Narrator's Note: Did you want actually story progressing content this month? Oh my goodness - I'm so sorry let me - Oh wait. I'm not sorry. Even a little. Let me do nothing and hand you this backstory chapter instead.

[ELASTIC MEMOIRS OF A HUMBLE PRIESTESS/3] [5,000 YEARS AGO]

The night that had once lingered over Priest Mahad's quarters finally began to break with dawn's colors. Egypt was finally arising from its slumber to battle another day. Beams of light crept over corners, and slowly began to engulf the room in its bright hues. Quiet stills of the night started life anew in these colors.

Not a creak from outside interrupted this serene moment. Mahad, rubbing his strained eyes, finally closed the tome and absorbed the moment around him. His head throbbed, and lungs wheezed in the dry air, but for the first time all night, the magician finally felt his brain clear.

Sunlight crossed his face, over his lean chin, sharp nose, and drooping red eyes. Once, twice he had to blink to adjust to the glare, and for a second the pounding in his head spiked. But it was worth it to watch the sunrise over his home, his garden.

Mahad lifted himself to his feet, the sun illuminating his bronze, muscular form, feathering off the indents in his chest, a wave of instinct prompting him to dress. He slid his robe over his body effortlessly, next came his armlets. Then the Ring, Mahad caught himself in a hard stare against it. The most disdainful part of getting dressed in the morning came with that damn Ring. He let out a breath, fingers dancing around the edges of the Millennium Item, trying to gauge its mannerisms today before putting it on.

There were times when it was heated with rage, massive negative energy oozing out of it. Screeching out revenge and bloodlust. It would become hot, heavy, angry. Then there were days like today, where Mahad could sense nothing. Almost as if the item was sleeping. Although, nothing compared to what darkness he felt from the Ring the day of the thief's trial. There was no other word he could think of to describe it, besides a sense of raw, unfiltered, evil.

Almost moments after, as Mahad was about to settle with the tome once again, a servant cautiously entered the room. It soon became apparent as to why. Mahad didn't need a servant to tell him what he could see from outside his window.

Out of all the places in the house for the magician to set up his studies, placing them at the front of the manor seemed unusual. He had plenty of space. Every member of the Pharaoh's Court occupied a home equally as extravagant as his own, but unlike some others, this was a lifestyle he was plenty used to. Nobility had always been a part of his lineage, so had this home.

So he knew plenty well the wall that protected the estate, keeping the out the worst his homeland could offer, also kept out the best. How many days, as a child, did he sneak out and scale the wall only for the sake of watching the sun reborn anew on the horizon? How many times had he gotten scolded for it? Mahad could almost feel a smile creep onto his face thinking about it. Every scolding was worth it the price of admission. For some reason, the sunrise was more beautiful on his little slice of the world than anywhere else he'd ever seen.

Unfortunately, that was then. This was now. And now that he was a noble adult, mischief was no longer a privilege. He had a duty to uphold as a priest of Pharaoh Aknamkanon and his eventual heir. But the sunrise wasn't something Mahad was going to give up without a fight. When he became master of the house, Mahad moved his quarters to the upper front room. From this window, you may not be able to watch the sun itself lift from the horizon, but you could see it raise the garden in captivating color. It was almost like he was on that wall again.

Although, the second-floor window provided more than just a view of his crop and ponds. Through it, he could also see the gate, and subsequently guests when they arrived. And right now, one of those guests was casting her shadow along his florals, casting despair among the colors.

"Pardon, Master Mahad," the youthful servant cleared his throat, "the one which you requested to see has arrived. A bit earlier than expected."

"It's fine." He made an effort not to rub his throbbing eye in front of the boy. "Please, escort them in. And prepare a seat for the woman." The servant exited the room and reappeared at the front, beckoning the guards inside. Mahad could only lean, watching them enter and hoping he could recompose his exhaustion before they appeared.

Now the girl sat in front of him, eyes fixed to the ground, her face drooping as much as Mahad's. She didn't dare look up at him. She couldn't.

She made no attempts to fuss or shake of the guards that surrounded her, yet somehow her obedient silence created a fresh tension that was incredible, undoubtedly, awkward. The magician even found himself having a difficult time deciding what to say. Should he begin with pleasantries? He had never spoken with a criminal personally, yet he never imagined it being this… tamed. For a moment, Mahad questioned why he had brought her here. All was silent, normal, and he forgot for a merciful second that she was anything more than a common thief.

