It was an understatement to say that Rayna's protection was of high importance.

Despite the Sphinx Palace's seemingly majestic appeal, the walls were constructed out of the densest mud brick Africa, Europe and Asia could provide. If, for instance, dozens of cannons fired at the building, the projectiles would leave behind inch-deep craters at the most. Rows upon rows of guards roamed the circumference of the premises from dusk to dawn—their stony dispositions and paranoia never wavering. Rayna was Sphinx Nation's precious emblem of humanity and kindness, two traits that the United States, along with their Western allies, doubted the empire had. If an ill fate was to ever befall her, the people of Egypt would be distraught. Distraught would lead to panic. Panic would lead to rebellions. And rebellions would weaken the empire. Despite the neutrality pact between the Western Allies and Egyptian Powers, Egypt refused to let their guard down.

However, combining Sphinx Nation's precautions with the arrival of Isis Nation royalty, every pair of lungs in the province held their breaths.

Rayna was the only exception.

The Egyptian princess stood out on her personal balcony, relaxed and aloof. Her caramel fingers were as motionless as the rail they rested upon. A moment later, the digits revealed a whisper of a twitch when male voices snagged her attention. She zeroed in on the palace gates as two guards encircled their arms around the handle, which was a massive, horizontal rod connected to a series of steel gears.

The men pulled until a hiss expelled from where the end of the rod and the largest gear disconnected. They backed away to watch the interlocked machineries twirl in alternating directions before they halted with a piercing clang. The steel doors parted with a long groan, clouds of dust lashing at the men's ankles. If it was not for years of brutal disciplining, the guards would have gawked and pointed at the display in awe.

Technology was an untouchable taboo to Sphinx Nation peasants due to the Egyptian Regression Movement in 2230. The results of the Industrial Revolution were completely erased from the community and future generations were raised in a reincarnated era of ancient Egypt. However, true to their hypocritical reputation, Sphinx Nation reserved a few devices, such as machine guns for Dado's army and the palace gate.

The people protested this radical change but the government was far from democratic; in the end, their words went unheeded. The rebels died out in under a decade—remodeling Egypt's architecture took much less time.

If Rayna remembered correctly from her abhorred history lessons—Dado was the instructor—the government also fed lies to the peasants. They claimed that Western influences were corrupt and that the minds of the Egyptian people must be purified. They even had the gall to use Buddha to justify their actions. Remove yourself from all otherworldly possessions. The idiots who came up with this had far too much bravado,' she thought with a scoff. There was neither a speck nor a spot of doubt in Rayna's mind as to where her loyalty lied; she would always serve Sphinx Nation. However, it did not mean she was supposed to turn a blind eye to counterproductive choices. Centuries-worth of valuable information on the West was lost, including scientific advances that would certainly allow her home to prosper. To this very day, the princess became disgruntled whenever her brain dabbled in the what-ifs.

What if their capital material output tripled?

What if trade transportation was more efficient?

What if peasants became more intellectually competent with exposure to proper education?

What if modernization began once again?

As far as Rayna knew, the gate was the only legal modernized feature in all of Egypt. Illegally, there were the pesky street dealers who sought to bargain smuggled Western technology—flip phones, handheld games and much more—for money.

A grimace twisted Rayna's lips. This will not due...I swear by Ra, once I become queen, Sphinx Nation will rise to the glory she deserves—

"Clear apart! Move! Move!"

"Stand clear!"

The guards' shouting pulled Rayna from her sour musings. The men separated into two rows on either side of the gate as a lavish carriage rolled in on gold-rimmed wheels. Instead of the marble material that Sphinx citizens were accustomed to, this cart was welded completely out of metal and traces of gold lined the body in intricate designs.

A lone man sat in the front of the carriage, guiding four healthy, white stallions with a simple length of rope. He had a dead sway to his posture; something so far removed yet grounded about him made Rayna give pause. He wore several layers of black and a shawl was looped tightly around his face. For a moment, she wondered how the man could breathe. Nonetheless, he was only a coachman and coachmen were not worth her time.

