Chapter Four- Counter Search
Mahad, after running patrols and teaching his students, retired to the archives. He knew Seto was anxious to be cured, but even she had to admit that the duties and affairs of the kingdom come first. I would go about my duties as a woman, just as Seto is doing now. He had spied both women heading to the tablet storage building earlier and saw that both were aware of the looks Seto was garnering, but they ignored them. Mahad knew Isis ignored the admiration she got on occasion but was surprised that Seto was doing the same. One would think that Seto would confront them and tell them off. That's what she would usually do. But, then again this situation is unusual.
Mahad smiled softly as he scoured the archives for gender switching. Seto was a lovely woman, more so than Isis, in his opinion. It would be nice if she stayed as she is. She may come to regard Isis as just a friend and if and when that happens, I could present myself as a possible lover. Mahad then shook his head. He wouldn't dare try to come between Seto and Isis if they still loved each other. He knew he wouldn't like it if he loved Isis, she loved him, he became a woman, and then some man tried to come between them simply because he found Mahad attractive.
He found several scrolls on the subject he sought, lit a fire, and sat down to study them. He soon found himself actually reading them, finding gender switching to be a fascinating subject. He did keep in mind why he was looking at them in the first place as he read. He did find spells that could temporarily and permanently change one's gender, but no spells to undo the permanent ones, naturally, and there were no spells to reverse the effects of a chamber that changes gender. Once one changes gender through a chamber, there is no way to undo it.
Seto is not going to like this, he thought as he put the scrolls away. And I don't look forward to giving her the bad news. He left the archives and asked around for Seto's whereabouts, certain that she was no longer looking over the tablets. He was told that she had gone to the Court Tower with Isis. He nodded his thanks and headed for the tower, thinking of how to phrase his words.
"What did you see in your vision of me?" Seto asked as they sat in the tower, Seto doing so awkwardly due to the robes.
"I saw Bakura, a circular chamber with you in it, and then you screaming first in pain and then in fury."
"Male or female?" she asked curiously.
"You were male when in pain but female in fury. That is why I was not surprised when you returned as a woman."
Seto nodded. Whenever Isis got visions, the outcome was involved in it so that when the outcome occurred, she was not surprised. The way the outcome happens may be the only part that surprised her. "Is it possible for you to see if I will be male again?" she asked.
"It's possible," Isis said slowly. "But the Necklace does not often reveal such things."
"Please try."
"Of course I'll try." Isis settled into her usual position, closed her eyes, placed her hands on either side of her Item, and probed it for a vision of Seto in the future, focusing on a male Seto as she did this. Her Item glowed softly, but only blackness was seen.
She opened her eyes, looked at Seto, and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I saw nothing."
"You did say that such questions are not the province of your Item."
"Some questions can be answered without needing to see the future," a new voice said and both looked to see Mahad climbing the stairs.
Seto quickly got to her feet and approached the magician who now stood in the room. "You found an answer?" she asked hopefully.
"I did. I will admit that gender switching is a fascinating subject and I couldn't help actually reading the scrolls as I searched."
"Mahad. The answer," Isis rebuked gently, seeing the impatient look on Seto's face.
"Yes. The answer. I'm sorry, Seto. There's no counter."
"You mean no spells?"
"There are spells for temporarily or permanently changing one's gender. These are meant for those already in their original gender. The temporary ones have a counter while naturally the permanent ones have no counter. Those changed by a chamber cannot regain their original gender as such places are intended for a permanent change."
Seto felt the world spin around her at these words. No counter! She was stuck as a woman forever! She staggered back and sank to her knees before bowing her head and her eyes stinging with tears.
"Seto," Mahad began.
"Get out," she said tightly and with low anger. "Now."
She heard his footsteps and waited until they faded before the tears truly flowed. Her breath hitched and sobs came from her throat. She felt Isis' arm go across her shoulders before she turned and buried her face in Isis' shoulder as she poured all her misery and sorrow into her tears.
She then pulled back and wiped her face dry. "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't why I cried. That was…unprofessional and undignified."
"It's all right," Isis said. "It's fine to be more emotional; as women, it's acceptable to show more emotion, even crying."
"But I am still the same person I've been on the inside. I do not want to indulge in female behavior."
"You hate being a woman," Isis said matter-of-factly.
"I do, no offense Isis."
"None taken. I would probably feel the same way if I was stuck as a man."
"Being a man is not a bad thing."
"Perhaps not as I would have had you to show me the good points."
"Yes…Isis, you could show me the good things about being a woman."
"I would be happy to. When would you like to start?"
"Right now."
Mahad hurried down the steps, a bit frightened by Seto's reaction to the news that she was stuck as a woman. Seto was usually not the most emotional of people but he was a little surprised by the low anger he had heard in her voice.
Then again, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. I would be upset if I became a woman permanently. I do need to tell the pharaoh that Seto cannot be a man again. Mahad regained his composure as he marched into the throne room and knelt before Atem. "My pharaoh, I searched the archives for a counter spell for Seto, but none exist. I have already informed her of this."
Atem nodded. "I imagine she was not happy about that."
"Unhappy is an understatement, my pharaoh. She was quite upset."
"I understand that. I would feel the same way if I was a woman for good."
"Perhaps, she will turn to Isis for help in being a woman."
"I'm sure she will. She is still a sensible person and will do what is necessary to achieve her goals."
"Of course, my pharaoh." Mahad gave a bow before leaving the room, leaving Atem to his thoughts.
It had been a surprise when Mahad and Seto came back from their attempt to catch the expert tomb robber with the latter as a woman. They revealed that Bakura was responsible for the triggered and not triggered traps. Seto spoke of chasing him, of the chamber, being transformed, and Bakura escaping.
Atem had listened while admiring the pretty woman Seto had become. He knew she would be wearing priestess robes from now on and they would no doubt add to her beauty.
I think I would like to have her as my wife. I doubt the court would object to my choice and Seto might be flattered to be my wife and queen.