That was until the Millennium Ring became hot, burning through his robe and against his skin. Mahad grit his teeth, no longer entertaining any doubts. He lifted the spellbook that had kept him up so many nights. "Do you recognize this?"

She shook her head meekly. 'Of course not,' he groaned inwardly, 'it's never so simple.' Next, he tried the Ring. His first instinct was to hold it up, but after a moment's hesitation opted to gesture to it instead. "What about this, does it strike you in any way?"

Again, she shook her head. He felt his own head power up it's pounding about %110. "You seem nervous. I promise you do not have to be - I only had you brought here to talk to you. In this house, you are my -" what does one call a criminal in their home, 'reformed' or otherwise? "guest."

Her head darted up ever so slightly, seeming to relax just a bit. Although her arms didn't uncross from around her, they seemed to loosen. Along with a few muddled words, which Mahad asked her to repeat louder. "Is it because that thing isn't gone? Is that why you brought me here?"

That thing? Her Ka? "You needn't fear, the evil inside you is most certainly gone. Pharaoh Aknamkanon's court has sealed it away. It can no longer influence you." When it finally seemed as if he was making waves, the girl shut down, once again, in response. "If it's judgment you fear, do not. I don't shame you for your Ka. Evil will do as evil will please, no matter who gets caught in the middle. That is Pharaoh's legacy, saving citizens, like yourself, from that evil."

She looked absolutely pitiful, her wide eye dimming. So much so that he pulled his gaze back and out the window, ashamed to see a girl in such a state. Much like her shadow had done earlier, those eyes dimmed what fragile semblance of life his quarters offered. The wall she put up was one Mahad was never going to break on his own. And in his gut, he knew he needed so desperately to break it if he was to understand this Ring.

Luckily, Mahad was not alone.

"Mahhhhad! Hey Mahhhad! Are you here? Hellllo~?"

The heart of his plan had just arrived, poking her bubbly smile and wild hair in and out of his gate.

Mahad excused himself briefly and exited the room, a brisk skip in his step.

Mana poked her head through the front of the villa. The gardens were utterly devoid of servants and High Priests alike. She pressed her entire body against the wall and leaned on her toes. "Mahad?"

With still no fruits for her effort, the dark-haired girl in soft cream colors slid onto the ground, her legs crossed. There was room for no less than a pout on her face. "That's funny. I was sure he'd be here. He's not at the palace, so he must be at home. Unless he went out? No, that's definitely not right, Mahad doesn't do fun things. He's got to be here! Maybe I should sneak in and poke around."

"Or you could just wait patiently for my staff to come greet you." the young magician jumped as her teacher suddenly appeared. Boy with a scowl like that, any ordinary person would guess that he was completely unimpressed. Good thing Mana's hearty spirit was far from ordinary.

"Mahad!" The girl jumped to her feet with a toothy grin, every poof in her short dress coming to life. "I knew it! You are hiding at home. Come on, Lazy Bones! Our lesson would have normally started by now, the Prince is waiting for us." Not waiting a second for his response, the bubbly girl began her march back to the Palace, only to be surprised by a tug on her headgear.

The High Priest, upon comically halting his young apprentice, turned her back towards the villa. "You don't have a lesson today Mana, instead you -"

"No lesson?! We have a day off! Allllright!" she cried gleefully. She thrust her fist into the air so hard, so sudden that Mahad had to flinch away to prevent being punched square in the jaw. "This is the best. I can't wait to go tell the Prince." And just like that, she was off again towards the palace, only this time instead of strolling she was practically running. Which is why it hurt all the more when reality, and Mahad, yanked her back again towards the villa once more.

"You have the day off, not him. You hav -"

"Aw, he doesn't? What I supposed to do all day without him?"

"There's a tas -"

"Why doesn't he get the day off too? Did he do something bad?"

"Noone -"

"I thought he was doing really good on his lessons. I wonder why he wouldn't get to have fun too? That's it - maybe it's not him! What if it's me? Did I do something bad?"

"If you would just be quiet for a few moments I -"

"I'm sorry Mahad! I didn't mean it! If I'm not your apprentice, I'll never become the greatest magician. Don't kick me out, please pleaseplease!"

