Silmeria: Emperor's Prophecy is considered my masterpiece and it is one of my highest reviews stories on the site, but I wanted to see it done better - bigger and here we are - Emperor's Prophecy - Reincarnation.
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership to Yu-gi-oh.
Chapter Five: The Divine Shield of the Seer
The Divine Shield of the Emperor was one of the most powerful ranking positions in Elysian and it was one of the highest honors that could be bestowed upon a soldier. A command from a Shield could halt armies in their march and could void laws. The Shield stood as a representation of the Emperor or Empress in their absence and had full authority to act as Judge, Jury, and Executioner. It was for this reason that the identity of the Shield was stripped from official records and cloaked themselves in armor soaked in the strongest of magic. To have a name attached to such authoritative freedom meant death and destruction to those who were attached as well. It was a sacrifice not made in jest or in haste and Mahad, the current Divine Shield, made this fact known by bringing in a body that wore his face and placed it on the marble slab as if it was a sack of grain.
"So." Jounouchi swallowed staring down at his own bruised and battered face. "I assume this is what you meant by striking my name from the official record?"
"Aye." Mahad sounded rough underneath the black and blue helm. "This is what I meant by striking your name from the official record. We are Divine Shields, Jounouchi. We are the last line of defense for the Emperor and Seer." Mahad waved a hand towards the dead double. "If you decide to take on this role then those ties that you hold dear must be cut. The power you hold will be on par with the Emperor himself and there are those who will strike the ones you love dead for it. You have a choice: continue with your life as you are or end it and become the Shield of the Seer. There is no compromise."
Jounouchi's lips thinned. No compromise? He was supposed to give up his family as if they were nothing at all? Leave his mother and sister to grieve as they did his Father?
"You are hesitant." Mahad approached him placing a solid hand on his shoulder. "It is not an easy decision but we did not choose you lightly, Jounouchi. We have thought long and hard about our decision." Mahad squeezed Jounouchi's shoulder. "You are a man of courage and loyalty and we would have no other by the Seer's side. Yet, we will never force you down this path if you don't wish it. It..." Mahad took a breath and pressed on. "It is a dark and lonely path and it is not for the faint of heart. You will kill and in some instances, it will be far from the honor you hold so close to your heart."
"What would happen if we didn't need a Shield for the Seer?" Jounouchi's mind raced. How complicated could it be? Just acting as a guard for the Seer of Elysian?
"He is compromised right now," Mahad murmured. "He is guarded tightly, but what could mere guards do that a Shield cannot? Word has already gotten out about the Seer's emergence and we have executed two archers because they have told their families." Mahad gripped his chin tightly. "You seem to have trouble understanding just how important the Seer is to the survival of this Empire. If he dies then our path is locked." Mahad released him with a sad huff. "We are at the End of Days, Jounouchi and we must stave it off as much as possible. You know the words to the Prophecy of War do you not?"
Jounouchi swallowed and gave a short nod. It was mandatory that Imperial Knights learn of the Prophecy of War in preparation for its arrival. At first, Jounouchi felt it silly to be afraid of a simple prophecy that had little chance of fruition but once he heard of Yuugi's arrival through the grapevine, he would admit that a shiver of apprehension ran down his spine. It worsened when he met the Seer face to face. Granted, Yuugi Motou was a kind man and greeted him as if he was an old friend, but Jounouchi couldn't erase the fact that he was staring down a harbinger - someone who would bring about their doom.
Yet-
He knew Yuugi needed protecting and that he deserved a chance at a semi-normal life. He didn't know how long it would be before the words of the prophecy came true, but Jounouchi would make sure that Yuugi lived through it and prospered after it. But, did that mean that Jounouchi had to sacrifice his own life for it?
He stared down at the dead double and swallowed the lump around his throat. He would never be forgiven if his mother and sister found out that he still lived after burying a fake body, but he hoped in time that they understood this sacrifice and what it meant for everyone.
"Will I have to do anything?" Jounouchi asked softly. "I don't think I would survive it if I had to face my family."
"We have our own division that will take care of it." Mahad regarded him before letting out a gentle sigh. "Are you sure about this, Jounouchi? Once you cross this bridge there will be no going back."
"I know." Jounouchi folded his arms and hide his shaking hands. "We are soldiers and we are needed, Lord Mahad. Until the world balances out, we will do what it is needed."
"Good." Mahad rumbled clasping Jounouchi's shoulder and gave it a rough, approving shake. "Let us begin."
It was odd, Jounouchi realized, as he followed Mahad deep into the palace, that with each step he took, he felt a piece of him chip away.
He was no longer Jounouchi Katsuya.
He was no longer an Imperial Knight.
He was no longer the son of Jounouchi Shigure.
He was an empty shell - a blank slate that would be molded by the choices he made as a Divine Shield. He wondered if he stopped following Mahad, he would collect those pieces and put them back together?
Jounouchi shook his head and continued down the spiraling stairway careful to keep up with Mahad. He had made his decision and there was no use regretting what was already set in stone. Better use of his time would be questioning where Mahad was leading him.
"Where are we going?" Jounouchi called out his brow furrowing as he took in his surroundings. He had been to multiple places within the palace walls and he didn't remember this particular area.
"To the Hall of Induction," Mahad called back. "For thousands of years, we have created and dismantled Shields in this hall and for the first time since our creation, there will be two Shields within the same reign."
"...Is that a bad thing?"
"It creates a bit of power imbalance," Mahad confessed with a small huff. "The First Shield of Elysian - Yuugi - made an agreement with the Emperor that it would be best if one Shield existed per reign to protect the royal family and while two would have been ideal, it would attract too much attention."
