It didn't take long for Ra to get back into the swing of things, especially with the world back into balance. Perhaps the gods had finally taken pity on them, listened well to their heavy prayers from those who sought guidance and reprieve. The golden man had woken early in the morning, patrolling the palace walls and making sure things were well in order. The Divine Pharaoh and the Queen were in capable hands. That he was going to make sure of.

Green eyes like that of jade watched the world go by, a desert lizard scurrying across the sands looking for prey of its own. The sun overhead finally casted its heavenly glow upon their realm as he observed, a faint happy smile showing on his face as a deep sigh of temporary satisfaction revealed itself. Yes, this was what they all fought for. For now, all was again right in the world. Everything was back in its place.

As soon as she had come home, she had sought out her father—only, he hadn't been anywhere she had thought to look. Over the course of a few days Aiesha came to understand that he was a busy man now that he had taken on the role of priest again; it was either that or her father was purposefully avoiding her. Choosing to let him be, and also not to dwell on the possibility that their relationship was fractured so deeply that it could not be repaired, the nebet found other things to occupy her time.

When she stepped outside of the obelisk for the first time since her trip to Tianlong, Aiesha finally took notice of the persistent change in the air. The sun had—for lack of a better word, returned—a few days ago. It took until this foray outside of the palace boundary for the girl to properly take note.

The way the golden hills properly glowed, shifting like molten gold beneath the sussur of the wind, had Aiesha smiling and staring. She didn't notice the stranger who had a similar mindset: neither did she see the lizard, not until the shift of shadow caught in the corner of her eye, and as she turned she saw it vanish beneath a layer of gold dust.

Oh, hello, she greeted of the stranger—this equally golden, but pale, figure.

The desert man had been continuing his admiration for the desert sun, enjoying the warmth it brought after so long being hidden in the dark. The scent of another didn't catch on the immediate, but it wasn't long before he saw her red and cream form in the distance. Her voice caught him almost by surprise, brining the smile away from his mouth in case it was someone associated with the royals.

There was no fear in him, only a willing mind wanting to play the role that they had given him. A simple soldier. Good morning. My apologies if I have disturbed you. A deep yet kind voice tried to reach her ears, his green gaze resting on her own eyes for a moment before looking to find the lizard had escaped. Lucky little thing.

The man was young. He could've been a mazoi given his age and apparent health, at first glance, but Aiesha did not recognize him from those that trained in the arena. She had certainly never met him for a spar—but that didn't mean much. She had recently returned home and this man could have only just arrived—then again, he looked very at-ease.

I should be the one saying that, came her rejoinder—...were you hunting? I thought I heard something move, so... I am sorry if I ruined the moment. She didn't smell blood, and he did not appear to be in pursuit of anything except a warm patch of sun, which was plentiful.

The darkness cut beneath his figure and made it clear to Aiesha this was not a dream, as dream-like as it felt. She absently looked down at her paws, a little bit bashful, and realized—oh, where was her shadow? Her brow furrowed, and after a blink she decided not to think very hard about it.

Better to focus on her present company. She was just... Tired.

My name is Aiesha. I don't think we've met, sir...? Yes, force the conversation. That's precisely what a diplomat-in-training should do when meeting new people.

Ra took her presence in with a quiet patience, glad that she didn't seem too upset by his lack of forwardness. A pleasure Aiesha. I am Ra Ibrahim. A mazoi to the royal wife and Divine Pharaoh. I was just on a patrol this morning, so don't worry.

He let a small smile form across his lips, wondering why she was looking down and away from him. I was only scouting for anything that might suit as a simple snack. Nothing to worry over as I wasn't fully intending on a hunt.

A further study of the young woman made him wonder if she was new around here, never laying eyes on her until now. And with a face like that, he would have noticed. Even though he would never admit to such things. That would not be the ways of a mazoi, a soldier who dedicated his life to the Queen and Pharaoh above him.

Are you new here? I'm sorry we haven't met before. I was in a convoy with Hotep and others during the great plague of this land. I had only gotten back a bit before the sun had made its return. A quick summary to let her know of the past happenings. Hopefully she would be more open to his conversing the more he would also relax. That was his hope any way.

