V.E.: Welcome back to another well awaited chapter of Princess of Egypt! Summer is winding down unfortunately, and at this updates will come out less frequently. I can only hope to not abandon it completely in college.
So one might wonder exactly what the title is about? Well, Kisara is going to have another teacher this chapter. Or at least an examiner. I'll have to see how this goes. And after this, I guess I'll go and think out the next chapter on The Mummy Reborn.
Disclaimer: If I owned Yugioh, I'm not sure whether I would have finished it. I still have yet write something of my own and truly finish it. Although, I do have some ideas for a manga despite my lack of artistic talent.
It struck Kisara how strange it was, as she gazed at Nephthys' hand mirror, that how much time could pass and not much could change in a person's appearance.
True enough, in the several months that she had been living in the palace, the only physical change in her was her new clothes. Her hair was still as pale white as her skin and her eyes were still blue, though they looked even more serious and studious.
At the beginning, she had wondered which morning she would wake up and discover that this turn of events was nothing more than a dream. Slowly, however, she'd grown used to waking up to her room with its painted gods and dancers. Her lessons had become as happenstance as once journeying south had been over a year ago.
But the pale foreign girl had come to realize, as she examined herself in the mirror, that she would never truly be Egyptian. Sure, she could study lessons, dress the part, but she wasn't born here. Even if she had, Kisara doubted she would have been accepted as one because she doubted her looks would have been different.
Learning even more about Egypt's history, had made this become clearer to her. It was definitely implied throughout all the scrolls she could now read on her own, that foreigners(in particular foreign rulers) were not looked upon well in this society.
She shuddered at facing the court. She got the feeling she'd have to contend with Master Aknadin, at least.
Don't think about that right now Kisara…Nephthys believes that you can do this. From what you know of her, would she have bothered with you if she didn't think you had a chance?
At that thought, Kisara glanced up and put her mirror back on the desk. Where was she anyway? Now a days, the priestess would often leave Kisara to her scrolls as she watched in the background. She would only interrupt her student if it looked if there was some trouble, though she would stay with Kisara constantly through the harp lessons.
And she had definitely been there when she had settled into the writings earlier. However, it seemed as if her mentor had simply vanished into thin air.
Kisara tried to shrug it off.
She probably just left the room to deal with a small matter. She does have her own duties outside of training you, Kisara.
With that thought in mind, the young girl turned back to the scroll's hieratic writing and several tablets inscribed with such writing. She had come to love reading them, though there were times she found them rather dry.
Sometimes she longed for the old tales of her village in the north; of monstrous trolls, spirits of the ancestors, and the heroic deeds of battles by mortals and immortals. There was a comfort of home she associated with them that she doubted she would ever feel for the stories of the gods of the Egyptian pantheon.
Maybe when the day came she could write better, Kisara would write them all down and keep them close to her, perhaps in her room. At the very least, there would be some record of her homeland in this strange land.
Then again, this land was longer as strange to her as when she first arrived. That must say something about her ability to adapt.
Immediately as she thought that, the doors to the room burst open and Nephthys came into her quarters with an air of great agitation.
Kisara rose from her chair at the surprise.
"Lady Nephthys, what's wrong?!"
It didn't seem as if her teacher had heard as it seemed she was thinking out loud, pacing back and forth.
"I cannot believe this!…without even some warning…..still, it isn't the worse thing I suppose…"
The pale student sighed to herself, rolling her eyes at her teacher. She cleared her throat, successfully gaining her teacher's attention.
Nephthys was actually pretty taken aback.
"Oh, umm….Kisara. My apologies, I forgot you were studying in here."
Kisara shook her head, not at all offended. It was her room after all.
"That's all my lady. Is something the matter?"
Nephthys' faced contained a rather small scowl.
"The pharaoh has sent for me to appear at court, right now. And after asking yesterday specifically if I was needed….well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave right now."
