Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Pharaoh
Despite Dria's clear discomfort and terror, we listened silently as the Pegasus hologram continued speaking. She kept an iron grip on my hand, and every so often, I felt a tremble run through her fingertips.
"Since my retirement, I've had a lot of time on my hands. I began to further my studies of the Ancient Egyptian origins of Duel Monsters, and I made an astonishing discovery. These creatures existed long before the pyramids were even built."
I nodded my head as I would if this were a real conversation with the eccentric billionaire, "In the city of Atlantis." Dria whimpered quietly beside me at the mention of the mythological city.
"That's where this Dartz character comes in. He's trying to resurrect the most terrifying beast ever to roam the Earth, the Great Leviathan, by draining the souls of man and beast in order to build up the strength of this unstoppable monster."
Dria's breathing quickened as her heart rate skyrocketed. The pulse beneath my fingertips beat rapidly, and though she tried to release my hand, I refused to let go. Pegasus' message was terrifying her, and while I didn't understand why, I wouldn't allow her to face that fear alone.
"If his plan works, Dartz will have succeeded in releasing a devastating power, the likes of which have not been seen for 10,000 years. I've created an exclusive card just for you, Yugi boy. Think strategically now. Where can one find an extra card?"
A quick glance around the room, and the answer was obvious.
"Pot of Greed! That lets you draw extra cards."
Tristan pulled the card out from the pot, but when he looked at the image, he was less than impressed. The card was blank, no writing or images anywhere. Kaiba immediately claimed that it had no value, but Pegasus was more reliable than that. Considering the special ink he'd developed just for the Winged Dragon of Ra, there had to be something special about this "blank" card. We had little choice but to trust him.
"Time is running out. Our cute little Duel Monsters…soon they'll be gone, along with the rest of the world."
Pegasus' hologram paused a moment before turning Dria's direction, extending a hand towards her. Releasing my hand, she stepped forward, resting her cheek against the imaginary warmth and held the gaze of her father.
"My beautiful Dria, I know you're here with Yugi. Listen to me carefully. You must tell him the truth, my dear. He must know the story I do if you wish to protect him. Keeping him in the dark will only put him in greater danger; soon it may be too late. You know that better than anyone. Don't be afraid, princess."
Dria's eyes widened and grew glassy at her father's words. What truth was he referring to? I knew there was more to her story than our marriage, but how much more could there be? Why had she continued to hide secrets from me? Didn't she trust me? The hologram of Pegasus shattered and disappeared.
She briefly glanced at me, her lip quivering and hands trembling slightly. I could see the decision raging in her eyes, not needing to hear her thoughts though the Puzzle to know what she was thinking. They passed through my head anyway.
It was hard enough telling you the first time so long ago. Now it's not just you who will know. I'm terrified you'll all think I'm a monster, even if you believe the story.
I stretched my hand toward her, gently stroking the side of her face. The others stared at us in confusion, but I knew I couldn't rush her. If I tried, she'd be more likely to skirt around the truth and not tell the whole story. Kaiba seemed to know this as well because even though his frown and posture indicated his impatience, he kept his silence and didn't demand answers from her.
I love you, Dria. I won't think any less of you, regardless of what story you tell. In fact, I'm desperate to know more about you. I want to know where you come from, what you've seen and experienced, but only if you wish to tell me.
Yugi nodded alongside me, smiling gently at my frightened lover. He trusted her entirely, and it wouldn't matter if she told him that she'd committed several heinous crimes with no remorse; he would continue to trust her with his life.
Dria closed her eyes for a moment, as if holding back tears, and inhaled deeply. As she opened her eyes, the Millennium Pendent flashed brightly as we were whisked away into one of her memories.
Dria
I nervously paced back and forth in my room during the early evening. The Prince had submitted a formal request that our engagement, previously a private decision between the two of us, become an official betrothal in the eyes of the gods and Pharaoh's court. It wasn't that I had reservations about our relationship becoming public knowledge; I wanted every person to know that he was mine and I was his.
