A Spellcaster and Royal Twins

A young boy nervously paced around the corridor.

He wore a long linen shirt decorated with gold threads, symbolizing his status in the court.

"Sethos, there you are!"

He gulped before nervously turning around to face the Pharaoh's children, Egypt's pride.

Her twin brother was running beside the princess; both dressed in luxurious and adequate attire for the banquet and ceremony. The young boy noticed how both their crowns sparkled in the sunlight.

"Hey, what are you doing out here?" the prince, Sahure, asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for your speech?" his sister, the princess, Merneith, added.

Without any formal greeting or nervousness shown on his face, the young boy let out a defeated sigh.

"I can't do it, guys," he said, frustrated.

That kind of informal address to the prince and princess would have ended their lives to anyone outside the palace. However, Sethos wasn't just anyone to the princess and prince. He was their cousin and friend.

"WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Sahure's eyes widened.

"I said I can't do it!" Sethos retorted. "I can't address the court, and especially the Pharaoh. I-I can't do it. I'll go make a fool out of myself."

Merneith snorted.

"Come on, Sethos, you've been studying so hard to be accepted into the magic academy!"

"Yeah! Plus, you've been practicing your speech for ages! It's driven your father mad!" Sahure insisted on making Sethos chuckle at his last comment.

"Okay, I guess the court wouldn't be that bad, but the Pharaoh,"

Sethos's shoulders slumped, a slight tremble in his lower lip.

"What? Our father scares you?"

"Geez, I don't know. Maybe because your father is the almighty Pharaoh of Egypt?"

"So?"

Sethos sighed again, it was hopeless.

"How am I supposed to present a speech about wanting to pursue learning magic under Master Mahad's guidance to become an elite royal spellcaster when I'm so terrified of presenting in front of people. Especially the Pharaoh."

"You can practice with us."

"Yeah! We are his flesh and blood."

"And I'm also the next heir to the throne," Merneith added with a smirk, to which her brother stuck out his tongue too.

"Aww, come one, Sahure, you'll always be my baby brother."

"You only win me by a few moments, Merneith!" Sahure said behind clenched teeth.

"Jealous~" Merneith sang.

Sethos's right eye twitches.

"Okay, you guys, enough, please."

"Sethos is right. Can we continue, Merneith?" Sahure acknowledged.

Merneith nodded before waving her hand.

"You may proceed, Sethos."

Sethos cleared his throat, fixed his posture, and looked straight at the twins.

Their eyes were wide with excitement.

"I don't know if I'm qualified to enter the academy," Sethos lamented. "I'm useless."