Episode 3, Part 1: Kisara, The Dragoness of the Desert
"And she lit a candle, and she showed me the way."
- Hotel California
'The granary in the garden is finished, and it turned out amazing! I'm so glad I had Isis and Bakura to help me!'
'Bakura seems to be settling into the palace now. Father took him aside for his first lesson in magic a few days ago, and Bakura said he's learning how to contact his ka! How exciting! Father said he's going to start teaching me when I'm a little older, but Bakura said I'm not missing much - he's mostly just meditating for now. But still, contacting your ka? That sounds incredible! I wonder what my ka would be…'
Atem furrowed his brow at his 'surviving doom' scroll.
"I'm running out of room in this one," he muttered. "Good thing I've got so many more scrolls. But maybe I should label them to keep them all straight."
"What are you talking about?" Isis asked, putting down the fig she was biting into and peeking over his shoulder at his scroll. "What are all these strange symbols?"
"I-It's nothing! I was just talking to myself!" Atem said anxiously.
"Hmm," Isis said, pulling back and returning to her fig. "You write in that scroll a lot."
"Y-Yeah. I just like taking note of things, jotting down what happened during the day. Sort of like… letters to myself."
"So you can look back on it later?"
"...Yeah. Basically."
"That sounds interesting," Isis said. "I may want to try it myself."
"Oi!" Bakura said, popping up from behind the fig tree and waving his hand in front of Atem's nose. "Don't leave me out while you two do 'super-happy-fun royalty' things!"
Isis shrieked and threw the nearest thing, the fig she was eating, at the silver-haired boy's face. "Bakura! Don't sneak up on us like that!"
"Why not? It was too easy, with how cloud-eyed you noble people are," the six-year-old pouted. "Thanks for the fig, by the way." He bit into the half-eaten fruit, smirking at Isis's grimace of disgust.
"I was eating that!"
"Don't get your dress in a twist, Isis, there's hundreds more up in the tree," Bakura said around a mouthful of fig. Isis huffed and folded her arms across her chest.
"What happened in lessons today, Bakura?" Atem asked, rolling up his scroll and setting aside his ink and quill.
"Ah, nothing much. Just more meditating. I think I heard a voice or something, but it might've just been the wind."
"Still, you're leagues above me when it comes to magic training," Atem said.
"I don't know any spells, though," Bakura sighed.
"Father told me starting with the basics was best," Atem pointed out.
"...I suppose," Bakura said. "What about you, Isis?"
"Oh, I've mostly been learning about the different rituals performed in the palace - book knowledge, essentially. I do know a spell to fix broken objects and one to create a shield of protection."
"What in the world would you need those for?" Bakura asked. "Not only do you have one up on me by actually knowing spells, but they're not any actual good ones!"
"Those two spells are plenty good," Isis huffed. "Maybe not for… whatever in Ra's name you want to learn magic for - and I trust I don't want to know what that is - but they're good for what I intend to use them for! Namely keeping the both of you out of trouble and fixing all the things you break," she said, poking first Atem and then Bakura in the chest.
"We don't break nearly that many things!" Bakura protested.
"Well, what about the three water jugs yesterday? And the plate today at breakfast? And the guard quarters' window? And the-?"
"Okay, okay, I get it, we break stuff. A lot," Bakura said. Under his breath, he added, "Worst of all, half of those weren't my idea…" He glowered at Atem, who sweated nervously and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Speaking of magic, did you hear?"
"Hear about what?" Atem asked.
"It's Aknadin's turn to pick a personal favorite priest trainee, because let me tell you, he would not shut up about this kid he scooped up from this village to the west. Basic background, the son of a soldier whose village was razed by some slavers as retribution for their merchandise escaping. No family to take him, insanely powerful magic potential - basically the same story as me. He should be here in a few days."
"This one better not be a wanted thief," Isis huffed.
"Hey!" Bakura exclaimed.
"The slavers burned the entire village? Just because their slaves escaped?" Atem asked.
"From what I heard, the slavers thought that the villagers had helped in the escape. Doesn't matter anyway, the law of the desert is whoever's most cutthroat wins."
"Aknadin picked a favorite? That's unlike him," Isis muttered.
"Yeah, I was convinced he hated everyone younger than twenty-five on principle."
"On the contrary, it's not the young Lord Aknadin hates - just you."
"...Wow, you didn't have to cut that deep, woman, I was just making a joke."
"Regardless of who he is… we should welcome him, right?" Atem asked. And especially if it's who I think it is…
The game said he was Aknadin's apprentice, but I don't remember him starting this young…
"Bakura, did these rumors give this boy a name?"
"Yeah, and a real blasphemous one, too. You don't get much more arrogant than naming your son after one of the gods."
"Is this boy named Seth?"
"Yeah!" Bakura said. "But how'd you know that?"
"I, uh… heard some of the guards talking…"
"Hmph. Whatever. I'm just hoping he's not some show off."
"You mean like you?"
"By the gods, why are you picking on me today!?"
"Well, we'll find out when he gets here," Atem said, cutting off their bickering.