When Rayna took in the horses' unnaturally smooth and fluffy manes, she could no longer restrain the profanity from slipping through her teeth.

"Flashy bastards."

†

A round table sat in the center of the palace's dining chamber. Sun rays seeped through a grid of holes in the ceiling. Like the palace, the table was also masterfully carved out of mud brick and sanded until the surface was smooth and rounded. All five chairs at this table were filled by powerful figures.

Lord Ran's posture was as stiff as ever, which, in this sensitive situation, was not very tactful. The ruler may not have noticed but he was practically radiating the tension he felt. Of course, the man had good reason to be untrusting; Lord Osiris and Prince Hakon of Isis Nation sat before him. If their alliance did not withhold any value to him and his wife, Queen Sekhmet, Lord Ran would have demanded their execution ages ago. His narrowed eyes cut to the left, taking in his wife's calmness with cloaked envy.

Queen Sekhmet's sharp, angular features were completely bare of wrinkles. Not a single crease of stress was found on her forehead, the corner of her thin lips was lifted into a cold smirk, and her chin was raised pompously. Her dark locks ceased just above her shoulders and her bangs ran straight across. An acute amount of golden makeup dusted the top of her bright ochre eyes and high cheekbones. Gold bracelets hung around her thin wrists and resounded enchanting clangs with her every move.

By many individuals' standards, this lithe beauty was the textbook definition of female Egyptian royalty. Catching her husband's stare, Queen Sekhmet's grin widened a ghost of an inch. She then latched her attention back onto their visitors and spoke with a voice as smooth as silk.

"We are truly grateful that you have accepted our offer to dinner, Lord Osiris."

Rayna would have described her mother's voice to be as slithery as a viper.

"The pleasure is all ours, Queen Sekhmet. Besides, how could we possibly turn down such a delicious opportunity?" Lord Osiris praised monotonously. The compliment mixed unusually with his chiseled countenance and gruff voice. When Rayna had first analyzed this man, she instantly knew how his brain worked. It was obvious that Lord Osiris hid behind his ostentatious clothing and uncaring façade. A scared little man shielding himself with a robe that probably costs two arms and a leg. She swallowed back a cackle. How pitifully intriguing.

Rayna, with her gentle persona placed on exhibit, alternated warm smiles between Lord Osiris and his son. In comparison to the insipid monarch, Prince Hakon wore his spoiled, buoyant heart upon his expensive sleeve. The young man, assuming himself stealthy enough for the task, flashed smiles at the princess. As much as it sickened Rayna, she answered Prince Hakon's horrid courting methods with smiles of her own, a few giggles thrown into the mix.

He would look far more appealing with my dagger buried into the back of his skull or with a needle puncturing his spine, rendering his ability of speech and movement negated or with his jugular sliced only a centimeter deep, choking on his own blood, thus inhibiting his vocal cords and wiping that ungodly look off of his face. Possibilities flitted through her mind nauseating speeds. Curiously enough, no malice coated her thoughts; they were void of emotion and listed in a fashion similar to that of a well-oiled machine Or perhaps—

Lord Ran dropped his utensil with a definite clang.

"I will go straight to the matter at hand, Lord Osiris." The ruler in question appeared unfazed by the sudden change of pace and simply released a low hum of acknowledgment. Taking this reaction as a show of disrespect, Lord Ran pressed on sternly, "Your forces are weakened after facing defeat and we are the sole providers for over half of your crop supply, yet you have the audacity to nod and grunt like an ungrateful brat—"

"By my calculations, Lord Ran, I exceed you in age by at least a decade. I believe 'brat' is an incorrect choice of words," Lord Osiris said with a dry chuckle. He withdrew a silk handkerchief from his lap and rid his mouth any remnants of supper—blatantly ignoring the annoyance kindling within Lord Ran.