The problem was he didn't know the truth of my birth, that I was already 5,000 years old. Shimon alone knew the story, and he had faithfully kept silent about it for many years. But, he had only learned by accident. Now, I was intending to tell someone the truth.
What were the correct words? How could I convince the Prince to believe my story, and to understand that I had come to this kingdom with the sole intention of meeting him? That I would never raise my hand against the land that had become so dear and precious to me? Would he feel afraid? Angry? Betrayed? I wasn't sure what to think, despite having known him for more than ten summers and only having been separated from him for two when we were younger.
In truth, did I even need to tell him?
I shook my head as the thought crossed my mind. He deserved to know, and if I was being honest, I wanted him to know. He wasn't just a passing interest. I truly believed that he was my other half, and while I didn't understand why we had been born so many millennia apart, I had a chance to be with him now. I didn't want our time together to be built upon half-truths. I had to tell him, regardless of the consequences. I would then leave the decision to him, and I would obey whatever he declared his wishes to be.
Later that night, when everyone else had gone to bed, and the watchmen were about to exchange duties with their replacements, I snuck across the hallways to the Prince's room. Hopefully, the younger women of Pharaoh's harem would choose tonight to leave the Prince in peace and not attempt to enter his chambers for any unsolicited after-dark activities. I paused as I arrived at the curtains before his silent room. There would be no going back if I went through with this. Everything could fall apart, and I would be left with nothing once more. My heart tried to escape from within my chest as I deliberated. Was this the right decision?
"Kadesh? Is something wrong?"
A voice shook me out of my spiraling thoughts. The Prince was standing in the doorway, his eyes and body slightly tense from confusion and concern. It didn't seem like I had woken him up, as he was still dressed in his daily clothes, but perhaps my thoughts had been louder than I realized and alerted him to my presence. My body trembled slightly as I responded, and it took much focus to keep my fear out of my voice.
"There's something I must speak to you about, My Prince. May I enter?"
He nodded slowly and stepped aside so I could cross the threshold into his personal space. Doing so quickly, I first claimed the chair beside his bed. However, as soon as he sat on the bed across from me, I lost my composure and stood. He raised an eyebrow, but otherwise gave no comment. It was unusual for me to act uncomfortable around him. We'd seen each other in numerous embarrassing situations, even completely unclothed, as children and young adults. Though we'd later teased one another, neither of us had flinched in the heat of the moment. Until he'd revealed the depth of his affection for me, I'd believed him either to be indifferent regarding such matters or unimpressed by my figure.
I paced in front of him for a few moments, unable to formulate a coherent beginning to our conversation. After it became clear that I was struggling with what to say, he extended his hand and gently grabbed one of my wrists.
He pulled my body towards him, kissing the back of my hand as I stood between his legs. He then placed my hand against his cheek and leaned into my palm. Though my mind was still racing with anxiety, my body relaxed into him as I climbed upon his lap and hugged his head against my breasts, my knees resting on either side of him. His arms wrapped lovingly around my body, one hand positioned securely on my lower back, the other in the middle; I couldn't think of another time when I'd felt as safe as I did now.
If this was going to be the last time he allowed me to do this, I wanted to indulge myself in every moment. We sat together quietly, the sound of our breathing the only audible sound in the room. He was patient. He didn't press, and he didn't fidget in discomfort as the moments passed. He waited until I was ready.
At last, I was prepared, and I pulled back from our embrace. I took his face into my hands, stroking his cheeks with my thumbs. My reward was my favorite gentle smile, one that he reserved for me alone. Pulling his face towards mine, I placed a prolonged kiss on his lips. He ran his fingers down my back, tracing my spine, and I almost allowed myself to be drawn back into him again. Before my desire for him overwhelmed me, I unwrapped myself from him and stood. I inhaled deeply before speaking.
"We're going to be married soon."
He smiled widely as he responded, "Yes. I can't wait for the moment when you become mine and I become yours."
I wanted to smile as well, but I struggled, instead probably giving a fearful expression in return. His eyebrows furrowed and his smile fell at my apparent lack of excitement at the prospect of our marriage. I continued before his thoughts could misguide him completely.
"There is something you must know. Something that may change your mind about the wedding, about our relationship entirely."
