Dear Readers. I hope that you can forgive me for my long absence from this story. I own nothing except the Oocness and the AU, and please remember that this is an AU. All characters, except those not mentioned in Manga or Anime, are not mine but the mangaka's. The next chapters will come out over the next weeks. Thank you for your patience.

REBIRTH

Chapter Nine: Heba

Heba's disposition toward the silently brooding companion just behind and to the right of him was complete and total discomfort. He had heard about Set from his grandpa. Set the genius, Set the ice eyes, and Set the marble statue. Set, the son of one of the Pharaoh's Chief Magicians, was a proud and cheeky little brat.

Heba, not one to ever actively hate someone, couldn't help but feel that maybe there was something more to Set then just what he showed on the surface. The problem, as Heba saw it, was that Set was too set-if you can excuse the pun-about controlling his power instead of actually enjoying himself.

From the first day of the trip, upon their meeting, Set had made it clear that the only reason he was going on the trip with "an old coot and his happy-go-lucky grandson" was because his father had nothing more to teach him and wanted him to learn from the Head Chief Magician.

Grandpa had merely laughed at the cheekiness of the boy while Heba, who was more than willing to become friends, had found himself floundering on what to do with someone who so actively didn't care about him.

When they set up camp Set had waved his staff, summoned a spell, and his tent was set up crisply. Heba, watching in fascination, had asked the boy if he could teach him how to do the same spell. Set had sneered at him and said "I don't have time to teach a novice, go ask you grandfather."

Heba, not really noticing the brush off, had rushed over to his grandpa and asked him to teach him the same spell. Saimun chuckled and told Heba the spell. Within two seconds Heba's own tent was set up. Set, who had been watching this, seemed to stiffen-as if Heba had given him a mortal insult-and closeted himself in his tent, not even coming out for dinner.

Since then Set always showed off all of his spells and watched-growing stiffer and stiffer-as Heba completed each spell, going from instantly to, at most. a full week. Finally, Set simply ignored the boy, only grunting an affirmative or negative whenever asked a question.

Saimun watched in amusement as Heba, whose power had started to tame a little once the boy started to use magic, tried to court the stiff young lord into friendship.

Weeks had passed in the desert and finally they reached Saimun's intended destination, a tiny oasis that housed a small farm. Here Saimun was going to bring forth the full extent of both boys' powers. Set's powers were budding; his father had only been able to bring him to a certain extent. While Heba's powers needed to be controlled. The two's power flow contrasted each other so thoroughly that it reflected in their personality.

Set, used to rules and regulations, was limiting his visualization and imagination skills, which was causing his power to flow in a single uniform stream. His untapped powers were great, but the boy needed to open his mind more to possibilities.

Heba was the exact opposite. His imagination was wild and ran as rampantly as his openly cheerful nature. His power, when not in use, often gushed out of him. Every change in emotion was reflected in his power and caused them to manifest in reality, often breaking things. His power supply seemed endless, but he needed to learn control else he bring chaos into the mortal world.

"We are staying in that hovel?" Set's sneering question set Saimun's teeth on edge. The boy, used to the splendors of Palace life, probably did see this tiny farm as a hovel.

"It's great grandpa!" Heba's voice rang out clear as a bell, his amethyst eyes glittering in wonder. Set scowled at the boy.

Saimun smiled, pleased at the reaction.

"This oasis is purified by the blessings of the Gods," Saimun started to lecture, "its water is clearer and sweeter than any you can find, even in the Pharaoh's own private fountains."

This seemed to surprise and intrigue Set.

"How is it that the Gods would give blessing to this spot over that of the Throne of Horus?" Set demanded, more than asked, his eyes sharpening.

If Saimun had been any other man he would have shivered and cowed under that gaze.

"Why is that, grandpa?" Heba turned his eyes to Saimun, confusion in his clear eyes.

"Because this is the training ground for godlings and magicians both," Saimun's eyes grew solemn, "here is the only safe place to make, or break, those with power. The sands of Set are sprinkled around the parameters to absorb any power spillage. The waters blessed by the Gods are used to wash ourselves clean of mortal and magical filth. The land we stand on house the spirit of both those who have tamed their magic as well as those who have been devoured by it. The house we sleep in, work in, and live in, has protected against any harm that can come from the outside forces or that of our own making."

"Outside forces?" Set asked, Heba's eyes widened in realization.

"The servants of Chaos?"

Saimun nodded his head gravely.

"You both have great power and from your birth the Servants of Chaos have been sent to bring you into the service of The Dread Serpent."

'Both boys swallowed gulps; Saimun's face was cast into shadow as Ra made his way into the underworld. The only thing seen was his eyes, his old wise eyes.

"Well, enough of gloomy thoughts!" Saimun's voice was suddenly very cheerful, causing both boys to blink in surprise.

"This isn't the first day of training! I'll tell you more in the morning. Right now let's get our stuff in and rest up. Tomorrow we begin at dawn!"

Saimun led the way to the farm, both boys trailing silently behind him.

/

"How is it that you are able to master spells in so short a time!" Set demanded, as he set his stuff down on the floor-the boys would be sharing a room.

"Huh?" Heba looked up in surprise. He hadn't thought that Set would actually talk to him ever again.

"Don't make me repeat myself!" Set snapped his ears slightly pink.

'Oh! He's jealous! That…is actually kind of cute.'

"I have a very large emery supply. At least that's what grandpa always tells me." Heba pouted as he started to unpack. "It makes controlling my emotions really hard! If I find something funny and laugh things start whirling around the house. Things break when I'm mad."

Set stared at the boy, suddenly noticing the black power curling around Heba's slight body.

"Is that all," Set suddenly felt smug. Sure, he hadn't been able to master spells at such a fast rate, but at least he didn't cause disturbances like Heba did.

"Ah!" Heba pointed an accusatory finger at Set, "You're laughing at me."

Set smirked at Heba, only to get a face full of clothing.

"Hey!" Set complained only to face a laughing Heba. With a scowl Set grabbed his immaculately folded clothing and chucked them at Heba's head.

For the next five minutes there was a clothes war as the boys threw whatever they could reach at the other. Laughter from both was filling the air.

Saimun, his back leaning next to the open doorway, smiled.

'Maybe teaching Aknadin's spawn won't be so bad after all.'