Kisara's eyes widened, but she understood. In her learning on court etiquette, she had read the pharaoh's word was law, going against it could be seen as treason.
"Then, today's lessons are cancelled?"
Nephthys shook her head, a rather resigned look.
"Oh no, they're not."
To say Kisara was confused, was an understatement. Her voice made that clear.
"I don't understand."
Nephthys sighed and then went on to explain, a certain bit of resentment through her voice.
"It seems as if some of the priests have been wondering at the extent of the education I am giving you."
Kisara cringed at the bitterness, somehow she got the feeling some priests translated to Aknadin.
The Egyptian priestess went on, regardless.
"As a result, the pharaoh decided to send someone to evaluate you and gauge your academic level. Another teacher just for today."
Kisara felt surprised at the idea of meeting someone and at the same time intimidated. Nephthys was a stern teacher, but she had been kind in her own way. She had no idea what this person was going to be like.
They could be even stricter. And what would they think about how I look? Mostly, the servants just stared. Although, Akila and Dendera were more interested what they could do with me fashion wise.
She took a deep breath and steeled herself.
"So, who's going to be observing me?"
Nephthys cast her eyes at the doorway.
"You can come in now, old man."
At that, Vizier Shimon Muran, the Millennium Key strangely absent(he had lent it to Shada to use for the afternoon in his training, partially because he was worried about it reacting with Kisara again), came into the doorway and entered the room with a smile on his gruff face. A mischievous twinkle in his purple eyes was shot at the stern Lady Nephthys.
"You think that you would have learned, Lady Nephthys, to respect me after all these years of working together."
Nephthys gave a small smirk.
"As I recall, you were not always the dedicated and serious vizier that everyone calls you. What was that incident some years ago, involving the young princes and the banquet with visiting the King of Hatti? To my memory, it was their tutor who helped sneak in the those infernal bugs."
The aged vizier chuckled rather sheepishly, coughing slightly.
"Well, I was much younger then and a lot more influenced by the 'puppy dog' eyes from small children."
Nephthys shot an wry glance at her old acquaintance.
"One could question whether that has changed."
At that, Shimon simply chuckled. It struck Kisara as a kind of playful banter, not at the cold contempt that her teacher and Master Aknadin shared with each other.
She must really respect him.
"You know Nephthys, I have to wonder how you know every bit of gossip in this court, past and present."
Nephthys simply smiled demurely.
"Good ears and an even better memory. Well, after having been a full time tutor to the terrible twosome and part time for our Crown Prince, teaching Kisara should be a rather relaxing break."
At that, Shimon glanced at Kisara and their eyes met. He looked back at Nephthys.
"We'll see. Don't you have to get going?"
Nephthys nodded to Shimon and then smiled at Kisara one last time.
"Alright, I get when I'm wanted gone. I'll see you later Kisara."
With that, Nephthys turned around and exited through the doorway, closing the door and leaving the twoalone together.
For a couple of minutes of awkward silence, Kisara felt her head go to her hands as they twisted themselves in a nervous habit.
Vizier Shimon noticed her nervousness as his eyes softened and he cleared his throat. Kisara looked up to find the old man smiling at her gently.
"Shall we get started?"
Kisara gulped, but was reassured and nodded.
"Okay."
Walking back to the desk, Kisara took her customary seat and sat herself back down. Shimon noticed the seat beside her and made the move to sit.
Glancing over at the scrolls after Kisara began to read, the vizier decided to comment his thoughts.
"So what exactly are you studying right now?"
Kisara kept her eyes on the scroll, but answered.
"About the Heretic Ruler Akhenaten and the Aten cult. During which time, the pharaoh abandoned the old capital and constructed a new capital called Amarna. He hoped it would stand for ages, but it was sadly abandoned after his death by his son Tutankhamen during his attempt to revive in Egypt's faith in the system of the old gods."
Vizier Shimon was quite taken aback by the blunt and factual way the foreign girl explained things. And even more so at realizing how advanced she was in history than she had previously considered.