He froze as he comprehended my statement. I could see the wheels spinning in his mind as he attempted to predict what I would say next. Already, I needed to make a crucial clarification.
"I'm not about to tell you that I've found someone else and no longer wish to marry you. I love you and only you."
His shoulders dropped as the tension left his body, which brought a smile to my face. He had absolute faith in me, believing my words of love without hesitation. It gave me confidence that he would believe the truth about my birthplace, and hope that he might even accept it like Master Shimon had (after much convincing, patience, and explanations). I sat back down, this time on the bed at his side, trying not to touch him. I feared that if I did, I would lose my newfound courage.
"It's about my homeland, where I truly come from."
His brows furrowed again in confusion,"I thought you had no memory of your life before my father found you along the Nile because you were so young."
I dropped my head, feeling remorseful, "I wasn't being truthful. I remember everything."
Then, I told him: Atlantis, my father Leandros, my connection to the red dragon god, even my former king, though it caused too much pain to mention his name. I described the beauty that my homeland had once been, and the peace that had filled my days. Even episodes of stressful events were colored with an undertone of contentment. I left out much of the torment that children my age had inflicted upon me; he'd seen enough of that in this era already.
"It was a paradise, just as the Field of Reeds will be in the next life. At least, that's what I wanted to believe. If I had noticed the cracks sooner, I might have been more perceptive to the problems that had been there all along. Perhaps I could have done something."
I told him of the evil magic that had seduced the king with the promise of incredible power, an offer irresistible even to one who wanted for nothing. Tears filled my eyes as I narrated Atlantis' final days, the destruction we had brought upon ourselves, the loss of my father, and the madness that ensued as the city vanished beneath the sea, a pool of water the size of which he couldn't possibly imagine. Finally, I reached the end of the tale.
"I awoke on an unknown shoreline alone. I searched for other survivors for days, maybe even weeks. Only when I was certain that I was the sole survivor did I leave that shore, never to return. I wandered across the desert, driven only by a vision of you, until I came upon the Nile, where I met your father."
The story closed. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for him to speak. He sat across from me, his arms crossed over his chest and eyes fixed on the floor, as he contemplated my revelation. With each passing second, I grew more anxious, fiddling with my fingernails. Shimon had at least responded immediately, though his reaction was worse than I had hoped it would be. Finally, he spoke.
"Who else has heard this tale?"
"Only Master Shimon, and it was by mistake. I had no plans of informing him, unlike I have you."
"It's quite the story, Kadesh, but I don't understand why you haven't shared it until now. Surely my father should be made aware of your true origins. I'm sure he would be delighted to learn more about you. It's not as if this knowledge will threaten our kingdom."
My eyes widened as my pulse throbbed in my throat, and my heart rate jumped into overdrive. How had he misunderstood the timeline? Where had I been unclear? A new voice interrupted our conversation.
"So, you've chosen tonight to reveal the truth to him. I had been wondering why I felt compelled to retrieve this from the library earlier today after receiving the official betrothal request."
Master Shimon had entered the Prince's bedroom. He was carrying an older scroll from the library archives. Based on the seal atop the ribbon that held the papyrus closed, it was a document that only those of the highest rank could access. Not even I was permitted to see, let alone borrow, such a document without special permission and Master Shimon's personal presence, neither of which had ever happened. I knew, however, the story contained within the document; Shimon had spoken of it to me after I revealed my past to him, and he had moved on from his initial shock.
"My Prince, if you would read this document, it might help clarify the Lady's story. This text has been recopied numerous times to preserve the information within since a time before the first king of our people long ago."
The Prince carefully took the scroll from Shimon and unrolled it. For several minutes, he read the text in silence, his eyes narrowing and widening as they traced over the writing, and he began to comprehend the information. Shimon offered no further comment, nor did he provide me with any consolation. He knew that the Prince needed to form his own opinions and arrive at a personal conclusion that wasn't influenced by another, especially not by someone he respected.
At last, the Prince finished reading, and by the wild gaze I saw in his eyes, he was beginning to understand why I hadn't revealed the truth to him until now. My eyes began to water, and my throat felt trapped within a vice grip.