"Lord Atem! Lady Isis! Lord Bakura!" Maahes called. The young Rod-holder bowed as he approached them.
Isis stood up, brushing grass off her skirt, Atem straightened, and even Bakura tried to wipe the fig juice off his face and smooth his hair down to be more presentable.
"Your presence is requested in the throne room immediately - particularly you, Lord Atem."
"Why me?" Atem asked anxiously. Could I have tripped a flag already?
"Lord Aknamkanon believes that participating in a council ruling will show you how these decisions are made, for once you are Pharaoh."
"...Right," Atem replied slowly, turning to Bakura and Isis.
Bakura shrugged. "It'll be interesting to be on the other side of the stand for once, glowering down on whatever hapless criminal they've scooped up."
"It's not a criminal trial, Lord Bakura," Maahes said. "This person has come into the palace asking for a boon."
Bakura frowned. "Slightly less interesting, but I'll come anyway."
"This person… Who are they? What is their request?" Isis asked.
"It's best for you to see for yourselves. Please, follow me."
Atem, Bakura, and Isis followed Maahes inside and into the throne room, where the rest of the council was already gathered.
Standing in the center of the throne room, her head respectfully bowed, was the thinnest, frailest little girl Atem had ever seen. Her skin was a shocking pale and her hair, cut short and ragged around her ears and hidden under a peasant boy's headdress, was a shimmering white. Her eyes, which looked strangely large in her thin, starved face, were dark blue.
Atem had only seen images of this girl, and that version had been a young woman at that. But he knew exactly who she was.
Kisara.
The girl sold into slavery and accused of witchcraft for her strange looks, only to be saved by a mysterious peasant boy and fall madly in love with him. Despite not even knowing his name, she tries to find him, wandering Kemet until the palace finds her and brings her in to study her ka, which rivals the power of the Kemetian gods.
A capture target, one of the determiners of his fate.
"Atem? Atem?" Isis asked, gently shaking his shoulder. "Atem, what's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking."
"Hm," Isis said simply. "She's young, isn't she? Did she really make this whole journey to the palace alone?"
"Huh? I thought that was a boy," Bakura said.
"She's a girl, trust me, I know," Isis replied.
"Huh, wonder what she wants," Bakura finally said, shaking his head and muttering to himself.
"Ah, Atem, Bakura, Isis, there you are. Maahes, thank you for fetching them," Father said. Maahes nodded and whispered, "You're welcome," before sitting down at his seat in the council.
Father beckoned Atem, Bakura, and Isis to stand beside the seven thrones of the council.
"L-Lord Pharaoh?" Kisara's voice was soft, but it cut through the room like sunlight through an open window. "Who are they?"
"My son, my ward, and one of my priestesses in training. I have asked them to observe today's proceedings and possibly add their own opinions."
Kisara slowly nodded. "O-Okay…"
"Now, please state your request."
"I…" She dropped into a pose of supplication, kneeling as if in prayer. "Lord Pharaoh, I beg you to offer me the protection of the crown and my freedom!"
Aknadin glared down at her. "Freedom from what?"
"Brother, please. Young one, please explain yourself," Father said.
"I… I was sold into slavery by my village, but was afterward freed. The slavers who originally bought me are seeking after me again. Please, they see me as a troublemaker, and are likely to have me killed if they were to capture me! I beg of you to consider giving your official protection to keep them from continuing their search!"
Father looked deep in thought.
"You know it isn't practical to free every slave in the country that comes to us begging for such help," Asim said softly, fingers on the Millennium Ring.
"We aren't being asked to, Asim," Abraxas said. "Simply to liberate one."
"Perhaps, but where there is one, there will be more," Asenath said.
"There is only so much we can do to hide her," Siamun said. "Young one, what do you suppose we do?"
"I will do anything you ask of me, my lords, even serve you for the rest of my days. If I am the Pharaoh's slave, those traders cannot touch me."
Aknadin stroked his beard. "You? As our slave?"
"Do you disagree, Aknadin?" Maahes asked.
"Not at all, rather, I am simply intrigued. Are you so desperate to escape those owners of yours you would promise your life to us?"
"As I said, I will do anything. I never want those traders near me again." She wiped her eyes. "They were horrible people and I trust you far more than I trust them. The worst treatment here would be better than anything they would do to me."
"Father," Atem finally said. He didn't doubt Kisara would be treated well as a slave, but he was sure nothing but bad endings awaited her if she was that far apart in status from the protagonists.
"Yes, my son, what is it?"
"I have another idea, Father. It would protect her from those traders, and she wouldn't have to lose her freedom."
Reactions from the court were… mixed. Father looked intrigued. Aknadin just looked irritated that he had been interrupted. Abraxas seemed a mix between annoyed and intrigued. Asenath looked confused. Asim looked grave, as if he was still certain that saving Kisara would set a bad precedent for the court. Siamun was smiling as if relieved another solution had been proposed. Finally, Maahes looked deep in thought.
"Go on, my son," Father said.
