Scars

Chapter 11- The beginning

"How have you been liking the city, General?"
He turned around to see him stand at the door. The man not only seemed familiar; he spoke in a voice he felt he recognized.
"It's only been a day, and that too was spent well meeting General Senemut. Are we ready to leave?"
"I shall be your companion here. I go by the name Djed and am a Lieutenant, and my sole job is to protect the General."
"But I am not the General yet, Djed." Djehuty specified.
"That is a facade. The entire army knows you will be leading us soon. Along with General Senemut, I am bound to protect you too."
"Thank you. Shall we leave now?"
"I also brought you a message."
"What is it?" A little annoyed, Djehuty looked at him.
"It is from the commander regarding your request. Iset and Aten will be brought to Thebes in a week and shall be working under you."
This gave him a sense of accomplishment. He felt, for the first time, that he had some power. Rising from a small town with almost no goal or individual identity, studying medicine, and probably heading towards a monotonous and very ordinary life, he has come so far. First, the school of Tahtib, then being promoted to a rank that every soldier in the land of Kemet would dream of. He was soon to become the general and hold a lot of power.
"We're ready to leave."

Accompanied by multiple officials and finally wearing his formal identifying uniform, Djehuty headed to meet the Emperor. This meeting would be held in the royal palace of the high priest Khety, where a few rituals would also be taking place. Prime Minister Sadiki, General Senemut, Pharaoh Osiris, and High Priest Khety would be meeting him and introducing him to his new identity as a member of the Kemet royalty. His focus, however, was on the message he had to bring to the attention of the high priest. His head was also occupied with what he overheard last night. Is it all an illusion? Would he actually be made to leave?

It was no less than a dream come true as he walked to the chamber of Prime Minister Sadiki. flower petals being showered on them. Nervous, he looked around and noticed a strange old man standing in the back with an enchanting smile. Clad in a white robe, this man instantly took all his stress away. He had very calming eyes, and gestured at him to relax.

As they met, the prime minister said, "I apologize, but I had no other choice but to put you to the extreme. Had the outcome been any different, I would never be able to forgive myself."

"I am sure you were only doing your duty. It is because of that day that I am standing here, having conquered the worst of my fears. You made that young boy into this soldier that is standing here, your highness. I shall be forever grateful to you." Djehuty's entire perception of Sadiki changed. He thought of him as a power-hungry man who simply rose to power due to his father's reputation, and that he would go to any extent to do what he wanted to. But today, his entire perception changed when he saw him say that. His eyes clearly showed remorse.

The prime minister went ahead and hugged him. "You certainly have become the man we all sought in you. It feels like I embraced his highness, Osiris himself."

They went to sit by a number of priests, and the rituals started. In around an hour, they were done, and the animal sacrifice would be done once the high priest and emperor arrived.

All that he had heard about it proved to be true. In walked the emperor; he walked so swiftly that it caught everyone's attention instantly. Taller than most of the people was Djehuty; only his guard, Djed, would be taller than him. Even General Senemut was a little shorter than him. But Osiris was visibly taller and stood out in the entire sanctum sanctorum. On his left was the man he saw standing in the crowd with a mysterious smile. Now he understood without a doubt who those two men were.

"I have heard everything about you so far." Osiris spoke with a pin-drop silence in the hall, everyone listening to the emperor with utter attention. "I have heard a thousand ways in which you would fail already. I have heard your flaws and your vulnerabilities. I have heard of your inability to become a general at such a young age."

His heart dropped when he heard that. He was clueless as to why he would straight-up treat him like that.

"And I refuse to believe any of it." He said this, sensing the rising tension in the hall. "I knew the moment I saw you that we had made the right decision. General Senemut would leave behind a very strong legacy, and you will take it further ahead."

Djehuty sincerely nodded, relaxed, and was humbled by his words. They went on with the rituals, and once done, Osiris asked to make the preparations for their meeting in person. The high priest and king would be talking to him in private.

"This is the palace of Osiris. I am named after a literal God. This man right here is what I do and believe. I am the brain of Kemet. This man is the heart of Kemet." Osiris stood up. "And you shall be the body of it. The mighty arms that shall lift and carry the greatness."

"I have something important to tell you, your highness." Djehuty spoke very softly, still somewhat hesitant.

"I have not chosen you randomly, my son." The voice was so soothing, one could fall asleep listening to it. instant calm and a breeze of fresh air. "I know who you are. And I know what you shall do for us." He said.

"And I know exactly what you're talking about." Osiris said.
His jaw dropped. What in the hell is going on here? he wondered. His face clearly expressed his thoughts at the moment,and the high priest sensed it.

"You know, I cannot believe everything I hear or even see. At this level, you are very likely to be fed false information."
"But your highness, I cannot let you go there like this!" All the words, the formality, and the best expressions to convey his grave concern to the two of them vanished. He thought he would elaborate on it for them, but he just spoke his heart out. "

"I know my son," the high priest said. "Why do you think you are here?"