"Dria, have you read this before? It's nearly the same as your account."
"The Lady has never laid eyes upon this text, Your Highness. Her story is her own."
Shimon spoke before I could respond. Admittedly, it sounded more plausible coming from him; he had no reason to lie. Shimon, having taken back the scroll, then bowed to us both.
"I will take my leave now, Highnesses. You have much to discuss."
Shimon vanished back outside the Prince's room as quickly as he had appeared, leaving us alone once more. I was on my own again in trying to convey the truth to the Prince. I lowered my eyes and bowed my head to him. I swallowed with difficulty before speaking.
"Please, ask me your questions, and I'll answer as best I can."
He pondered for a few moments, deciding what information he wanted to know. My fingers twitched as my nerves raced around my body, and I found it difficult to keep still and wait patiently, keeping my face and eyes fixed on the floor. Part of me wanted to run, to flee from this space, even from the kingdom altogether, and disappear into the night. I knew I would be safe if I did so. But the other part of me that wanted him to know, that desperately craved his love and acceptance, kept my body rooted on his bed, waiting for an absolution. His fingertips gently lifted my chin, raising my gaze to meet his, before releasing me.
"How did you survive the destruction?"
"My father saved me, and he died doing so. He pushed me into the water before the city fell apart, and I drifted to shore with the help of some shadow creatures, the red sky dragon included."
His eyes darkened with sorrow at the revelation of my father's fate, and I could see the beginnings of condolences on his lips. I shook my head; I didn't want to ruminate on the matter further. He understood quickly and fired off another question instead.
"How was your bond with the dragon formed?
"He chose me just after my birth in the custom of my people, fusing our souls together until the day I move on from this world into the next."
Questions such as these continued for quite some time. He asked about everything, from what my position was in my society to what my favorite food was. The moon was nearly halfway through its descent back towards the land when he arrived at his final questions.
"How old were you when your homeland was lost?"
"Seventeen summers."
He paused for a moment, somewhat hesitating to continue this line of questioning, before asking the question I'd been dreading.
"How long has it been since this tale occurred?"
I had placed all my faith in him. Though I could hear my heart pounding in my ears, I continued to trust him.
"Five thousand summers."
The Prince was then silent for some time, his arms across his chest and his right leg crossed over the left. It was a pose he always assumed when he was deep in thought, formulating the best strategy to solve a complex problem. My gaze fell again from his face as my head dropped and tears gathered in my eyes.
This was the end. He was contemplating how to best move forward with this information without putting himself or his kingdom in danger. If anyone else should learn about my situation, there was no telling how many kingdoms might desire me; Egypt could be at great risk. All I could do now was beg him to keep quiet and release him from all promises once made to me. Then, I had to make it clear I would willingly pay any price, or swear with any words, if it meant I could remain here with him, only ever serving him and his people. I would fight for Egypt with a ferocity never before seen if necessary.
I rose from the bed and kneeled before him, my left foot extended forward in a formal manner. I kept my gaze down, showing proper deference to the future Pharaoh, as I made my request.
"I didn't want to keep this secret from you any longer. I trust you with everything I am, and I will comply with anything you command. All I ask is that you keep silent about this information. Use it as leverage over me to demand my complete and eternal obedience to you, if you wish. I will not hold you to marrying me, but please don't send me away. I cannot bear to be parted from you again. I am your loyal servant and will remain as such in any form you see fit, whether as a mage of your army, your personal attendant, or simply your bed companion."
Removing the beautiful turquoise bracelet that he had once gifted me with upon our informal betrothal, I extended it back to return it to the rightful owner. Silence permeated the room for several moments. Suddenly, I felt him take the bracelet from my hand, only for him to place it back on my arm. His fingers then pulled my chin upwards, and his lips descended on mine as he sank to the floor beside me. His kiss was soft and gentle, conveying understanding and unshaken love for me. He pulled away momentarily to speak.
"Stay by my side, Kadesh, as my dearest friend, advisor, mentor, lover, Queen and, most importantly, my wife."
