Bast laughed as she watched Kasiya and Bakura argue outside the stable. Kena was standing beside her with a smile on his face. Kasiya had noticed a cut on Bakura as the boy was putting the saddle up on Zahur, and was arguing with him about letting him heal it. Bakura refused, saying he'd deal with it later. The refusal lead to this, which was nothing more than a show for Bast and Kena. It wasn't until Bakura slid his hand to his waistline that Bast stepped in. She turned her back to the boy as she confronted Kasiya, calling the shadows to his cut in the process.
"He should have just let me heal it," argued Kasiya. Bast shrugged as she felt the cut closed and released the shadows. She then turned to Bakura.
"I should not have had to interfere," she told him. "And if anyone in the area felt the shadows then we are in trouble. That is why I am against using them here." He looked away, his hand dropping to his side. He mumbled something and Bast had to lean towards him. "I did not hear that, say it again."
"You use them here," he said. Bast sighed in exasperation. Shaking her head, she placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up at her.
"I know how to make them undetectable. If I use them like I just did though, I cannot do that. Healing a wound like that is an unconscious move. I do not think about it till it is too late," she told him. His eyes darken, as if to apologize so he wouldn't have to say it. She giggled at the expression. "You look like a child caught in the act of something simple. I am not angry, but I would like it if you finished saddling Zahur for me." Bakura nodded and turned to the horse. Bast returned to Kena's side, sighing.
"You take care of him," the man stated. "Is there a reason you let him join you? You said before that you work alone." Bast nodded, watching the boy tighten the saddle before turning to place the saddle bags on the horse.
"He saved my life once already," she said. "And… I feel that he is good to keep around. Oh, I spoke to Mother Skhemet." Kena glanced at her in shock. "Sadly, Bakura was there. And the boy has seen me fight and knows the secret of my mark."
"What if he tells?" asked Kena. Bast shrugged, smiling as Bakura dropped one of the saddle bags and cursed. "He could be a danger to you if he decides not to follow you anymore."
"He will not leave my side," she said. "The night I left here last time was when we met again. I saved him, his face was cut pretty bad and his ribs were fractured. I guess he got into a fight with some rouges."
"So he has to save you before he can leave you." Bast nodded again, sighing and running a hand through her hair. She looked up at her older friend for a second before returning her gaze to the younger teen.
"Mother Bast said that it was a cycle that we cannot escape," she said. "We are destined to be partners in our trade." A laugh tore itself from both Bast and Kena as Bakura was spooked by the female twin. His back had been turned and he had not seen Kasiya come around the corner with the twins. The female yearling had nipped at the teen's hair and scared him. The boy glared at the two leaning against the house.
"I'm finished, Bast," he said as he stood up, brushing himself off. She nodded in reply and said goodbye to her friend. Bakura helped her mount Zahur before mounting the female twin. "Where now?" he asked, tying the rope on Zahur's bridle to his saddle.
"Runihura's," she replied. "Go to the main road and I shall point you." Bakura nodded and stirred the horses into a walk. Bast waved to her friends and turned to Bakura as he led them down the road. Reaching the main road, she pointed the direction they needed to go. They arrived at the goldsmiths house quickly, Bast dismounting as Bakura tied the horses up. She knocked on the door once he was beside her. A young woman opened the door.
"Can I help you?" she asked. Bast nodded, bowing politely.
"I am Bast Magi, daughter of Sanura Magi," she told the woman. "I wish to see Runihura the goldsmith." The woman blinked as she registered the name, then nodded and invited the teens in. Runihura, now retired from his trade, was sitting back on some pillows in the main room. He looked up as the teens entered the room. "Runihura?"
"Yes, I am," he answered. "Can I help you?" Bast nodded, pulling the necklace free from her shirt. Runihura sat up, looking at the piece of jewelry. "You are the healer's daughter, Bast." The teen nodded again and sat across from the old man.
"I wanted to thank you for the necklace," she said as Bakura sat down beside her. "I also wanted to ask you a question." The goldsmith nodded.
"What do you wish to know, Mage?" he asked. Bast sighed, brushing her hair aside.
