The Priestess Legacy
Well, most of you got the Ancient people's identities. Most of them are just their Japanese names, save for Peiamun, who I'm sure is no secret. Well, on with the story.
Chapter 6
Twist of Fate
"Those damn blasted priests!" Barakhan snarled, slamming a foot down on an old skull, smashing it to piece. The tomb robber was back in the ruins of the thief village of Kul Elna, raving about his failed attempt to siege the palace. "The loss of Zorc seems to have affected me more than I would like to admit." He grumbled, marching down the street. "No matter. Zorc or not, the Millennium Items will be mine, sooner or later. We just have to become stronger." He looked up at the gigantic Ka floating overhead. "And those new apprentices are the key. Their souls are ripe for the plucking, blessed with new Ka, but with no knowledge of how to control them." Barakhan thought of the 12 young boys and girls he had seen earlier that night.
"Their powers will be what I need to tip the scales back in my favor. The problem is how to get to them. With my attack a failure, the priests will be on their guard for sure." Barakhan crossed his legs and sat down with his chin in his palm, tapping his other hand on his knee. "If that's the case, then I shall have to have them come to me. And I think I know how. Those fools are young, inexperienced, and eager to prove themselves loyal." Barakhan sneered and stood up. "And if that's what they want, then who would I be to deny them such an opportunity?" Barakhan laughed into the night as Diabound roared behind him. Barakhan spun around.
"What now?" He demanded. Diabound began to glow yellow. "I don't have time to deal with your transformation now." Barakhan growled. "If you can't contain it then too bad. I have my own problems to deal with, and-." Barakhan cut himself off as a slow smile slid across his face. "On second thought…" He whispered. "I think I may have use for them." He smiled as he remembered them. "The Egyptian Gods…I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner…" He smirked. "All I need now is someone foolish enough to help me."
- - - - - - - - - -
"This is a simple sparring exercise." Seth said, leading the apprentices out to the courtyard. "You shall now have a chance to command your creatures in combat. However, we will not be actually battling so early in your training. Instead, we shall merely trade practice blows." Téa tried to pay attention to Seth, but kept looking back to Roslyn. It had been 3 days since she had arrived, and Roslyn hadn't made a move yet. It was starting to get to her.
"Darek, you shall train with Mariku." Seth ordered, gesturing to the blonde. Darek nodded and waved Mariku towards him. "Otogi, you shall take Shizuka. Lady Teana, you are to train with Roslyn." Téa's blood ran cold as the brunette stepped up opposite her.
"I'm to battle her?" Téa asked. Seth snorted.
"As if you would be in danger?" He muttered. "Besides, this is simple practice. This exercise is to teach them how to restrain their beasts, as well as what to expect in a real combat situation." Téa nodded, still not liking the idea. Practice or not, she was going to be attacking and being attacked, by Roslyn no less.
"I shall demonstrate our goal with Peiamun." Seth said, turning to face the Priest behind him. "Come forth Duos!" He called. His diadianhk glowed as the black swordsman appeared before him. Peiamun raised his arm.
"Come forth Manic Rabbit!" He cried. A black-purple rabbit with armor and bucked teeth shimmered into existence behind him.
"My priests, you shall merely parry the blows of your assigned apprentice. Apprentices, you shall call forth your attacks, but do not worry, for they shall not work against us." Seth explained. "Observe. Duos, Aura Sword!" Duo let out a roar and charged towards Manic Rabbit.
"Manic Rabbit, dodge!" Peiamun ordered. The rabbit reached out a paw and smacked the sword side, laughing as Duos slammed to the ground beside it.
"Now, begin." Seth called. Darek and Otogi called forth Heiracosphinx and God Orgoth. Opposite them, Mariku and Shizuka summoned Executioner Makyura and Lady Panther Warrior. Téa gulped as Roslyn held up her arm.
"I summon Zera Warrior!" She called. Her diadianhk shot forth a way of light that grew into the green and red swordsman. Téa took a breath.
"I summon Zolga!" She called. The caped Fairy spun up from the ground.
"Zera Warrior, attack!" Roslyn called. Zera roared and leapt into the air, bringing its sword down on Zolga.
"Zolga, dodge!" Téa called. Zolga hummed and floated back, Zera's sword slamming into the ground.
"Again Zera!" Roslyn said. Zera lifted its sword and thrust towards Zolga. Zolga floated up, and Zera missed again. The Ka growled as its eyes flashed blue. Roslyn gasped as her diadianhk glowed. "AH!" Roslyn let out a cry as Zera's eyes glowed bright blue, and her diadianhk let out a flash of light, sending her sprawling to the ground. Zera roared and slashed the air. Zolga weaved to the right, and Zera changed the course of its swing to catch the Fairy in the shoulder. Téa wheezed and fell to her knees, clutching her shoulder.
"Roslyn, control your monster!" Seth shouted. Roslyn climbed to her feet and raised her diadianhk, letting out a groan as it sparked.
"I can't!" She protested. Zera slashed again, and Zolga exploded as the sword sliced into its head. Téa let out a scream as she fell forward. Zera raised its sword in triumph before glaring down at Téa.