Tears flowed down my face as I cradled his cheeks in my hands and pulled him back for another kiss.
In a fluid motion, without releasing me from his lips, he hoisted me into his arms and turned towards his bed. I clung to his neck, pressing my body against him as he laid me down, his own body resting above mine. My lungs soon cried out for air as I broke our kiss with a gasp. He was undeterred, changing his course to claim my neck and collarbone. His hands pulled the shoulder straps of my dress down towards my elbows, kissing the newly exposed skin as it came into view. My hands drifted to the simple belt around the center of his tunic, loosening the strap to begin removing his garment.
It was the middle of summer season, so we were both lightly clothed. I felt my body warm in anticipation of seeing his bare skin. He was a man now, no longer a boy, with muscles stretching portions of his skin taut. We paused in our attention to one another, both of us panting heavily as pleasure and lust raced through our veins. He smiled mischievously for a moment.
"Should I assume that with your age, you'll be the more experienced lover between the two of us?"
I frowned in response and pushed him away, offended by his insinuation and mention of my true age. He cocked his head in return, evidently confused about how his attempted joke was received. We stared in silence before I made my hurt feelings known.
"Why would you assume that? What kind of woman do you take me for?"
"A beautiful one to whom many men, maybe even women, have declared their love and desire."
I rolled my eyes at his attempt to soften my anger and subtly apologize for his assumption. He slowly resumed his attentions to my neck and collarbone, dipping dangerously low and pushing my dress further down my body. Heat raced through my limbs as I gasped out a response.
"Though it apparently comes as a surprise, I'm still a maiden, untouched by anyone. You, on the other hand, are a different story. Given that there are numerous women in your father's harem who adore you and often sneak into your bedroom, the chance of you having any experience in this regard is significantly greater. Who knows what exactly happens here when no one else is watching."
He bit down on a very sensitive location, causing me to yelp and moan in response. He chuckled lowly, moving his lips back up towards my collarbone.
"You spend more time here than any of those women, so surely you're aware that I'm also untouched. Though many of my father's ladies are beautiful, they don't hold my attention. I have no desire for anyone other than you."
Despite his honeyed words, I narrowed my eyes as I tried to think of how to take my vengeance for his earlier teasing. I dropped my hand lower, seeking a particular target. When I was successful, he groaned and shivered. I giggled, copying his earlier reaction to my body's physical response to pleasure. He huffed slightly before removing my dress entirely. His cheeks and ears turned a bright red, and from the pulsing of the vein in his neck, his heart rate had increased too. I stretched my hands out towards him, inviting him back into my embrace.
"Shall we gain experience together then?"
As we returned to Pegasus' secret room, I sank to the floor, unable to stay upright any longer. He knew now, and he'd surely be afraid of the information he'd just relearned. The Pharaoh dropped to one knee beside me, but I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze. He didn't ask any questions or push further. He'd seen and heard enough for the time being.
"Why don't you all wake up? This is a hoax. It's the same nonsense Pegasus pulled at Duelist Kingdom. He's trying to distract me long enough for him to take over Kaiba Corp!"
Seto's harsh words broke the barrier I'd fought to keep up, and I burst into tears, covering my mouth to quiet my sobs. I wept for Pegasus, whom I dearly loved and yet had abandoned; for my lover and friends, who were in the greatest danger of their lives now, and there was no guarantee that I could keep them all safe with my strength drained; for my homeland, whose miserable fate could have been prevented, if only I had made a decision sooner. Yugi appeared at my side, placing his ghostly hand on my shoulder and resting his head against mine, as the Pharaoh stood and glared at Seto.
"You should wake up! It's not always about you. There's something going on here that's bigger than all of us, and you know it."
Seto didn't respond to the Pharaoh, keeping his gaze on me instead. My reaction had caught him off guard, and he wasn't sure how to respond. He'd never seen me like this before. A flurry of emotions had fractured the carefully built mask I'd maintained all these years.
"Kaiba, you have one of these too, don't you?"
