V.E.: Here is the next part of Princess of Egypt. It was nice to introduce Isis last chapter because she is one of the characters I enjoy expanding upon. I have nothing against Kazuki Takahashi, but one of my problems with the Millennium World Arc is that we were introduced to a good many characters and we weren't really given that much information or personality with them. The anime was better than the manga at this, but still not significantly enough. And with characterization as a strong point in my wriitng, this bugs me. I'm still trying to grasp Shada and Karim's characters for this fic and how they fit in.

It's a pleasure to be able to dive deeper into the motivations and character of people like Mana, Mahad, Isis, Aknamkamon, Aknadin, Shimon, and especially for this story Kisara. I'm not counting Nephthys or Kiya since they are my own characers, though they do serve to move the plot along with first as a mentor and the later as confidant.

Believe it or not, despite my problems with the last chapter, I had a pretty good idea what I wanted to be the focus of this chapter. And I'm pretty sure you guys have a pretty good idea what it was about when you saw the title.

Now for the quote of the chapter: "No, I would not want to live in a world without dragons, as I would not want to live in a world without magic, for that is a world without mystery, and that is a world without faith."― R.A. Salvatore, Streams of Silver (It was the closest I could get to a quote on dragons and magicians.)

Leaned over the small desk that had been brought in for the lesson, Kisara finally finished her small neat strokes that consisted today's assignment. Sitting up and looking down at her work, she smiled at the pride of accomplishment.

She then turned her head to find Atem slumped over his seat sleeping without a care in the world.

The young girl rolled her eyes before she leaned over to jab the crazy haired prince awake.

Suffice to say, it was super effective; considering how fast her foster bother stood up straight.

"I didn't do it!"

His eyes blanked from the panic expression he woke up with and turned his attention towards Kisara, who had crossed her arms and looking at him with something that bordered on disapproval.

"Care to explain what it is you didn't do?"

Atem gulped while the pale haired princess sighed.

"Never mind, you better finish up before Shimon comes back into to check on us."

Atem focused his energy back on his piece of papyrus.

"Right."

Kisara simply smiled in amusement of the young boy's antics. It hadn't been so long ago when the two had their first lesson together. Since then, Kisara had gotten used to Atem's occasional boredom and frustration with his lessons while she had borne them with patient dedication. To her surprise, Shimon had decided to give them the same material to cover, but then again Shimon knew that she was well beyond what a simply court lady was learning by now.

At this train of thought though, she sighed. She wished that her relationship with Isis was going as well as with Atem, but ever since the two had been introduced, Isis had taken to hanging out more with Nabirye and the rest of the girls. For some reason, the girl went to great lengths to avoid Kisara.

At times when she would pass Lady Nephthys and Isis in the halls, she would see a look of disappointment and disapproval glance from her to Isis. That it came from her former teacher bothered Kisara, but since it was not her fault that Nephthys' niece didn't seem to like her, she didn't know what she could really do.

There's only so much I can do about it. It's not first time a person disliked me without any real reason.

By the time Kisara, had sorted these thoughts through, Vizier Shimon came back into the small room that had been designated for the royals' lessons. He inspected the two with a warm smile.

"Well, how are we getting on with the lessons today?"

Kisara nodded to the older man respectfully.

"Very well."

Shimon gave her a smile at her work before glancing to Atem's barely half-finished parchment. He gave a stern look as the young prince gave a half grin. The old man sighed.

"Prince…."

Atem hung his head.

"I know, no leaving until it's done."

Shimon nodded with a firm look to the young prince before turning to Kisara.

"Exactly. You may go, Princess."

She smiled at that before getting up, shooting a regretful look at her adoptive brother.

"I'm sorry…"

Atem waved his hand to stop her, knowing well that he had to get this on his own and not rely on his foster-sister to get his work done.

"Just make sure to tell me everything that goes on in Mahad's duel."

Her smile was more genuine at that.

"I promise."

With that said, she turned to the door and made the walk towards it.

