“Defend our archers!” One of the Immortals blared.

The Daughters of Serqet had already reached the Scythians and Indians by the time the Assyrians started mobilizing. Most of the women simply cut them down where they stood, but some drove the hooks of their swords into the necks or chests of the archers and dragged them around for a short time before throwing their bodies into their comrades.

The frontal assault of the joined forces of Assyrians and Ethiopians started to let up, as many of their ranks had to turn around to deal with the Daughters of Serqet.

“Enough games.” A voice thundered to the left. “Medians! Persians! Break the eastern and southern walls and bring me the heads of the foolish priestesses that dare defy our Great King!”

The oncoming Median and Persian soldiers wore iron scale armor and girdles of varying colors, and wielded short spears and wicker shields. Daggers were strapped to either thigh as well, in case they were disarmed. 

“We need to go on the offensive.” Illias shouted. “We can’t hold this position.” 

The remaining two barriers of light flickered, then fizzled, and the enemy poured through. They cut down either priestess that held up the eastern and northern walls and moved into the temple to flank us.

“Priestesses of Ra!” Isadora threw her hands in the air. “Go aid your sisters on the western face. You too, Illias.”

“But‒” He complained.

“Go!”

The remaining eight priestesses, along with my friend, left their position with us to reinforce those defending the western side.

“What are you doing?” I scrunched my eyebrows together.

“I am sorry about this.” She sighed. “But it needs to be done.”

“What needs to be‒?”

Isadora seized my biceps with searing hands. The burning sensation spread, traveling throughout my entire body. My skin went numb as my insides churned with white hot heat. My head shot back as I wailed at the sky.

“Come on…” She groaned as her grip on me tightened. “Come on!”

I wailed again, this time emitting a shockwave. The pulse sent the encroaching Persians and Medians flying back into the temple, and the structure’s columns cracked. The only part of Isadora that moved, though, was her hair, as it whooshed back.

“Ready to come out and play?” She released her hold and turned her back to me, returning her focus to the charging Assyrians and Ethiopians. 

Sweat glazed my skin as my breathing hastened. The heat in my body cooled as the corruptive magic surrounded the full lengths of my arms and spears. It dripped down, each droplet hissing and steaming up as it made contact with either sand or stone.

The Persians stopped their charge.

“What is the meaning of this?” The Immortal who spoke up earlier cleared a path through his men and approached me with drawn scimitars. “Ah. So you’re his half-brother? You’re the child of that Theban whore? What a surprise. I thought you’d have more muscle.”

“Why are you here?” I snarled.

“For you.” He grinned. “The Great King wants you dead.”

“Why?”

“He doesn’t take kindly to threats to his throne.” The Immortal stepped closer to me. “You, unlike his many other siblings, wield the magic of your father.”

“Good to know.” I drove my two spears into the ground and blitzed him.

He swung both his scimitars at me, but I caught them both with bare hands. We struggled in this position for a moment until the magic from the weapons started seeping into my hands, leaving it bare of any magical power. As soon as the energy transfer completed, the scimitars melted in my hands as I closed them into fists.

“How can you‒” He stuttered.

I roared as I uppercut his chin, sending him flying up into the temple’s roof. He crashed into the painting of Ra and Apophis, creating a web of cracks at his impact zone. His back then peeled off the stone and he fell back down, thudding face first onto the ground. 

I roared again. “Who’s next?”

The structure moaned as cracks spread across the entire ceiling, pieces of stone starting to trickle down. While the soldiers panicked, trampling over each other in an effort to leave the temple, I scanned the ground for the unconscious bodies of Atemu and Artemisia. 

“Where are you…” I muttered, then found Atemu. I dashed towards her, flinging any soldier that got in my way to the side. As I went to lift her up, I recoiled upon seeing the corruption humming around my arms. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and as I opened them, the corruptive magic peeled away from my hands and wrists, exposing my bare skin again. I quickly lifted the priestess’ limp body and carried her out to Isadora, and as soon as I left the temple, the structure collapsed inwards, crushing the remaining Persians and Medians inside. Their screams echoed as a mini-shockwave of dust was given off, covering the battle scene with a haze. 

“Isadora!” I scanned the area in search of the high priestess, when the glowing silhouette of a woman came into sight.