"Darek, Otogi!" Seth cried. The two spun around as Zera slashed down at Téa. Téa lifted her head and gasped as the crooked blade came near. She reached down to her belt and unhooked the Millennium Rod.
"I hope I know what I'm doing." She hissed, flinging the Rod out at Zera. It glowed brightly, and Zera's sword stopped inches from it, pulsing waves of energy coming from the Rod. Téa kept the Rod pointed at Zera as she got up, then swung the Rod. Zera groaned as it was flung across the grounds to slam into the palace wall. Seth narrowed his eyes.
"Roslyn!" He snapped, marching towards the girl and hauling her to her feet. "What do you think you are doing?"
"I am sorry my Pharaoh." Roslyn protested. "I couldn't control it." Seth growled.
"Next time, you train with me. Obviously you're going to be a problem case." He muttered, dropping Roslyn to the ground. Roslyn shrunk back.
"I'm sorry, please, it was an accident." She called as Seth turned to leave.
"This exercise is now over!" Seth announced. "Otogi, take Roslyn to the libraries and be sure she remains there until she can handle herself better. I will not tolerate such a failure again. In the meantime, I want her diadianhk confiscated until she can be trusted." Roslyn hung her head as Seth stepped into the palace. Darek waved the apprentices inside as Otogi helped Roslyn to her feet. Téa sighed and stepped up to her.
"I know that wasn't your fault." She offered. Roslyn nodded and clipped off her diadianhk.
"Take it. I'm not worthy." She muttered, dropping it at Téa's feet. She walked away from them to enter the palace. "Lord Otogi, I shall await you in the libraries." She said. Otogi sighed.
"It's not like this is the first time this has happened. Not every student can instantly master the art of summoning. He's too hard on her."
"Yeah." Téa agreed. Even if she hadn't been here for the other students' failures, she knew Roslyn wasn't entirely to blame. Some people could handle responsibility, some couldn't.
"And I doubt Roslyn will forget this incident soon." Otogi added. "Displeasing the Pharaoh is not something a mere peasant strives to do, even if they are living in the palace." Téa nodded in agreement as Roslyn's form vanished into the palace entrance.
- - - - - - - - - -
Roslyn trudged down the corridor to the library, her hands hanging limply at her sides. She had been sure she had been in control. Zera was responding to her commands perfectly, as she had been taught. Then her diadianhk had sparked, and her link to Zera had been broken. She couldn't understand how or why their link could have been disrupted.
"Hey, Roslyn!" Roslyn stopped and turned as Shizuka ran up to her. "Are you okay?" She asked. Roslyn laughed bitterly.
"Am I okay? Let's see, I've disgraced the Pharaoh, lost control of my monster, nearly resulting in the death of the High Priestess, and I've been stripped of my summoning powers as punishment. Yeah, I'm perfectly fine!" Roslyn spat the last word and kicked the corridor wall angrily.
"It wasn't your fault, anyone could have-."
"Yeah, anyone could have made that mistake, but anyone didn't, I did." Roslyn cut off Shizuka. "I couldn't handle it, I should have stronger. Look at the Priests, they can handle some of the most powerful creatures in existence. The last Great Pharaoh could control the Gods themselves, and I can't even handle a swordsman."
"Don't let it get to you." Shizuka advised. "You'll be able to handle those kinds of monsters someday. Maybe someday you'll even be as powerful as Lady Teana. Who knows, then you may become the High Priestess to the next Pharaoh after Seth."
"You've seen their power, don't make me laugh." Roslyn replied. "I'll never be able to handle monsters like that. Not like this." Roslyn spun around and pushed open the wooden door to the library. "Not until I become stronger."
- - - - - - - - - -
Up atop the castle wall, blood had begun to drip down the side as the guard posted there leaned against the stone rise at the edge, a dagger twisted in his stomach. Another guard lay next to his corpse. His hands were bound, and his eyes were wide in terror as he stared up at the red-cloaked thief beside him. He shouted something at him that was muffled by the gag tied around his mouth.
"You really aren't much for conversation." Barakhan snickered, kicking the guard's shin. "You remind me of a drunkard I killed last week. What was his name? I think it was something like Amelda. Can I call you that? You don't mind I hope." Barakhan sneered and leaned over the wall to stare down at Otogi and Téa. "So Amelda, what did you think of that training exercise? I'd say that poor girl hit a bad stroke of luck. What horrible twist of fate could have disgraced her so?" The air shimmered behind him, and Barakhan turned as a giant winged eyeball appeared. "That was you?" Barakhan gasped, faking shock as he pressed a hand to his cheek. Meda Bat grinned. "Well that was rather mean of you." Barakhan scolded. "Now just imagine how poor Roslyn feels right now. Oh well, nothing for it now." Barakhan chuckled as Meda Bat vanished into his diadianhk. He turned to leave, but turned back to the guard he had dubbed Amelda.
"You should be more careful leaning over the balcony like that." He lectured, sticking a foot under the guard's legs. The guard gasped and stared down at the ground in horror. "One slip and you could-." Barakhan kicked up, and the guard screamed against his gag as he fell to the ground. Barakhan shrugged and grinned as the guard hit heavily. "Oops. Never mind then."