Right outside, Kiya was waiting and bowed when she saw the princess come out.

"How was your lesson today, Princess Kisara?"

Kisara almost rolled her eyes at the formality, but she knew that Kiya would never call her only by her name outside of her room. So she simply answered.

"Very well, Atem is staying behind because he didn't finish his work. By the way, have you heard from your family recently?"

"They're good, but…."

The princess' attention was peaked at that.

"But?"

"The sickness I mentioned, it's been growing worse. I hear it's even starting to reach some of the houses in the capital. Everyone's worried."

Kisara nodded, a seed of idea trying to germinate in her mind but not succeeding.

"I see."

If there was a thing about magician's duels Kisara had to give credit to, they were very interesting to watch.

As was evidenced by the crowd that come to watch the duel. She had seen Shada and Karim in the lineup of students to watch, but that wasn't that much of a surprise considering them and Mahad were all magic students, though Mahad was some levels above them. The regulars of court, many of which Kisara had yet to be introduced to and the few she did had been at her adoption banquet. Even the Pharaoh and the other Guardians had come to watch the duel.

What surprised Kisara was that Nabirye, Isis, and the other girls were also here. But that was a mystery resolved before long as she heard what they were saying right in front of her, magical blasts flying on the field.

"Bari really is cute!"

"And I hear he's really rich! His family came over for dinner once, his mother's ruby earrings were enormous!"

"Have you seen her golden collar?"

The young princess sighed, as she tried to focus on the elemental blasts of the duel.

Why is every girl at court, aside from Mana, shallow and obsessed with beauty?

Said green-eyed apprentice had been banned from watching duels after that last prank she had pulled on one of Mahad's opponents (even Kisara had to chuckle at remembering how she turned his hair purple), so Kisara was left to watch with Kiya right next to her.

Though if there was one thing that intrigued her was that Isis was seemed to be only half listening to the girls gush, instead keeping her eyes on the match going on.

She also turned her attention to the match, now that the two had gotten out their Kas instead of shooting magical blasts at each other. Bari's Deepsea Warrior against Mahad's Illusion Magician.

However, just like the first time she had seen them duel before she was even a princess, the illusion Magician was failing.

With one final swoop from the Deepsea Warrior, the little purple magician disappeared with a small shriek.

Bari smiled as the clapping of the audience started and turned to walk over to his opponent, looking ready to gloat. Mahad was on his knees again, feeling drained after using that much magic for a duel. Even at a distance, Kisara could see how much effort the apprentice magician had put into the fight.

But it wasn't enough.

The young magician looked up at the person who defeated him. Bari smirked.

"Once again, you've lost. You know, I've stopped trying to expect more from you. You're just disappointing."

In a second, Mahad went from tired and panting to shooting a very sharp glare. He stood up while straightening his body, brushed himself off, resolutely turned away from his opponent, and steadily walked away.

Right in front of Kisara, Yaminah sighed as the brown-haired magician walked off.

"Poor Mahad...Bari didn't need to say that."

Nabirye simply 'hmped'.

"If you ask me, Mahad is a bit of a disappointment."

Bahiti turned with the rest of the girls, including Isis, to give Nabirye their undivided attention.

"What do you mean by that?"

"For the apprentice to Master Rashidi, Mahad isn't all that powerful. There was a lot of talk when he was to train under him. I mean, he was the first official apprentice for one of the Sacred Guardians. And look what we've got!"

Kisara bit her lip, her angry rising as she listened to even more of what Nabirye was saying. Not noticing how Isis' knuckles were clenching white.

"I have to wonder why Master Rashidi chose him. I mean, he's a decent catch for any girl here, but if things keep up he'll be the laughing-stock of the entire Inner Court! Honestly, who really expects him to…"

But a sharp noise of a chair screeching from behind ended the girl going on. The group cringed, paused for a moment, before slowly turning to the mounting fury that was behind them.

