V.E.: well, it's been a while since I've dabbled into Princess of Egypt and the Yugioh fandom. Sorry guys, things have been kind of stressful for me lately. Still, this is something I do for fun and it's not like I'm paid to write this for you guys.

Originally, I started this chapter in November. I've been hit not by a lack of inspiration, but the lack of desire to do much writing. I wish I had a better excuse, but that's honestly the truth. I can't even lay the blame on my classes like I did years before. In case anyone's wondering, I'm currently studying to be a library paraprofessional. Long story short, after graduating with a bachelor's degree with no clear goals, I got some career counseling that I probably should have gotten in high school. Not that I regret my years at Stanislaus.

Still, this chapter is not about that (there is a little nod to libraries though). This is about Kisara and Mahad touching on a topic that was bound to be brought up.

Quote: "Loyalty is a fine quality, but in excess it fills political graveyards."- Neil Kinnock

Kisara really didn't spend enough time in the palace library. This was mainly due to the fact that when it came to her lessons the relevant scrolls would be brought to her. If she wanted information on a specific subject, she could usually ask Kiya or another servant to retrieve it. Seto, however, had praised it very highly.

And standing in the place right now she had to admit it was quite the place to behold. The space open to the majority of the Inner Court was rather sizeable, categorized and stacked as far as the eye could see. (Though certain information was kept in a separate place for being sensitive materials, either in the condition or the content.) Even in the evenings with seemingly no one there, it had a very relaxing air. At any other time, she would have loved to browse the stacks at her leisure, but that wasn't why she had come.

The white haired princess wandered the place diligently until she finally came upon a slumped over brown haired magician at a desk filled with many scrolls. She sighed deeply before addressing him.

"There you are Mahad."

There didn't seem to be any response from the young priest, still hunching over his scrolls and engrossed in whatever he was reading.

Kisara refrained from letting out a frustrated groan, now knowing that it wouldn't work to get his attention normally. So, one of her hands became a fist and came down onto the desk with a satisfying THUD!

That was enough to make Mahad startled as he shot up in his seat, his eyes blinking a few times in quick succession.

"Huh?! What?"

Then he turned to find the princess staring at him with an unamused expression. Mahad sighed tiredly.

"How late have I been here?"

"Too late. Atem and I found Mana crying behind a pillar earlier. I understand that Mana can sometimes be distracting, but I don't think whatever you are researching is so important that you'd snap at her that badly."

The Sacred Guardian winced at that, the Millennium Ring shifting at the slightest movement of its wielder.

"Is she okay now?"

"Atem was calming her down when I left the two. Now, it's just the two of us here, so why don't you just tell me what's going on with you? You look you're working yourself into an early tomb with the pace you've been going and Shimon said you weren't working on any pressing issues on the moment."

Mahad turned away at that, his expression seeming very conflicted.

"I….it's nothing. Really Kisara, I can handle it."

Kisara looked at him very dryly, not even saying a word.

Mahad sighed deeply, his dark eyes pleading to her.

"Please Kisara, I…..I really can't."

She then moved to sitting on the desk in a spot with no scrolls by it, her expression resolute.

"Then how about you give me the gist and leave out the specifics?"

He opened his mouth as if to give an affirmative no, but stopped to think about it. After almost a minute of thought, he took a deep breath before staring at the princess pleadingly.

"Promise to keep it to yourself?"

She answered with a light smile.

"Haven't I always with our little talks?"

The tips of his mouth curled slightly before his expression retreated into unsureness.

"True, but still…."

One of his hands grasped the Millennium Ring tightly, his knuckles going white before he relaxed and straightened himself.

"Okay, ever since I got the Millennium Ring I've been having….dreams."

Kisara crossed her arms, taking it in skeptically.

"Dreams or visions?"

Mahad gave her an irritated glare for a moment before returning to his prior expression.

"It's not the same as Nephthys or Isis' visions. What I saw…I think they were things that had happened in the past, over a decade ago. And I've been seeing them almost every night since I became a Sacred Guardian."

She nodded, considering the situation.

"Okay….have you talked to Rashidi about this? As the prior wielder, he would probably know about it."

"That's just it. I asked him before he moved out of the palace, but he said that the Ring had never given him anything like that. As for what I saw in the dream, he didn't recognize anything I described to him. He thought my dormant magic might have hand in calling it out. So I went digging."

Kisara's eyes then briefly went to his stack of scrolls before back to Mahad.

"Which explains your study and sleeping habits as of late. Are these dreams that bad?"

Mahad's eyes glimmered darkly at that.

"Yes. And honestly….what I've seen and what I've found has made me question some things."

"In what way?"

The young man seemed to be thinking how best to phrase his thoughts before he spoke.

"Tell me Kisara, what do you think of the Pharoah?"

Kisara felt a little taken aback at the question, but answered anyway.

"My foster father? Well, when I first saw him I thought he was just like any other man, I didn't really see how he could be viewed as a god. And for the first year or so, I really didn't seem him all that much. But as I've gotten to spend more time with him, I see him as a wise, kind, rather melancholic and romantic…."

Mahad's expression changed to baffled at that last detail which Kisara explained.

"I've been listening to his stories on love, please don't ask any more than that. Regardless, I think of him as a very good person. Not perfect by any standards, but still a good king and a good father."

The words seemed to prompt Mahad into a very pondering expression for a few moments before asking another question.

"Then, what would you do if you ever found out information that would contradict what you believed about him?"

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, nonetheless she answered.

"Well, how credible is the information?"

Mahad seemed taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

"Is the place where I got the information reliable? Did what I hear about really happen? Did my foster father knowingly and willingly do it? Unless I know all of that, I can't really act."

The young Sacred Guardian seemed to turn over those questions for a few moments.

