The Hall of the Kings was quiet. The only sound was Atem's footsteps echoing through the palace. The tall white pillars were decorated with hieroglyphs of Pharaoh's past. In front of him sat his throne. It was a simple thing. A marble chair raised on a platform at the end of the room. It was decorated with the finest jewels in the kingdom, and the images carved on the side were equally as breathtaking, showing the Pharaoh's of days past in their epic battles against the forces of evil. Atem approached his throne.
I'm not worthy of this. He thought. I've failed my kingdom. I've failed my son.
He felt like screaming. His own flesh and blood, sent off to the monster realm like some slave. He hated it.
Atem walked past his throne and opened the large wooden doors behind it. He ascended multiple flights of stairs until he reached the roof. He shielded his eyes as the evening Egyptian sun blinded him. He squinted and saw his son Yugi looking over the city. Atem walked up beside him and placed an arm on his shoulder. Yugi looked up at his father, who was looking out at Kairo. Seeing this, Yugi returned his young gaze to the city.
It was truly a beautiful city. The pyramids dotted the horizon, reminding everyone of the lasting legacy of the Egyptian Empire. The Nile, in all its glory, snaked along the terrain, providing life to the city. There were hundreds of small homes and buildings. The streets were alive with people: vendors selling fruit, children playing in the streets, and soldiers watching out for thieves. Atem sighed heavily.
"Daddy, why do I have to go?" Yugi asked in his young voice. He would soon turn 5 years old. He looked up at his father with tears streaming down his cheeks
Atem's heart felt like it was torn into a thousand pieces. Tears of his own cascaded down his face. "Because I failed you Yugi" he responded quietly.
Yugi hugged his father's waist, crying into his stomach. "But I'm scared. I want to be with you" he said with his head still in Atem's waist.
Atem nearly fell over. He had to steady himself on the railing next to him. He wanted to curl up into a ball and cry. No he thought to himself. I"m a Pharaoh. I have to be strong.
Atem gently rubbed his son's back, and Yugi looked up at him. "We won't be separated forever" Atem said in the most comforting voice he could muster. "We can use the Sea of Nazir to talk to each other. If you write me a message and stick it in a glass bottle and send it into the sea, it'll cross the realms and come to me". Atem wasn't lying. The sea really was a magical gateway. The only issue was it was hundreds of miles from Kairo.
"I don't want to go" Yugi said in a whisper. Atem stroked his son's hair. "I know" he said through tears. But Etrogen will come with you and protect you".
"He scares me".
"He is a scary man. But he loves you. He will make sure we can talk to each other".
Yugi said nothing. They just stood there, father and son, enjoying each other's embrace for what felt like was an eternity. It wasn't long enough.
"My Pharaoh, the time has come to make the exchange" Shadi said. Startled, Atem turned to him and nodded. Yugi whimpered.
Shadi escorted them down the stairs and into the Hall of the Kings. There Atem saw Etrogen, a tall and well built man, who would be his son's guard in the monster realm. Karim was also present, as well as a few soldiers. In front of them was a travel portal. It consisted of two large stone pillars erected out of the ground with a third stone pillar connecting them at the top. The portal itself was orange and shimmering, and it whispered. Whispers from the souls of mortal men and monsters alike, calling out to the Pharaoh to save them.
Atem approached the portal with his son, who was still clutching his side. Etrogen walked beside Atem and nodded. The portal shimmered, and there she was.
Mana was dressed the exact same as she had been the last time Atem had seen her. Her powder blue and pink armor shining. Her vibrant green eyes were as menacing as ever. Her magician's staff pulsated with raw power. Atem's men were visibly nervous, and he didn't blame them. She had made herself famous through killing mortals, and now she was just suppose to live with them? Atem figured by the end of the week that either she or he would be dead.
She stood a few feet in front of him and crossed her arms. "Let's just get this over with." She said in her sweet voice. "I want to get as far away from you as I can".
Atem kneeled down and got to eye level with his son. Tears were falling down both of their faces. "You are my son. I'll always be watching over you. We will see each other again soon." His voiced crack.
No. No weakness. Not here. Not in front of her.
Yugi said nothing. He just hugged his father. Atem looked up at Etrogen, who placed his hand lightly on Yugi's shoulder. Atem did the last thing he wanted to. He let go of his son.
Etrogen took Yugi's hand gently and guided him toward the portal. No words were spoken. Yugi looked back at his father once more, dried tears visible on his cheeks. It seemed like the whispers were louder.
Then they passed through. In a flash of light, the portal closed, and the stone pillars were gone.
Atem stayed kneeled for a moment. He looked at his millennium puzzle which was hanging from his neck.
I'm not afraid. He lied to himself bitterly. He got up and turned to look at the others. Mana was staring at him.
"What?" Atem asked her aggressively.
She rolled her eyes. "Nothing". She turned her back and proudly walked away with her escort toward his throne. She slide her hand gently along one of the arm rests as she walked by it, before disappearing behind the wooden doors.
Atem walked to his throne and sat there. He thought to himself for what felt like forever. His thought was eventually interrupted.
"My Pharaoh, it's time for supper" Shadi told him gently.
'I suppose you're right." Atem responded quietly. He rose from his chair and walked with Shadi.
"My Pharaoh, this is not what you'd like to hear right now, but you must hear it. You and the Dark Magician Girl must become more, shall I say, acquainted with each other if you are to stop from killing each other".
Atem sighed. "I know, Shadi. Go on".
"Since you are both excellent warriors, I think it'd be best if you two did some sort of mission together"
"We'd sooner kill each other"
"Perhaps, but the eagles from the Eternal Forest have reported something that needs your attention"
"What sort of problem is there?" Atem asked curiously. The war had just ended. Surely mortal men could not have turned on each other so quickly.
"A dangerous cult that has terrorized the town of Helian close to the forest. My Pharaoh, they're supposedly trying to open the 13th dimension".