Chapter 4
Disclaimer : I Don't own Yu Gi Oh!
Thought
Letter
-Telephone-
"Dialogue"
"Egyptian Language"
Emphasis
Dangerous tone
Surprising Event
Who is this Yugi boy I wonder? Atem thought as he half listening to the report Seth was reading for him. The boy looked just like him, but like a Cute version of him, even though some of the people already called him as a cute boy sometimes, but Yugi was certainly more cute than him. There's also a fact that the boy said he didn't know the existence of Magic before he came to Egypt, which Karim had judge as him saying the truth, but the boy had so many Ka Monsters sealed inside his thick papers.
The boy was not from Egypt either, but he knew so much about Egypt, maybe it's because he came from the future and his Grandfather was this so called Archaeologist, whatever it meaned to be. Yugi had been very polite to them, maybe it's because the boy knew who he was talking to, but even some of the Egyptian wouldn't be as polite as him, even more so if they dislike the Royals. He didn't know if it's because Yugi was a polite boy to begin with, or it's only because the boy was someone with manners. Either way, the boy was calm enough to think what was good or bad to do while being asked question by the Pharaoh, that kind of calmness was not something someone could achieve when they were in the boy's situation.
"Pharaoh, focus." Seth said sternly when Atem started thinking about the boy named Yugi who looked just like him.
Atem sighed and looked at his Cousin, "I couldn't help it." He protested, "I'm curious about this Yugi boy, the fact that he is from the future time only make me curious, aside from him looking so alike with me. Also, even though the boy was not from Egypt, he could speak our language so fluently".
"I know." Seth answered with a nod of his head, "But you need to focus during a meeting, you are the-".
Boom!
Atem stood up right away, "What was that?!" He asked in alarm.
"I sense a Shadow Magic!" Mahad informed him as his Ring glowed and the spikes pointed at a specific direction outside the Throne Room, "And this reaction, it's strong!".
Atem growled, "Who dare to invade the Palace?" He balled his hands into fists before looking at Mahad, "Lead the way!" He ordered as he run out of the Throne Room, Mahad and the rest of the Councils also run out with him.
Mahad led them to the garden and what they saw caught them off guard. There, floating in front of Yugi were none other than Dark Magician and another Ka monster, Silent Magician. And lying not to far from the Kas was a suspicious looking man, possibly being knocked out by Dark Magician and Silent Magician. They looked at Yugi and saw him looking paler than usual, Mana was near him and continuously asking if Yugi was alright, but the boy didn't answer and just staring ahead of him in disbelief.
"What's happened here, Mana?" Atem asked his childhood friend.
Mana noticed him, "Atem! That man over there nearly killed Yugi!" She said frantically, "I don't know how it happened, but Dark Magician and Silent Magician appeared and protected him, the man had been knocked unconscious, but Yugi get in shock until he couldn't even response to my questions!".
Isis walked to Yugi and placed both of her palms on the boy's cheeks and forced him to look at the High Priestess, "Yugi, listen to me." She said softly but firmly, "You are safe now, that man wouldn't harm you anymore, and we are here now. You are safe, Yugi".
Yugi blinked and his eyes focused on Isis before looking passed her to the two Kas, "H- how in the world there's Dark Magician and Silent Magician in here?" He asked as if he couldn't understand what had happened.
Atem frowned, "Weren't you the one who summoned them here?" He asked in confusion, if the boy didn't summon them, how in the world they could entered this realm?
Yugi looked at Atem and bowed, "Your Majesty." He greeted respectfully, "What I mean is how they could be in here, in the real world?" He asked in confusion, "And by summon, Your Majesty, I didn't think that I summoned them".
Atem and the rest were confused, "So, you didn't summon them?" Atem asked.
Yugi nodded.
"And you didn't know that Ka Monsters could come into the real world when summoned?" Mahad asked this time.
Yugi nodded again, "If you don't mind me asking, what is a Ka, High Priest Mahad?" He asked in confusion.
They gasped, "You don't know what a Ka is?!" Isis asked in shock.
Yugi nodded again.
Atem frowned, "But shoudn't you know what a Ka is?" He asked, "You have a bunch of them sealed in that thick papers you have with you".
"Thick papers?" Yugi asked before his eyes widened in realization, he immediately pulled out that really small bag from the pocket of his shorts and opened it in a haste, "Oh God." He gasped when he pulled out the thick papers with Dark Magician and Silent Magician on it, "It's glowing?".
