Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.

Chapter Twelve

Dria

Many people have feared the shadows since time unknown. I couldn't blame them at all because even I was afraid at times. What the shadows truly were and why they existed was never-ending mystery. That was what made people fear them, considering them to exist solely for the purpose of consuming the light. Some of them did. They hated the light that we mortals lived in, which was always bright and normally happy and peaceful. Many of them wanted us to suffer as they did, to live in the darkness for eternity.

But most mortals didn't know the shadows like I did.

"Caudex! You're going to wake her!"

"Gomensai, pater."

Since they had existed from the beginning, the shadows often mixed languages together, sometimes in pure confusion, sometimes as a game. They loved to try to confuse each other by mixing languages together in their conversations to test the bounds of their own intellect. When someone managed to confuse the other, the game was over, and one side won. I had seen games that went on for hours and even days. When I had lived here for a short time, I had a game that went on for a week that I finally managed to win by confusing my friend by using my native language, one he was unfamiliar with. After that, he and the other shadows had prepared a delicious meal to congratulate the both of us for playing for so long.

I opened my eyes to see two shadows staring down at me with their beady black eyes. These two were phantoms, outcasts to the outcasts even in the Shadow Realm. But I wasn't afraid because they were harmless and peaceful. As the guides from one world to the other, these two especially loved to help anyone who was new, whether it was by that person's own choice or by the hand of another. Most people, however, were unaware of their existence. I shook my head a little as I sat up from the bed they had made for me.

"You fool, you know she has a longum iter ahead of her."

The second, smaller figure fell to his knees in front of me, on the verge of weeping.

"Domina, mei dux, please forgive me for waking you. Mi dispiace."

I rose from the bed, stretching out my legs a little, and went to my knees next to him. He dropped his head lower, trying not to tremble in terror. He went to grab my hand to place a kiss on it, only to start crying when I moved my hand out of his reach. He had done nothing wrong. If I had any chance of finding Grandpa, Seto, and Mokuba, I couldn't waste time sleeping, no matter how badly I needed it. They were more important than I was, especially now. I placed my hand on his head, stroking it gently.

"There's nihil to forgive, mi amice. Tu have done nihil wrong. In fact, grazie. I was being slothful. You reminded me about meo labore."

I moved my hands to his arms and pulled him up with me as I rose. He was a good two feet taller than me, and I stood at about 5 feet. Yet even then, he refused to meet my gaze and he kept his left foot forward. I knew he was trying to be respectful and that this was the only way he knew how to show respect, but I wanted to thank him and reassure him that he had done the correct thing. I tried to meet his eyes by moving mine around, almost trying to catch him off guard. He still refused to let me look into his eyes.

"Puer has some sense of pietatis. Good, keep it that way, boy. It will keep te out of trouble.

I ignored the older, grumpier one's comment and pleaded with the younger to look me in the eyes. I tried to make my gratitude and respect for him as clear as possible, showing him how thankful I truly was to him. He snapped his eyes closed, shaking his head in disagreement towards my attempts of thanks.

"You care for even imagines like us, we who are outcasts in every realm. Yet, you don't care what we are. You love us regardless. Tibi, danke schon."

I tried to think of something to reply with when a sudden explosion stole my attention. Fire was everywhere. What it was burning, however, I couldn't tell. It continued to grow as more explosions went off, adding to the flames.

"Fuge! Fuge! They've come tibi, domina! Fuge!"

The elder shoved me towards the younger and turned to stand in front of us both. A huge spear appeared at his side, along with a bow and set of arrows. I tried to move to get in front of him, to protect him from whatever was coming. He had cared for me, and I was not about to let something hurt him. Protecting him would be the only way to even come close to repaying my debt to them, and even doing that wouldn't balance the scale. Before I could do anything, the younger grabbed my hand and pulled me into the darkness, far from the older one.

We kept running through the darkness. There seemed to be no end to it. The darkness surrounded us on all sides and seemed to continue forever. But, just as I was about to lose hope, we saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Normally, people said not to walk towards the light. But while in the shadows, you always went towards the light. It just might keep you sane.

"I cannot accompany te further. This is your iter. I will make sure nihil touches te until you are through that ianuam. Vale and good luck, domina."

He dropped my hand and pulled a huge sword from the darkness. As the explosions and angered screams grew closer, I grew more hesitant to leave. Hundreds, probably thousands, of them were heading this way.

"I can't just abandon you."

"You must! Eo, nunc!" He pushed me towards the light, "Eo! Or the imaginum spes for peace will fade forever. Please, go!"

