Chapter 82: The Child Of The Sun...
"I'm sorry..." Katori apologized as she set up a futon on the floor. "This is my fault...I thought that it would distract Weldon from getting suspicious..." the princess murmured softly. Gently Atem placed a hand on top of her head. "Please don't blame yourself Katori. You helped both of us out of a rather sticky situation. With not only Tybolt but Weldon as well. If anything we should be grateful to you. Although i'd be lying if I didn't say that I wasn't a little jealous..." Atem murmured softly.
"Huh? Jealous of me?" Katori questioned. "That's a first." the princess giggled. "Although you just met...Yugi showed such a smile to you...it took me awhile before he warmed up to me...and I him...but in that moment...it seemed as if he completely trusted you...that's why...I was jealous..." the Pharoah told Katori. Katori smiled. "You like Yugi a lot, don't you?" "I do." Atem smiled in return. "Well then...i'm jealous of you too. Because you have someone special to you. I don't have anyone like that. So we're even. So there." Katori laughed with a smile. The Pharoah chuckled as well.
"Yes, I suppose we are," Atem confessed. "However you do have others that seem to care about you. Never forget that. They in themselves are important to have in your heart...and in your life..." "They are. Lord Loric isn't my real father but he's been one to me for a very long time since he adopted me. Although he's normally pretty busy. Lord Tybolt is my father's advisor and he's kinda like a big brother the way he's so overprotective." Katori began "King Oritel is my father's best friend they go WAY back so he's kind of like an uncle more or less. And Natsume is my dad's handmaiden. Her cooking and cleaning is the best ever! She's always around when we need and I really like helping her out when I can." the princess told Atem.
"OH! I forgot to ask you your name!" Katori gasped. "I'm sorry that was SO rude! Here I am just running my mouth off..." the Pharoah only laughed. "I assure you it's fine. Not many people can see me when i'm a spirit. So I don't normally expect a proper introduction." "Well, I guess that's true." "Atem. My name is Atem." Atem introduced himself. "Wow! What a cool name! Well, then Atem it's VERY nice to meet you." Katori smiled. The Pharoah only laughed more. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well Katori." Atem murmured before the princess let out a yawn.
"Ugh, boy am I tired...I think i'm going to go to bed...night Atem." Katori murmured as she crawled into the futon with Yugi asleep in her bed. Atem opened his mouth before he saw the princess was already asleep. The Pharoah's eyes went back towards Yugi and sat on the bed next to his other half. Gently he laid down beside him slowly closing his eyes.
The Next Morning...
Lord Loric sat at the desk in his study with a quill pen. There were many piles of parchment stacked upon his black ebony desk with marbled flooring underneath it. The walls were painted black and gold with suns in the middle of it. The fire in the hearth gently crackled as the flames licked at the applewood wafting a pleasant smell into the room. Only the noise of the quill against the parchment echoed through the room as the Lord of Elixer silently wrote out his order for the herbs requested by the BriarBlood. His glasses reflecting the light of the room on the very edge of his nose. Lord Loric paused as he just barely heard footsteps outside of his door.
"If you're doing to pace at my door you might as well come in." Lord Loric mused before King Oritel slowly opened the door and closed it behind him once he entered the room. "You could hear me could you?" Oritel chuckled. "If there is cheese to be found lying about a mouse will squeak." the lord of Elixer. "And I presume i'm the mouse? I gotta say that's not very flattering." Oritel pouted. "Would you prefer a rat?" "Hahaha...you're hilarious...nice to see you hard at work so earlier in the morning." "Well fulfilling Weldon BriarBlood's request isn't going to happen by itself now is it?" Lord Loric mused.
Oritel let out a heavy sigh as he took a seat by the lord of Elixer's desk. "I don't understand why you'd give into that brats demands. "Things have changed old friend. Things are not as they once were..." Lord Loric told Oritel. "The A.O.J's influence has grown, far beyond one man could have ever predicted. I desire not to place my people in peril for mere pride." the Lord of Elixer muttered. "The BriarBlood siblings are caught between a rather nasty power struggle...that alone should be evidence of the A.O.J leader's power." Lord Loric muttered.