Kisara looked up from her reading and, seeing the dumbstruck look, winced.
"I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?"
Shimon shook his head slowly.
"No, no you didn't. I just didn't expect you to say things so…."
Kisara cringed.
"Sorry, Lady Nephthys said you would be evaluating me and I thought that was how I should have answered."
"Not at all. Just out of curiosity, how is Nephthys teaching you these days?"
Kisara shrugged.
"Well, earlier Nephthys would supervise everything, especially when I was learning how to write. Now that I can read it without too much of a head ache, she just watches me study. Except when it comes to harp."
Shimon's eyebrow quirked in interest, taking note that Kisara had dropped the title.
"Aside from History, Hieratic, and Harp; what else are you learning?"
Kisara had to think about that for a moment.
"Basic Math, though to be honest it isn't hard. Before I learned history, I learned about religion and some odd facts. After I saw the Ka demonstration a while ago, my teacher has also been teaching me how magic is used. Mostly she's been teaching about court politics and other countries. She said that since I'm progressing so fast in hieratic, we would probably be able to move onto cuneiform soon."
Vizier Shimon did very well to maintain his outward façade, underneath he was quite impressed. Knowing Nephthys, it was probably a lot more intensive than the old man had previously thought.
Still, he kept his tone even as he spoke next.
"If I may….Miss….?"
"Please Kisara. I'm not a princess or a lady really."
Shimon nodded to that.
"Alright; Kisara; would you mind if I ask you some questions about all this?"
Kisara's hands were clutched in nervousness, but she restrained from gulping and managed a weak nod.
"Sure. Ask away."
Nephthys's face was a permanent scowl as she surveyed the options on the senet board before her.
She glanced back up at her pharaoh.
"You know how much I hate your games, right?"
The Pharaoh's expression didn't change at all as he began to get the sticks ready to be tossed. Aknadin was off to the side, merely watching.
"My Lady Nephthys, I don't know what you mean."
With the toss of the sticks and the moving of the pieces, Nephthys' reply came.
"Very funny, my pharaoh. You just wanted me here so that Shimon would able to examine the girl on his own."
Aknadin shrugged.
"Well, you can't have expected us to simply rely on your word alone about this girl."
This prompted another exchange of dark looks between the two Item wielders.
Aknamkamon cleared his throat, gaining the two's attentions effectively, and gestured at the senet game for Nephthys.
"Your turn, Nephthys."
Nephthys sighed, as she rubbed the sticks and tossed.
"I don't know why I even bother. Gods above know that you're practically unbeatable my Pharaoh."
The Pharaoh merely gave a sly smile.
"Oh, I don't know. I think in a few years, my son will be quite the player himself."
Nephthys gave him a hard look.
"Let's hope that statement only extends games, sports, and court."
The Egyptian woman's words succeeded in giving the Pharaoh and the wielder of the Millennium Eye minor blushes. They well aware at the actions of their former pharaohs(one such example being the pharaoh previous, their father).
Trying to disguise the discomfort, the current pharaoh feigned a cough.
"Is it my turn?"
The priestess nodded, knowing very well that what she had said hit home.
"Yes, go on."
But just as Aknamkamon was about to do so, the doors to the small lounging place was opened and there in the doorway stood Vizier Shimon.
Aknamkamon commented with some surprise.
"Shimon, I'm surprised to see you back so soon. I thought you would take the whole day."
As Shimon Muran walked over to the game being played, Nephthys commented as the sticks were rubbed and thrown.
"So, Vizier Shimon, was my pupil an apt student?"
Finally, standing right in front of her, the old man gave her blank look.
Nephthys was confused at his expression, but made no visible change.
"Yes, Shimon?"
"You said that Kisara was a very tolerable student."
Nephthys nodded.
"I did. Is there a problem with that?"
Vizier Shimon looked at her incredulously.
"Tolerable? TOLERABLE!? More like brilliant!"