Indeed, the thick paper was glowing softly, nearly unnoticed under the light of Ra. They saw a movement and all their attention immediately went to the two, now not floating, Kas. Dark Magician knelt on one knees to Yugi before he disappeared, and the glow of the thick paper with Dark Magician on it faded. Silent Magician walked to Yugi and hugged the boy, Yugi seemed surprise but his hands automatically went to hug the Ka as well. Silent Magician disappeared after he smiled at Yugi, then the glow of the thick paper with Silent Magician on it faded as well.
"You really didn't summon them?" Atem asked again just to be sure, because something like this was not something they saw everyday.
"No, I didn't even know that a Monster could be summoned into the real world . . ." Yugi said quietly, still in disbelief, before he added something in a language unknown to them.
"Mahad, what do you think?" Atem asked as he looked at his Magic Teacher, "Do you think he has Magical Energy within him? One that could summoned Dark Magician?".
"I could sense a Magical Energy within this boy, Your Majesty." Mahad answered with a bow, "I could feel that his Magic was only newly awakened, but his Magic and Power could match yours".
They gasped again and looked at Yugi in shock, "Are you sure, Mahad?" Seth asked in shock.
"Yes, I'm very certain about it. His Magic and Power are as strong as His Majesty." Mahad answered seriously, "The fact that my Ka came out without me or the Pharaoh summoned him, I think that he has the protection of Dark Magician".
The surrounding people gasped before they get on their knees and bowed to Yugi, aside from Atem and Seth. Of course, a Pharaoh would never got to his knees in front of no one but the Gods, and Seth was his Cousin, he didn't need to get on his knees, though he was still bowing in respect to the boy.
Yugi gaped at the sight, "Wha- wha- wha- what are you people doing?!" He exclaimed in pure shock as he took a step back from them.
Atem looked at Yugi, "Dark Magician would only serves the Pharaoh or the owner of the Ka, which is Mahad. For you to have the protection of Dark Magician . . . meaning that you have the potential to be a Pharaoh or one of the Royalty, the people from Pharaoh's Bloodline." He explained to the shocked boy, "You might not be a Pharaoh for I'm still alive, but you are somehow the next in line to the Throne, the same with Seth, so they respected you as if you are their Prince".
Yugi shook his head, "Please, stand up, I don't think you need to get on you knees like that." He said to them before rubbing his temple, the people got back to their feets after that, "Oh God, what I've gotten myself into this time?" He sighed in what seemed of resignation.
Atem smiled, "I'm guessing you never received this kind of treatment?" He asked in amusement.
Yugi shook his head, "Never." He answered honestly.
Atem chuckled, "Then get used to it, because from today onward, you are Egyptian Prince." He told him.
Yugi gaped at him, "But . . . I'm not even an Egyptian." He protested in shock.
"No." Atem nodded in agreement, "But Dark Magician had given his protection to you, even if you refused the position of a Prince, it is a fact that you are an important person in Egypt, and so the people would show their respects to you".
Yugi groaned and covered his face with his palms, "Oh please, I just want to be a normal boy." He whined in frustration, "Even if I, as you say it, an important person, but I would prefer it if the people treat me like thier friend, not bowing in respect".
"It could be arranged." Seth said with a smirk, "Welcome to the Palace, Prince Yugi".
"Just Yugi." Yugi said with a pale face, "Please, you looks so much like my Older Cousin, it's creep me out if you called me a Prince".
Isis looked at Yugi in concern, "Are you well? You are so pale, more pale than normal." She said softly.
Yugi sighed again, "This is too much." He said and bowed to them, "I think I will have to return to my room." And he left without saying anything more.
Atem looked at Yugi's retreating back with a smile, "He reminded me of myself." He said in amusement, Gods know how he hate it when people bowing to him, and the first time Seth called him as Pharaoh, it crept him out like hell.
"My Pharaoh." Mahad called out to him, he looked at Mahad and raised an eyebrow, "Would you mind if I train him in Magic? His power is so raw that it would be a waste if he doesn't get a proper training in how to use Magic".
Atem nodded, "I give you permission to train him." He said before looking at the rest, "Meeting adjourned, we will continue after Lunch." He told them before looking at one of the nearby servant, "Prepare some food for Yugi and and me, then bring them to our rooms." He ordered before looking at Councils, "I will take my leave then." He said and left for his Chamber.