"...Man...I had no idea things were THIS bad..." Oritel muttered as he bit down on his lower lip. "No, I expect you would not. I was certainly surprised when you suddenly showed up when I hadn't gotten so much as a letter in the past...what has it been now...eighteen years sounds about right." Lord Loric teased before he paused seeing his friend's face hardening. Oritel took a deep breath before he let it out. "...Actually...that's because I couldn't...Loric me and Marion were sealed in Obsidian for eighteen years..." the King of Sparks confessed.
"The Ancestral witches and Baltor cornered us...we fought all we could but our whole kingdom was frozen in ice...there was no escaping it..." "...Phoenix Oritel...just how did you manage to escape?" "My daughter...and Marion's...Bloom...she and her friends broke the spell and defeated the wicked witches...she looks just like her. Red hair...blue eyes...eighten...long years...Daphne protected her from the witches...but Daphne...she wasn't so lucky...her soul trapped in one of the Gem's Of Destiny..." Oritel murmured softly.
"This whole thing seems impossible honestly...the reality i'm living now...I made up my mind long ago...that Daphne...Bloom would never know about this place...or where I came from...it was far too dangerous...both Marion and I thought that we could build a home together on Sparks...and leave Elementia to Yuki...and Amourette at least until Daphne and Bloom were old enough to rule over Sparks...and...know about the woman...who came into my life before Marion..." Oritel's eyes filled with sadness.
"Oritel...you cannot blame yourself for that..." Lord Loric whispered softly. " Impossible...it WAS my fault...Nicodemus made me believe...that if I helped him craft the Philosopher's stone that I could save her...but instead I damned all of Aura...only adding fuel for the flames of war..." Oritel muttered as he held his head cursing himself. "The past is the past, no matter how we might wish it, time does not turn backward." the lord of Elixer murmured. "You wish that too don't you...?" "Hmph...all too much...that's the problem with old men like us...never know when it's time to move on...instead of just standing still..." Lord Loric mused.
"And now Bloom is exposed to the one place I wished she hadn't...and as her father, I feel as if I cannot do anything to ease her pain...everything's she's been through...not ONE damn thing...it almost makes me miss the old days when we were young...nothing seemed out of reach...to think we'd ever find ourselves in this position." "Indeed." Oritel looked back up at Lord Loric. "...Have you told Yugi yet...?" the king of Sparks questioned softly.
"How does the saying go? Every parent wishes to protect their children? Yet the two of us are far too terrified to speak a word of truth to them...out of fear that we'll lose them forever to the vast and fathomless darkness...up until now, I believed that my grandson died that night...then upon going to Covenant...whom do I stumble upon but a boy of golden hair...he seemed almost familiar...he resembled my son...just looking into those scarlet eyes...I thought to myself...with such eyes, it couldn't be possible...he was long dead...still, perhaps there a small part of me that wished it was true. So I left a sun pendant for the lad...and the temple of Undine opened...with the assistance of Bloom...and she had a moon pendant...cowincidence? I think not..." Lord Loric mused.
"And now the Phoenix's ashes..." Oritel muttered as a beat of sweat trickled down his face. "Face it Oritel...Yugi and Bloom were meant to meet..." Lord Loric told Oritel. "It's not just those two...does the name Seto Kaiba ring any bells?" "Can't say that it does honestly." the Lord Of Elixer muttered. "Maybe you'll understand when I show you." Oritel murmured before he slid a picture in front of him. Lord Loric paused as he looked up at his old friend. "...He looks just like..." Oritel only nodded his head in response.
"Does anyone else know of this?" "No, I don't think so." "Let's keep it so...I will admit...it's a cruel joke..." Lord Loric muttered bitterly. "...Speaking of which...what do you think about what Yugi said last night About Amber and The Phoenix's Ashes...?" Oritel asked Lord Loric. "Curious...of course it would appear the Dragon Fire wasn't enough for the new transformation Bloom underwent...thus the ashes of the previous Phoenix's reincarnation is required in order to restore the power within her. And as a priestess of The Sacred Temple Lady Amber would be the only one whom would know where the body was laid to rest...that is...how one would normally view the situation..." Lord Loric told Oritel.