"Age and maturity are of two different aspects, Lord Osiris."

"On the contrary, my friend, age and maturity go hand in hand."

"If that is the case, then your maturity should have alerted you to the idiocy of your attack."

"Idiocy is a strong word, my friend. It was a desperate move on my part and I did what I could to help my people."

"Your people are faring just fine." An scoff from Prince Hakon caught the Sphinx royals'. He appeared far from pleased with that accusation but no words escaped him.

Lord Osiris stole the spotlight again and said, "That is where you are wrong, my friend. My people cannot possibly live on the amount you give us."

Lord Ran's hand tightened into a fist beneath the table.

"Lord Osiris, we supply five hundred pounds of crops twice a week. Within a month, you have two tons worth the food your people need. That alone could feed a province twice the size of yours—"

"What about five?"

That enquiry alone wrangled Lord Ran's next words back down his throat and beckoned Queen Sekhmet to arch an elegant brow in intrigue. A disturbed smirk graced Lord Osiris's face, pleased by Lord Ran's astonishment. Among that moment of deadly silence, Rayna could not deny the treat unfolding before her. Only with a steel will, she suppressed a grin of delight as she witnessed Lord Ran gawk like the unintelligent monkey he was.

The Sphinx lord's voice shook.

"W-what are you implying, Lord Osiris?"

The disturbance behind Lord Osiris's smile infected his tone.

"As your nation has its traditions, Isis Nation has its traditions as well, my friend. Our goddess, Isis, is a symbol of creation and motherhood and it is my duty as a descendent of Isis to carry on her wishes." His dark amber eyes glinted. "What better way than to expand our population? We are already five times larger than our recorded estimate three years ago. I'm hoping to reach ten times as much within a few months—"

"We have already discussed this!" Lord Ran interjected heatedly. "You were allowed to follow this tradition as long as you monitored your nation's growth! How could you have possibly let this to happen?!"

"How could he have not?" Prince Hakon's smooth voice quipped lowly. He ran a hand through his short, curly tresses. The motion was identical to when Rayna would comb her fingers through her locks and the realization nearly caused the princess's mask to slip in face of broiling disgust. "Demand for our gold has literally reached its peak. The more labor our nation produces, the more gold we make...and the more money we earn."

"You see, my friend? It is quite simple," Lord Osiris said. Before Lord Ran could bark a reply, Queen Sekhmet placed a hand on her husband's forearm. As if her touch was riddled with magic, Lord Ran instantly became sedated and leaned back into his chair. Satisfied with his obedience, the woman placed all her focus on the Isis lord and prince.

"Then this was never about following tradition. This was all for profit." An overly sweet smile crossed her visage. "Although I approve of your desire to increase revenue, dishonoring tradition is not only an insult to your province but an insult to Egypt as a whole..."

Rayna's insides squirmed with an emotion she loathed.

An emotion she rarely experienced.

An emotion that only Queen Sekhmet could provoke out of her—fear.

Like a flipped switch, the queen of Sphinx Nation abandoned her pleasant demeanor. In place of it was a level of wickedness that the Isis royals never imagined she could harbor. Her smile widened to an unusual length, her lids drooped, and her fine nails drummed on the table top with unnerving clarity. Each tap bit away at Lord Osiris and Prince Hakon's confidence, their uncomfortable forms rocking back into their seats out of unconscious retreat.

Queen Sekhmet licked her lips like a beast preparing to feast on her prey.

"You both are in quite a vulnerable state. You have no upper hand in this arrangement. Why, on just a whim I could exterminate your so-called traditions. Permanently."

Lord Osiris and Prince Hakon wore identical frowns.

The Isis lord seethed in a low whisper, "You have no right."

"Traditions are treasured in Egypt but, surely, it is not illegal to tamper with them. Only frowned upon. But why would I worry about such a thing? Who would be foolish enough to rebel, especially after the word of your crushing defeat spreads?"