They had not crossed paths, because their paths had diverged from Satriya very early on. The more she listened the more curious Aiesha became—and she felt a little stupid too, for assuming his role was not a physical one. He was a royal guard! But of course she would not have known that; and by his own admission he had only recently returned, just like her.

I suppose I am new here, yes. It... It has been a few weeks, but yes. How strange that there were still faces she did not know! But of course, Aiesha had been insulated to a degree because of her own elevated position, and her journey, and the dreams—and her father.

I am,—here she let her own quick-thinking take the initiative—a yaret in training. So no wonder we have not met yet! I have only recently returned from a journey to a neighboring kingdom. Her smile did not change, because she did not tell a lie.

She did think of the conversation she'd shared with Ashait the snake—about royals and their penchant for manipulation. Was this what she had meant?

Ah, what plague do you speak of? I haven't heard anything about a sickness. But she was so curious now! And where did you go? If you don't mind the questions.

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Ah A yaret! That explains why he hadn't seen her, other then coming home only recently. She was soon to be a tad above him in the ranks. Surely this woman was full of potential if she is to be trained for such a task. Ra was impressed also by her confidence in meeting him, though steadily growing. He continued his soft smile, his gaze remaining on her form.

I wish you all the best in your training. I'm sure that you will do well. May I also ask what kingdom you were coming from? I was on my way back from guiding Hotep and others to the Druids, a pack called Camhanaich. We had business there for Pharaoh and the Holy Queen. But we were there for longer then we had expected.

It was a treacherous journey to the pack, and coming home. Fissures and the darkened sky, along with the bitter cold nearly kept them from returning. The plague wasn't necessarily a sickness. But I could not think of what else to call it. The world was covered in darkness, with bitter colds far beyond anything I have encountered before. Fissures layed waste to the grounds all around us, trying to keep us from our goals. But the attempts were not successful and we were able to return home. Oh how I have missed the sand beneath my feet. The sun in my face. It is a glorious thing to be gifted from the gods. I am forever grateful. Truly he was and forever would be.

When she opened her mouth she almost said Akashingo, and that would have given her away utterly. She caught herself before the words could spoil things, and quickly said, Tianlong, to the northeast.

She silenced quickly, too. The man called Ra spoke of his travels and Aiesha was enthralled. What kind of people lived in a place called Camhanaich? What a mouthful! She would have asked this next, but other details came to light.

I did notice the darkness, and I thought it was just the way of things here. My father and I crossed the Duat and came to this place, to Satriya, and found darkness as a constant. She thought about this aloud as she compared what she'd seen with what Ra spoke of, and realized the return of the sun was quite a pivotal thing after all.

Did you dream? I mean—of the wolf with the chains, she had, so he must have as well. And.. The door. Her voice became a little more hushed, reverent. The bruises she had woken with after the end of that nightmare persisted even now, which was partly why Aiesha had been reluctant to resume her training.

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Aiesha seemed to show interest in the pack he had visited, judging by her reaction. But kept herself silent for a moment while he spoke. Then revealed her own travels, coming from a place called Tianlong. An interesting name for a pack indeed. It made him wonder what they were like, what cultures and way of life they held within their home. Perhaps that was a journey meant for another day. Ra would think of asking the royals later for their own opinions on the matter.

For now, he continued to listen to Aiesha's thoughts on the matter of the darkening sky. Along with the dream visitor. I had only dreamt of this wolf a couple of times. Each more unsettling then the last. But I did not see the door you speak of. Ra had heard whispers of such a thing however, making him weary of where his steps dared to tread.

Ah. Had he not made a choice? Perhaps if he had not seen the door—there had been no choice. Why then had she...?

She is quiet a moment longer. Then, side-stepping around the man, Aiesha offers a change to the conversation:

You said your name was... Ra? Like the god? Funny. You are the second god-name I have met who serves here. She perched in the sand then, beside him. He certainly fit the ideal of the mazoi; he was well suited to traverse the sands without being caught outright, thanks to his blondes and golds. He looked to be closer to her age now that she really paid attention, and Aiesha realized... He might have been the first age-mate she'd ever acquired.

Have you met the cat-man, Osiris?

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