"Wait...are you telling me that there's another way to find the Phoenix's ashes Loric?!" Oritel questioned. "Precisely. After all who better to know where the Sacred Temple's location that the previous guardian...Madam Emiko of Covenant. I believe she is now the grandmother of the current Guild Master Raeger. If you wish I could write up a letter of request and have it sent by Nightengale immediately." the lord of Elixer mused. "Please."King Oritel asked his old friend.
"Please."King Oritel asked his old friend. "Then consider it done." Lord Loric offered a smile in return. "...Going back to Yugi...having him here...aren't you afraid of..." Oritel bit down on his lip. He couldn't even bare to finish the sentence. The Lord Of Elixer let out a heavy sigh. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't...any man who says he is not afraid of anything...cannot be trusted to speak the truth...but one, unfortunately...cannot dictate fate...sooner or later...he'll learn of the truth...perhaps that is why Solomon never breathed a word of his existence to me..." Lord Loric murmured somberly.
Outside of the door, Tybolt stood there silently listening to Oritel and Lord Loric's conversation. A dangerous glare manifested in his darkened pupils before the dark haired male slowly walked away. "...So...an opportunity has finally presented itself..." Tybolt muttered as venom dripped from every word he spoke from his lips. The dark haired male's steps ceased as Natsume approached him offering a sweet smile.
"Good morning Master Tybolt. Will you be taking your breakfast your study this morning?" the pink haired maid asked softly. "Yes...that's correct..." the dark-haired male answered. "Very well once i'm finished preparing breakfast i'll bring it to you shortly" "Do as you wish..." Tybolt muttered before he walked into his room and closed the door. The pink haired maid bowed softly before she left and came back with a tray of french toast, scrambled eggs and a side of grits with a dash of pepper and salt. Natsume paused as she looked towards Katori's room as a troubled expression soon appeared upon her face. Slowly the pink haired maid reached out towards the doorknob before the door opened on its own.
"Oh Natsume! Good morning!" Katori beamed with a smile on her face. "O-Oh good morning to you as well Miss Katori." Natsume greeted in return with a smile. Katori's gaze went right to the tray of delicious looking food. "Is that for Tybolt." "Y-Yes I was just on my way to his study." "Ugh...as usual he's so anti-social..." Katori let out an aggravated sigh. "He was glaring at Yugi all through yesterday evening too. I wish he's AT LEAST smile every once in awhile. Oh well. Um actually is there any way you could bring breakfast to my room this morning?" the princess asked.
"Certainly Miss Katori. Would you like two meals? For you and for your guest?" "Three meals, please!" "Alright. Three it is." the pink haired maid murmured. "Thanks a bunch!" Katori exclaimed with a bright smile before she hurried past her. "...Breakfast...for...three...?" Natsume murmured contemplating the extra meal in her head as she made her way back downstairs. Within the room, Atem sat beside Yugi as the scarlet-eyed male groaned as he tossed and turned with sweat trickling down his face mumbling in his sleep.
Yugi found himself in a strange place surrounded by marble. Slowly he walked around looking at the strange area. Above him were banners of the Sun hung high above his head. Names carved into the walls of each stone of marble. "...Where...am I...?" Yugi whispered as he walked around as the names glowed brightly. The scarlet eyed male began to run as fast as he could until he came upon a floating green orb of light as everything else disappeared into the darkness. "...W...What is that...?" Yugi question and reached out his hand to grasp it in his palm. Suddenly the light dispersed turning into shards of green glass showering down upon him.
Yugi gazed up in awe before he finds himself on top of a tall tower. "W-What's going on!? ATEM!? WHERE ARE YOU!? ANSWER ME!" the scarlet-eyed male called out. But there was no answer on the roar of the crackling of the sea of fire below him. He could feel the heat right down to his bones. Slowly from the darkness, a cloaked figure emerged. The same one he saw at Arthur's castle. One step at a time the cloaked figure moved towards him. "WHO ARE YOU!? WHAT DO YOU WANT!?" Yugi cried out as his body trembled in fear from just being in the presence on this stranger.
