him. I wanted to punch him in the face one more time but... I couldn't. Not with the Pharaoh here. Not with Priest Mahad and the others who evidently flinched at the words.

"Watch your tongue, boy!" Priest Set shouted, and Nakht went silent.

Priestess Isis looked away, unable to hide her expressions, while Priest Mahad furrowed his brows and looked up. His gaze immediately fell on me, and he froze.

I smiled like an idiot, and waved the note discreetly.

This was most definitely a terrible time to be here.

"Priest Shada said to give it to Shimon Muran," I said as he discretely made his way over to me.

"Go," he said instead, taking it, and ushered me away, turning around to hide my presence.

I glanced back though, and had a thought. How much did they tell the Pharaoh of his son's supposed lookalike? It appeared to be a secret, from the expression the Pharaoh was giving the short man who stood next to him, whose face was half-covered by a white shawl.

That must be Shimon Muran then.

As I walked away though, I looked at Nakht once again. I shouldn't have, because as soon as I did his eyes met mine as I walked past. He glared darkly, but I ignored him as if I didn't know who he was, and went on my way, my task complete.

I had only been walking through the maze of the palace for no more than a few minutes when, down the hall, the flash of familiar gold bangs blazing like the sun and red eyes the colour of blood appeared in the corner of my eye. It came from a hall on my right, and since my heart stopped all of a sudden, so did my footsteps.

I looked at him, and he returned a steady, sharp gaze.

Something in his eyes sent a stroke of fear rushing through my body. It felt like a lightning strike, dispersing my insides, scattering my mind. And I panicked, stuck where I was as he got nearer and nearer, and I could make out a leer dancing on his face, a sinister aura, blood dripping from his finger tips.

I opened my mouth to say something, but all I was able to do was breathe a bit louder. Barely a squeak left my lips, and he shot me a wolf's grin in return.

He didn't stop, as I thought he would. He passed me without slowing, and made his way down the hall. I could do nothing except watch as he turned the corner, and when he was finally out of sight did my body start to work again. My first step was a stumble as I instinctively followed him. I allowed my feet to lead me while my brain could only fire off warning sounds, blocking me from any sort of logical thought, any thought that told me I was making another mistake that might get me tossed from the palace and, thereby, even farther from the secrets surrounding him.

Regardless of my blind curiosity, I didn't get far. As soon as I took a couple of steps, Nakht appeared from one of the doorways, blocking my path as if he was a fancy sportscar in the middle of an intersection.

The leer on his face was even more disgusting, and I made my annoyance evident on my face. I scowled, by he became even more vain.

"Well, aren't I right? The street urchin actually did manage to sneak into the palace. I'd watch out if I were you."

"Get out of my way, Nakht," I said, and I kept my grin hidden as his lips pressed tight. "I suggest you take your own advises. Your mouth will be the end of you."

That must have attacked some part of him personally because his crossed arms loosened and he approached me, standing so close I could smell his sweat and see the bruises on his skin. He glared down at me, and I could see his shoulders shaking. He wanted to hit me, but we were in the palace, our statuses now on different fields. He knew he stood to lose.

"I'll be keeping an eye on you, leech," he seethed.

I nodded solemnly, "Noted."

He smirked. "I wouldn't be so cocky. One of these days you will be caught, and let me tell you, the Prince wouldn't hesitate to kill."

As he walked away, I let the frustration take over.

So many people… just what kind of status does the Prince already hold?

As I ran to the end of the hall and looked, sure enough, the Prince was nowhere to be found. I internally cursed my luck, cursed Nakht, and begrudgingly returned to Priest Shada's work room. Was there anything I could do to help him at this point? If people as low as Nakht and as high and the Pharaoh's court view the Prince, how was I to possibly save him?

I entered the workroom, and realising I was here alone, I busied myself with rewriting some scrolls that had been damaged a few years back, leaving them for Osaze to take care of once he returned. I sighed, busying myself with the tasks in an attempt to distract myself. But it didn't seem to help. My mind returned to the Prince, my visions of him, and the most common trait.

Something lingered around him, but was it actual shadows haunting him, or was it just a metaphor of something. Maybe there was someone around him making it appear he was a villain. Maybe more than one. Maybe there was a snake within the court, wanting him to fail. Was I literally in the middle of a coup, the downfall and murder of the Prince who was innocent?

How was I to know?!

I brought my hands to my head, leaning against one of the shelves as I massaged the headache and inner turmoil away. I was just about to resume my work though when shouts from outside caught my attention.

They were muffled, but evidently panicked. I could hear footsteps pounding the concrete as people rushed back and forth.

My skin prickled at the odd sounds from a usually silent hallway, and I moved to investigate when the door opened quickly. Priest Shada entered the room, and he paid me no attention. He rushed straight to his desk and grabbed a few documents. He was shaking. Panicked. And as he found what he was looking for, he clutched the golden scale to his chest and closed his eyes for a few seconds.

