Gate of six - part1

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom. This kingdom was ruled by Empress Isis and Emperor Osuris.

"Greetings, my dear people, how are you all doing today?" Isis was a warmhearted goddess. She loved her people and would rush to aid anyone in need.

"We are well, thanks to you, our Empress."

"Haha! Julius, you spoil me as always."

"No, she's right, my queen. If we can live so beautifully in this barren landscape today, it's all thanks to you."

"Ah! Arthur, you are doing a great disservice to your emperor. He and I are inseparable components, so if you want to thank someone, you should thank him. After all, he does a great deal of the work."

Ashamed, Arthur began to scratch his hair. "Haha! I'm sorry, Empress Isis."

"No need to apologize, Arthur, let's forget about this for now. Who won today's competition?"

"OF COURSE, IT WAS ME." Julius boasted loudly, his voice almost resonating throughout the entire marketplace. "Ohoho... you seem quite confident, Julius, may we know why?"

"Of course, my dear Empress." Julius quickly crouched down beneath his stall, rummaging around. Isis turned her head towards Arthur, who was standing at a stall behind her. "Won't you make your move too, Arthur? Look, your rival seems quite sure of himself. Aren't you going to show him up?"

"Hehehe..." With a slight smirk, Arthur ran his hand through his hair. "Oww! Seems like this truly means you've lost, Arthur. You've been losing for weeks; I had thought you'd make a strong comeback this time. "Unfortunately, my Empress, unfortunately..." Isis approached Arthur and placed her hand on his cheek. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll win next week." Arthur's heart started beating faster than ever at her smile. "Hıhıı..." Isis smirked, looking at Arthur's rapidly beating chest. "Still single, Arthur?"

"N- why would you ask that, my Empress?"

"Come on, Arthur, are you going to leave your empress' question unanswered?"

"O-of course not, I-I'm very sorry."

"Hahaha Arthur! You manage to make me laugh so well." Isis leaned closer to Arthur's ear. "Even more than Osuris..." Arthur jerked back feeling the warm breath in his ear. "I-I don't know what to say, my Empress. T-thank you."

"Let me tell you what you should say, Arthur, you could, for example, answer my question now. Makes sense, doesn't it?"

"I-I apologize."

"Ah... don't apologize, Arthur, answer my question."

"I-I... I still am..."

"Sir! I can't hear you, Arthur, please speak up."

"I'm still single, my Empress." Arthur exclaimed, ending up breathless. "Understood... what a pity, someone as handsome as you hasn't been snatched up."

"H-handsome?"

"Yes, those neatly combed back hair, that slight upturned nose, and the greyish hue of your hair, I think it's quite perfect and especially with that well-groomed beard, everything complements each other."

"I think you are mistaken, my Empress. Most of what you mentioned is due to aging." Arthur sighed, letting his arms hang down.

"At this age, who's left as handsome as you, Arthur? Tell me."

"I-I don't think I'm handsome, my Empress."

"You stubborn handsome." Isis smiled, playfully pinching Arthur's cheek. "W-what are you doing, my Empress?" Arthur's heartbeat started to rise again.

"No worries, Arthur, be calm."

"B-b-b-b-but... okay." Arthur took a deep breath, holding all the air inside before releasing all the carbon dioxide in his lungs in one go. "Huhh huhuu huh..." Arthur exhausted himself with his breathing, placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "Hahaha! Arthur, look, you made me laugh again."

"Hehehe! Then I'm glad..."

"Look here!" Julius finally accomplished what he was trying to do. He pointed at the basket filled table before him, shouting as he did before. The other stallholders grumbled at Julius' behavior in anger but kept themselves in check since Isis was there.

"Let's see... though the winner was obvious..." Isis turned around to examine Julius' stall. Not a single space was left unfilled in the baskets at his stall. "How, my Empress... did you like it?"

"Yes, Julius, I can see your achievement. It's clear that you're the winner."

"This is how you run a stall!" Julius left his stall and approached Isis excitedly. Arthur, looking over to Julius' stall, slapped his face in embarrassment.

"Yes... my respected Empress, don't you think it would be a disgrace not to have an award for such a streak of victories?"

"So, you're asking for an extra reward. Well, if Arthur agrees, why not."

"No, no, no!" Julius quickly waved his hands to stop Isis. "What are you talking about then, Julius? Explain what you want."

