Chapter Nine
Prayers
A week later…
Kisara opened her eyes and rubbed them. She looked and to her surprise she was in bed.
"I must have fallen asleep." Kisara thought.
-the previous night-
"Whoo! I've never had alcohol before!" Kisara shouted.
Mana and Seth laughed awkwardly at her dancing on the table.
"Come on! Join me!" Kisara exclaimed.
"I'm not feeling to well." Mana explained.
Kisara frowned and turned her attention over to Seth.
"And you?" She said.
"I wouldn't be able to properly protect you if I was inebriated." Seth laughed.
-end-
Kisara looked over at her bedside and saw Seth sleeping, resting his bed on her bed.
"He must have put me here." Kisara said.
Kisara heard the sound of Mana choking in the bathroom and ran in.
"Mana!" She shouted.
Mana was knelt down by the toilet.
"Sorry if I woke you. I told you I haven't been feeling well." Mana explained.
Kisara helped her to her feet, frowning.
"You should see a doctor, Mana. You could have a terrible illness." Kisara explained.
Kisara led Mana into the kitchen and sat her down at the table. She handed her an apple.
"You have been sick all week. You need to keep your strength up." Kisara said.
Mana nodded as Kisara left to her bedroom. She sat down on the bed beside Seth and smiled. Seth slowly opened his eyes and looked up to see Kisara.
"Oh no! I overslept didn't I?" He exclaimed.
"Yes." She said.
Seth rushed to his feet and bowed to Kisara. He rushed through the house and waved to Mana. Mana held her hand to her stomach as it growled.
"Ra, I'm so hungry lately!" Mana yelled.
"Understandable, you have been sick all week." Kisara said.
Mana nodded and left the house. Mana quietly thought to herself.
"How did I get sick?" Mana thought
She put her hand on her chin and thought hard.
"Hmm. It hasn't been too cold nor too hot. I've dressed appropriately for the weather. Unless someone got me sick." Mana thought.
Mana stomped her foot on the ground and yelled. Yugi ran up behind Mana and slapped her on the back playfully.
"Mana!" He said.
"Oh hey." Mana said.
"That's it? Aren't you going to pester me about your present?" Yugi asked.
"Present?" Mana asked.
Yugi stared at her in awe and laughed. Mana just blinked at him and stood there until he stopped.
"I don't need a present." She said.
"You do on your birthday." Yugi said.
Mana's eyes widened as she realized that that day was indeed her birthday. Mana blushed from the embarrassment.
"I just been sick all week. I guess I lost track of the days." Mana said.
Yugi's smile quickly turned to concern. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't come to the tomb showing. Go to the doctor instead." Yugi said.
Mana smiled and nodded.
"Kisara told me the same thing. I'll be going now." She said.
Mahad turned around as Seth ran through the throne room doors.
"Where have you been?" Mahad asked.
Seth knelt down in front of Mahad and the Pharaoh.
"I am sorry. I stayed up dealing with Kisara last night. Luckily I had Mana to help." Seth said.
"Good to know she's still alright." Mahad said.
"She isn't." Seth said.
Mahad turned towards him.
"What?" He asked.
Seth rose off the floor and opened his eyes.
"She's been ill all week. We stressed that she go see a doctor, for it could be dangerous." Seth explained.
Seth walked past Mahad and continued out the doors. Mahad soon followed along with the Pharaoh. The crowd went wild as they arrived to the tomb to judge the works.
"Long live the Pharaoh!" a man shouted.
Atem waved to the crowd as he walked towards Yugi and the tomb. Mahad looked through the crowd nervously, making sure to find Mana.
"It is wonderful." Atem said.
He smiled as he pointed the artworks on his tomb. Mahad and Seth both smiled at each other as they saw Atem laugh.
"Hello, Anyone here?" Mana said.
A priestess came out and greeted her by bowing.
"Hello, Miss Mana. How may I assist you?" Priestess said.
"I have been ill all week. I am concerned." Mana explained.
The Priestess sat Mana down on a bed and examined her.
"Have you had any symptoms?" She asked.
"Well I've been very dizzy. I have been getting sick in the bathroom a lot. I've been uncontrollably hungry, but I thought that would be normal from getting sick." Mana explained.