"MANA." Finally, finally, she quieted. Minutes ago, he didn't think that this headache could get any worse than it already was. But now it was amplified so high he was nearly dizzy from it. The rays of the early morning sun no longer cause bristles of discomfort but were like knives being stabbed through his eye to his mind. He couldn't focus enough on Mana's face to see it struck with dismay but heard her sad whimpering. Just. Fabulous.

Even though Mahad's instinct was to press his hands hard around his face, he remained to all appearances straight and stern. "You are fine. To my knowledge, you've done nothing wrong, and honestly, I would prefer to keep it that way. Pharaoh Aknamkanon has a task for you today that we both believe only you can accomplish."

Panic melted into awe. "Only me?" Mana's shrill voice mercifully came down a tone or two.

"Only you."

"Straight from Pharaoh?"

"His direct council."

Arms waved high in the air, Mana bounced up and down, "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, Mahad! I won't let you down, I promise. Is it because of my magic, because you know I've been practicing -"

"It's your magic, your personality, your age," Age? That was a weird qualification, but o-kay. "Everything really. Now if you will." Mahad gestured back towards his villa, and she didn't hesitate for a second skipping through the gate.

The pair strolled past a pond, Mana finally silently and attentively lending her master an ear. "Listen closely, alright? This is important. You've been tasked with a very unusual position. Normally this isn't something we would assign to someone outside of the court, so if you don't feel comfortable with it, Pharaoh understands. We both do. The choice is yours to make." They left the gardens and headed for the manor. She wanted to announce that she was ready for anything but wisely kept her lips buttoned. "There is someone that Pharaoh Aknamkanon would like you to accompany."

Mahad stopped at the entrance, a grim hope on his narrow lips. Though she knew nothing about her task, the childlike enthusiasm she had was evident. Mana wanted to prove herself, no matter the cost. So, the High Priest, several times taller than the younger magician, crouched slightly to make eye contact. He hoped that she could see the seriousness in his eyes, and couldn't see the pain. "I'm going to be forward with you, Mana. This person was a criminal whom we extracted the evil from. Although she shows no signs of aggression since then, if you do not feel safe around her, you are free to go. Understand?"

Perhaps, too ignorant, perhaps too naive, perhaps too loud, if there was one thing Mana was above all else, she was willed. That was something he could hear in her voice. "Don't worry. I can definitely, totally, do this. I told you, won't let you down, I promise. So what do I need to do? Join the guards, use my magic to make sure she doesn't do something fishy? Keep her line?"

"Befriend her."

Mana paused, waiting for the punchline.

"She won't open up to us, but Pharaoh thinks with some time, she might open up to you."

Worst punchline. Ever.

It took all of Mana's power to crack an unsure smile. "I won't… let you down?"

Oh Ra, oh Gods, it would be so easy to let Mahad down right now. Mana's back pressed against the wall of the awkwardly silent room. Mahad had ordered the guards to wait outside to listen for signs of trouble, encouraging Mana to call to them at any time she felt any sliver of danger. But, he stressed, they would do nothing in the room but intimidate the criminal further.

Problem was, Mana didn't sense she was in danger of any sort. Not the tiniest hint of aggression. In fact, there was nothing but uncomfortable sadness, and it was suffocating Mana's cheery personality. Boy, she had never wished to be in danger so hard in her life, because then at least she could call the guards and get the hell outta here.

Instead, Mana remained glued to the wall, knowing she had to approach the criminal but had absolutely no idea how to do it. The criminal still sat on her stool, hunched over, showing off nothing but the broad of her back. Long, ratty hair over her face, looking down at the floor like it was the most interesting thing around. There wasn't just a wall around this chick, there was a whole labyrinth.

'Is she even awake? Is she even breathing? Should I… poke her with something? I changed my mind, I don't want to do this! Mahad heeeelp.'

'No! Stop you! You promised Mahad, you gave him your word. Rally Mana, Rally! You can do this.'

'But I don't want toooooo. What do they expect me to do, talk? Can she even talk back? What if she can't talk? Then what?'

'Toughen up Mana, you're going to be a high priest someday. High Priests do this kind of thing, don't they? This is training! Someday the young prince will need the skills I learn today.'

'The Prince! He's good at this type of thing. What would he do?'

One squeaky step after another, Mana finally began to shift through that labyrinth. Coming up on the side of the girl's face, Mana waved rigidly, "Uh, hai there. Guess I should probably introduce myself. I'm Mana!" The response she received was less than helpful, so the young magician inhaled deeply, puffed out her chest, and said, "What's, uh, your name?"