The stranger said not one word before the cloaked figure stretched out a hand towards the scarlet-eyed male. Yugi shook his head backing up. He felt the ground give way under his foot causing the tower to crumble and him hurtling towards the sea of flames. Yugi screamed as he shot up in a cold sweat. His heart beating rapidly within his chest. "W-WHERE IS HE!? DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" a panicked Yugi cried before he gasped as he felt someone grab him by the shoulders. In utter terror, Yugi pushed Atem away before he heard a familiar voice.
"YUGI!" Atem cried out. Slowly Yugi's eyes adjusted to light as the Pharoah looked at Yugi with deep concern as his other half trembled with fear. Gently Atem pulled Yugi into his arms holding him close. "It's alright...you were just having a nightmare..." the Pharoah murmured softly. "...A dream...? But...But it felt so real...I couldn't find you...I couldn't...hear your voice...I...ack..." Yugi winced as his hangover finally started to hit him as he held his head. "...Ugh...my head...hurts" the scarlet-eyed male groaned before Atem held out a cup of green liquid towards which bubbled within the glass.
"Here. Katori prepared this. It's medicine for your hangover. She instructed me to make sure you drank every single drop." the Pharoah told Yugi. Yugi made a face before he took a sip and gagged as his face nearly turned blue. "UGH! IT'S PUTRID!" the scarlet-eyed male cried. "Katori went through a lot of trouble preparing this...besides if you don't drink it you won't get any better..." the Pharoah told Yugi. "...You're not the one having to DRINK it!" Yugi exclaimed before he grit his teeth and drank it as fast as he could before he could toss his cookies.
"BLECK! UGH...I think she put frog in this...because I think i'm about to croak..."the scarlet-eyed male shivered with disgust. "Come to think of it. Where IS Katori anyways?" "She said that she was going to help Natsume in the kitchen. I do wonder where that girl gets all of her energy." "Me too. She, Lord Loric and Natsume seem really nice. Though i'll admit i'm not so crazy about Tybolt." "Neither am I." "By the way...I don't remember...what exactly happened last night? I was going to ask Weldon about Bloom...and then everything's fuzzy after that..." Yugi frowned before he paused hearing Atem chuckle.
"...W...What so funny!? Why are you laughing like that!?" Yugi cried. "...M...My appol...apologies...but you were so nervous last night that you drank three bottles of wine...and you passed out...it was rather humorous actually...seeing you drunk..." "N-NO WAY!" Yugi cried as his whole face flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry, but i'm afraid that it's true." "OH! I'M SO EMBARRASSED!" the scarlet eyed male cried as he concealed himself under the covered on Katori's bed.
Atem had to admit. He was relieved when he finally saw Yugi acting normal. The look of sheer terror on his face. He'd never seen anything like that before. The Pharoah took the covers and lifted them before he abruptly took Yugi into his arms holding him close. "...I...I'm ok really...but thank you...for worrying about me..." the scarlet-eyed male murmured softly. "...Atem...?" Yugi questioned as he looked into his other half's eyes. There still seemed to be something he wanted to say. A knock on the door echoed through the room causing both of them to jump startled.
"Excuse me..." Natsume murmured softly before she entered the room with a silver tray with three plates on it along with three china cups colored white and blue. "U-Uh hold on let me help you with that!" Yugi spoke up before he got off the bed and helped the pink haired maid set the small black table in Katori's room. {...Mmm, where is Katori?...i'd have thought she'd be right behind Natsume...} Atem pondered as he watched quietly. "Thank you so very much for your help." Natsume thanked Yugi.
"Oh no. It's nothing really. You just looked like you could use a hand. That's all. Anyways this looks really good. Did you make it?" "Yes. I hope it is to your liking." the pink haired maid murmured as she poured the tea into three individual cups. "Do you like milk and sugar with your tea?" "Uh yeah but just a little." Yugi murmured as he watched Natsume placed one cube of sugar in the cup nearest to him along with a splash of milk.
