Silmeria: Emperor's Prophecy is considered my masterpiece and one of my highest reviews stories on the site, but I wanted to see it done better - more extensive, and here we are - Emperor's Prophecy - Reincarnation.
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Yu-gi-oh.
Chapter Six: The Seer of Elysian
"You're allowed to look me in the eyes, Yuugi," Atem murmured pulling his lips into a small, reassuring smile when Yuugi raised his head before lowering his eyes back to the floor, silent and submissive as if Atem would reach across and strike him if he did otherwise. The thought forced a small, tight sigh to escape his mouth. He supposed it would take time for Yuugi to adjust to his presence and new life. It was unfortunate, however, that Atem didn't have time to spare to acclimate him to it at a snail's pace as he desired. The hourglass had been draining of sand the moment Yuugi's first vision and he couldn't afford to waste another drop of it. Hence, his urgency of Yuugi's comfort toward him.
"I-" Yuugi began drawing Atem out of his thoughts. "M-may I speak freely, Your Majesty?"
"Of course." Atem acquiesced, curious about Yuugi's words. It was, after all, the first time the little one spoke without a tremor in his voice. "What is it?"
"Grandpa-" Yuugi halted, biting his bottom lip before pressing on. "What will happen to my Grandpa? Will he be punished for what happened? Lord Kaiba told me that no harm will come to him, but with all due respect, I would rather hear it from you."
"No harm shall come to your, Grandfather," Atem reassured, floored at himself that in the rush of the moment, he had forgotten about the little one's only living relative. "We will send for him when you are adjusted to your life with me."
The statement drew Yuugi's features into a careful expression. "You are kind, Your Majesty, but I would rather keep my Grandfather out of the line of danger." Yuugi lowered his gaze once more. "I know what my existence means to this world. I know that my presence isn't good for it. If it wasn't for your protection then I would be dead." Yuugi's lips spread into a bitter smile. "It is not too late for such a fate."
Atem swallowed wanting to burrow away at the truth and cruelty of Yuugi's words, but the actions of his ancestors stripped that right away from him. "I will do all that I can to protect you, but I cannot do it without your help." Atem reached into his small satchel and brought out a small book. It was old and even with so little experience in handling magic, Yuugi could feel the small vibrations emanating from it.
"What is it?" Yuugi blinked as the book was placed in his lap and before he could open it, a larger tanned hand wrapped around his wrist forcing him to meet Atem's crimson gaze. "Your Majesty?"
"You need to know that this belonged to an ancestor of yours - of a sort." Atem's grip tightened. "This contains the words of Leon von Schroeder."
Yuugi stilled at the confession. He knew of Leon - the entire world knew of Leon. He was the - "The War Seer?" Yuugi looked down at the old and tattered book and was quite surprised to feel a rush of emotion overcome him. "Is this the original...?" Yuugi swallowed back the lump that formed in his throat. "Is this the original Prophecy of War? The one he wrote during his last days?"
Atem gave a short nod, his eyes suspiciously bright. "It is one of our country's most prized possessions. It was passed from Emperor to Empress with the promise that it would be placed back into the Seer's hands. I am proud that I am the one who can fulfill that promise."
Yuugi's fingers itched to open it, to find out and to connect to Leon, but the thought of reading the prophecy sent a shiver down his spine. To read it in its original form was to seal his fate to it. Words, no matter their form, were binding to the mind and soul, and knowing that the words meant him and he alone caused his heart to tremble in the wake of it all.
He wasn't ready to bear the weight of the world-
He wasn't ready to be the world's damnation.
He wasn't ready to face it, but he could no longer run from it. He had done it long enough and he owed it to the people to march towards it and embrace it. His isolation cost them precious time and even if Atem was kind, it was a sin that the Emperor wouldn't forget.
"What do I need to do?" Yuugi whispered, clenching the book and for the first time since their meeting, raised his head and met Atem's relieved gaze. "What can I do to help?"
"Don't give up," Atem responded softly. "We are destined for the war that has been prophesized and all that I ask is that you stand with us. Our days will be long and filled with darkness and blood. It will be frightening and it will live with you for the rest of your days, but I ask that you stand with me - with us - and help us survive the coming tides. Believe in us, Yuugi, and we will believe in you."
A moment of silence settled over them and for a second, Yuugi wanted to say that he was frightened of failing - of failing everyone, but he had a feeling that Atem shared the same sentiment. Instead, he shifted his hand over Atem and gave it a reassuring squeeze and a small nod, smiling in the face of Atem's apparent relief.
Words are binding, but not always needed.
"A mask?" Yuugi stared down at it in confusion before lifting his gaze to Atem who was holding a long black hooded cloak. "Why? Why do you want me to wear all of this?"
"We want your identity to be kept a secret for as long as possible." Atem reached out and took the mask from Yuugi's slack hands. It was a mask similar to that of those worn at a masquerade ball. It was black and bejeweled with sapphire and emeralds dotted along the edges. It was beautiful, but what Yuugi didn't know was that the mask and cloak were sewn and soaked with protection magic. In times of dire straits, it would do what Atem and his Shield could not.