The Pharaoh and Joey had pulled out their dragon cards, prompting Seto to show his dragon in return. As soon as the cards were facing one another, all three started glowing. Miniature versions of Timaeus, Hermos, and Critias appeared suddenly, flying over to me. Hermos and Critias gently nudged my face with their noses and licked the tears from my face. Timaeus floated in front of me until the other two stopped, then he gently placed his nose against mine. My outburst soon settled into controlled sniffles. Wiping my eyes once more, I affectionately stroked each dragon's head before they vanished. The rest of the group watched in silence before Tristan stepped in.
"Yeah, nothing magic going on here."
Seto scoffed and continued to deny the magic around him. Without another glance toward me, he left, Mokuba trailing after him. I sighed at his stubbornness; I could only hope that he would keep himself and his brother safe from this danger. I stood back up, wiping dust off my knees, and regathered my emotions. My opportunity to be an emotional wreck had passed. I needed to be strong once more for my friends and my father.
Rex and Weevil were snooping around Father's personal room, looking either for valuables or cards. I rolled my eyes at those two; there was nothing of discernible value within this room, unless my father or I were establishing the worth. Why had they come along in the first place? Weevil made some excuse about looking for his glasses, which had been on his face the entire time.
"So now that we know who's causing this whole mess, what are we supposed to do about it?"
"We could chill out back at my crib…play a little Dungeon Dice Monsters."
Duke's suggestion, though entirely unhelpful, brought a small smile to my face, something I hadn't done in a while. I thought of Pegasus and how excited he'd been to produce a new game that was approachable, yet complex like our Duel Monsters game. I missed him dearly and would like little more than to hug him again.
"Wait, I know, Professor Hawkins. He lives around here. He may have some new information that could help us. I have a feeling his discovery is somehow related to our new enemy."
"Good call! He did say that he was going back home to continue his research on the lost city of Atlantis."
Though I was uncertain of what information Professor Hawkins had discovered, part of me was angry with him. Atlantis should have been left undisturbed beneath the sea; her people had suffered enough already. The other part of me hoped that he would have some clue as to where Dartz was, or some idea as to how he could be stopped without my magic. I also wondered whether Dartz was aware of the professor's research. If he was, then we needed to get to Professor Hawkins fast. He could have unknowingly made himself into a target.
Seto's jet was gone before we could request a ride, not that I was surprised. He still seemed angry at me, unwilling to reconcile and repair our friendship. Thankfully, Duke had driven here, and after using my father's computer to find the correct address, he had a general idea of the right direction. I also grabbed a map of the surrounding area from behind the front desk before leaving just in case.
It was a tight fit in Duke's car, even with Rex and Weevil stuck in the trunk. I sat across the Pharaoh's lap, leaning my shoulder against his chest, while Duke drove us through the desert. He kept his arms wrapped around my waist in a secure grip since I couldn't use the seatbelt, and I kept my feet as close to his legs as possible. Joey seemed lost in his own thoughts, and Tristan was too busy arguing with Tea over the directions.
"Are you sure you're holding that map right? Can't we just take the blue roads?"
"If we had a boat! Blue lines are rivers."
"I knew that."
At any other time, I would have laughed alongside Duke. But, my mind was racing with too much information to participate in the merriment. Yugi and the Pharaoh shared their thoughts with me, trying to draw me into the conversation.
Based on what Pegasus said, Dartz controls a force that's over ten thousand years old. That's even older than you are!
Yes, Yugi, the Orichalcos. It appears to be more powerful than any magic we've ever experienced.
I clenched my fists at the Pharaoh's comment, more out of wounded pride than anything else. My magic could compete with the Orichalcos, a fact Dartz knew and had prepared for in expert fashion. I was nothing more than a pretty decoration now, closer to a burden than a benefit to my friends. My depleted magic was slow to return, which made it difficult to predict how useful I'd be in the long run. Yugi fell silent, as if allowing space for his counterpart and I to talk alone.
"That memory earlier, it was in Egypt?" His question was soft, not judgmental. There was no trace of fear either. I nodded, not trusting my voice.
"So the story you narrated then is the same one Pegasus was referring to earlier?"