"Ehm ehhmm..." Julius firmly planted his feet and stood upright. "What I'm talking about is an extra reward from you." Julius snapped his fingers, trying to look impressive to Isis. Isis, amused, snapped her fingers back in response. "So that's the case, you want a reward from me, Julius."

"Exactly."

"Hıhııı! Alright, alright, may I ask what you desire? Money, rank, a better job?.."

"Let me tell you immediately, I don't care about money or property, my Empress. You know me."

"Yes, yes, I do. Go on."

"And I don't desire high positions; I am quite satisfied with my current situation. So, to get to the point, a little kiss from you would be more than enough as a reward."

"Hmm... are you sure about that?"

"Don't judge me for only asking for a little kiss. Believe me, that little kiss is worth the world to me."

"So, you want me to commit an act that could be seen as betraying Osiris, is that correct?"

"No, no! Just a little kiss..."

"No, sorry, Julius, what you're asking for is nearly a crime. Have you fallen for your own Empress?"

"No, never! I could never show such disrespect to you."

"Then know your place, Julius."

"But but..."

"Julius!"

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, my Empress."

"Well done, Julius." Isis smiled and turned towards Arthur, who was standing dazed, staring at the stall in front of him. "See you, Arthur." Isis waved at Arthur with a smile. "H-huh?" Arthur was brought back to reality by Isis's voice. "S-see you, my Empress."

"Next time, let your skills do the talking, Arthur. I'm looking forward to your continued success."

"As you wish."

Isis winked at Arthur before starting to walk back to her palace. She had visited enough places for the day.

Arthur's heart raced for the third time as Isis winked at him, reaching its peak. Once Isis was out of sight, he couldn't hold back any longer; he surrendered to the pounding of his heart and collapsed to the ground.

"Ah... the Empress is quite the tease, Arthur, she's always on your side." Julius came over to the prone Arthur. "The Empress is the fairest of all, Julius."

"That's what you think, you poor thing. Of course, the Empress loves you." Julius softly kicked at Arthur's void before starting to walk back to his stall. "Next week, I'll win again and crush you into the ground, Arthur. Just you wait and see."

"I'll be waiting, Julius. Do your best." Arthur opened his palm towards the sky. "She called me handsome. She called me handsome." Arthur let himself be at peace with the butterflies fluttering inside him. He would lie back and enjoy this moment a bit longer.

"So, what's the situation, Osuris?" Isis had finally arrived at the palace. As soon as she entered the throne room, she asked Osuris about the state of things. There was an expression on Osuris's face that she had never seen before. "Is something wrong? Tell me, Osuris." Osuris rose from his throne and approached Isis. Isis could tell there was a problem from the hardness in his eyes, but why wasn't he saying anything? "Osuris?" Isis started to caress Osuris's cheeks with her hands. "What's happened? Tell me." Osuris closed his eyes for a moment and then wrapped his arms around Isis. "Something is coming, Isis. I can feel it. Danger is very close..."

Isis stroked Osuris's hair with one hand and gently rubbed his back with the other. "Don't worry, don't worry. The strong Osuris I know, no matter the danger, he would eradicate it instantly. Besides, why are you scared? The strong, handsome, fearless Osuris I know would mock any danger that appeared."

"This time it's different, Isis... It's something we've never faced before."

"Tell me, my love. What's making you so worried?"

"I don't know..."

"You don't know? Then why are you scared?"

"Because I can feel the danger, but I can't comprehend what it is."

"Okay, okay, I apologize, my Empress."

"Good job, Julius." Isis grinned and turned towards Arthur. Arthur, feeling stunned, was fixated on watching the stall in front of him. "See you later, Arthur." Isis waved at Arthur with a smile. "H-huh?" Arthur finally snapped back to reality with Isis's voice. "See you, my Empress."

"Next time, unleash your skills, Arthur. I'm eager to see more of your achievements."

"Whatever you say."

Isis winked at Arthur and began her journey back to the palace. She had done enough visiting for the day.

Once Isis was out of sight, Arthur felt a surge of excitement. His heart raced for the third time, and unable to contain himself longer, he collapsed to the ground.

"Oh... the Empress really knows how to play her cards right with you, Arthur. She's always favoring you." Julius approached the fallen Arthur. "The Empress is the fairest of all, Julius."

"That's what you think, you lucky man. Of course, the Empress adores you." Julius gently kicked Arthur's side, then walked back to his stall proudly. "Next week, I'll triumph again and you'll see, Arthur. Just wait."