"You met my mother, sir. I want to know if she had anything important that she wore." The old man thought for a moment, and then gasped.
"Sanura wore a silver titanium choker. I remember, for I asked her about it. The choker was worth somewhere around a hundred gold." Bast blinked at the price. Bakura leaned forward in his awe.
"I did not remember that. Do you know if she sold it?" The old man shook his head.
"She mentioned that she needed the money for her child. If she did sell it, she spent the money on you, Child." Bast nodded in her understanding as Bakura glanced at her. "Do you need anything else?"
"Not that it means much, but I wish to know an estimated price for the necklace you made for my mother. More so I know how much I need to protect it."
"That necklace would sell for around fifty gold. I must say that if it comes to selling it, you should take no less than that. The chain and pendent themselves cost eight gold. The sapphire cost a small of forty two gold, maybe more," said the old man. Bast nodded, standing.
"Thank you for your time, sir. I will take my leave now," said the girl. Bakura stood to follow, and as they were leaving, the goldsmith called to them.
"Child, I know of your trade, and it seems your friend follows the trade as well." Bast stopped, turning to look at the old man. He was not looking at them, but out the window across from his seat. "You must know to be careful. A new prince was born eight years ago, and it is said that he will rescue the world from destruction."
"Well," said Bast, turning back to the door. "If he does, then oh well. His father is the reason I am in my situation at the moment. So I hope this prince does a better job than his father."
"Child, your earthly mother was a brave woman. Your heavenly mother chose a good woman to raise you." Bast froze, her eyes wide. "You must be careful, Child. For the Pharaoh will fear you if he finds of your heritage." Nodding, Bast left the old man. She mounted Zahur as Bakura climbed up on the female yearling. Keeping her head down and hiding the exposed necklace, she thought about what the man told her.
"Bast?" asked Bakura. She snapped her head up, blinded as her eyes expanded for a second, and then contracting. "Where now, Ma'am?" he asked her. She frowned, hiding her eyes again.
"Do not call me that," she said. "And leave the city. We must return to Kul Elna so I can start your training." She glanced up to see him nod, then turn to lead Zahur and the male twin. The two teens were quiet on the ride to Kul Elna, reaching the ruined village late at night and dismounting to start cooking the meat Kena had sold them. While Bast dealt with the food, Bakura set about removing the saddles and other supplies from the horses and taking the creatures into one of the buildings. He placed the two saddles, the bridles, and the saddle bags in a separate room in the building. He then moved to a small building across the dirt path, setting up two sleeping places inside before joining Bast at the fire.
She smiled at him, playing with the shadows around them. She could see him shiver at the feeling of magic, and she shook her head. She handed him his food, and ate her own in silence. As they ate, she continued to play with the shadows, smothering the fire and relighting it.
"Bast?" asked Bakura. The teen jumped at the sound of his voice. She glanced at him to let him know he had her attention. "What did that goldsmith mean?" Sighing, Bast put down the remains of her dinner and turned to the young boy. His amber eyes were hard. His anger was so pure it overran his curiosity. She frowned, leaning back on her hands and crossing her legs under her and staring up into the night sky.
"His meaning was that the Pharaoh does not know a child of the Gods is walking around as a mortal. If I am found, it can cause problems for me," she said. She looked over at him, a smile on her face. "Not to mention, I can be killed by the Millennium Items if the holder knows how to do so." Bakura's eyes widened, fear apparent as he jumped forward onto his hands and knees.
"They won't be allowed," he said, his voice shaking as he searched her eyes. Bast could see the green reflected in the amber, soft and sad. She smiled, pushing him away as she turned back to the sky. "I won't let them. There has to be a way to keep them from hurting you."
"The Millennium Ring is the only Item that can keep me safe," she said. Her own voice sounded sad. "I cannot use its magic, but when it is close, I am safe from the magic of the others." Sighing again, she stood and headed for the building being used as a stable. Bakura followed and stood in the doorway while she petted Zahur and turned to measure out some feed for the three.
"We have to name them," said Bakura. Bast laughed and looked at him.
"They have to be named?" she asked. He nodded, entering the building and jumping up on a crate and watching her. "Well, then, can you think of some names?" He frowned, looking at the horses.