"It's going to attract too much attention now right?" Jounouchi frowned at the thought. A Divine Shield of the Emperor was a powerful presence but adding a Shield for the Seer too? He didn't want to imagine the political backlash for such an action, but it seemed that Emperor Atem couldn't care less about the disapproval of the nobles.
"Of course, but His Excellency along with the Council of Val'ista have unanimously decided that another Divine Shield would be needed for the Seer of Elysian. The Emperor insists that his security detail be stronger than his own."
"That's-" Jounouchi clenched his jaw to force his words to halt. He would never trade the Emperor's life for another, but he didn't think it would be wise to disagree with the Emperor's words in front of his Shield.
"It is indeed foolish and I will not stand for it." Mahad stopped on the last stair and turned to Jounouchi. "Although he will not be my charge, know that my skills will be lent for Yuugi's protection as well and I know that, by extension, your skills will be lent to the Emperor. I feel that no words or agreement are needed on the subject, correct?"
"Of course."
"Good." Mahad moved towards the center of the room allowing Jounouchi a moment to take in the sigil carved into the ground and the walls. The Hall of Induction was but a single room dedicated to the creation of Shields along with their dismantling when their tasks were complete whether it be the death or assassination of their charge.
"These symbols - sigils." Jounouchi began cautiously. "I don't recognize them - what elements do they represent?"
"They are not elements." Mahad urged him forward into the circle. "The sigils are the souls of the Shields who have come before us - our predecessors." Mahad reached up and unlatched the helmet revealing long dark brown hair, a tan face, and a pair of brown eyes so dark Jounouchi would think them black. "When I spoke of dismantling Shields - I meant that this is their resting place." Mahad swallowed meeting Jounouchi's knowing and horrifying gaze. "We don't go with the Gods, Jounouchi. Our souls remain here until we are no longer needed. Our bodies are burned into ashes and our souls are placed here so that we may guide future Shields and keep them on the righteous path." Mahad stepped closer placing a hand on Jonouchi's shaking shoulder. "I am going to ask you once more: are you sure that you want this, Jounouchi?"
"I-"
"If you choose to pursue this then know that this is will be your final resting place. You, me, and hundreds of Shields will walk together for eternity. Are you willing to do this?"
Jounouchi swallowed, lowered his head, and nodded. He had agreed did he not? He had promised himself that he would protect Elysian and Yuugi by any means necessary and this was the price was it not?
Mahad squeezed his shoulder again before silently urging him to kneel. "The creation of Divine Shields is a long and arduous process. It is the absorption of knowledge and magic of our predecessors and each shall judge you and deem you worthy of the task ahead of you." Mahad looked apologetic for a brief moment. "I will not lie: It is painful and if you are not strong enough then it will drive you to the brink of insanity. So, I ask that you bear the pain and be strong for not only yourself but for Yuugi as well for he will need you in the coming days."
"I understand."
"Very well." Mahad moved away from the circle as it began to glow in an eerie light. "Let us begin."
Atem's hand stilled as the teacup on his desk cracked leaked onto the desk wetting and smudging the ink on the signed documents. He set the quill down thankful that he wouldn't have to hear the screams that followed. Next to him, Seto's lips thinned, his eyes on the cracked teacup, thankful that was the only damage that made it through the barriers.
"Grandfather was smart to implement those barriers for the Shields," Seto murmured rising from the chair and gathering the cracked teacup, and tossing it into the bin next to his cousin's desk. "Do you think he'll survive?"
"Of that, I have no doubt. He is, after all, Shigure's son." Atem felt a rush of shame at the thought. He would be eternally grateful for Shigure and Jounouchi's sacrifices and he couldn't imagine how much pain Jounouchi's mother was going to be in when she discovered that her son was dead. "It is tradition for our Shields to be created in this manner but I have always found it barbaric."
"As have I, but we are in a situation where their knowledge and magic are desperately needed. I am, however, looking into a number of ways where our Shields can be inducted in a less savage manner and we can find a way to release the souls that are trapped in that room."
"The magic in that room is appallingly ancient," Atem murmured. "Not even Grandfather could release those souls and there's no spell on current or past record that can do so."
"In our records." Seto corrected. "I would like to look into Atlantean and Sylvantian magic when this matter has reached its inevitable conclusion."
Atem huffed at his cousin's statement. "You are confident that we will escape this unscathed? That all will be well in time?"
"I do and so shall you, cousin." Seto met his gaze squarely from across the desk. "We must believe that the Prophecy of War will have a beginning, middle, and an end. We will endure pain and loss, but we will come through it stronger than before and we will put this away as a victory and let it fade into history. We will protect the Seer of Elysian and we will use our common sense to steer our way to the end. Speaking of the Seer, how does he fare? I have not seen him since he woke up."
Atem let out a small sigh. "Yuugi is adjusting to his new life remarkably well and I am thankful for it. I am worried that the influx of magic he receives from his visions is making him more and more ill. It is unnatural for an Elysian to grow sick due to an influx of magic."
"What we deem unnatural might be completely natural for the Seer." Seto countered. "We don't know the physical and mental aspects of a Seer so this will be a learning process for us all. But, if the influx worries you so much I can look into it as well."
"I would appreciate it and send Ishizu into the Hall of Induction. I am worried for Jounouchi and Mahad's safety."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And Seto?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Seto tossed him a grin as he turned on his heel and left the room and Atem to his thoughts and specifically, his guilt. Yuugi would be at the forefront of Elysian's attention while Jouonochi would be hidden underneath magic and blood-soaked armor to bear the brunt of it and Atem would never forgive himself if they were harmed. Yet, Atem, as an Emperor knew that sacrifices had to be made for the greater good and he knew that Yuugi and Jounouchi understood and it was the reason why both of them accepted their responsibility without hesitation and without fear and Atem would do the same. He would do his best to keep them safe and whole and sane.
No matter the cost.