I shook my head fiercely, tears welling up in my eyes, "Your hope will numquam fade. This I swear tibi."

I turned and sprinted as fast as I could towards my escape. I finally reached the light after what seemed like hours of running. Before I walked through, I turned my gaze back to the young shade who was defending me. My eyes widened as one of the enemies cut him down from behind. As he fell, his gaze turned to mine and the darkness around him faded. I screamed for a moment.

"Dria! Dria! Open your eyes!"

Someone was shaking my shoulders harshly. His voice called out to me in desperation. I slowly opened my eyes and blinked a couple of times, adjusting my vision. Seto was above me, his normally cold and uncaring blue eyes filled with fear. I smiled and grabbed his neck with my arms, pulling myself up to him. I sighed in relief and relished in the moment for a few seconds. Then, something in the back of my mind was telling me that this wasn't real. It had been too easy to find Seto. I was good with moving between the realms, but not that good.

"I can't believe your own father would do this to you. There is no excuse for him to do this."

I held back my scoff at the thought. As if Pegasus would be powerful enough to keep me trapped here. Again, that annoying thought that told me this wasn't real came back. This Seto was actually accepting what had happened to him and he hadn't called this some 'hocus pocus magic' nonsense. A chill ran down my spine. This couldn't be real; someone was trying to trick me.

"Stop questioning my gift. You know you'll never find the real boy, so just enjoy the one I've made for you."

I gasped at the sudden voice behind me, releasing 'Seto's' neck. Another set of arms grabbed my waist and pulled me under the shadowy floor. We were falling, at least, I think we were.

"Just close your eyes. We'll be home soon."

I did as he said and closed my eyes, a memory flashing across my mind once more.

"Great Pharaoh, please allow me to take Kad—Alexandria to the river for a midday meal I have prepared."

"No, Great Pharaoh, allow me. He knows nothing of cooking and could cause the lady to fall ill from his badly prepared meal. I, on the other hand, have helped my mother cook since I was a child. I am able to prepare a good meal for the lady."

I was shyly standing beside the Pharaoh, my head buried into his side. It's not that Karim and Shadah were untrustworthy. As the heirs of two current guardians, they would both come to receive Millennium Items in the near future. But I was just an 11-year-old girl who had two 16-year-olds attempting to court her again. I already knew I had completely fallen for the Prince, but I didn't want to appear rude towards anyone, especially the suitors who had already started coming here seeking my hand and an alliance with Egypt.

I slowly turned to face the two boys, holding up the shy girl act. When they both smiled at me, I blushed profusely. This made them smile with more excitement.

"You have my permission. The both of you will escort my Dria to the river and make sure she has a relaxing day. We have an important meeting tomorrow and she needs to be fully rested."

Both of their faces fell in disappointment. They reluctantly agreed to combine their plans just for me. After they turned and walked out the doors to wait for me to join them, I turned towards the Pharaoh. His eyes twinkled in mischief and he smirked at me. I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Pharaoh, must I? You know I hold no feelings of that sort towards either of them."

He had long since discovered that I was in love with his son. I had a bad habit of sharing the things the Prince and I had done on a particular day to the Pharaoh all the time. He laughed heartily at my complaints, completely amused at my predicament.

"As my young, but wise advisor, you must be prepared for me to send you out amongst the men who come here. You know that even at 11, the cruelest and coldest man is completely unable to resist your charm."

I clenched my jaw in fierce anger. I knew how to get men to talk to me without having to force them, but I was not a tool to be lent out to just anyone. The Pharaoh smiled softly and motioned for me to come closer. When I did, somewhat reluctantly, he pulled me into a tight hug and stroked my hair.

"Surely by now you know I will never do that to you without your knowledge and permission. You are my daughter in every way but blood. No man, not even I, will ever take advantage of you, physically or otherwise. I want you to go with those boys simply to relax. Go have some fun, enjoy your meal, and play tricks on them."

I blinked in surprise. Did he really just say what I think he just said?

"Try not to scare them too much."

I flashed a wide smile before gliding down the chamber to the courtyard, where my dates were waiting for me. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as I thought. The two boys were arguing loudly in the courtyard about what the three of us were going to do for the day. I guess a picnic wasn't really what either of them had in mind. I had actually liked the idea too.

I was behind one of the pillars, just about to join them, when a huge red tail blocked my path. Since I was the only one who could see him, Karim and Shadah kept arguing. My dragon brother growled lowly at them, irritated by their argument and their original intentions. He wrapped his tail around me and formed a tight circle, trapping me inside. Their argument stopped and they both froze at the growl. I smiled. This could actually be fun.