Juvia IV

"Why do I have to wear this?" Juvia whined.

"Because your other clothes are not befitting a lady of Khemri," Rahtas answered. Juvia pouted, as she picked at her skirt. Instead her regular clothing, she was now wearing a blue dress with gold edges, and gold symbols. Her hair was now straight, with golden trinkets woven into it. Atop her head, was a golden circlet, and a jewel-gold necklace around her neck. While perhaps these made more sense than a rain coat while in the desert, that didn't make her like it.

"Come, his Majesty's council is waiting," Rahtas said, as he lead Juvia down the palace halls. As they did, Juvia looked around at the walls; while time had clearly taken its toll on them, they still looked stunning. They depicted everything from battles to monsters. Soon they got to Settra's throne room. It was a large room, where one wall was gone, giving a look over the whole of Khemri. The rest of the walls were dominated by more images like the ones in the hall. That left Settra's throne, and that was quite possibly the most extravagant of structures.

It was raised a good ten feet off the ground, and was surrounded by a small moat. Framing the steps to the throne, were two snakes, with fanged skulls for heads. The throne itself was made of solid gold, and next to it were two otherwise empty pots; a circular window was over the throne, shining the sun directly over the throne. The Pharaoh himself sat upon the throne, his blade leaning against it, and another warrior stood next to his throne. Assembled before the throne were more priests and warriors, as well as undead figures carrying stencils and papers. When Settra noticed her, he gestured for her to come.

"Take your place," he said, pointing to the steps. After a moment's hesitation, Juvia went to the stairs, and sat down on them. That received some gazes from the rest of Settra's court. It wasn't like Juvia liked it, since this position combined with the outfit made her look like a harem girl.

"Now that you're here, allow me to introduce you to my personal guard and herald, Nekaph," Settra said, pointing to the mummy next to him. Juvia looked up at him; like the others, he was bound in wrappings, with a skeletal face. He carried a curved sword on his hip, and wore a crown that had a rearing snake on it.

"Lady Juvia," Nekaph said with a nod, which Juvia returned.

"Very good," Settra said quickly, waving his hand, before addressing the court, "I gathered you all here to make a proclamation, but first I must know, how many warriors do we have available?" Though Juvia still couldn't see their reactions, the way they all turned to their king showed the question was surprising.

"3000 guard are active throughout the city," Nekaph said, when the others apparently didn't answer quickly, "Another 80,000 are buried beneath the city. Then there are the skeletons buried across the desert."

"That won't be enough," the Pharaoh muttered, tapping a finger on his throne, before pointing to a scribe, "Send word to Numas and Lybaras to count the warriors they have." Juvia was surprised by how apparently over eighty thousand warriors weren't enough.

"Queen Khalida will not appreciate you scouting her guard," Nekaph said.

"She can refuse us if she wishes," Settra answered, "And if she does, I will remind her of her place."

"If I may ask, your Majesty," one of the warriors said, stepping forward, "What is the purpose of these questions?" After a moment, Settra rose to his feet, and descended down to Juvia's spot

"Thousands upon thousands of years ago, our nation spread from beyond the horizon," he said, "But then he came. Curses upon him."

"Curses upon him," the court echoed. Juvia couldn't imagine what that was all about. But the tone they talked about this individual, it was kind of like the way people would talk about Zeref or Acnologia in her world.

"But then, this child came to us," Settra said, as he took Juvia's hand, and pulled her up, "She is a gift from the gods themselves. It shows that they have not yet abandoned Nehekhara." Juvia looked away with embarrassment, not entirely fond of this attention from a group of undead corpses.

"What fools would we be to squander the opportunity the gods have granted us," Settra said, as he released Juvia, and walked back up the stairs, running his hand over the back brim of the throne, "We must act, lest our best chance to reclaim our lost glory be lost." That apparently set it in for the whole of the court, as well as Juvia.

"Your Majesty, I do not presume to understand your mindset, nor do I question your wisdom."

"As you should not," Settra answered, sitting back in his throne.

"But while the river is purified, and flowing again, it will be some time before life fully returns to Nehekhara," the priest said, "Perhaps we should wait another few hundred years…"

"Juvia won't live that long!" Juvia blurted out, probably beating Settra to the same punch.

"We can simply mummify this girl, and keep her here," the priest said.

"No," Settra said, "We cannot wait for destiny to come to us. We must act upon it."

"Your Majesty…"

"NO!" the Pharaoh snapped. That silenced the whole room.

"I will not stand idle, as time and ruin cause my empire to crumble!" Settra loudly declared, slamming his fist on his arm rest, "We will do this, and we will do it now! This is the will of the Pharaoh of Nehekhara, so let it be written, let it be done."

"By your will, great Settra," the court eventually echoed out. During this Juvia just listened, as she sat back down on the steps.

"In the time since we fell to ruin, many other human nations have risen," Settra said, "These nations are weak, and pitiful. If anything, they would be benefited by us conquering them." It didn't take a genius to realize what exactly the Pharaoh had plan. He had a big campaign planned, and it no doubt involved Juvia in a big role. But that meant war, and Juvia certainly did not want to go to war.

"Send word to the other cities to count their forces, and make the preparations," Settra said, "The sooner we are ready, the sooner we can act."

"Yes, your Majesty!" the court resounded.

"Juvia!" Settra called.

"Yes!" Juvia said, looking up from her position.

"You will stay with Rahtas, and continue to study the way of Nehekhara," Settra said, "When the time comes, you must understand it."

"Um…" Settra couldn't let her ask any questions, as he descended the steps of his throne, Nekaph following him. As he did, he leaned in next to Juvia.

"If you have any defiance left in you, free yourself of it," he said, "His Majesty has faced greater defiance and crushed it under his heel. You have his favor, favor lesser nobles in Nehekhara would kill to attain; that is something you should take advantage of that." He then left her, letting the Rain Woman watch as he left.

"Well," Rahtas said, coming up next to her, "I suppose we can start with the founding of the Empire."

"This is going to take a while, isn't it?" Juvia said with a sigh.

Note: It seems Finubar is not the only one with plans of rebuilding his empire.

This chapter was essentially establishing what's going on in Nehekhara. For them, the reviving of the river is beyond a good omen, its an essentially a miracle. Quickly note that Settra doesn't (at least to my knowledge) hold the exact title of "Pharaoh", and his title is instead "High King". Of course, that's the same title as the ruler of the Karaz-Ankor, and seeing as Nehekhara is pretty much this world's version of Ancient Egypt, why shouldn't he hold an Ancient Egyptian title?

Please review, though it seems the chapters with Juvia and the Tomb Kings are the least popular. Next chapter we'll see Lucy.