She may not have gotten angry often, but when Kisara got angry she was not a push over. The group went still at the scorching blue-eyed glare aimed at them, the others nearby noticing the change in the princess glad that fury wasn't being aimed at them.

She glared at them for a good half-minute before turning to Kiya who was standing right next to where she was sitting.

"Kiya."

The mouse like servant girl cringed immensely, never having experienced this kind of mood from her Master before.

"Yes, Princess?"

"Tell my brother, I'll be late. I have something to attend to."

Kiya bowed as she stood aside for a clear path for her to go.

"Yes, my lady."

The princess then made her way past the young girl, walking toward the same direction as Mahad was headed.

Ain leaned towards Nabirye.

"You know, I think you might have said a little too much."

Nabirye crossed her arms.

"I don't see why not."

Yaminah stated the obvious, a dead panned look on her face.

"Other than the fact, that Mahad is the Crown Prince's best friend and is close to Kisara too."

Bahiti nodded before glancing at Isis, who was the only one that had remained silent and now looked deep in thought.

"Is there something wrong Isis?"

Isis came out of her thoughts and shook her head.

"No, I'm fine."

"You sure? You looked really deep in thought there."

Isis shook her head again before catching the eye of her aunt.

"I'm fine, really. Now if you'll excuse me, it looks like Aunt Nephthys wants me."

The young seer in training stood up and walked over to where Lady Nephthys was standing and waiting as said.

Bahiti sighed, turning her head to find Kiya right by her side.

"Do you ever get the impression that there's more going on to a situation than you will ever really understand or want to?"

Kiya rolled her eyes with a sigh.

"Tell me about it."

After searching for a while, Kisara finally found Mahad sitting on the edge of one of the palace stone ponds, rubbing some water onto a part of his arm. She smiled as she notified she was there.

"That hot today, huh?"

Mahad turned sharply, but relaxed when he saw it was just her. He talked as she came to sit by him.

"Just some tension. Magic takes a lot out of a person, especially a magician's duel. What are you doing here?"

Kisara's face went from smile to grimace.

"I heard some not nice things."

Mahad smiled at her support.

"Don't worry, I've kind of gotten used to everyone badmouthing me. It doesn't change who I am and what I do."

"You know Mahad, I knew you had a lot of self-control, but I'm surprised."

He shrugged at that.

"Let's just say, I've gotten used to people talking about me. The only ones I care about are the ones that matter. Though, Bari really gets on my nerves sometimes."

Her eyes turned downcast at that.

"I wish I could think like that. I always feel like everyone's looking at me to make a mistake, to prove that I'm not a princess at all. Even after more than a year of this, I'm still…"

Mahad used his hand to bring her chin up, speaking to her confidently.

"Hey, you'll get better. Even your brother has trouble with it, and someday you'll do something so great, you will definitely prove them all wrong."

Kisara smiled as Mahad removed his hand from under her chin.

"Funny, I was going to say something similar to you."

Mahad started on his talk.

"Kisara, everyone knows that my magic could be considered worse than average, despite…"

Kisara cut him off though.

"And I think we both know, that you are a lot stronger and a lot more powerful than most people think you are."

Mahad's jaw dropped before it came back up, prompting a few minutes of relative silence between the two, the birds in the distance the only real sound around them. Finally, he broke it.

"How long have you known?"

"Since the day I first saw you duel Bari, did you see...?"

Mahad quickly nodded.

"The vision, should have figured you would have."

Kisara looked at him intently.

"What's this all about?"

Mahad took a deep breath, readying his thoughts on how best to explain this before finally talking.

"The day after I came to Court, the day after I first met Atem, Master Rashidi took me to the Magician's Training Ground, outside the city. I didn't understand why we were going there, my teacher wouldn't answer any questions.

"When we got there, all of the Sacred Guardians were in the dueling chamber. It was then that my Master used the Millennium Ring to test my magic…and confirm his suspicions."

Kisara perked up interest, remembering when Rashidi had done something similar during her interrogation on her first day at the palace.