"Atsu," he said, jumping down and going over to the male yearling. The horse nodded and Bakura nodded back before turning to the sister. "And, Kakra, what do you think?" The horse looked at him and nipped his hair. Bast let out a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.
"I think she likes it, 'Kura," she said. Bakura glanced at her, frowning. "What?"
"Did you just call me 'Kura?" he asked. She nodded, smiling. "Is that some sort of pet name?" Another nod from the green eyed teen and Bakura growled. "I'm going to hurt you now." Bast laughed again, this time more like a child would.
"Catch me first, 'Kura," she said, turning and taking off out the door. Bakura blinked before taking off after her. He chased her through the night air, finally catching up to her outside the village. He tackled her as she turned to him, knocking her to the ground and hovering over her. "You caught me, 'Kura." She laughed as he growled again.
"You're annoying," he said, not noticing the shadows around him. Using a spell binding circle, she crawled away from him and stood up, brushing off the dirt as he struggled with the shadow magic. "Let me out of this," he growled, glaring at her. She just laughed in response.
"Break it," she told him. "Use the shadows and break it." He blinked, and then closed his eyes, pulling the shadows to him. Finally, the spell broke and she cheered. "Now, call your beast. I am going to teach you how to fight." As the teen called Diabound, she backed away and called her own magic. His amber eyes darkened when she called upon the Chaos magician. "Attack me, Bakura."
He called the attack, the magician dodging easily and attacking without Bast calling to him. Bakura growled and thought up a strategy. He called the shadow magic and used a freezing sword. He froze when hundreds of swords fell from the sky, lighting up the area and stopping the magician from attacking. Bast laughed out, the evil beneath becoming evident in the battle.
"I see," she said, still laughing. "The swords of reveling light. I cannot attack you for three minutes. Use that to your advantage. Our beasts are even, Bakura." Bakura blinked, and then called the attack. Diabound destroyed the magician, causing both teens to clutch their chests. Bast healed first and went to help her friend, lifting him off his knees and helping him back to the village.
"Why did it hurt?" he asked. Bast sighed, glancing at him.
"Diabound is connected to your spirit. When he is destroyed, like in that suicide, it drains your life energy. A good rest will heal you, but you will be weak until you sleep. You had a spell in effect when it happened as well. You should not have called that spell, but you did well." She sat him down on one of the mats inside the small house before going to her own. "Rest, we will continue in the morning."
He nodded and rolled over to sleep. Bast smiled at him, said a prayer to her namesake with the feeling she was nearby, and laid back on the mat. She listened to Bakura's breathing slow as he slipped into sleep and her smile deepened. The smile disappeared when she felt the power of the lioness Goddess appear nearby. It caused her to sit up and look around. Seeing nothing, she stood and followed the feeling, coming to a stop near her treasure cove. She looked around her, unsure of the surroundings in the darkness.
"You came, My Child," came the voice of the Goddess. Bast spun around to see the deity watching her.
"Mother Skhemet," said Bast. The deity nodded and stepped closer, bathing the teen in her light. "Is something wrong, Mother?"
"You are teaching the child."Bast blinked and nodded. The Goddess smiled at her. "You are a brave Child. I am proud of you, Bast."
"Thank you, Mother." Bast hid her eyes after this. "Mother, I must ask. Why did the Pharaoh have to do this to me? Is this pain I feel my destiny? Must I suffer like this?" Skhemet chuckled, her amusement evident in the air. The shadows shivered around them, causing Bast to look around her.
"My child, your path is laid before you. Soon, the path will fork and you will have to choose which way to go. Will you continue to follow the darkness and stay beside your friend, or will you choose the path of light and join the prince? This suffering is just the beginning, My Child. But remember, Child, you are the darkness, the shadows. Following the light will only cause more suffering for you."
Bast blinked as the deity disappeared, and then cursed as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She shook her head and made her way back to Bakura, sitting back down on her mat. She looked over at her friend as he turned; his face calm and innocent. She sighed, deciding that his loyalty was enough for her. She didn't need the light if she had him and the shadows at her every command. With that decision made, she turned onto her side and faded off to sleep.
