A Mesmerizing Afternoon
Queen Amunet was reclining on a white stone couch, resting peacefully. She wore her royal white-and-gold embroidered attire, the serpent crown upon her head. In her hand, she held a red flower, observing its petals while lost in deep thought.
Just then, Kael emerged from the shimmering blue water of the pool after finishing his bath. The moment Amunet looked at him, she froze for a second.
Kael's Ethereal Beauty
To Amunet, Kael no longer seemed human, but like a celestial star descending from the sky.
Pure white hair: After bathing, his long wet hair appeared even brighter white as it spread across his back.
Blue eyes: His pupils were as deep as the clear blue sky, spreading an icy calmness whenever they met Amunet's gaze.
White brows and lashes: Most astonishing were his completely white eyebrows and eyelashes, which shimmered like silver under the sunlight.
Seeing this pale yet supernatural beauty, Amunet forgot about the flower in her hand. She realized that while Zarith carried the intensity of fire, Kael carried the elegance of ice.
Kael slowly approached, pushing his wet white hair aside. His blue eyes remained fixed on the Queen.
A Royal Moment
In a calm voice, Kael asked,
"My Queen, are you lost in thought? I see a strange haze in your eyes."
Amunet was startled. Hiding her embarrassment, she looked at the red flower and replied softly,
"No… nothing. I was simply admiring the beauty of this garden."
Kael smiled gently. He knew she was hiding something. With deep respect, he knelt before her, lifted her delicate hand, and placed a deep kiss upon it. Then, without another word, he left, his white aura lingering behind.
The Arrival of the Three Maids
Right after Kael left, Amunet's three loyal maids appeared. They had been watching from a distance and now surrounded the Queen, whispering among themselves:
First maid: "Did you see, my Queen? Kael is as strong as a warrior, yet his beauty is like that of a pure angel."
Second maid: "But I saw Zarith at the Queen's balcony at dawn. That red-haired, red-eyed man has a strange pull as well."
Third maid (smiling softly): "Our Queen is truly fortunate. On one side, ice-cold Kael, and on the other, fire-like Zarith. Whom will you choose, my Queen?"
Their whispers displeased Amunet. She understood that if she wasn't strict, palace secrets might spread.
She adjusted her golden crown and sat upright on her throne. Then, with a cold, authoritative gaze, she spoke in the Ancient Egyptian language.
Amunet's Stern Command (in Ancient Egyptian)
In a thunderous voice, she declared:
"Jet-sen, iri-ten imet-sa! Nem-ni set neferu, en-set ibi-i!"
(Be silent! Your duty is to serve. Do not praise my beauty, and do not peer into my heart!)
The sacred sounds of the ancient language vibrated through the air. Though the maids did not fully understand the words, the power and anger in her tone terrified them.
They immediately fell to the ground, bowing their heads.
The chief maid trembled and said,
"Forgive us, my Queen! Our tongues lost control. We shall never speak of your personal matters again."
Amunet returned to her calm voice and said,
"You may leave now. And remember—the shadows of this palace hear everything."
Zarith's Silent Arrival
Once the maids left, silence returned. Amunet sat alone near the pool, playing with the red flower. Suddenly, a warm breeze passed by, carrying a familiar sandalwood scent.
Before she could turn, Zarith was already standing very close to her, his red eyes fixed on the Queen.
Without a word, he took her hand into his palms. Exactly where Kael had kissed moments ago, Zarith placed a deep kiss.
Amunet did not pull her hand away. Looking directly into his eyes, she asked:
"Zarith, tell me the truth—who are you really? Your red hair is not like that of ordinary humans; it looks like flames. And your red eyes… they don't frighten me, they enchant me. What power do you possess?"
Zarith's Mysterious Answer
Zarith lifted his face with a mysterious smile.
Descendant of Fire: "My Queen, I am no ordinary servant. My ancestors were guardians of the primal desert fire. This red hair is not color—it is the mark of the eternal flame within me."
Power of Vision: "These red eyes allow me to see the darkness in people's minds and even glimpse the future. I know when you will call me… and when your heart longs for Kael."
Bond of Blood: "My true strength lies in my blood. As long as I stand beside you, no magic and no sword can touch you."
He stepped closer, his red hair blending with Amunet's honey-brown strands.
He whispered,
"Kael may give you peace… but I will give you the power that can make all of Egypt tremble."
Zarith's True Form
Seeing doubt in Amunet's eyes, Zarith stopped hiding. The air grew hot, and in a burst of red light, he revealed his true form.
His face was so perfectly delicate and beautiful that he appeared almost androgynous, yet within that softness lay a terrifying masculinity.
His long red hair blazed like fire down to his waist. His skin looked smooth as wax, and his ruby eyes shone brilliantly. He was both breathtakingly handsome and fearfully beautiful.
Hidden behind a curtain, the three maids secretly witnessed this transformation, whispering in shock at how extraordinarily handsome he was.
Even Amunet herself stepped back slightly, overwhelmed by the powerful aura radiating from him.
Zarith looked at her with a sorrowful gaze and asked softly,
"My Queen… are you afraid of me too? Is this form more terrifying to you than Kael with his white hair?"Seeing Zarith's supernatural form, an ancient fear rose in Amunet's heart. Memories of Egypt's history and its gods flashed through her mind. Trembling, she looked into Zarith's eyes and said:
"Are you Seth? The terrible god of storms, whose form is as crimson and mesmerizing as yours? Have you come to bring destruction?"