"Ammm"

Ammm. So very helpful. While inaudible, at least the mumble meant that she understood, right? Should she ask for a translation, a repeat, a do-over? If she did that, the girl might think Mana wasn't listening at all and shut down again. So, the magician folded her lips together and continued to ask the only question she had all day that made any kind of progression.

What would the prince do?

He would do what he always did when meeting new people. What he did when Mana and himself first met. He would play a game.

"It's soooo stuffy in here. I could really go for something fun, how about you? OooOh~! You know what would be the best? A game of Senet!"

The girl lifted her head slowly, and for a moment Mana's heart sunk. Then the criminal moved a chunk of hair behind her ear, revealing the mysterious face below to be anything but mysterious. In fact, it was a face Mana had seen before from a distance, the thief who she had watched on trial. Reservations slowly began to unlock, and within minutes of staring into the thief's prominent, sparkling eyes, Mana's panic disappeared. In its place was that oh so cheeky grin she was famous for.

Unfortunately for the cheeky magician and meek thief, no semblance of a Senet board could be found. Mana looked especially vigorously, through every nook and cranny Mahad may have been hiding the board game. And when I say vigorously, I mean vigorously. She lifted every rug, moved every stool, sniffed every corner. Of the little furniture Mahad had, none was spared being moved from its place. But the stick up Mahad's [4filter] seemed too formidable.

That was how Mana's grand master plan was born. She knew exactly where they could find a Senet board, and by the Gods, she would get to it. Only one thing stood in their way, two guards blocking the exit to the villa.

Which is how the girls found themselves crouching by the door. In both exhilaration and concern.

Soft-spoken, the thief whispered, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"It's a great idea," her counterpart replied with confidence, "the young prince and I do this all the time. Trust me!" For a moment, Mana lifted her hands in the air, and she looked positively silly. If something was supposed to happen, it had obviously gone wrong somewhere because she stood there in an awkward pose. So, she posed again. The results were the same.

Finally, on the third try, the thief felt her heart skip when the palms of Mana's hands grew bright. When the light faded a tome was rested in its place. The magician took a bow for her performance, leaving the thief to clap silently. But, of course, that was only half the battle. Now that they had the tome, the real test was putting it to good use.

Mana tilted to tome downwards so her companion could see, pointing to one spell in particular. Something that she called a "Freeze Spell." Although the thief didn't know what "freezing" entailed, it didn't stop her keen interest when Mana leaned slightly over the door frame so that the guards were barely in their view. All it took was a peak of Mana's elbow for both guards to grunt and march to Mahad's chambers.

"What's going on in there?" one of the guards barked, his spear cautiously in hand.

"M-Mana." As soon as the thief heard his armlets start to click, her knees buckled. This was a terrible idea. This wouldn't work. Would she get sent back in the hole? No, no, no, please no. Why did she agree to this? She should have just stayed on her stool a -

Then, the thief felt a light pat on her shoulder. And with it, and a wink that was anything but lacking in confidence. "It's going to be fine. Trust me. On my mark."

So the two girls, on Mana's signal, popped into the hallway armed and ready. The sight of their adversaries made the thief flinch, her eyes closing and head ducking into her hands. But not Mana. Tome outward, hand up in the air, the young magician performed her spell with the most willful laugh, followed up by, "Gotcha!"

When the thief opened her eyes again, the two guards were still in mid-run. Literally, still. In the most adjective sense of the word. One was inches away from her and remained inches away even as the girls knelt there, starring.

"Ha-ha! What did I tell you? I'm Mahad's best student. Behind the prince anyway."

"Are… are they okay?"

"They're fine! I just froze them in time is all." Hands on her hips, Mana confidently strutted past them as if she was being applauded by an audience. The thief, mystified, was happy to oblige. And even, maybe sort of giggle a little bit.

But as they reached the end of the hallway, the muscles on guards started to twitch. The one who was in mid-stride came to a pause at the empty hallway, while his partner appeared in a slight daze.

Then, he heard a giggle. Once the moment to process had passed by, the man spun around towards the exist, shouting, "You two, halt!"

"Eeee!" Both girls screamed at the unexpected surprise. Mana burst out, "RUUUUN." and grabbed the arm of her new companion who had locked up at the command. The girls bolted down that the stairs; one of the guards nearly reaching the thief's arm had he not tripped on one of Mahad's very rare and expensive rugs.

