Authors Note: I'm proud to announce that I have a discord now under the name of KisaraBlueAshes. From now on, I'll be posting updates and so much more over there. Feel free to jump in and see the mini stories I write, discussions of Yu-Gi-Oh related things, previews of the chapters I'm working on, and you can even ask me anything you'd like over there!

Also, thanks so much for being patient with me. I know I'm not quick on uploads and it can be frustrating. I'm hoping this discord will help keep me motivated for writing not just my fanfictions, but also my original stories too!

I hope to see those of you who'd like to join over there! Perhaps we can even put our minds together and create a story collab! 3

~KBA

The walk to the shrine was mostly quiet. Small things kept stealing away the girl's attention though, like the way the bits of gravel kicked away beneath her feet, the way you could see the movements of the water currents across the dome's edge, and things like how the few people we did pass would greet us with a simple word or gesture.

When asked why it was so fascinating, Kisara would explain to Seto of how different things were in the city. People were not social in passing. All the roads are paved and smooth. And everyone knew the dome was only visible this close at two areas in all of Atlantis, "The Edge" at the South and the "Sandy Wasteland," as she called it, to the East of the kingdom. But even the city had high bridges over them. According to Kisara however, there was never a single view to where one could see the dome so closely, except for the High Queen's royal chamber.

While the White Dragons of the East, South, and West were considered "Queens" at a certain age, it was the White Dragon of the North who was considered the one true Queen; The High Queen. Ever incarnation of her would be wed to the King, and assume the highest authority next to the King himself. The High Queen held a chamber at the tallest point of the castle, which was also the highest place in all of Atlantis.

Seto's mother used to tell him stories about the Kingdom of Atlantis, one of them being a tale where the High Queen's chamber was actually the only thing keeping the dome from closing in on the kingdom. The memory coming to mind gave him a slight chuckle, knowing all too well that it was fictitious. At least the thought to him was still amusing.

"What's so funny?" Kisara questioned with a curious gleam.

"Just a silly memory." Seto smiled back at her as they continued forward. "My mother use to tell me fairy tales of old, and once told me the Queen's Chamber is the only reason the Dome doesn't shrink down." He tilted his head back slightly to stare at it. "I'm not sure why it came to mind, but I always found it funny."

With her hands held behind her back, Kisara stared up to face the massive dome, "Isn't that truth though? I was taught that her chamber held the essence that creates the dome's energy, so it begins there and surrounds the whole country, encasing it to keep the air trapped inside and yet remaining strong enough to keep the ocean and any rubble from breaking it."

Seto's eyes narrowed, "I mean, that sounds different from a giant bubble trying to shrink around the kingdom and only the chamber is preventing that."

The two laughed and continued forward to the Shrine as it came into view. As if suddenly reluctant to return, Kisara's pace had slowed as she began to grasp the fabric of her dress. She turned her head to look at town that was separated by only a few acres of farm lands. There was a longing in her eyes that went unnoticed. Though Seto could feel the air about them become heavy, he tried not to pay it any mind. His eyes followed the last of the path to the shrine, but dropped his own pace to match Kisara's and stay at her side. To him, it felt like the right thing to do.

That's when he turned to face her, following her gaze properly. Her eyes stared pass the small town and began to trace the dome that covered them all. He couldn't help but feel sorrowful yet again. There was never a moment that felt so cold as this though, seeing this longing she carried only made him think of his hatred towards the capitol.

He couldn't stifle his question this time. "You want to leave, don't you?"

At that moment, her focus was broke as she quickly turned to him. "Leave?"

"Atlantis… You want to leave it… Don't you?" He tried to hold his tongue, but couldn't.

Kisara was silent for a moment before replying. "Is it that obvious?"

Seto bit the inner of his cheek. "Not completely… I just know the familiarity of that stare. It's the same that I've had so many times."

"So, you want to leave as well…?" She answered her own question with another.

He averted his eyes before turning his body away from her. "I guess I've always wanted to leave. There's a whole world that only that past me, from hundreds and thousands of years ago could have ever known." He looked up, now staring up to the dome just as Kisara had done, longing for something he could never grasp. "Even if I'd hate that world beyond this cage, I just want to remember what it's like."

Closing his eyes and shaking his head, Seto turned back to her, a smile on his lips. "Sorry. I can't help but blabber nonsense around you. Feel free to tell me to shut it at any time."

A smile made it's way to her own lips. "It's okay. I could listen to you speak all day, if you had more stories to tell. I like that you're able to speak truthfully around me."

"Others won't?" Again, he asked aloud without a second thought.

When her smile faded, Seto felt as though he had overstepped a boundary, but was more surprised when she actually answered him.

"It's no that they won't, but the can't. It's the rule of authority, something not many know of. White Dragon's blood flows through me… So I will only be spoken to with high respect and treated as if I were above others… Even if I don't like it. I'd rather know how people actually see me, instead of lie and act like I'm so great." She came to a halt, and stared to her wrist as her other hand gently began to rub the pattern of her veins.

Seto was very aware of the rule of authority though. It was another thing that he was taught by his mother at a young age. It made his mother resent the city, where the majority of those living there are dragon bloods, and the closer the relation they have to the original dragons, the more power they carried over anyone else.

