V.E.: Okay, the nice thing about going from Fate or Something Like It to Princess of Egypt is that I have a pretty good idea on how this next chapter is going to go. Maybe this means I can finally start writing on a more consistent basis now that I have a clearer idea on how I want my stories to go. Still, I shouldn't completely count on that since I do have other things to do before this semester is out.
Now, this is our second Interlude. What defines an interlude in this story is a chapter (which may or may not be shorter than the regular chapters) that doesn't have Kisara appear in it at all though it may mention her. So, there will be people these interludes will focus on other than Seto. It just happens the first two are from his perspective.
After this chapter, the story will be picking up a bit more about not only Kisara and Seto, but also Court politics. Therefore we're going to get more from Pharaoh Aknamkamon along with our Thief King's emergence.
My only hope is that this chapter was worth your patience.
Quote: "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." (I think this will apply for Seto later down the line, but since he's being tested this chapter, it will do.)
Focus, control. In, out.
Those were the thoughts Seto kept repeating in his mind. It was taking all his control not to break his composure and give up, but he was still going. Besides, he couldn't break here, not when he was so close.
Standing of the center of the testing ground of the temple with his eyes closed, he didn't pay attention to the sweaty and stained white robes that he had used ever since he became the apprentice to Master Khalid or the raised platform area he was standing on, now littered with the broken or burned remains of shabti and shards of pottery.
Around the platform, a crowd of students and priests had gathered to watch the spectacle. Though this was going on around the same time as the rest of the students of the temple had their exams, Seto's exams were of a different nature.
This was evident by the two priests currently overseeing the priest in trainings progress, slightly in front of the crowd. The first was Priest Khalid, who everyone staying at the Temple knew as a result of the past few years he had been teaching Seto. Looking as serious as ever, his knuckles had whitened after gripping the Millennium Rod for so long. If one really considered it, they might realize the priest looked more nervous than his student did.
The second person was a stranger by appearance to the crowd, but anyone who had half a brain had heard of Vizier Shimon. The Millennium Key hung around his neck and his purple vizier hat, his matching purple eyes surveyed the young man on the dais. He looked as if he was trying to find something specific about him.
Finally, the old man spoke to his fellow Guardian.
"He's done well so far, I take it you've taught him some of those exercises for increasing his endurance."
Khalid didn't bat an eye, his hand still clenched around the golden rod.
"I don't think it matters what I've taught him so long as he can use it to his advantage. Or do you find something lacking in my teaching?"
Shimon shook his head in response.
"Not at all. I'm just surprised by how long it has taken us to fully test him and the rest of his peers. So far we've seen his proficiency in hieroglyphics in the written exam, his mastery of swordsmanship and magical capabilities in the practical way out here."
"Which leaves one last test for him to face."
Shimon nodded once, a grave expression settling on his face.
"Yes, and perhaps the most difficult of them all."
Khalid merely let out a small 'hmphed.' He made direct eye contact with his student on the dais, the meaning behind the steely eyed gaze not lost on his student.
The blue eyed youth smirked then.
Finally.
He readied his stance in anticipation, his eyes meeting the vizier's purple ones with full acceptance of the challenge. Of all the things he had been practicing for these tests, this was the one he had been looking forward to the most.
Shimon's eyebrows merely raised a little at the youth's response, a hand stroking his beard in contemplation.
"Well, he's certainly confidant. It reminds me of…something, but I can't quite put my finger on it."
The Rod wielder raised the arm with his own Diadhank on.
"Should I go ahead?"
Shimon's hand went from his beard to the air, waving the thought to the side.
"No, if it might be alright, I'd like to do the testing myself."
Khalid shot the old man and incredulous look, his grip on the Rod would have been shattering if had been something other than a Millennium Item.
"Surely you're not thinking of unleashing the…."
That got a very irate glare from the vizier.
"I said I never would again, didn't I?! I was thinking of one of my lesser monsters."
That seemed to relieve the middle aged priest, lowering his Diadhank arm back into the crossed form it had been previous with the Rod still gripped in his other hand.
"Oh, good."
"Besides, the main thing with this test isn't so much whether he wins or not. It's how he uses his inner power."