"I see…"

Kisara gave a smile that was meant as reassuring.

"Well, can you answer those questions?"

He nodded the warily.

"The first two yes, but the last one…."

Kisara's eyes widened at that.

"Ah, that would be the hard one."

Mahad sighed at that statement.

"It's not exactly something you can ask easily to anyone. To ask such a thing to the Pharaoh…."

His voice trailed off uneasily.

Kisara was eerily reminded of a conversation not too long ago as she spoke up.

"You know, I still find the Pharaoh somewhat intimidating. I…also had something I wanted to ask him, but I was sure that he probably wouldn't answer me."

Mahad looked up at that.

"Then what did you do?"

She hopped off the desk, standing up straight next to where Mahad was still seated.

"I asked him and he answered. I can't say whether or not the same thing will happen to you, but if you never try, you'll never know."

Mahad smiled weakly at the statement.

"I suppose that way of thinking is simple, but true."

Kisara simply smiled, though her mind's thoughts were less at ease.

I can't ever let him know that was Seto's advice.

"Knowing you, whatever it is you've found and can't tell me about is something pretty major. You've known the Pharaoh longer than I have and your loyalty has always been your best quality. In my opinion, it's alright to doubt, but I don't think that's a reason to discount everything you've thought and believed up until now. At least not until you get all the facts straight."

Then a thought struck her as she added.

"Although, if you do intend on asking him that kind of question, I would suggest doing it in private. I think he'd be more likely to answer your question without anybody else's eyes or ears on you."

The weak smile on the young man turned to a wry one.

"Right. I suppose I better go apologize to Mana soon."

"That would be best."

Mahad then questioned Kisara once more, though for a rather different topic than before.

"Hey Kisara, do you think that Mana's conduct with Atem has become more…formal?"

She nodded solemnly.

"I believe so though it's not like it's completely so. It might also be due to with the less amount of time she can spend with him nowadays. Atem has been annoyed by it, but it was bound to happen. We've grown up after all. As a young woman, she can't act around Atem that way forever."

"I know. Still…."

"It's not like we're immune from such gossip. Some of the girls thought I had a attachment to you."

Mahad's face soured, conveying his thoughts on the matter.

A small laugh escaped the princess at that.

"Yeah, I know. Are you ready to turn in now? I can and will get Isis here if I have to."

He shook his head swiftly at the idea of his crush's appearance in the library at this hour.

"No, no, no, really I'm fine! I just need a couple of minutes to tidy things up. You can go back, I promise I'll turn in."

Kisara smiled wryly before softening.

"Alright, I'll hold you to it. And hey, when you're ready to tell me specifics, I'll be there to listen patiently. Got it?"

"Got it. See you tomorrow."

Her smile was the last thing Mahad saw on her face as she walked back towards the exit. Mahad shook his head slightly, before his expression turned solemn once as eh considered the scrolls.

He sighed deeply as he stood up and began to organize the station.

"Well, there's some truth to that. But still…"

He glanced down at the Millennium Ring, the golden Item seemingly inanimate.

"I better get something concrete put together before I do that though."

The view from the rooftops of the palace was gorgeous.

It galled him to admit it, but this was quite the impressive scene before. He could see why the pharaoh would enjoy it.

His expression melted into a scowl. Any thought of that man that dared call himself a righteous just got immediately soured his mood, regardless of the circumstances around him.

Still, that shouldn't detract form his goal. He had no intention of making a scene, tonight he was just casing the location so that when the time came to make his move, it would go off without a hitch.

Though I must say, this place may be harder to navigate than the tomb from my last job. Then again, of course the palace would have different difficulties than the royal tombs.

He smiled at the thought of the loot he had gotten and his smile only widened more as he remembered what he had sprawled on the sacred walls. If that was sacrilege, then throw his heart to Ammit because that had felt GOOD!

However, that just means I'll have to plan this much more carefully. It's unlikely that I'll be able to get help from any of my associates this time and I only get one shot at this.

His expression was rather uncaring at the very real possibility of his imminent demise should he fail as his thoughts turned to something else.

Still, I do have to wonder how Teacher about that secret passage. When would she have…?

His thoughts were interrupted as he saw a flash of white walking on the ground. He moved carefully so that he could get a better look and that no sound would betray his movements.

His eyes didn't betray him, white hair that gleamed like the moonlight walked on by, belonging to a young girl that appeared about his age. Her equally pale skin, glinting silver jewelry, and resolute blue eyes struck a chord in his brain as his eyes widened as he realized who it was.

So, that's the princess. The rumors don't do her justice. Not my type, but still pretty striking.

Despite his hatred towards the royals, he felt a degree of pity for the adopted princess. In terms of background, he was more similar to her than anyone in the palace. She was just a poor girl from the streets who was adopted out of a sense of condescending compassion from the good king.

She had no idea the blood that they had tried to wash from their hands.

He watched her leave his sight, a little disappointed at the brief glimpse. He did intend to introduce himself the adopted royal eventually (certainly she deserved better than that little flower he had left for the guards to find), but tonight was not the night. Besides, he had other matters to attend to.

He gazed up at the full moon, his expression resolute.

Just let a little longer everyone…..I swear we will have our vengeance!

V.E.: I am pretty sure everyone can guess who are unnamed observer is.

I apologize for this chapter being short, but at least I managed to get it done. It mainly feels like this chapter is setting things in motion rather than things happening.

I think the next chapter will be an Interlude. Aknadin and Nephthys are going to be the focus, which will be...interesting to say the least.

But it'll be awhile before I get to that. I've got to face the Star Wars fans eventually. Wish me luck.

Reviews are appreciated. Hope to have less of a gap between updates than last time. See ya!