"Hyper-creation has been a practice in our nation for centuries!" Prince Hakon bellowed.

"I wonder what made you two so obsessed with this Isis ordeal. Was it perhaps the death of your wife, Queen Isis herself?" It appeared that Lord Ran wished to share his piece in the rave but wisely remained silent and watched as his wife single-handedly overwhelmed their guests.

Life suddenly filled Lord Osiris as he shot to his feet and bared a toothy snarl. His chair was flung back from the force behind his outburst. "You are forbidden from speaking about her!"

Prince Hakon resorted to directing a furious glare at Queen Sekhmet while huffing beneath his breath, "My late mother is none your concern, Queen Sekhmet."

Nevertheless, Rayna's mother discounted their outrage and continued her stabbing rant.

"Ah, yes, it is all clear now. Your weak souls couldn't handle the loss. So, desperate to hold on to whatever you had of Queen Isis, you attempted to honor her name and encouraged hyper-creation. But then you got greedy and now you fools have the gall to try and trick us. Did you truly believe that you could distract us with your recklessness and leave this dinner with only a slap on the hand, your betrayal seemingly forgotten? Oh, how you underestimate the descendants of Ra himself!" Queen Sekhmet cackled roguishly, the sound somehow amplified in her victims' ears.

All in an instant, her laughter ceased and her fingers laced together.

"Since I am merciful, we will not send our troops to destroy your filthy, sex-driven, whore-infested province. However, your traditions are coming to an end and your food supply will be cut in half until I believe you can be trusted again." By this point, Lord Osiris and Prince Hakon were visibly shaking. The lord fell to his knees, his legs too numb with dread to support his weight.

"Y-you can't do that...how will my people survive?" he said.

"How indeed?" Queen Sekhmet hummed thoughtfully. "I can't say, Lord Osiris. Oh well, I suppose a good majority of them will die but don't worry. On the bright side, it should definitely solve your food problems in the long run. With a smaller population, dispersing the load shall become easier, correct?" The father-son duo paled as their circumstances settled in.

It was either deny Queen Sekhmet's terms, face loss of crop importation and certain destruction, or accept Queen Sekhmet's terms, lose their sole tradition, allow practically three-fourths of their population to die out and thus majorly injure their gold production.

The Isis males gulped.

They were cornered.

Sensing their abysmal fright, Queen Sekhmet decided to elevate them a few meters out of their devastation and added, "But I am willing to grant you one, small wish. Name it and I'll see if I approve." Rayna held back a grimace as her mother's sadism reared its ugly head. The queen always gained pleasure from watching others grovel at her feet and she never passed up the opportunity.

Silence reigned over the dining chamber.

Lord Osiris's clammy face twisted with deep thought, desperately searching his mind for a request that could restore hope for his province. When his crazed gaze landed on Rayna—who was avoiding Queen Sekhmet's line of vision out of pure instinct—his countenance lit up. Drawing upon his last ounce of confidence, he rose to his feet and demanded in a clear voice.

"I wish for an arranged marriage between my son and your daughter, Princess Rayna."

It was the perfect bid. An arranged marriage was common in Isis Nation diplomacy and outside provinces had never seen the harm in their proposals. For years, neighboring provinces shrugged at Isis Nation's obsession with marriage and accepted the beliefs without protest. However, a marriage between prince and princess held far more importance than it seemed. Once a prince or princess of Isis Nation was bound to another royal from a different province, all of their inheritance and belongings were shared—including the provinces themselves once the pair ascended to lord and queen. Soon, the riches and power of Sphinx Nation would be in Lord Osiris and Prince Hakon's hands—

"No," Queen Sekhmet said nonchalantly.

The Isis royals froze.

And then burst into outrage.

Lord Osiris slammed his fists on the table.