I clenched my fists to the point my nails dug into my palms. Hearing the simple questions spell it out for him made it worse. Unbridled anger suddenly rose within me at his nonchalant reaction to this. Twisting my head, I glared at him, my eyesight going blurry and a faint green light beginning to glow from my forehead. I began yelling through our bond, unable to hold back any longer.
Just say it out loud, Pharaoh! Then tell everyone what you learned! Yes, I'm a ten thousand year old magician from the legendary city of Atlantis. Yes, I was cursed with immortality, and nothing I've tried has succeeded in removing the curse. Yes, I'm probably the reason why the Orichalcos is pursuing this group of people and kidnapped my father. And yes, if I don't stop this war, I'll probably be the reason the world is destroyed just like Atlantis was. Have I left anything out?
Both the Pharaoh and Yugi were taken aback, either by my sudden temper or the previously unknown information I suddenly revealed. Tears filled my eyes once again, and I dropped my head down as they began to roll down my face, trying to hide my emotional outburst from the others. The Pharaoh pulled my head towards him, hiding my face in his neck. Accepting his generosity, I buried myself into his jacket, wrapping my arms around his back and pulling myself as closely to him as possible. He was silent for a time, rubbing my back in a rhythmic pattern to soothe me. If Joey and Tristan noticed, they were kind enough to not intrude. After some time had passed, Yugi tentatively struck up a conversation with me.
What did Pegasus mean earlier by his retirement? Weren't you just working on a series of new games to be released?
I smiled slightly at the ghostly figure next to me who was blatantly changing the subject to avoid another outburst on my part. I knew he needed the information I'd just revealed clarified, but he was patient enough to wait until I was in a better headspace.
My father's definition of "retirement" entails selecting new games to develop and attending parties to promote them, but having the ability to skip meetings and work in his pajamas all day within the comforts of his own home. Someone else is officially in charge of the company and keeping it afloat, but at the end of the day, Father still makes all the decisions.
Yugi chuckled quietly, seeming to understand the ambition and passion that drove my Father. In my opinion, he and Grandpa were very similar in that regard, both unwilling to completely step away from what they loved dearly. The Pharaoh also smiled, adjusting his hand around my waist to hold me securely as I sat up from his chest and repositioned myself to heal my earlier injury.
My magic had at last returned to usable levels. With the utmost care in a moving vehicle, I unwound the bandages that Tea had helped create earlier, revealing the injury beneath. It had stopped bleeding continuously, my body already hard at work to mend together what had been torn, but it had a long way to go before being repaired. Healing magic would speed up the process and give me back the ability to use my arm fully.
My fingertips glowed with a warm white light as the spell mended the laceration. Aristokles twinkled faintly, supporting me with his own magic to prevent me from burning through what I had regathered. Yugi and the Pharaoh watched in amazement as the wound was sealed and vanished from my arm. I sighed in relief as my arm returned to normal, and I leaned back against his chest again. We sat in silence for a few moments before he spoke up again.
You've mentioned your curse before. How does it work?
It's terribly vague. All I was told was that I'd continue to live until I gave my life for another. I've been in plenty of dangerous situations where I've put myself in harm's way for someone else, so I've never understood the finer details. I can only confirm the immortality bit, given that I'm still alive even now. There must be something else to it that I'm unaware of.
He nodded in response, understanding that I had given him all the information I had. He suddenly pulled me close to him again, tracing his nose against my neck.
So, would you say we were successful in…what did you call it earlier? Gaining experience together?
Heat rushed into my entire face, all the way to my ears and down my neck, at his suggestive question. It was a blessing that this drive had taken so long because the sun had already vanished below the horizon, meaning no one else in the car could see my blush. He chuckled at my response and pulled back from my neck. I sent him a weak glare, but I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
At last, we reached the area where the Hawkins' lived. Given the Professor's academic accomplishments, it should have been easy to find his research laboratory. It was hard to tell in the darkness, but based on the shiver that danced down my spine, something was terribly wrong. After driving further down the road, we arrived at the correct address. My eyes widened as I took in the sight before us.
The Hawkins laboratory had been reduced to rubble, and there was no sign of Rebecca or her grandfather anywhere.