"You'd think they wouldn't be able to lie to you then… It's such a backwards complex." Seto stopped just a few paces after her.

"They only tell us what we 'want' to hear." It was easy to tell at this point that she was bothered by this conversation.

Seto's eyes fell to the ground as he turned to her. "I hope it makes you feel better to know that as long as I know you, I'll always be honest with you, even if it's not something you want to hear… I'm sorry if this conversation made you uneasy though, and I won't bring it up again."

When he lifted his eyes, Kisara only stared to him. While she wanted to trust his words, she didn't think he'd be able to retain such a promise, as the rule of authority wouldn't allow him to keep his word. Nevertheless, she still smiled softly, slightly cocking her head to the side. "I appreciate that. And no need to apologize. It's just not something I'm supposed to talk to much about. I don't get the chance to talk much about it though, so when the opportunity presented itself, I too blabbered on without reason."

For a second, Seto closed his eyes and again smiled softly. Reopening them, he reached his hand forward to Kisara, in hopes she'd take it. "Come on, before it gets too late and your escort throws a fit."

Kisara looked to his hand, lost for a moment on if she should actually take it. Again, she fidgeted her wrist while rubbing her thumb against her index finger. Slowly, she reached forward and hesitantly took hold of hand. He led her by her fingers up the stairs to the shrine, guiding her to the pillars where he could set his offering.

Letting go, he walked to the etched out shelf, and began lining the offering with produce and wheat. He stepped away to the pond, dipping in the bowl to receive fresh water. After retrieving that, he set the bowl in the center of the offering. He sprinkled in some spices and herbs, then placed over it a stick of incense. Using flint and a knife pulled from the holster on his belt, he ignited the incense, filling the air with an aroma of lavender and camomile.

The small distance away, Kisara watched, as Seto knelt on one knee, his left foot forward. He cupped his fist into his left hand just before his chest, and closed his eyes as he gave his prayer. It felt rude for her to stare, so she turned herself back towards the entrance, staring off a way. He prayed, as she wished to herself. She, too, closed her eyes, breathing in the sweet scent and welcoming the wave of quiet nothingness. They were just far enough off to not hear the local chatter of the town, which made the silence slightly eery, but not enough to make the moment less peaceful.

Kisara held her hands together behind her back and began to sway from side to side. By the time Seto finished his prayer, he quietly stood and opened his eyes. Turning back to her, he could only stare. What to say at this point? What more could the two have between each other? While at first he found her to be intrusive on his plans… He found himself happy to be pulled away by her. Seto was drawn to her, in a way he wasn't sure that he could explain.

For a man who wanted nothing more in life that to get to work, he found himself in that moment, wishing that it didn't have to come to an end. "So your escort will be here to gather you shortly?"

He broke the silence, but Kisara still swayed with her eyes closed. "Most likely. I wouldn't be surprised, but who knows. Maybe he won't show up til later tonight. I tried to get him to go enjoy himself and explore the town. He didn't really want to though. Part of me hopes he did." Finally, she spun back around. "So what will you do now that you've finally gotten in your offering?"

His eyes lost focus as he thought about his schedule. "I supposed I should tend to the fields. I'll be honest, I'm rather exhausted today though. I didn't sleep well last night. I ended up passing out on the hills earlier when I took a break, which is what originally made me late. And then… Well, I happened upon you."

She still smiled as she apologized, "I'm sorry about that. I was being rather careless."

"I just hope you learned from it." Seto refocused on her eyes. "I guess that's what happens to people with white pupils. We get careless."

Her expression fell. "Wh—what?"

"It's what my father used to say..." Thinking about his father made his stomach turn in disgust. "'People with white pupils are always have their minds in the clouds, and can never keep focused when something grabs their attention.' In other words… Careless."

Kisara suddenly looked bewildered, a world of confusion grabbing hold of her. She pulled her hand to her cheek, pressing just below her eye and whispering to herself, "White pupils…?"

"Did I… say something to bother you?" Seto was forward with his question for once, not feeling the hesitation that he normally felt when speaking with her.

Her eyes met his once more. "No. Nothing to worry about. It's just… It's odd that… Well..." She shook her head, "It's nothing. But I… On another topic of discussion was wondering..."

The two fell quiet for a moment as Kisara tried to gather herself. Seto was beginning to think that what his father told him was right. Her cheeks tinged a small bit of pink as she seemed to be lost in thought. He could only wonder what was going through her head, and what kind of things were plaguing her mind so badly to stop everything around her.

"I will be here for a few more days," She finally continued on, hugging her arms to her chest and looking back at him. "Would you… come back to the shrine sometime? So that we can meet again?"

Seto's eyes widened. He had not expected to hear such a request of him. "I… Uhm… What about your escort? Won't he get upset if you keep running off?"

"Not if it's to the shrine." Kisara explained, "The whole reason I'm here is to visit the shrine. I was given seven days upon my arrival to visit the shrine and visit the edge. As long as I'm at the shrine, I don't need an escort. If I go else where though… Well, I'm supposed to be accompanied so that I don't get hurt or..."