“They’re retreating.” She walked up to me, and the closer she got, the more her features came into focus. “Good work.”

“I’m tired.” I sat down with Atemu still in my arms, the sounds of crumbling rocks echoing behind me. 

“It seems you’ve unlocked your true potential, then.” She set her hand on my shoulder. “Or you’re simply just not used to wielding such power and your body is still getting accustomed to it.”

The dust cloud cleared out to reveal the retreating Persian army, southwards. The Daughters of Serqet yipped as they routed them in their flight, cutting down any stragglers and trampling the wounded under their horses. Around us laid the bodies and weapons of countless soldiers. The limbs of those that couldn’t flee the scene in time stuck out from the rocky rubble, broken and bloody.

“I can’t believe we pulled that off.” Illias jogged up to us, the bow of light still in his hand. “The temple falling on top of a majority of their core Persian and Median forces was super lucky.”

“Not luck.” Isadora glanced at me.

“Oh…” My friend cleared his throat. “In that case, uh, good work Theo.”

“Thanks.” I combed Atemu’s bangs to the side and brushed some of the dust off her face. “I could only carry one person out of the temple before it collapsed. Has anyone seen Artemisia?”

“Nope.” They both said in unison.

The remaining eight priestesses approached us carrying their fallen, of which there were four. They found empty patches of sand near us to set them down on. 

“Where are your spears?” Isadora’s breathing was heavy.

“Under the temple.” I kept my gaze on Atemu. “We will help you rebuild.”

“No need.” She sighed. “They will likely be back, so no point in rebuilding if it’s just going to get knocked down again.”

“Hey.” Illias spoke up. “Does anyone know where Damien is?”

All of us shook our heads.

“Let me take a look around.” He ventured off.

Atemu’s eyes fluttered open and made contact with mine.

“Glad you’re awake.” I smiled.

“Thanks.” She rubbed her forehead. “I missed a lot, didn’t I?”

“The entire battle.” A single, breathy chuckle escaped me.

“I was slipping in and out of consciousness the entire time.” She tried sitting up but simply fell back into my lap. “Last thing I remember is the ceiling cracking. How am I still alive?” 

“Theophilus here carried you out of the temple before it caved in.” Isadora pointed at the ruins.

“Oh…” She looked past me at the rubble, then back up at me. “I guess I owe you a thanks, then.”

“No need.” I smiled again. “Just glad you’re alright.”

“Guys!” Illias came jogging back into sight. “I can’t find him anywhere.”

“Him?” Atemu tried sitting up again only to fail.

“Damien.” I turned to my friend. “You looked everywhere? Maybe he got caught under the temple.”

“No.” The priestess groaned and shifted a bit, her elbow poking my calf. “He didn’t.”

“What do you mean?” I tilted my head.

“He snuck off with Artemisia in tow amidst the chaos.” She coughed. “Hijacked a Persian’s horse.”

“No…” I punched the sand. “He wouldn’t. Maybe you just missaw.”

“Everything might have been foggy when I came to each time I did, but I know what I saw.”

“He’s probably bringing her straight to Themistocles.” Illias offered.

“Then we need to stop him.” I stood up, helping Atemu to her feet. “Now.”

“When the Daughters of Serqet finish their fun, I’ll ask them if you can borrow a couple of their horses.” Isadora beckoned me over to her, then lowered her voice. “I need not remind you of the importance of retrieving her. We cannot let this war happen.”

I nodded.

“Excellent. I will accompany you on your travels to give Atemu time to recover.” She turned her attention to the priestesses and spread her arms. “All of you should make your way to Cairo so that the priests of Ra there can provide you shelter.” 

“No.” Atemu tensed as she stood up straight. “I wish to continue traveling with them.”

“Are you sure?” The high priestesses inquired.

“Yes.”

“Very well.”

“Awesome…” Illias groaned. “Guess we need to capture her. Again.”

“While we wait for the Daughters of Serqet to give you a couple of horses.” Isadora glanced at me, then addressed all of us. “Fan out and see if any of you can find the beginning of the dwarf’s trail. We’re in a sand valley. Shouldn’t be too hard to find some footprints.”

My friend raised his hand. “What about hoofprints?” 

“Those too.” The high priestess rolled her eyes. “Now start searching! We have a sizable amount of land to cover.”