Juvia III

Since the only source of light Juvia had was her small window, it was difficult for her to tell the time. She generally had to guess by how bright or dark it was. Since she last saw him, Rahtas hadn't appear, not that Juvia cared, she wasn't necessarily craving to see an undead mummy again. However that quickly changed.

Juvia was lying on the floor, spinning water through her fingers, thinking about Gray, when the door suddenly opened, and several Tomb Guard hurried in. Before the Water Mage could ask anything, she was pulled out of the prison, and into open. At the steps of the palace, Rahtas was waiting.

"What is this all about?" Juvia asked.

"You are here on the request of King Settra," Rahtas said, "You have a task to complete."

"What is it?"

"I shall let our king explain it. Now follow me." Seeing no other option, Juvia did as she was told. She was lead through the city which Juvia was still thoroughly impressed by. Towering obelisks, statues and fortresses littered the city, which made Juvia wonder just what this kingdom might have been like when it was alive. Eventually, she was lead to the banks of the massive river that she had followed into the city. Standing at the bank was Settra, with a battalion of Tomb Guard, as well as several more Tomb Priests.

"Good, our guest is here," Settra said, looking towards Juvia.

"What is this all about?" Juvia asked.

"Purify the river," Settra ordered bluntly, pointing with his blade to the churning, red water. Juvia was silent, as she looked at Settra in surprise.

"What?" she eventually asked, "You want me to clean this river."

"Did I stutter or something? You do have Water Magic, yes?"

"Yes, and while I have used my magic to purify water before, I've never done it with a whole river."

"Well, you will be doing it now."

"What if Juvia says no?" Settra was silent for a time, before he pulled his weapon out of the sand, slowly approached her, and held the blade to her throat.

"I will dismember you, piece by piece," he said. To demonstrate his point, he left a small knick on her throat.

"You won't kill me," Juvia said, "You need me."

"Not necessarily," Settra said, "I could simply kill you now and then have you resurrected later. That would probably accomplish a comparable goal." Juvia was taken aback by that, as she took a step back, only to be blocked by the Tomb Guard.

"I would much prefer though, for you to do this willing," Settra said, "But the decision is your's." Juvia clenched her teeth, as she considered her options. She had two: do as Settra instructed, or make a break for it. If she tried to do the latter, one of three things would happen: she'd escape into the desert with nowhere to go, she'd be captured and put back in prison, or she'd be killed and resurrected by Settra. None of those three options were particularly enticing.

"Juvia will try," Juvia said, "But I can't guarantee anything." Settra then stepped out of the way, and gestured to the water, which Juvia approached. She took off her court, before bending down, and sticking her hand into it

"Gah!" On reflex, she recoiled. The water literally stung. That was definitely a first for her. But she'd experienced worse, so she clenched her teeth again, and stuck her hand back in the water, muscling through the pain. Channeling her magic energy into the water, the area around her began to glow. Focusing her energy more, the glow spread further, until it spread out across the river.

With a cry, Juvia yanked her arm out of the water, pulling some of the red liquid with her, as the glow rippled across the river. Exhausted, she fell back, only for someone to catch her. She was surprised when she saw it was Settra. But the king wasn't looking at her, rather, he was looking at the water. Juvia looked at the river, and to her amazement, from where she was, blue water was rippling out. Against Juvia's expectations, she had purified the river.

Settra gently set Juvia in the sand, as he slowly walked to the river. Looking around, Juvia saw several of the priests and guards had fallen to their knees, and Juvia could've sworn they were slightly. Even Settra fell to his knees before the now pristine river.

"If I could shed tears, they would be streaming like the river," he said, as he put his withered hand into the water, before he suddenly stumbled back in surprise.

"My king!" one of the guards said, hurrying forward.

"I… I… I felt that," Settra said, staring at his hand, "For countless millennia, all I have been able to feel is dryness and the heat. But to finally feel the coolness of the river…. The gods are truly smiling on Nehekhara this day." Soon the guards and priests were gathering at the river to be able to feel the coolness of the river. Settra himself, offered a hand to Juvia, and he pulled her up.

"There I nothing I can do repay you for this gift," he said, "But you have done more than enough to earn a place in my personal court."

"Um… thank you?" Juvia asked, all around unsure about everything that was happening. Settra then promptly returned to wade back into the river. As Juvia stood their in silence, Rahtas passed her, apparently intent on going to the river as well.

"I have to admit girl," he said, "That was beyond amazing."

"Juvia honestly isn't sure what she did."

Note: Juvia managed to purify the Great River. I'd say that's an accomplishment in of itself, but she's also earned the respect and regard of Settra himself.

As you can maybe guess, Rahtas is starting to fill a rule comparable to Izatco for Lucy.

Let it be said that the Tomb Kings are my second favorite faction, after the Lizardmen. I hope they come to Total War soon. So you might have to expect a little bias on my part in the future.

Please review. Next chapter we'll be going back to Ulthuan. Two chapters until the end of Part I.