FAUST - YU-GI-OH STYLE

Chapter Four: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder


Slowly but surely, the wheels of time reverted back as they transformed the fifty-year-old Pharaoh Atemu into a sixteen-year-old young man in front of everyone.

Set was astonished to see that his earlier prayers for the monarch who he admired had just come true. His azure eyes were transfixed at the dramatic sight before them. He had unexplainable feelings as his sapphire eyes traveled from the Pharaoh's head...down to the latter's toes...and then back up again. He stared at the sleek muscular body, bronzed smooth skin, and handsome face that he knew about only by word of mouth from the elders. Eventually, his eyes deeply gazed into amethyst eyes that became more expressive and animated as the rejuvenation continued.

Unnerving silence followed Atemu's transformation.

Minutes later, some of the attendees whispered among themselves. The elderly men - who began to talk louder amongst themselves - exchanged many memories from the monarch's younger days. The women - whether they be young or old - approvingly eyed at the monarch. There were still gasps of disbelief and awe coming from the others. Although reactions differed, everyone's eyes were focused on him.

Atemu's now-lively amethyst eyes scanned the room. He was outwardly composed but inwardly afraid that the throng might suspect that there was black magic involved in his rejuvenation. His clothes now hung looser than it did before as the muscles of his body were now firm.

Set - who observed the crowd's mixed reactions - raised his hand to silence the attendees. Once he received their attention, he audibly declared, "The gods have blessed the Pharaoh with another lease in life! Long live, Pharaoh Atemu!"

"Long live!" happily cried out the crowd numerous times. Due to Set's prompting, the whispers quickly turned into applause and cheers that grew louder by the minute.

Pharaoh Atemu gazed at Set with heartfelt gratitude. His eyes misted from the crowd's warm reception and acceptance. Once he smiled, the six priests returned to their post - which were three on each side of the Pharaoh's throne. Set, as usual, stood on Atemu's immediate right.

As the flock of graceful dancers emerged to entertain the crowd, Atemu prompted Set to come closer. He then whispered to the high priest, "Would you accompany me?"

Azure eyes went wide in wonder as their owner asked, "What about our guests, dear Pharaoh?"

"We will return shortly," assured Atemu as he still watched the entertainment before him, "I just need to change my clothing."

"Ah, yes," remarked Set with new understanding laced in his voice upon looking at the awkwardly loose garment. "I will be honored to accompany you."

After motioning four sentries to approach him, Atemu advised the other high priests, "I will return shortly. Please stay and enjoy this celebration with our citizens." Once the remaining high priests slightly bowed, the young Pharaoh rose from his throne and exited out through the side.

Set walked immediately behind Atemu. Four guards followed them a few feet behind.

As the Pharaoh and the high priest walked side by side, the azure-eyed young man remarked while pointing back at the ongoing entertainment, "I had no doubt that your Majesty enjoyed such spectacles even before this miracle. Youth brings an entirely new perspective to such sights, especially since you have the wisdom to appreciate everything in life."

With a gentle and knowing smirk, the Pharaoh glanced sideways. "It truly does..."

Minutes later, the Pharaoh and his entourage arrived at his bedchambers. The four sentries waited outside along with four others that maintained constant watch outside the bedchambers. Atemu and Set went inside.

As the young Pharaoh changed his clothes behind a linen screen - unable for anyone to see what was behind it but audible enough to have a conversation, he then said to the high priest, "I thank you, Set, for your loyalty to the throne. If your father was still with us, you would have made him proud."

Set gave Atemu a reminiscing smirk upon hearing his father being praised. "It is my honor to serve. My father had told me so much of your accomplishments. You have led everyone towards Egypt's greatness. He laid down his life in the battlefields. I have prayed for Egypt's glory to continue under a kind ruler. Thank the gods for giving you such an invaluable gift, for the same gift is also the answer to my prayers. There must be a divine reason for its bequeathal."

A tightlipped Pharaoh responded, "I intend to live and enjoy life one day at a time...just the way that I should have done before."

Set's eyes narrowed as he heard a hint of negativity from the young monarch's words. "Your Highness has lived a full life. You have been doing great service to Egypt and will continue leaving a legacy for many generations to remember."

Atemu chuckled and shook his head. He placed his hands behind his back. "You patronize me too much, High Priest Set."

The azure-eyed high priest's voice became quietly firm. "Patronizing is the mark of an insincere coward. I never patronize and I rarely praise anyone - no matter who that person might be. You, out of all people, must know that."

Atemu raised his eyebrow at Set's comment. Along with a light smirk that expressed his appreciation, he responded, "Yes, I do know you too well. Your honesty is always refreshing. Other people would not even dare state their opinion before me."

"I mean no disrespect, but the observation I just gave about my Lord is based on my assessment."

The amethyst-eyed monarch then stepped out wearing another linen outfit which still hung loose on his body but nonetheless was much better fitting than the one he had on earlier. He then went towards a gold chest filled with gold bands that he loved but were not able to wear for decades due to loss of muscle and weight gain. A smirk radiated from his face as the arm and wrist bands fit perfectly. He knew that they complemented his now-tanned skin and muscular body.