She didn't want to explain further, nor did she have to. "I get it. My mother was a dragon's blood who fled from the inner city. What ever your position is, I'm sure it's higher than hers was though."

Again, she was quiet for a moment before speaking, "Tell me more about her tomorrow?"

"If you really want me to, sure." He felt his cheeks become flushed as he scratched the back of his head. "Well then… I better… Head back to the farm. I'll be back by to clean this up after the sun falls."

"Right. Right..." She awkwardly smiled, and stepped aside from the stairway she blocked by the entrance. "I'm sorry to keep you. I hope the rest of your evening is pleasant."

"I'm sure it will be." He left his hand on the back of his neck. "Be safe getting to where you're staying tonight. It's darker at the edge than it is in the city. But, at least the moon is easier to see from out here. Anyway. I'll… see you tomorrow."

The two smiled at one another, and instinctively, Seto bowed before making his leave. Though he couldn't figure out exactly why his body made himself bow, he could guess that it was a reflex engraved into his muscle memory from a previous life. Kisara grabbed the sides of her dress, and gave a light curtsy, lowering her head in acceptance to his leave.

And as he made his leave, Kisara watched as he walked away. Her eyes never left him, until he could no longer be seen down the path and beyond the hills.

That's when her stance changed. Her atmosphere became strong, and her demeanor again became intimidating. She turned her back to his direction, and made way to the entrance of the shrine's inner sanctuary. Leaning on it's wall with is foot pressed against the stone was her escort, whom had been awaiting her return. She knew he had been there. The moment she got close enough to the shrine, she could sense him.

"How much did you hear?" Kisara demanded.

He looked up, his purple eyes peeking past the dark hues of his bangs. Standing straight, he crossed his right arm over his chest and his fist lie above his heart. His other arm lie stiff at his side, and he answers with a deep tone. "I hadn't listened in, your highness. I do admit, I'm surprised to see that you've made acquaintance with my younger brother though."

"It would seem he is at this shrine quite often." She took a deep breath before walking past him back into the shrine.

"I visited him after we arrived." The man explained, turning to follow Kisara into the shrine. "He makes offerings more often than anyone I've ever known here."

The moment his foot clicked onto the stone, Kisara stopped in her tracks. "Mokuba. If I'm to answer the prayers of those left here, I need you to leave this sanctuary. Close the doors behind me, and wait past the garden."

He stepped back, bowing in the same salute he had addressed her in. "Of course, milady. My apologizes for my insubordination. I shall await your leave."

Glancing back over her shoulder, Kisara waited for Mokuba to close the doors behind her, and waited till his presence was far enough not to disrupt her senses. Once comfortable, she walked forward, staring to the massive statue of the Blue Eyes White Dragon before her. Beneath it's mane, she came to a halt. She reached her hand forward, the cloak falling back behind her shoulder blades. The eyes of the statue began to glow, a bright blue like sapphires glistening from starlight.

A deep sigh filled her lungs. Her skin felt suddenly cold, as the pattern of scales began to light across her body. As they did, scales too began to appear all over the statue. Her eyes began to glow, mimicking the structure before her. She lowered her arm at this point, and then lowered herself to both of her knees and placed her hands to her lap.

Though they couldn't be seen as anything more than a shimmer, the chains locked around her wrists began to take grip her tightly. While she would normally wince at the pressure, she knew in this moment that she could not. She looked to the floor, tracing the lining of the stone beneath her as she began to recite a text she had memorized long ago, in the tongue known only to the queens and the king; in the fluency that is the tongue of the Dragons.

I hear your whispers. Speak your prayers. Tell me your secrets. I welcome your calls. I shall hold no bias, so long as your words follow laws. I seek your truths, and accept your flaws. Answer me this, what is it you seek?

Millions of hushed voices began to fill her mind. The sounds of the whispers of prayers that had been told since the last she came to listen collectively overwhelmed her in a single instance. But not just prayers. Any words that were spoken within these walls. Any words said within the garden. Anything said near each and every column. The essence of each word that was spoken allowed or thought for her within this sanctuary all filled her head in a single moment.

And quickly, the lights faded. Scales no longer glowing. Eyes no longer illuminating. Her heart was pounding and her body quivered as she tumbled to the side. The statue seemed to gaze down at her, still glowing tremendously. But she was weak, and unaccustomed to answering the many prayers unlike her sisters. She was rarely allowed to visit her own shrine, and for that, the people who wish upon her would usually suffer in wait.

So many people cried out for her help, and many of those who had were no longer living. Yes, their soul carries on, residing within the hearts and bodies of those born a new… But she was always too late. And there was rarely a soul whom still believed him her will…

"Why must you see my eyes for what they truly are..." Tears began to flow down her face as she searched for the strength to try to pull herself up. "Your life… will only know misfortune to see me in such a way..."

She finally was able to sit back on her knees. Again, she recites her text, regaining her illumination, and beginning to seek out individual prayers through the many many voices that called out to her. She began to feel weightless, as the wind around her again began to pick up. It was never a sign. It was never an answer. It was merely something that happened during these rituals.

Answer me this… What is it you seek?