At her question, Zarith gave a sorrowful smile. On his delicate yet handsome face, a deep sadness appeared.
"No, my Queen, I am not Seth. I may resemble his fierceness, but I am not that god of destruction. I am your protector—your eternal shadow."
But Amunet was no longer in a state to listen. The fiery aura radiating from Zarith and his otherworldly appearance unsettled her deeply. Even a Queen who had ruled for thousands of years felt helpless before this mysterious being.
Overcome with fear, Amunet gathered her royal garments and hurried away. Her honey-brown hair flew in the air as only one thought filled her mind—Who is Zarith truly, and what danger might his presence bring to the palace?
Zarith remained standing alone. Whether his ruby eyes filled with tears, only the shadows of the palace could tell.
The Maids Confront Zarith
After Amunet left, a heavy silence fell over the chamber. Zarith still stood there in his true, androgynous yet handsome form. At that moment, the three maids who had been hiding slowly stepped forward and stood before him.
Fear and wonder filled their eyes. Gathering courage, the chief maid approached him and asked:
"Zarith, why did the Queen call you Seth? Who is Seth? And why did she flee in such fear at the sight of you?"
Zarith turned his ruby-like eyes toward them, a mysterious smile forming on his lips.
He began calmly:
The Identity of the God: "Seth is the ancient Egyptian god of the desert, storms, and chaos. His complexion is described as crimson—like my hair."
The Reason for Fear: "The Queen is afraid because she sees the shadow of that god within me. She believes I may have come with destruction."
The Hidden Truth: "But what she sees is only half the truth. Who I truly am is beyond the understanding of ordinary humans like you."
The maids stood mesmerized by his appearance and words. Despite Amunet's retreat, Zarith could feel his influence within the palace beginning to grow.
Zarith Describes Seth
Curiosity overcame the maids. One of them stepped closer and whispered,
"But Zarith… what does this god Seth truly look like? Is he really as beautiful as you?"
Zarith laughed softly, his mysterious charm intensifying.
He described:
Fire of the Desert: "Seth is often depicted as red, with fiery eyes—just as you see in me."
A Strange Creature: "Sometimes he is imagined as a strange animal with a long snout and erect ears, known as the 'Seth animal.' But when he takes human form, few can withstand his presence."
Power and Chaos: "He is both a mighty warrior and the controller of storms and thunder. Even the desert sands tremble at the sound of his voice."
As Zarith spoke, his ruby eyes seemed to glow brighter. The maids finally understood why Amunet had been so frightened. She had not seen merely a servant in Zarith, but a living reflection of an ancient, destructive god.
They whispered among themselves in awe,
"Then… is Zarith truly a god in human form who has come before our Queen?" Hearing Zarith's description, the maids' curiosity reached its peak. Awe and a strange thrill filled their faces. Looking into his mesmerizing red eyes, they asked together,
"But what does that 'Seth animal' actually look like? We have never heard of it before!"
Zarith traced a faint fiery line in the air with his finger, as if sketching an invisible image.
He began to describe:
Strange Structure: "The creature resembles no known animal of this world. Its face is long and curved, somewhat like a jackal's, but sharper and more fearsome."
Upright Ears: "Its ears stand straight up, with squared or cut tips—a mark of constant alertness."
Powerful Tail: "Its tail is long, split at the end into two parts, with which it commands the desert storms."
Crimson Aura: "Most importantly, a bright red glow radiates from its entire body, awakening the desert even in the darkest night."
As Zarith spoke, his own figure seemed, for fleeting moments, to resemble that ancient creature. His handsome yet delicate features appeared older, fiercer, and more primal.
The maids clutched one another in fear. They now understood why Amunet had reacted so strongly to the red cloak—because that red was not merely fabric, but a reminder of an ancient god.
Kael's Thunderous Arrival
Suddenly, Kael's deep, thunderous voice echoed through the chamber. The temperature of the room seemed to drop instantly to freezing.
Standing in the shadow of the balcony, Kael's blue eyes burned with anger, his white brows drawn tight.
He roared at the maids,
"What are you doing here? Leave at once! Who gave you the courage to enter the Queen's private chamber?"
The Maids Flee
Terrified by Kael's imposing presence, the maids froze. They had been entranced by Zarith's mysterious form and the story of Seth, but Kael's command brought them back to reality.
Without daring to answer, they cast one last glance at Zarith's strangely beautiful face and hurried away with lowered heads.
Two Warriors Face Each Other
Now only three remained in the chamber:
A frightened Amunet behind the half-closed door, the mysteriously radiant Zarith standing within, and Kael at the entrance like an immovable mountain.
Kael's Suspicion: With his pale lashes framing his icy gaze, Kael examined Zarith from head to toe. The red aura and altered presence did not escape his notice.
Zarith's Calmness: Zarith, instead of showing fear, allowed a faint, crooked smile to appear on his delicate lips.
Kael stepped slowly into the room until he stood directly before Zarith.
The meeting of Zarith's red eyes and Kael's blue eyes felt like a clash between fire and ice.
In a low voice, Kael said,
"I always knew that behind this servant's appearance, something else was hidden. Who you truly are—I will uncover it."