At that, the old vizier collapsed into the chair beside the game and sighed.
Though all the three were stunned to silence at the aged advisor's pronouncement, Aknadin was the first to speak about it.
"Brilliant, her? Master Shimon, surely that might be exaggerating…."
Shimon shook his head.
"No, in fact now I find it a mere understatement. The amount of information that girl has absorbed is, quite frankly, astonishing. She answered every question I asked her, without fail. The only thing I can really say about her is her nerves."
Nephthys nodded in understanding.
"Yes, she can be a little shy at times."
Aknamkamon took all this information in, remarking when he was done thinking.
"She'll grow out of it, with time and practice."
Aknadin still seemed doubtful at the pronouncement.
"You're certain she's really that smart?"
Shimon was shaking his head in wonder.
"Indeed, it's even more impressive considering this isn't her home country. Well I must say Nephthys, she is a very quiet and responsible girl compared to my previous experiences."
Pharaoh Aknamkamon finally moved his pieces, his voice rather good natured.
"Oh Shimon, I don't think my son is that bad…"
Shimon shot a rather even look at his king.
"It was not to Prince Atem I was referring to."
That immediately silenced both Aknamkamon and Aknadin, and for a moment they were nothing more than school boys and princes being scolded by their Tutor Shimon with whacks to their hands(courtesy of the old man's whip). Even though it was so many years ago, both twins resisted the urge to rub the sting out of their hands.
Nephthys became rather solemn at those words.
"Speaking of Prince Atem, how is he doing?"
Aknamkamon snapped out of his musings at that.
"You mean he hasn't been to see Kisara?"
Nephthys shook her head.
"Nope; and though Kisara did meet Mana and Mahad sometime ago, she hasn't seen them since."
Aknadin looked interested at that.
"You think the Prince told them to stay away from her?"
Nephthys shook her head again.
"I don't know, but Prince Atem has been watching her. A couple of times I've been with Kisara in the gardens, I've seen the Prince observing her, sometimes with Mahad and Mana."
Pharaoh Aknamkamon inclined his head, willing to hear what she had to say.
"What do you propose we do about that?"
Nephthys gave her opinion with a frank look.
"At this point, nothing. We all know the Prince is a very shy boy, especially with strangers. Let him alone, we can't force them to like each other. In time, he'll approach her.
Aknadin gave a short nod.
"That would be the wisest course."
Nephthys shot a wry look at the one eyed priest.
"Oh Aknadin, don't tell me you're starting to change your opinions about that girl? One might think you care."
Even with one eye, the guardian could still glare.
"I never said that."
Nephthys simply 'hmped,' getting back to the game and picking up the throwing sticks.
"Alright then, you grumpy old man."
"You are hardly any younger than I am, old lady."
Vizier and Pharaoh simply shared a joined look of exasperation as the two Millennium Item wielders resumed their antagonism with each other. Then again, it would have been weirder to see those two getting along. The mutual dislike had become as commonplace in court as the air everyone breathed and Ra's rising every morning.
Aknamkamon spoke first, gesturing to the silent glaring contest. The senet game was pretty much forgotten.
"Perhaps we should just leave?"
The older man jumped on the opportunity.
"Good idea my Pharaoh."
The two stood up and immediately walked away, in attempt to get away before things got verbal again.
Once out of earshot, Pharaoh Aknamkamon turned to his old tutor. An incredible curiosity wasn't see on his face, but he couldn't keep some of it out of his voice.
"So, what exactly did she say?"
Vizier Shimon smiled, getting himself into a rather long story.
"Well, at first I asked her what she was studying and she said….."
V.E.: Well, glad that that is over with! Well, now we know that Atem was watching Kisara that day in the gardens that first time.
Don't worry, I'll get more into their relationship in the next couple chapters. I've been wanting to do that from the start. Unfortunately, Seto won't be coming in for a long time. Probably after Isis has been properly introduced.
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