"W-Why did you release the spell?!"

"I diddddddnnnn't!"

"I thought you said you were the best student!"

"I ammmmmm!"

Pursuit continued into the garden, the girls wildly pumping their arms with each stride. Out from the gate, they flew into the maze of noble homes just like Mahad's, which the thief found herself utterly lost in. She looked left, right, almost losing Mana ahead of her once or twice. Keenly aware of the shouting coming behind them. Mana skid to a stop. "The market! I bet we can lose them in the market!" Her eyes lit bright with the idea, grabbing the thief's arm again and dragging her in a completely different direction.

The bustling market soon came into view. Women and children scattered everywhere in bobbing bunches. Neither girl slowed down as they approached the crowd. Straight into the heart, they ran, dodging barters in conversation.

Unfortunately, so did the guards. They seemed to be managing quite well among the crowd, who upon seeing the spears got as far out of the way as possible. One guard chased after Mana, who squeaked when she looked back and bolted ahead. The other guard, Sharp-Nose, as the thief had come to know him by, who seemed to be the more aggressive of the two, instead focused all his efforts on his charge.

The thief veered to left, only to nearly run over an older woman offering dates. And when she snapped the other way to avoid a collision, of course, there the woman's nephew was playing on the ground. She glanced quickly back to see Sharp-Nose shove a woman selling cloth to clear his path. No time to stop the thief wound up her calf and thighs, leaped clean over the boy.

"Sorry!" she looked back, calling to the family, hoping desperately that the heard her.

Sharp-Nose, on the other hand, was not so graceful. He plowed straight into the poor woman, dates flying everywhere. The thief skidded to a stop to glance in horror at the mess.

Somehow, against all odds, no one but a few unlucky dates had accidentally been speared or otherwise broken. Although Sharp-Nose was dazed, his instincts seemed to kick in, catching the attention of a Market guard and instructed, "Seize her!" before receiving an earful from the angry woman.

A moment too late the thief realized what that meant, and caught eyes with the third guard, who she could only think to call Buff-Guard. Because those giant, intimidating pecs were the first and last thing that caught her eye before the two made eye contact, and the chase resumed.

"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" the thief called to every shocked farmer and tradesman she dodged. Buff-Guard, definitely faster than Sharp-Nose. Leagues faster than Sharp-Nose. She couldn't even chance a glance back to see just how much space was between them. Instead willed her burning legs somehow run even faster.

A familiar back came into view. Mana. Relief washed over the thief for only a moment, before counting two extra spears heading in the fluffy haired magician's direction. She kicked her legs into overdrive, barely catching up with her. "I thought we were supposed to lose them in the market?!" she panted.

To which, Mana shot her a grinning oops face, "I may have miscalculated a smidgen."

"Wasn't there just one chasing you before?!"

"Wellll we may have run into some of his friends. I see your guard got an upgrade."

The thief couldn't disagree.

A grand structure came into view. It was no less than Aknamkanon's palace, and the extensive temples and courtyards within. The thief expected them to turn somewhere, anywhere, but Mana headed straight for it. Pharaoh's palace. Guard central. "M-Mana!" she called, "I… think we need to turn around."

"Why would we turn around? We're nearly there."

They were going into guard central? The girl wanted to say something but could through her rasps for air. Though Mana could still see the desperate inquiry and answered it as wearily cheeky as possible. "You want to play Senet, don't you?"

Two guards were stationed at the palace entrance. They could see this dog and pony show from miles away, seeing as they were at the top of a set of stairs, but didn't realize it to be their problem until the hot pursuit was at their staircase. Although the two recognized Mana as a frequent visitor, the alarming mob behind her kicked in their most basic instinct into gear, causing the guards to block the entryway with their spears.

Mana, meanwhile, ran up the stairs two steps at a time and didn't see this to be the ideal time to explain. So, with another pop, her tome fell into her hands, and she began reading it as she leaped, freezing the two where the stood.

"Sorry guys!" she blurted, shoving their spears aside so the two could get through, "Thanks for all your hard work though!" she called back, once they were inside palace grounds. The two unfroze just as the other guards made it up the stairs, and the lot of them collided in a heap. "Oooh, that had to hurt."