Slowly Yugi picked up the spoon and stirred everything together nervously. He wasn't used to be stared at. Gently the pink haired maid lifted up her right hand and placed it upon the scarlet-eyed male's forehead. Atem paused as he observed the rather strange behavior. Just what was she doing? "Thank goodness...you don't seem to have a fever...how are you feeling?" "O-Oh um...better...Katori gave me a potion and now my headache seems to be gone for the most part...uh pretty much anyway..." Yugi blushed embarrassed. "I hope I didn't cause any trouble." Natsume gently shook her head.
"Not at all. Please don't think such things. You're very welcome here Mr. Moto." the pink haired maid assured her before she placed her hand on his head gently patting his head. "T-Thanks." Yugi smiled in return before his eyes were drawn to something behind her. A tail swished back and forth. "...Um...Atem do you see what I see...?" Yugi whispered. "I do." Atem murmured before Natsume squeaked as her face turned beet red. "I-I'm sorry...sometimes I can't control the silly thing..." the pink haired maid apologized flustered.
"I-I'm sorry...sometimes I can't control the silly thing..." the pink haired maid apologized flustered. "A...Anyways it was nice talking with you. Miss Katori should be back shortly to keep you company. I'll leave to your breakfast...please excuse me." Natsume bowed before she squeaked accidentally running into Lord Loric as he came in the door. "M-My Apologies Master." the pink haired maid apologized bowing once more. Yugi chuckled softly.
"Oops. Terrible sorry Natsume. I'm afraid I didn't see you there." Lord Loric apologized in return. "N-No Master. The fault was mine. I was just delivering breakfast to the Princess's room as per request." "I see. Speaking of requests. Mr. Moto I was hoping that we might have breakfast together. I'd like very much to get to know you better." Lord Loric murmured. "Uh...well that is..." Yugi's words trailed off as he looked towards Atem. "You should go. I'll stay here for now." the Pharoah urged the scarlet-eyed male. "Sure i'd like that." Yugi smiled.
"Splendid. This way" Lord Loric smiled softly. "Natsume. Would you be a dear and take Mr. Moto's breakfast and mine to the rose garden if you would be so kind?" Lord Loric requested. "Not at all Master." the pink haired maid murmured as she took the one plate with the cup of tea placed upon it. Slowly Yugi followed Lord Loric and the pink haired maid out of the room before Katori finally came back into the room.
"Hey, where'd everybody go? I just saw them down the hall." the princess pointed out. "Your father came and invited Yugi to have breakfast with him in the garden." "Oh...I guess my dad must be interested in Yugi or something..." Katori murmured softly. "Hmm?" "Uh! Nevermind! Boy, this sure looks tasty! Come on let's eat!" the princess exclaimed as she sat down and started to cut up her french toast into little pieces to make it easier to eat. Atem picked up the cup of tea just swirling around the liquid in the cup.
Meanwhile At Covenant...
Kaiba crossed his arms as he sat across from Raeger in a carriage crossing the frozen snow. The CEO could feel the cold right down to his bones as his lips nearly turned blue from the change in the temperature. Even his white jacket wasn't enough to keep him warm. "H-How in the hell can you live here!? It's f-fucking freezing!"
"You get used to it eventually," Raeger explained. "During the evening when the sun goes down the temperature drops and the snow becomes much heavier. That's why most don't step foot outside after dark. I believed a carriage would be the best way to protect us from the cold's icy sting..." Raeger told Kaiba. "Good, then there won't be anyone to get in our way..." Kaiba spat. "I'm not certain that it will be that simple..." the Guild Master began. "The Guild is an ancient building filled with a history of powerful magic...spirits can often be found wandering its halls at night...and not all of them are of goodwill..." Raeger warned.
Kaiba scoffed at such a ridiculous attempt to scare him. "Heh nice try...but everyone knows that there is no such thing as ghosts...try as you might you're not going to scare me with tales made up to make children cry in the dark..." the blue-eyed male muttered. "You might reverse that statement before long..." the Guild Master mused. "Hmph...whatever..." Kaiba muttered. "I just want to get into the Guild, find this previous Guild Master of yours and shake him down for whatever information he has...it's as simple as that.." the CEO hissed. Raeger only let out a heavy sigh.