The old man took a deep breath, raising his own Diadhank. His eyes sharpened into a fierce gaze as he called out to a Ka sleeping far away in his shrine.
"Come, Minomushi Warrior!"
The Diadhank glowed and though it took a little while a light came flying up in the sky and turned down to where the dais was. With the exception of those two who knew what was going on, the entire crowd of onlookers were in shock as the light began to change shape. Even Seto's eyes widened for the barest fraction of a moment before going back to his normal exterior.
Finally, the light died down and in its place was a human like Ka. Muscular and decked with an armor that seemed to be a demon's skin, the man stood with his sword raised, his smile a little unhinged, and glowing blue eyes aimed at the young priest on the ground below.
While the rest of the crowd murmured in both fear and excitement (being the first time many would have seen Ka), Khalid nodded in approval before turning his head slightly towards the old vizier.
"Good choice, not too weak for a starter. Though I thought this was about how he uses his Ka."
That got a small smirk out of Shimon.
"Well, he is your student, I imagine you've taught him enough to handle this much."
A matching small smirk appeared on the owner of the Millennium Rod whose grip on it was a bit relaxed.
"Well, you'll just have to watch and see for yourself."
Seto's eyes were narrowed in concentration as he beheld the warrior Ka with his sword.
A little bit higher level than what I was expecting, but I suppose it'll do.
His stance slipped into the form he had practiced every day for months, his eyes sharpening and his form glowing light blue as he called out.
"Come forth, Duos!"
The light rushed from his form, growing larger and finally taking the shape of rather unusual looking Ka (AN: Personal opinion, okay?). In what looked like something crossed between a demon and a man, Duos was a dark blue and purple winged creature with sharp teeth and a sword that was ready to be swung.
The brown haired young man who had summoned the Ka merely smirked as he pointed and stated his order.
"Duos, crush it!"
In less than a blink of an eye, Duos slashed the warrior in two, not sparing any movement.
Minomushi Warrior didn't even have the chance to scream in defeat as the Ka dissipated into light and shot back into the sky, returning to place it rested at such a far distance away.
The crowd seemed to gasping in shock at the quickness of the display, but it wasn't them that Seto was looking at as he turned his head towards the crowd. He waited for the two priests' answer, his body really feeling the urge to crumble but he steeled himself for just a little bit longer. Their masked expressions giving no hint to what their true thoughts were.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the vizier took an almost unnoticeable step forward and gave a single nod.
It was then Seto felt his body slumped, letting out a small sigh of relief while still keeping up his composure. He looked towards Duos and nodded, his Ka giving him a matching nod before disappearing back into light himself.
It was only then he deigned to pay a sliver of attention to the crowd that had gathered, their awestruck and disbelieving faces made him want to smirk and give a snide comment, but he knew very well that would be in bad taste for the moment. Still, it felt amazing to have stood up there in front of the many people who thought he would fail and proved them wrong.
"Most impressive, Seto."
Seto turned his head at three individuals who were coming up the steps at that moment: Vizier Shimon, his master Khalid, and High Priest Aiemapt who Seto was surprised (he didn't even know the head priest was in the crowd watching).
Priest Aiemapt, the one who had spoken the praise, was probably one of the very few that seemed to have found potential in Seto and took him seriously from the beginning of his stay at the temple. A rather middle sized man with the traditional bald head, white robes, but had a tattoo running down his left arm and his only piece of jewelry was a lapis lazuli ring on his left hand. His smile was always genuine though as he reached out and squeezed Seto's tense shoulder.
"Hard to believe that it was just a couple of years ago, you showed up at our temple wanting to be taken in and learn. I knew you had potential boy, but this is…well…"
Seto bowed his head in appreciation towards the temple's high priest, being one of the very few people he had the highest regard for.
"I will never forget all I've learned here, Priest Aiemapt."
Aiemapt nodded in satisfaction.
"Yes, you'll need it where you'll be going. I better to see to those preparations to send you off. Care to walk with me for a while, Vizier Shimon? I've wanted to ask you about Issa and the others sicne you got here, but the tests seemed to be more pressing."
Vizier Shimon gave a small smile at the priest's offer.
"I'd be delighted to, Aiemapt."