Yuugi's lips thinned at the response. "Would-would this not distance this me from the people? Would they not think that I am impartial to them for not even showing my face?"
"In a normal situation, I would agree with you, Yuugi." Atem placed a solid hand on the Seer's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "However, the people are frightened and it would do us no good to give them a face to a name."
The confession caused Yuugi's eyes to lower in defeat. "I would mean them no harm. I would never hurt my people."
"Yuugi Motou would never harm his people." Atem agreed softly. "The people that know you would wholeheartedly agree, but the Seer of Elysian is a different soul. What he means to people is destruction and death. His words and visions are omens. His appearance marks the end of days for their home. We have been taught that his or her appearance marks the end of it all."
"That not true-!"
"No." Atem agreed once more. "It is not, but our people, who are my heart and soul, will not understand. Yuugi Motou and the Seer of Elysian are different sides of you but to them? You are the same." Atem's lips pulled into a bitter smile. "I know what I have spoken is undeniably cruel, but I would rather you face the cruelty and truth and be aware than live in a false reality."
"Will I meet them?" Yuugi whispered, shaken at the truth placed at his feet. "The people as the Seer of Elysian?"
"In time," Atem reached out and placed the mask over Yuugi's eyes and adjusted the ties at the back before urging him to stand and helping him into the cloak. "I want you to acclimate yourself to the palace and way of life before we hold a ceremony introducing you."
"It feels odd," Yuugi confessed frightened to reveal his objections but feeling that it would do him no good to hide his feelings about the matter. "To be hidden away in such a manner."
"It is better to be hidden in the shadows safe than to be dragged to the light and burnt." Atem's lips pulled into a strained smile as he led Yuugi out of the room and down the quiet halls. "You will become a familiar face among the staff but remain hidden during diplomatic visits."
"You mean Sylvantia and Atlantis?" Yuugi questioned lightly not exactly wanting to bring up the rumors, or, rather, the truth of the skirmishes on the borders leading into Sylvantia. "I have heard that Sylvantians can't wield magic. Is it true?"
"Sylvantians are Mystics," Atem explained, forcing them to take a sharp right and down a set of stairs. "They have abilities that are more in tune with nature rather than the flow of magic itself. With the right experience and judgment, a lone Sylvantian can eliminate an entire squad of mages." Atem grinned in the face of Yuugi's shock. "You have much to learn about the people around you, little one. In the instance of your circumstance, the more knowledge at your disposal, the more powerful you're going to be in the long run."
"I-I see." Yuugi noticed they had stopped in front of a set of double doors with an emblazed symbol of a wolf barring a sword in its teeth. "Where are we now?"
Atem's lips thinned at the question. "I've spoken of introductions. You've met my advisor and my second-in-command, but my council has been itching to meet you, my General specifically."
Yuugi swallowed at the thought of meeting Atem's council, let alone his General. He might not know the intricacies of the Imperial Army, but everyone had heard of General Marik -
The Pheonix.
The Wildfire.
A man who was a master-level fire mage and was capable of burning cities to the ground and burning people into nothing but ash. What would such a man want with Yuugi?
"You needn't be frightened," Atem reassured softly urging into the room where soft murmurs drew into a stilted silence. "No one will hurt you. I promise." The doors clicking shut behind him did Yuugi no favors in calming his nerves. He didn't have the heart to tell Atem that he wasn't worried about the council or the General harming him physically. No. Yuugi knew that there were ways to harm another without waving a sword and pushing a dagger into a throat. He knew because he was a catalyst. He was damaging the world around him without a whisper and barely lifting a hand. If someone as powerless as Yuugi could do so much damage with just a title and divine abilities then what could a council and a general do?
"With all due respect, Your Majesty." Seto uttered, drawing Yuugi's thoughts to a halt and forcing his gaze up and towards the massive round table that took a majority of the room. It gave him a moment to look around, taking in the faces that made up Atem's Council. He was surprised that a number of them were familiar, especially of Mai Kujaku - The Minister of Business and Finance - and a good friend of his grandfather's. "He would draw less attention dressed as himself than a mage from your personal unit."
"He's certainly more intimating." Bakura let out, rising from his chair that was opposite of Seto's, and approached them. "His costume could use a little bit of flair - a little bit of the dramatics."
"You mean knives," Seto grunted out. "He's not a Seer - not a soldier."
"And perhaps that's a discussion that needs to be placed on the table?" Marik cut in, a rough voice bouncing off the obsidian walls. "A Seer is of no use to us if he can't defend himself. If we plan on participating in this little war of his then we might as well put him to use." Marik grinned in Yuugi's direction, violet eyes, a touch lighter and more manic than his own, were bright with amusement. "Come inside then, little one. We have much to discuss."