The Priestess smiled and stood up.
"You aren't sick, Mana." She said.
"What do you mean not sick? I've been-" Mana yelled.
As Mana stood up the Priestess stopped her.
"I mean you aren't ill. You are with child Mana." The Priestess explained.
Mana sat down in surprise. She turned bright pink and looked away from the Priestess.
"There is no need to be embarrassed. A child is a gift. Cherish it." She said softly.
Mana looked down and felt her tummy. She felt a slight hardness and frowned.
"I'm afraid this child may not have a father." She said.
The Priestess smiled and sat down beside her.
"Your child was given to you for a reason." She said.
Mana looked down at her stomach and started to choke up. The Priestess got up and walked over towards the door. She placed her hand on the doorframe and looked back.
"He's a Priest and very confident. I'm sure he'll be a great father." She said.
Mana looked up and gasped.
"But how did you know it was Mahad?!" She yelled.
She covered her mouth immediately, knowing she had said it too loud. The Priestess smiled and turned away.
"I've know you since Mahad found you. I was there the day he named you." She said softly.
Mana stood up and ran her fingers across her dress. She smiled as she remembered that this child was made of not only her. But Mahad as well. The Priestess turned her head to look at her one last time.
"I've always known what would happen between you and him." She said.
Mana smiled and nodded as she left. The Priestess continued down the hall, passing Mahad and Atem on her way. She smiled in their direction and they both stopped in their tracks.
"What was that about?" Atem asked.
Mahad scratched his head while sporting a confused facial expression.
"I haven't a clue." Mahad said.
Mana slowly creeped out of the room and past Mahad and Atem. She peaked around the corner to make sure she wasn't seen.
"I'll be right back, Pharaoh." Mahad said.
Atem nodded and continued towards the throne room. Mana jumped and ran down the hallway as fast as she could. She remembered her situation and stopped running.
"I got to be careful now." Mana said.
Atem turned the corner and saw Mana standing at the end of the hallway.
"Mana!" Atem exclaimed.
Mana jumped and turned around. She waved and smiled awkwardly as he approached.
"Where have you been? You missed seeing my tomb." Atem said.
"I'm sorry. I have been ill so I went to seek help." Mana said.
Atem placed his hand on her arm.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
Mana smiled and returned the gesture.
"I am. I'm afraid I have some things to do." Mana said.
Atem nodded. Mana smiled and waved goodbye as she turned away.
"Wait!" Atem shouted.
Mana turned around as she set one foot on the top step.
"Happy 18th Birthday." Atem said.
Mana smiled as the sun hit her face.
"And to you, Atem." Mana said.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mahad turned the corner towards the living hall and saw the Priestess he knew from childhood. He steadily walked over to her and patted her on the back.
"Excuse me, Have you seen Mana today?" Mahad asked.
"Yes, I have." She replied.
Mahad lowered his head and bowed.
"Is she alright? Is her illness bad?" Mahad asked.
The Priestess smiled and grabbed his shoulders. She lifted him up and laughed.
"She is completely fine. I think you two have things to settle." She said, waving her finger.
Mahad was surprised for a split second and then he smiled. The Priestess nodded and turned away. Mahad looked out over the garden as the sun began to set. He watched the Mana flowers blow in the breeze by the pond.
"I think I'll take a walk." Mahad said to himself.
Mahad walked through the garden and stared at the flower patch Mana had planted.
"You're Beautiful." He recited as he remembered.
Mahad walked downtown to the very edge of the village. He looked past the buildings and deep into the forest, listening to the sounds of nature.
"So much for always protecting you." He said.
Mana looked out Mahad's bedroom window. She knelt down on the ground and rested her arms on the window pane. She looked up at the stars and saw one shoot across the sky.
"I wonder what kind of future you will have." She said to the stars.
Mana looked down at herself and wrapped her arms around her torso.
"Why must it be like this? I'm so stupid! I had no right!" Mana yelled.
Mana held her tummy tightly and began weeping on the floor. Mahad heard her cries as he walked by the window. He listened as he heard her sobbing.
"It's all my fault! I don't deserve to have you!" Mana exclaimed.
Mahad frowned and kicked a rock before walking toward the garden.
"You have every part of me." Mahad said quietly as he walked to the castle.