"Suspicions?"

"My Ka manifested and easily defeated all of the Spirits brought forth from the other guardians, even Pharaoh Aknamkamon's. They were so tired after it, so drained, and I was barley fatigued. Master Rashidi barely spoke to me on the ride back"

Kisara's eyes widened.

"Oh my gods."

Mahad nodded, his eyes misting in remembrance.

"The next week, we went back; myself, Master Rashidi, Master Aknadin, Vizier Shimon, and the Pharaoh. There, they sealed most of my powers in those stones. Since then, my powers are not nearly destructive, but they're a lot weaker. My Ka's a lot smaller than it used to be. Also, now it takes me forever to learn spells since I have to try them over and over to get them right, and even then they're not at the power level they should. Not to mention it drains me since I have to try so much."

"But at your full strength…if you ever unleashed that seal…"

The magician looked grim as he said the next words.

"If I was ever at my full power, my magic would exceed all the Guardians of the Inner Court combined. It's too dangerous for someone to have all that power, especially me."

Kisara hesitated before placing a hand on Mahad's shoulder, smiling to his gloom.

"It's okay. You're still you, aren't you?"

Mahad smiled before changing the subject of the conversation.

"Okay, I've said my story, your turn."

Her eyes widened as Mahad gave her a straight look.

"I saw that vision too. What's with the dragon?"

She removed her hand from Mahad's shoulder, twisting it with her other hand as she tried to explain.

"I….wasn't just adopted because I saved the Pharaoh's life. It's also because of what you Egyptians call my Ka, which apparently is also tied to my Ba which according to Lady Nephthys, not only would I die if my dragon was removed, it also makes it stronger than most other Spirits."

Mahad looked at her questioningly.

"Have you ever used it?"

Kisara cringed at that, thinking about it partly while she was speaking.

"Intentionally, never. Unintentionally, two, maybe three times. Unlike you and Mana, I don't have magic and from what I understand my dragon responds to my will and emotions. The strongest it's ever been is when I want to protect someone."

Her thoughts connected as she looked at Mahad meaningfully.

"Please don't tell anyone about this. I mean my foster-father and the Guardians know, but…"

Mahad waved away her concerns as he smiled.

"Don't worry, I won't say anything to Prince or Mana. I do know what it means to keep a secret. And think about it, now you have someone to talk to about it when you need to. I mean, it's better than just suffering alone."

Kisara smiled in assurance.

"Same here. I'm here if you ever need to talk, though I really wish I could punch Bari for you…"

A hint of laughter was heard in Mahad's voice.

"I think that would be unacceptable behavior for a princess."

Kisara groaned.

"You sound like Nephthys when she was teaching me courtly etiquette. Why does everything have to be so complicated? You think Bari is unpleasant, try dealing with Nabirye."

Mahad patted the stressed out princess on the back.

"There, there."

The two young children bordering on teens relaxed in the moment alone, away from the prying eyes of court, unaware of the blue-eyed priestess in training that had stumbled onto the scene and was watching them both.

V.E.: it was nice to finally do this chapter, something I knew I was going to do after Mahad's duel in Chapter 8. The plague I mentioned will come up later, but what I'm really addressing this chapter is Mahad and Kisara's relationship for this fic.

In my perspective, Mahad and Kisara are very much Kindred Spirits. Older and more intellectual souls that are quite reserved to play off the playfulness of their younger counterparts. Both having a lot of power, but don't use it except to protect the people they care about. Carrying secrets is hard and it's nice for those two to have someone to talk to about it, as an equal and not an older mentor.

Now it came across my mind when I wrote the scene between the two of them that people are going to ask me whether a relationship between those two could work. In my own opinion, it could have happened. If Kisara never met Seto and Mahad didn't have Isis, it could have happened. Notice, could have. She did meet Seto and Isis is present, so there's no point really wondering about it. I don't usually ship characters with multiple people, so there's my reason.

Please review!