"What?! Why not, you insolent woman—"

A stampede of footsteps invaded his ears before the barrels of guns surrounded him on all sides. Along with his son, Lord Osiris stared at the contraptions aimed at them fearfully, unsure of how the mysterious weapons functioned. From what they have seen in their battle at Anuket, the men carried pistols and swords.

However, these guns appeared far more dangerous and promised a swift death.

The guards glared at their shivering targets, fingers resting steadily on the trigger and prepared to fire on Queen Sekhmet's call.

"Careful," Queen Sekhmet warned in amusement, "you've never seen guns like these, Lord Osiris. If you thought what you saw in Anuket was frightening, then these will haunt your dreams. Now then...I believe this dinner date has lasted long enough, don't you agree?" The Isis king only nodded, too wracked with fear to do much else. Prince Hakon did the same after casting a longing glance at Rayna, who in turn forced a sympathetic frown to adorn her flawless face. Queen Sekhmet dismissed them with a flick of her wrist.

"Guards, guide them back to their carriage." The Isis royals cautiously followed the guards, still eyeing the guns as they went. Just as a pair of guards were about to close the double-doors behind them, Queen Sekhmet commented mockingly, "I hope your people learn how to ration soon." A dark hatred infested Lord Osiris's features before he growled audibly.

The doors swung closed.

Finally, Rayna allowed herself to breathe more freely and relaxed her posture. Her mind reviewed the events of the dinner—Lord Osiris's crazed obsession, her mother's merciless decree, Prince Hakon's yearning looks, and Lord Osiris's face just before the doors closed...

He is not going to let this go. I know that form of hatred and it is not the kind that merely fades away with time. He will not stop until he gets what he wants. As Rayna rose from her seat, she stared out the corner of her vision and caught Queen Sekhmet's expectant stare. Understanding the silent message, Rayna sighed tiredly.

It seemed that another assassination was in order tonight.

†

Rayna paced down the halls, intent on changing into her assassination attire as quickly as possible and completing this kill. The sooner she finished this mission, the sooner she could rest.

As if Ra himself was playing a cruel joke on Rayna, a guard strode up to her and bowed.

"Your Highness, your presence is briefly needed in the prison chambers. We have a thief in custody." Rayna mentally rolled her eyes, cursing her responsibility of sentencing criminals for minor convictions. Who in their right mind would commit theft today, when the guards are on higher alert than usual? she wondered. Whoever it was, she deduced this individual to be an idiot unworthy of her time and if her public persona allowed it, she would rid the world of his or her existence immediately.

Instead, she smiled at the guard and said, "Lead the way and may Ra show mercy to their lost soul." Rayna's superior perception noticed the guard suppressing a smile at her faux compassion.

"Of course, Your Highness."

Rayna zoned out as she followed the man, all the while retaining her disappointed mask. She and the sentinel descended a staircase, which led to a far less illuminated level of the palace. Beige bricks gave way to stone walls and the air became thick with humidity. Rayna was lead down a narrow hallway lined with steel doors on either side, one foot wide by six-inch long slots serving as peepholes for prisoners. Finally, the path expanded into an open space but the lighting was even dimmer than before. Squinting her eyes, Rayna could only make out two figures—the large outline of a man standing over a much smaller being sitting on the ground.

The small silhouette's voice obviously belonged to a child but he ceased his displeased grumbling when Rayna stood before him. Ignoring the sudden silence, Rayna faced the second guard and ordered pleasantly, "Lights, please."

The sentinel turned the knob of an oil lamp suspended on the wall. A weak flame illuminated their surroundings. As Rayna adjusted her eyes to the light, she looked down curiously when a gasp escaped the captive.

"G-guardian spirit! It's really you! I told you I'd find you!"

Kazue wiggled in his spot, fruitlessly trying to free himself of the steel handcuffs. His wide eyes drunk in Rayna's stunned face eagerly.

Rayna, for the first time in years, was left surprised.

A beat of suspenseful silence.

Rayna sighed. This cannot be happening