After he relaxed himself in his room, the servant came with his Lunch, he had accepted the food and ate it, but his mind was still occupied by Yugi. He was curious about the boy, and the fact that the boy had gained the Protection of Dark Magician was definitely shocking. Seth might not have the protection of Dark Magician, but he had the protection of the White Dragon. Yugi and Seth, both of them would make a great Princes of Egypt, but . . . there's still the possibility that Yugi would return to the future one day, as much as he want for the boy to stay.
Atem's eyes brightened when an Idea entered his mind, Yugi might need to return to the future, but it shouldn't stop him from wanting to befriends with the boy. He wanted to spend more time with the boy so they could get to know each other, and he had just gotten a good idea in spending time with the boy without making Seth scolding him again.
XXXXX
Yugi was nervous, Atem could see it very clearly when the boy entered the Throne Room, he bowed to Atem, "Is there something that you wish of me, Your Majesty?" He asked politely.
"I give you permission to call me by my name, Atem." He said with a smile to the boy to help him to relax, "The reason I called you here is because I want you to stay here beside me during the trials".
Yugi blinked at him but bowed and walked over to sit on the seat prepared for him beforehand, "May I ask why?" He asked in confusion.
"You said before that you came to Valley of The Kings to seek knowledge?" Atem asked, Yugi nodded in answer, "Well, until we found a way to send you home, why don't you learn about our culture by witnessing it with your own eyes?".
Yugi's eyes suddenly brightened in excitement, "Really? You will let me?" He asked in high spirit.
Atem chuckled, "Yes, that's the reason I called you here as well, to let you see for yourself how we do our trials." He explained, "I also have to inform you that Mahad wish for you to learn Magic under his tutelage".
"What?" Yugi stared at gim with blinking eyes, "But . . . there's no way I could use Magic".
"You had subconsciously summoned Dark Magician and your Ka, Silent Magician to come to your aid, so you can use Magic, and you had a great potential too." Atem explained to him, Yugi still looked unconvinced, "Why don't you try it first?".
Yugi thought for a moment longer before he nodded, "Alright." He agreed recluctantly.
Atem grinned and nodded before looking to the Councils, "Begin the trial." He said calmly.
"We will open the trial with the earlier case, the attack on Yugi." Seth started as he nodded at the guards at the door, the door then opened and two guards come in with the man who attacked Yugi earlier, they forced the man to kneel on the floor, "You tried to kill Yugi, the boy beside the Pharaoh, because he looks like the Pharaoh. How do you plead?".
"Guilty." The man said in despair.
Seth looked at Atem, Atem nodded and looked at Yugi, "You are the one he tried to kill, what do you want for his punishment?" He asked the boy, whose eyes widened in surprise.
Yugi bowed a bit to him, "I'm not familiar with the Law of this Country, My Pharaoh." He reasoned, "I will have to ask you to decide for his punishment in my place".
Atem nodded and looked at the man, "Your original target was me and that's mean you have committed a high treason by wanting to kill a Pharaoh." He started, "Your punishment will be death by hanging." Atem felt Yugi stiffened beside him, he figured that the boy was not used with hearing death penalty, so he let it go by and proceed with the trials.
Yugi had been very quiet during the trials, he didn't say anything and just watched as Atem give punishment to the criminals, with or without the advice from his Councils, Atem wondered if the boy would keep quiet until the end.
"Bring in the next criminal." Seth said as the previous one was being dragged outside the room. Another man brought into the Throne Room and forced to kneel as well, "You stole a cow from a farmer, how do you plead?".
"Gu- guilty." The man said in fear.
Atem was bad at deciding a punishment, he didn't has enough experience in this matter because he was not prepared for this before his Father passed away, so he would always asked his Councils for advice.
"I would say we should cut off his hands, Your Majesty." Akhunadin said with a bow to Atem, "A thief steal with their hands, therefore we have to make sure he wouldn't steal anymore. Let the people learn that there's a consequence of committing the act of steal".
Atem sighed and placed his head on his right palm, "Let's go with it." He said with a bored face.