"I'll be waiting, Julius. Give it your best." Arthur, laying on the ground, opened his palms toward the sky. "She called me handsome. She really did." Arthur let himself relax, surrendering to the peaceful moment, planning to savor it a bit longer.

"So, how are things, Osuris?" Isis finally arrived at the palace. As soon as she entered the throne room, she inquired about the situation from Osuris. On his face was an expression she hadn't seen before. "What's wrong? Talk to me, Osuris." Rising from his throne, Osuris faced Isis with an intensity in his gaze. Isis could sense an issue, but why wasn't he speaking up? "Osuris?" Gently, Isis caressed Osuris's cheeks. "What's happening? Tell me." After a brief moment, Osuris wrapped his arms around Isis. "Something is approaching, Isis. I feel it. Danger lurks very near..."

Isis, while stroking Osuris's hair with one hand and soothing his back with the other, reassured him, "Don't worry, my powerful Osuris can handle any danger. Besides, why fear? The bold, handsome, fearless Osuris I know would scoff at danger."

"This time is different, Isis... It's something we've never faced before."

"Tell me, my love. What makes you so anxious?"

"I don't know..."

"You don't know? Then why fear?"

"Because I sense the danger but can't identify it."

"Very intriguing... Would you give me your hand, my love? I haven't felt anything. If it's as you say, we're indeed facing something extraordinary." Osuris took Isis's hand, and their fingers intertwined. Isis began to feel everything within Osuris—the fear he harbored, his sorrows, his joys... After a deeply emotional journey, she reached the conclusion. Osuris was right. This was a sense of danger, yet the nature of the threat remained vague.

"I see... I think we need to inform our people about this, Osuris."

"Are you sure? Would initiating panic be wise?"

"If they face danger unprepared, it would lead to a worse outcome."

"You're right, but admitting our ignorance might undermine people's trust in us."

"You make a good point. We may have to concoct a fictional danger."

"Then, even if we overcome the approaching threat, we'd be labeled liars."

"I know... but do we have any other choice? I believe we should rely on our people's love for us."

"I guess we have no other option. As you said, we must trust in their loyalty and love."

"Then let's gather the people in front of the palace. Soldiers!"

At Isis's command, soldiers swiftly filled the throne room. "What's your order, Empress Isis?"

"Bring the people to the palace front. We have an important announcement to make."

"As you command!" The soldiers dispersed quickly, leaving the throne room deserted. Isis was pleased with the loyalty the soldiers showed her.

"Are you ready, Osuris?"

"Yes, Isis!" It was time to announce the big news.

"Dear beloved people, today we have significant news for you."

"Isis and I have called you here to share this important announcement."

The populace listened attentively to their sovereigns, some even began cheering without knowing the news.

"I know you all think I've gathered you here to announce something pleasant, but unfortunately, I don't bear good news today."

Silence enveloped the crowd, replacing the cheers and shouts with the sound of crows flying overhead. Seeing the mood of the people, Osuris quickly took the lead from Isis and continued the announcement. "But this bad news will lead us to our greatest victory yet!" He managed to revive the crowd's spirit and excitement. Everyone began shouting, "Tell us, tell us!"

Osuris, keeping the crowd's enthusiasm alive, adjusted his speech. "The kingdom across has declared war on us, seemingly unprovoked, probably still unsatisfied from their past defeats. What happens when a kingdom that has lost so many wars declares another, do you think?"

"They'll lose!"

"Exactly my people, they have not had enough of defeat. And we will never tire of defeating them!"

"Yesss!"

"We are announcing this because I want my people to be prepared for such a war. Don't worry, even if you don't take any precautions, the war will not affect you, but I know there will be among you those willing to fight or take precautions against the war. That's why I couldn't keep this war hidden from you."

"Emperor Osuris, Emperor Osuris,

Emperor Osuris, Emperor Osuris!" Osuris had managed to convey the danger to the people in the way he wanted.

When he turned around, he saw Isis shaking her head from side to side, displeased with drowning the people in lies. Osuris, seeing Isis's state, sighed and returned to the palace.

"That will be all for now, my dear people! Take good care of yourselves, I love you."

"Empress Isis, we love Isis."

"I'm very sorry, my people..." Isis also sighed quietly and returned to the palace. Despite her disdain for the lie, there was nothing else she could do.

The danger was near, unidentified, but whatever it was, Isis would fight against it with all her strength. She would not disappoint her people. She would show what a goddess could do. The danger stood no chance against her. She, Isis, would overcome it.