I held my breath the whole time, realising I had never seen him look so fearful. So… distraught.

When he opened his eyes, I couldn't help but ask, "What's happening?"

Priest Shada startled then, almost dropping the scale. He turned to me and his eyes darkened, a scowl formed on his lips.

"Stay here," he simply ordered, and without another word, he left.

I did not stay. As soon as he left I tried to stay put, but I needed to know, so I simply inched the door open, deciding it would be enough to catch some of the gossip from the many who lingered in the hallway, scattering at the sight of Priest Shada when he passed.

I remained in the darkness and listened.

I only stood there a few seconds.

"The Prince murdered someone!"

The words I echoed in my ear, and before I knew it, I had pulled the door open and was rushing after Priest Shada as if in a trance.

"…found the body. He was decapitated!"

"When?"

"Hours ago."

Gasps and curses for the Prince echoed around me in hushed whispers. I tuned them out, focused on Priest Shada's back as he navigated through the hallways at top speed, a sweat beading his brow, the voices ceasing as they saw him pass by.

None of the whispers answered the question, 'Who?'

I gulped, and just when I wondered when the destination would end, I was brought to a room lost in the multitude of hallways. I stopped and hid behind a pillar, noticing the people gathered. All of the Priests were here, some guards, and a pool of blood drying amongst splintered wood.

Priest Aknadin stood before the Prince who was kneeled before the blood, and my heart jumped out of my chest as his voice boomed through the room.

"Have you not realised what you've done!?"

Priest Aknadin's face was visibly red, but the Prince on the other hand didn't seem to be listening to any of his words. He just stared at the pool mirroring his own eyes, a lost, blank expression on his face. He did not respond, and Priest Aknadin grew even more furious.

"Have you no shame? No sense!? How could you do such a thing?!"

"… I didn't…"

It was barely higher than a whisper, and I flinched when Priest Aknadin hauled him standing by the arm, pressing the Prince into the wall.

"What happened? Start talking right now-"

"Priest Aknadin, don't be rash, just wait," Priest Mahad said, but Priest Aknadin turned towards him as well.

"Wait? Why?! Have you not realised what he had done? He's killed the son of our minister of finance and you tell me not to be rash?!"

I held in my gasp, biting my lip and the Prince on the other hand hastily shook his head.

"I'm telling you, I didn't do it!" he shouted.

"His blood is on your hands, boy, don't lie," Priest Shada said, and Priest Set followed up.

"This is one of your rooms, your sword stained with blood, you the last person he was seen with."

The Prince wrenched his arm away from Priest Aknadin. "I don't recall! I don't- I didn't see him since last week, I'm not lying!"

"How can you not remember?!" Priest Aknadin yelled once more, and the Prince's desperation grew.

He spun towards Priest Aknadin, eyes aflame, "I don't remember! I don't, I don't, I don't! You can't blame me! I would never do this!" he gripped the robes of Priest Aknadin, "Stop blaming me!"

The slap that echoed through the room almost made my knees buckle. My heart was racing, and my eyes were welling with tears. He's not lying. My soul told me this. He's not lying. He's not, he's not, he's not, but none of them appeared to have believed him. Tears slipped from my eyes as the other Priest's gasped and scolded Priest Aknadin, but the man didn't seem to care.

"Regardless, I'm his uncle. Let me discipline him for such rudeness!"

"…That's too far!" Priestess Isis said.

"The blood on his hands isn't?! You're acting as if he's never murdered before!"

"ENOUGH."

I stifled my breath and inched further into the shadows as the Pharaoh entered the room in quick strides. His face was firmly set, eyebrows furrowed heavily, body tense as he spotted his son.

The Priests greeted him as he entered, but no response left his lips.

I peeked behind the pillar and watched as he went straight for the Prince, picked him up by the arm from his fallen position on the floor, and pulled him towards the door.

The Prince's eyes went wide with fear, and I was immediately reminded of the scared boy in my visions, the ghost of the boy who stood in a dark, hidden tomb, body in chains, forgotten to time. He clutched his father's arm, begging, pleading, crying.

"Father, I'm sorry, I'm sorry but I didn't do it. I can't remember, I really can't, please- listen-"

His father said nothing, but he stopped, glared at his son, and shared that glare with the rest of the Priests who lowered their gazes. His order which followed was clear. Concise. His voice heavy with sadness, but not regret. He returned his gaze to the writhing Prince whose lips trembled; eyes fearful.

"You are to be locked in your room until the matter is sorted."

The Prince panicked at the words, and struggled in his father's grips.

"No! Please, don't lock me up! Please! Please, I didn't do it!" he cried, and his father's grip loosened, handing him off to Priest Aknadin, and Priest Set. They said,

"So it is written."

"So let it be done."

Intense chapter, yeah? heh.

I am trying my best with these updates and to finish the story. I hope you enjoyed it regardless, and sorry that it appears a little rush. I will get back to reediting it another time. :)

Thank you~