"The late Guild Master is how you say a rather eccentric individual...he's not one to take lightly Kaiba. It's best that you keep close to me and let me do all the talking alright?" the Guild Master instructed. "Sorry but I don't cower in the shadows of anyone...no matter who this former Guild Master thinks he is I'M Seto Kaiba..." Raeger only groaned. Why did he even bother? Slowly the carriage ceased movement once they arrived at the guild. "Just keep in mind what I said..." he muttered before both Kaiba and Raeger removed themselves from the carriage. Raeger took out a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Slowly the door pried open and the young men wandered inside the depths of the darkness.
"I don't know how the hell we're supposed to see anything! It's pitch black!" Kaiba cursed under his breath. "Hold on i'll light a lantern..." Raeger offered before slowly the glow of the flames pierced through the darkness. Their footsteps echoed in the halls as they proceeded forward. Raeger leading the way. "So, just where exactly is this Guild Master of yours anyway?" Kaiba questioned as he looked around. "My time is valuable and I utterly detest wasting it...so I hope you know what it is YOUR doing..." Raeger rolled his eyes before he ceased movement.
"There." Raeger directed Kaiba's gaze to a set of bookshelves. "Is this some kind of joke? I hardly find this amusing Raeger..." the blue-eyed male hissed before the Guild Master took out a book from the bookshelf. The ground suddenly began to tremble under their feet before the three bookcases formed into a set of stairs. "Well Well, you don't see THAT every day." Raeger sighed. "That's what I was TRYING to tell you...the guild's secret doorways are HIGHLY protected. You have to know where they ar-...HEY!"the Guild Master yelled as he saw Kaiba already climbing the stairs.
"Hurry up or i'll leave you behind..." Kaiba muttered. "Good grief..." Raeger groaned before he hurried up the stairs. The Guild Master stormed over to the CEO once he caught up and cut Kaiba off getting in front of him staring the blue-eyed male down with his eyes narrowed. An act Kaiba did not take well too. "Do you have something to say...?" Kaiba narrowed his eyes annoyed. "...Nothing..." Raeger sighed. "Come on this way..." it wasn't worth getting into a fight. Kaiba probably wasn't used to taking orders from anyone else. The Guild Master let the CEO down a hallway which led to a dead end with a statue.
"Interesting...so they use a statue to hide the entrance...i'll have to remember that..." Kaiba observed impressed as Raeger's eyes widened. "Yes, that's correct. You press the owl's eyes in like so..." Raeger murmured as he demonstrated before the stone owl's wings spread. Suddenly a portal opened both young men drawn into the portal as the owl's wing's wrapped around them manifesting onto a platform.
They ascended high unto the first floor. There were bookcases abundant and books scattered about. Spirits floated, drifting only interested in their own pursuit of knowledge. Such was the life of a mage. "I'm going to light the spirit lanterns so stay put until I return," Raeger instructed Kaiba before he left his side. "Well, I for one am getting tired of waiting..." Kaiba snarled before he paused as he sensed a strong aura nearby.
With one step after another Kaiba wandered into an area where darkness penetrated the area. A light reflected into his eyes causing the CEO to shield them from the intense glare. Slowly the blue-eyed male lowered his arm before his eyes widened. Before him was a large sword stuck into the ground. Not only one but four large blades that seemed to surround something. "...What the hell...?" Kaiba muttered before he froze as he peered into the shadows. A dragon made out Onyx slept within its eyes slowly opening.
"KAIBA!? KAIBA!?" Raeger's voice came as he looked all around. His blood nearly froze in his veins when he saw where the CEO was standing. "T-The Former Guild Master..." Raeger swallowed hard. Kaiba only looked at him in utter shock. "You've got to be joking!" the Guild Master only shook his head. "Impossible! He's a-" Kaiba couldn't even finish his sentence as the ground shook violently beneath them. "It's too late...he's awakening..." Raeger muttered as sweat beat down his face.
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