"Hold on!" Yugi exclaimed suddenly when the guards began dragging the thief away, Atem jumped and looked at Yugi in surprise, "I stayed quiet all this time, but how in the world you just give punishment according to what your Councils says?!" His eyes widened as he stared at Yugi in shock, this was the first time he got scolded by anyone aside from Seth, "You are a Pharaoh, aren't you?!".
"Are questioning the Pharaoh?" Akhunadin asked in disbelief.
"I am." Yugi answered boldly.
"Yugi." Seth said as he turned to Yugi, "As much as you are an important person for you received the protection of Dark Magician, but you shouldn't questioned a Pharaoh".
"That's right, Yugi." Shimon said with a concerned face, "If you continued, you would giving an impression that you are protecting the thief".
Yugi stood up and crossed his arms, "Listen here, I'm saying this Not to protect the thief, but I'm simply questioning the fairness of this punishment." He stated seriously.
"The fairness of this punishment?" Mahad asked with a frown.
"Yes." Yugi answered, "Before, the one who attacked me, I understand that the punishment would be death because he committed high treason, but him!" He pointed at the thief, "He only stole a cow, and the reason might because he couldn't afford any money to buy food".
"But, Yugi." Atem said as he looked up to the boy, "He is a criminal, are you suggesting that we shouldn't punish him just because his reason to steal?".
"No, it's not what I mean at all." Yugi said with a sigh, "Don't you understand? If you cut off both of his hands, how will he continued to life?" He asked as he turned to Atem, "Without a hand, he couldn't eat, he couldn't work, nor he can take care of himself. it's the same as if you are telling him to die! And what's the different between you punish him by cutting off his hands and ordering for his death?" He raised an eyebrow and looked at him expectantly.
Atem was speechless.
"The difference is this man would still be alive." Akhunadin said coldly.
"Only for a few days, a week at the most." Yugi retorted, "Isn't it the same like you are punishing him with death punishment then? That man who tried to kill me by mistake had committed a high treason because his original target was the Pharaoh, but you punish this thief with something that would cause his death, is that fair?".
Shimon, Mahad, Isis, and Seth looked at Yugi with calculative eyes, while Shada and Karim looked at Yugi in surprise, but Akhunadin was in rage, "Then what are you trying to say?" Akhunadin demanded angrily, "Are you insulting the Pharaoh? Saying that he is not a fair King?".
Yugi gasped, "Not a fair King? No, I'm sure he would be a fair King, if only he could judge with his own head." He said with a frown while glancing at Atem.
"What do you know about ruling a Country, boy?" Akhunadin hissed angrily.
"None." Yugi answered with a shrug, "I'm no King or anything, but that doesn't mean that I don't know how to rule." He glared at Akhunadin before looking at the Pharaoh again, "Pharaoh." He called sternly, snapping Atem out of his shock to look at Yugi with wide eyes, "You are a Pharaoh, don't you know what does that mean? In this trials, you let your Councils decided the punishment, while you just agreed with them. You continue like that and you are just a puppet. Think about my question, does his crime is on the same level with the man who tried to kill me? Only after you understand the right answer to that question that you could state his punishment." With that, Yugi stormed out of the Throne Room, leaving a stunned Pharaoh and the gaping Councils and guards, even the thief was staring wide eyes at the boy's retreating back.
Atem frowned as he think about it, the reason he asked for his Councils for advice was because he was an inexperienced Pharaoh, he knew that. But did that make him a puppet? He looked at the thief in question, who was trembling in fear while looking at the ground, as if waiting for the Pharaoh's judgement.
Does his crime on the same level? Atem thought, Now that I think about it, what Yugi said is true. What can a person do without their hands? Living with one hand only is already hard enough, if this man get both of his hands cut off, how would he continue to live without someone there to help him?
"My Pharaoh." Akhunadin said to him, "You shouldn't listen to that boy, he is so clueless about our Country and our Laws".
Atem raised his hand and Akhunadin quieted down, "I change this thief's punishment to 3 years of hard labor to build the Pyramids." He said before looking at Seth, "Call back the other criminals, aside from the one who tried to kill Yugi, we will start over the trial".
The others were staring at him with wide eyes before Seth bowed to him, "Right away, Pharaoh." He said respectfully.
Atem looked outside his Throne Room's window, A meaning . . . of being a Pharaoh? He thought in wonder before paying more attention to the trials than usual, and he asked all of them for their reason to commit such a crime.
To be continued . . .
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