"The royal seamstresses will be hard at work for the next weeks," approvingly commented Set with his customary smirk while walking out of the bedchambers with Atemu.

One of the commanders for the outside sentries ran towards the Pharaoh and High Priest. He abruptly stopped in front of them, knelt on one knee, and said in between breaths, "A thousand pardons, dear Pharaoh and Lord Set..."

A tightlipped Atemu nodded and said, "Rise and speak, commander."

Now much calmer, the commander stood up and reported, "There is a heavy sandstorm plaguing the land."

Set and Atemu stared at each other in wonder. The high priest, whose demeanor changed to his customary rigidity now that they were with others, remarked to the commander, "There was no sandstorm earlier. There were no indications that the weather would turn against us."

"It must have developed during the festivities, Lord Set."

The azure-eyed young man firmly said, "Return to your post, commander. We will deal with the situation."

Immediately after the commander respectfully bowed before them and left, the Pharaoh told Set, "Once we return to the throne room, have Isis arrange overnight accommodations for the citizens and foreign guests present. They will be our palace guests until the sandstorm subsides."

With a respectful nod, the high priest replied, "As you wish..."

After minutes of silence as they walked back towards the throne room, the monarch cleared his throat. "I do have a request, Set. When the sandstorm settles, I would like you to accompany me as I explore our land. Unlike before, I am not familiar with the everyday conduct of life."

"Are you referring to the mannerisms and customs of our younger citizens?"

"Yes, I am. I need to be reacquainted with the times, being that my circumstances changed for the better."

As Set smirked, he placed his right hand above his heart and gave a slight nod. "I will be honored to escort my Lord when that time comes."

The small entourage - led by the Pharaoh - entered through the side...

The entertainment was still ongoing as Atemu and Set took their respective places.

As instructed, Set relayed to Isis her orders and the two worked together to solidify the accommodations. The two high priests finished just in time for the part of the celebration wherein gifts were given to the Pharaoh.

The gift-giving rites ran long as dignitaries and nobility from foreign soil gave their respective gifts fit for a great monarch. The citizens - ranging from children to the elderly - also did their share of paying homage to Atemu with their smaller but equally treasured tokens. Each waited for his or her turn for an audience with the Pharaoh.

Two guards accompanied a young woman with long brown hair for her turn. Once she stood before the young monarch, she bowed. "Forgive me, my Lord. My family would like to commemorate this blessed day by giving you this..."

The young woman then walked closer, knelt at the foot of the throne, and raised her hands to present her gift.

Atemu stared at the present. He rose from his throne, relieved the young woman of the gift, and unraveled the royal purple fabric. He - along with the six high priests - were speechless in awe as they saw the long royal purple cape with simple but tasteful gold edging.

The Pharaoh then stared at the young woman and told her, "Rise and tell me your name."

As the young woman rose, her sapphire eyes stared into amethyst ones as she told the monarch, "My name is Teána, dear Pharaoh."

"You could have sold this fabric to add to your family's livelihood. You did not have to give this to me."

Teána replied with a gentle smile, "It is a rarity to give homage to the Living God of Egypt. No amount of gold or barter could ever equal this privilege. It would mean so much to my family if my Lord accepts our humble token of appreciation and respect."

While staring into the young lady's eyes, Atemu said with an appreciative grin, "I gladly accept your gift. Thank you."

Teána's expressive eyes went wide, as they gleamed with tears of joy. "Oh, thank you, my liege! My mother and cousins would be most happy!"

Atemu slightly frowned. "Are your mother and cousins here?"

"No, my Liege. Seren is at home with my mother. My cousin Jono is here at the palace."

"Where is Jono?"

"He is a palace sentry serving your Royal Highness for two years now."

"I am afraid you and Jono could not go home tonight. There is a sandstorm outside. The palace will provide shelter for those who are here."

Seeing extreme worry creep over Teána's gentle face, Atemu consolingly added, "I believe that your mother and cousin will also wish for your safety. Talk with your cousin Jono and seek his counsel about this."

With a faint smile, Teána quietly told the Pharaoh, "Thank you, my Lord. You are most kind." She then bowed before him before leaving to see Jono.

As Teána exited out of the throne room, Set slightly bent down and matter-of-factly whispered to Atemu's ear, "Her gesture, my dear Pharaoh, is another demonstration of what I just told you earlier. Our people are happy with your reign. It appears that many others share my sentiments regarding the Living God of Egypt."

A tightlipped Atemu kept his amethyst eyes locked at Teána. Her gentle face and expressive eyes were emblazoned in his memory. There was something beautiful and graceful in her simplicity - something that he never saw in the many princesses and noblewomen that were presented to him in his court for decades. She may be a common citizen, but something in her demeanor impressed the young Pharaoh.

The longer that Atemu thought about the young woman, the more that it made him smile and long for her...all while Set observed in silence and felt unsettled in spite of his earlier kind words.

End of Chapter Four


Normal Disclaimer

Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. This fanfic, however, is mine. Until next chapter, folks.