The priest smiled before seeming to remember something and turned a fierce stare on the crowd (a good part of it not directed at the ones who were supposed to be training).
"Well, what are you all gawking and standing around for? Everyone, back to your lessons!"
Needless, to say the crowd took the hint and left the area as quickly as they all could.
Aiemapt walked up to Shimon, who gave him a knowing look.
"Still haven't lost your touch, I see."
The high priest talked as the two walked off the daïs together, caught up in their own conversation.
"Well, you try teaching at least twenty boys in one class. I'd say you've gotten off rather easy teaching the royal children…"
"Easy is not what I'd call it."
Seto watched the two walk away, his own mind realizing something now.
I've passed, passed it all! That means….I'm heading to the Capital, to the palace!
An amused chuckle made the astonished expression leave his face as he turned around to find his teacher standing there looking very amused.
"I see it's finally hit you then."
He tried to shrug nonchalantly.
"Not really."
"You're a horrible liar Seto, you're going to have to fix that if you hope to make it in the Capital."
That thought gave Seto pause, hesitating for just a moment before speaking.
"Master Rashidi?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Is it really alright for me to go the capital? Arne't a lot of people going to be upset because of…you know? My background."
Even after training in the Temple with one of the Sacred Guardians, there had still been plenty of people who had looked down on Seto because he was peasant born (he privately suspected that the envy and jealously of his peers were also a contributing factor). If that was what it was like in a small temple in one of the more remote Nomes, how much worse was it going to be in the capital, to people who hadn't seen what he could do?
Khalid's face was grave.
"Seto, when I began training you, the both of us knew that this wasn't going to be easy. It may seem impossible, but I do believe you'll be able to rise to the challenge. The main problem will be the traditionalists, but I think even they'll be impressed once they see exactly what you're capable off."
A small smile crept on to Khalid's face as he said the next part.
"Besides, after seeing what our 'princess' is capable off, I think the Court might be more open to people from outside the nobility taking a greater role in the kingdom's future."
Seto blinked, confused at what his teacher was talking about before he remembered.
Oh yes, her.
He had heard the stories about the adopted princess from the students gossiping in the halls; a girl with the beauty of a goddess who had saved the pharaoh from certain death who took her looks as a divine sign and adopted her. Supposedly, it had been her healing techniques that had helped save so many lives during the recent plague. It hadn't touched the temple, but the new priest had heard enough about it to know that many were singing the girl praises.
Personally, he thought the stories were a bit exaggerated, having resolved since the beginning of his training to reserve his judgment until he actually saw this princess, but the curiosity of Khalid's regard for her prompted him to ask.
"Master Khalid, is the princess really that impressive?"
Khalid's face remained the same, but there seemed to be a small twinkle in his eye as he answered.
"Just about everyone from the lower nobles of court to Sacred Guardians will tell you so, with the exception of Aknadin perhaps. And not just because she was a foreigner who saved the pharaoh's life."
"But what did the princess do to make them have such a high regard for her?"
"Well…let's just say she's different. You'll understand when you see her though I wouldn't expect that you'll ever really talk to her. She tends to keep to herself, the young noble ladies of Court, and her brother's group."
Seto shrugged uncaring.
Fine by him, he was more interested in his training then some mysterious princess. If she and her brother were the type to keep to themselves, what did it matter?
He was interrupted from his musings by his master's hand patting his back.
"All that said, you did very well today Seto."
Moderately stunned at the praise that his teacher wasn't that prone to showing, Seto felt his face become slightly hot with embarrassment.
His teacher chuckled at his student's reaction, leading his student to walk off the dais with him.
"Now come on, it's about time we got your measurements."
The slight tinge of embarrassment faded away from Seto's face to give way to puzzlement.
"Why on earth do we need to do that?"
"Well, partly because we need to get you wrist measured for your own Diadhank, but mainly because you need new clothes. Your robes definitely won't suit you there."
V.E.: Not completely satisfied, but this were I feel the need to cut off. I just feel like I need to be posting something since it's been so long between updates.
Next time, Seto comes to the capital and is presented to the Pharaoh, his guradians, and Atem. I think we all know two people who are going to be very shaken up when they see him.
Please review. Next up for me is Child of Ice!