"What if we ordain her to be one of the court's priestesses, to train alongside Lady Isis? It would elevate her status to a place where no slave trader could touch her without incurring the wrath of the court, if not the gods, since she would be a priestess. And it wouldn't force her to promise herself in enslavement to anyone." To Isis, he said, "You wouldn't mind having someone to train alongside, would you?"
"Not at all," Isis replied. "I could use another girl around here to help me wrangle you boys."
"Huh. Not a bad idea, Prince," Bakura said, glaring at Isis as he caught the jab.
"Hmm," Siamun said. "That isn't such a bad idea. I can sense that your magic is strong, young one. Magic that powerful simply must be trained."
"Is it wise, or practical to do so?" Aknadin asked. "It would still set an odd precedent if a former slave girl joined our priestesses, even if it was just to train her magic."
"Do you want her to be a slave, Aknadin?"
"I'm simply thinking about what kind of precedent it will set-"
"I find that solution to be the happiest one, personally," Asenath replied.
"As do I," Maahes said.
"The decision seems to set a strange precedent," Asim said.
"Shall we put it to a vote, then?" Father asked. "All in favor of accepting Atem's idea?"
Father, Maahes, and Siamun raised their hands.
"I choose to step out of this vote," Asenath said, sitting down. "I feel I cannot be impartial in this instance."
"And those opposed?"
Aknadin, a reluctant Asim, and a grave Abraxas raised their hands against Atem's proposal.
Father frowned. "With Asenath stepping out, that leaves a tie."
"My lords?" Kisara whimpered.
"Worry not, young one," Father said. "We simply need someone to break the tie."
"Father?"
Father looked at Atem in surprise.
"Sorry for interrupting… again, but… could I cast the deciding vote?"
"Him cast the deciding vote? He suggested the idea being voted on!" Aknadin began, only for Father to shush him with a glare.
"What do you feel we should do, Atem?"
"I vote to ordain Kisara as a priestess," Atem replied. "Siamun, didn't you say her magic needed to be trained? Would you rather an enemy of the crown trained her instead?"
"What he says is sensible," Asim said.
"I… suppose," Aknadin said, still looking annoyed.
Why does he look upset that Kisara is staying as a priestess? He's been out of sorts ever since Bakura came, come to think of it…
"Then it's settled. By decree of the crown, you - Kisara, was it? - will be instructed in magic alongside Isis."
Kisara put her face in her hands, crying softly. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you all a thousand times, a thousand times a thousand times!"
As the court was parting and maids came to get Kisara cleaned up from her journey and treat the injuries she had sustained during her trek, Father walked up to Atem.
"You are vouching for quite a few people lately, my son."
"Is that a bad thing?" Atem asked anxiously. Could I have hit a doom flag?
"No, on the contrary, it is very kind of you to do. I'm simply wondering why."
Atem bit his lip. "I just… imagine if it were me, facing judgment up there. How terrified I would be. I just want to save other people from that terror."
Father looked like he wanted to say something, but instead smiled and pulled Atem into an embrace.
"You become more like your mother every day," he said. "You know that… right?"
"You always tell me so, Father," Atem replied, face buried in Father's shoulder.
::::::::::::::::::::
"Lord Atem?"
Atem looked up from his surviving doom scroll, which he'd been busily writing in, recording the day's trial.
Kisara was standing there. She was wearing a beautiful blue-trimmed dress and a crown of lapis, which looked odd coupled with the measures she had taken to disguise herself - notably her ragged haircut, which made her look like a fierce little boy.
"Yes?"
"How… How did you know my name?" she asked.
"...Didn't you say it…?" Atem asked, deciding to play dumb.
"No. I didn't," Kisara said, her fierce stare reminding him of the powerful ka she bore. "So how did you know?"
Atem stepped back, feeling nervous. He couldn't forget that Kisara's anger cost him his life in at least one route.
"O-Okay. You got me. The reason I knew your name was because… I was told I would meet you. In a dream."
"A dream? From… the gods?"
"Uh-huh," Atem replied, nodding. "Because of how powerful your ka is, the gods wanted to tell me you were coming. They chose you."
"Chose… me?"
Atem nodded again.
"That's… thank you. I mean, I thank them. For telling you that," she said.
She turned and started to walk away.
"Wait," Atem called after her.
Kisara turned back around. "Yes, lord?"
"The gods also told me… you'll find who you're looking for."
Kisara's eyes widened. "What?"
"They said to tell you that you'd find that person you're looking for. They didn't tell me when it would happen. But you'll see him again."
Kisara looked at Atem disbelievingly. Then she wiped her eyes.
"They… really said that?"
Atem nodded.
Kisara bit her lip. "W-wait, did they tell you anything else? Like who he is? His name?"
Atem shook his head. "No. They just said you would see him again."
Kisara frowned. "I suppose that would be too easy. Um… thanks. For defending me back there, I mean."
"I'm just trying to help. However I can."
Kisara smiled slightly. "I think the world would be in a lot better place if more people decided to start 'just trying to help'," she said. She gave a bow.
"I'll… see you around, I guess."
Atem nodded and smiled. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, Kisara."
Kisara paused in the hall.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know you, too, Prince Atem," she said quietly to herself.