Just when it seemed like the girls would finally have a moment's reprieve, Buff-Guard, who due to his large stature, had been in the back of the group as they ran up the stair. Foreseeing the collision, he plowed through his mess of coworkers and continued pursuit. Heated and merciless, Buff-Guard charged the girls with all his might, nearly catching up as they headed towards a cluster of large temples.

Mana turned sharply, not looking back, but exhilarated by the second wind of nearly being at her destination. Near immediately, she turned again at the back of one of the temples, and straight to the grandest structure in the entire palace, the living quarters of the royals.

The thief in a swelter of panic took the same turn that she had seen her companion take only moments earlier and was met with an empty pathway in front of her. Not a hair of Mana to be found. She even dared a frantic glance around in search of the magician, only to lock eyes with her pursuer.

After evading capture and breaking into sacred ground, she had lost her guide. Mana had left her. And she was about to get caught.

Leaving the temples was always a daunting task. Each temple on Palace grounds belonged to one of the High Priests, passing down from one generation to the next. What was housed within these walls were something vitally important to the kingdom - the evil Ka the High Priests detained. All trapped in stone tablets and connected to a member of the court so he or she could call upon them in time of crisis.

The young prince blinked a few times as he exited Mahad's temple, the magician in tow. What was so daunting was going from complete darkness, lit only by one or two troches, to the bright sun Ra carried across the sky. It was always difficult to see those first few moments.

"You handled that well, my young prince." Mahad gave the boy a reassuring nod. "For now, you may not have a shrine of your own, but someday you will inherit Pharaoh Aknamkanon's shrine."

You must get used to the energies of the shrines. Mahad had told him. Yeah, yeah, he didn't want the "strong magics" to overwhelm in when he inherited the Pharaoh's burden. How many times had the young prince been told that. Ten? Twenty? Yet no matter how many time he was dragged into a temple, it never became less mentally and physically draining. Each of the High Priests, one after another, had taken him into their tablet shrine.

"I told you it would be fine Mahad. Because we are friends, I'm sure, I felt right at home." Mahad's was probably the most comfortable of any of them. Priestess Isis's temple was so serene it made the young prince restless. Entering Seto's temple had given him overwhelming nausea, and his uncle, Master Akanadon's temple had created a straight, unexplainable wave of anxiety. And was just to name a few.

The only temple he hadn't been in was his father's.

"You should go home and rest," the prince added, now that they were in the light, Mahad's strained face was ever clearer, "you really don't look well. Are you positive you're not sick?"

The smile Mahad returned to him was as weak and fake as possible, accompanied by the spark of weariness. "You needn't worry, I'm just a bit tired. Plus, I'm afraid I have more work to do."

"Maybe I could help you. We'd get it done faster together."

"No, my prince. You needed concern yourself. It's not often you have an afternoon off. You should spend it relaxing."

The young prince through a finger up in the air, as stern a gesture as he could create, "If my father is working you too hard, I will speak to him Mahad. You need only tell me! Pharaoh or no, father has never understood that a burden is too much for one person to bear."

"Of course not. Any work I do for my country, my Pharaoh, and my prince is both an honor and a privilege. Never a burden."

Mahad disappeared back into his shrine, leaving the boy to sigh as he rubbed his eyes. Ever since he became a High Priest, Mahad had changed. Not so long ago, Mahad would have accepted the prince's assistance, saying "If that is what my prince wishes." Then, once they finished the task, the three of them would have taken a stroll in the garden, or played a game, or laid down and watched the sky.

For a moment, the young prince thought he was a flash of cream colored silks and bushy brown hair flash by the edge of the temple. "Mana…?" That couldn't be right, she was busy today. Mahad had said so. The prince blinked a few times before hurrying down the stairs. He had nearly reached the bottom when he saw another flash that absolutely was not Mana.

But it was still a girl. One, moreover, he didn't recognize. Faces came and went in the palace all the time, but they were usually in uniform. Anyone who wasn't a guard or servant cycling through the grounds were regulars that the prince knew at least the faces of, if not the name.

For some reason, this girl's face scratched at his brain. He had seen it before but didn't recognize it. His curiosity was sparked, even more so when he saw what lay in chase behind her. So the boy, as fast as he could, rounded the other side of the temple, praying that his timing was right. As he reached the back, he saw the girl looking frantically, desperately around.

"Pssst! Hey you!" the prince called out to her.

A look of shock was thrown back at him, shock and something else. 'Fear.' he thought to himself. 'She's afraid.' There was no time to think through the implications of it, that fear and guilt often went together. Instead, he added, "Here. Come over here."

The girl did. While she bolted across the back of the temple, he headed towards where the guard would probably turn, hissing, "Hide, somewhere. Anywhere. Just do it now!" That was when the brawny guard skidded to a stop, nearly crashing into the relaxed-looking prince.

Instantly, the guard gasped, and shrunk back, utterly unsure of himself. "Th… The young princ - I mean - Goodday my prince."

"Oh, hello. It's strange to see a guard near the sacred tablet shrines, isn't it? Is there something amiss?"

"No… yes…" the guard coughed, clearing his throat. "There was an intruder on the palace grounds."

"Intruder, really?" In response, the prince went wide-eyed, "I thought palace ground were open to enter for citizens and guests."

"She caused substantial cause chaos in the market. I fear she may be dangerous."

Dangerous? Ha. The prince thought back to her childish, shaken stare. "I haven't seen any intruders here. May I suggest searching elsewhere?" All but pushing him away from the temple grounds, the prince gestured toward the gardens. "She could be anywhere at this point, she even could have left. The first thing you should do is check with the gate." There was no arguing with the stern smile being emitted his way, so Buff-Guard held his spear up with pride and stumbled away from the waving prince.

Back at the temple stairs, the prince poked around the raised his hands so his call could be heard. "You can come out now. He's gone." No reply, which didn't exactly inspire confidence. Only now did it just occur that he may have just saved a bloodthirsty criminal. But his gut told him otherwise. So, he traced around the temple edges.

Sure enough, there she was, slumped next to one of the walls. She breathed so hard and heavy he feared she may vomit. "I said you could come out. Did you not hear me?"

"I…" she looked back at him, her sweaty face on display, eyes flickering up at him, "cannot… move…" So sad, so pathetic, instinct had the young prince squatting next to her to get a good look into those large, deep eyes. Using the edge of his robes, the boy stretched the cloth as far is could and wiped away some of the dirt and sweat from her face.

Neither made an attempt to flee or move of any kind. Instead, they kelt there, drawn to each other's faces. It was like watching a young child tear up in front of him. "What are you doing here? Who are you? And what in Ra's name did you do to make the guards so angry?"

"I… wanted to play… Senet… with… nice… magician… but I…"

"Magician? Which magician?"

"Ma...na…"

Mana. Of course, Mana would be mixed up in this. This had Mana written all over it. "I didn't know you were a friend of Manas. That explains a lot. I love Senet, too, you know. Think I could also get a game? Although, I suppose we'd have to find Mana first before she causes more chaos." For the first time all day, the young prince snickered. "Though, I have a good idea where she is."

Confused, tired, and strained heart beating, the girl didn't understand. She could hear the words coming out of the boy's mouth. Her brain could process what they quite meant. Perhaps her brain was still trying to process the gold hanging on this boy's collarbone and waist, or the soft, pristine touch texture of the boy's linen. Or that his voice ran bitterly familiar somehow. But when he held his hand out for her to take, things finally began to click together.

With one powerful wave, he swung her arm over his shoulder. Using himself as a support, he forced her throbbing legs back into action. "Is this okay?" She nodded hesitantly to that. "You still didn't answer one of my questions. Who are you?"

"Who… am I?"

"Yeah, like your name."

The girl took one hard look at him. This time, not as his gold or his linens, or even at his hair. This time, at his mischievous amethyst eyes, slightly cracked lips, and the light smile that came with them. "Aimee. I'm...Aimee."

[[A/N: Finally, I can drop Aimee's name in context. Somewhere between using the "the thief" or "the girl" a million and a half times, you must have turned into "the audience that punches authors in the face." Cheesus Crust.

As a note to any of you returning champs, I did go back and edit Memoirs 1 a tiny bit just to include a game. Nothing major, no need to go back to it if you don't want to. The ending is still the same, but are some details sprinkled in. Also, I wanted to put games into Aimee's mindset to set a mood next time we see her.

As always, thank you, THANK YOU Tee, for your always encouraging reviews. You don't have to take the time to comment on every chapter, but you do and I'm ever grateful.

Also a thanks to you, Atarya, for the time you take as well. If I have any shadow readers out there, I appreciate you too just for being here ;w; Don't be afraid to drop your thoughts onto the board, even anonymous ones. Ur all so beut-a-ful.

Goodbye my lovelies. Until next time ;w; ]]