The short wait of just a few minutes felt like years to Imhotep.
The man kept his face strained and his head bowed. The two Attendants in front of him were staring at him with serious expressions: the Fairy was scraping her rapier back and forth across the floor, while the tall woman wasn't holding a weapon—the coldness in her eyes was practically radiating out.
During the time Mori Tsukisa pulled Anck-Su-Namun away and vanished, Imhotep was restless. The brief interaction was not enough for the man to figure out Mori Tsukisa's personality, and he was extremely worried that Anck-Su-Namun's corpse would appear before him next... Worry makes one lose judgment. He should have stopped Anck-Su-Namun earlier.
Imhotep was somewhat vexed.
—As for the hostility from the two individuals in front of him, he understood it well: their caution was actually unnecessary. The High Priest, skilled at assessing situations, had spent years navigating the gaps between powers, effortlessly handling the conflicts between the upper nobility and the supreme authority of the Pharaoh's lineage. He knew exactly when to do what... Aside from his confusion regarding Anck-Su-Namun, the man was certainly shrewd and experienced.
At this moment, the nervous High Priest was quickly organizing his words, pondering how to make his apology sound sincere and impactful—after all, his lover had indeed offended this Mage My Lord, who had been gracious to both him and her.
If it were their era, the two should have been punished.
The man closed his eyes.
Only a fool would want to endure the wrath of a mage who could make gods back down.
The ritual candles in the room grew shorter. When a few more white heat nodules appeared on the wax, Mori Tsukisa finally reappeared in the room, pulling Anck-Su-Namun along.
Imhotep immediately stepped forward: "Your Excellency the Mage! I want—"
"Your Excellency the Mage, I want a few pairs of boots."
"I'll help you pick!"
"I also want that thing for lips and faces—"
"Buy it!"
"And a bag, that inverted triangle one!"
"Buy it!"
"A machine that can show pictures!"
"Buy it!"
Imhotep:...The apologies he had prepared long ago were all stuck in his throat.
In the eyes of the three tense, almost-clashing guys, the two women, one large and one small, were chatting very... pleasantly.
Anck-Su-Namun was about the same height as Nagini; standing in front of Mori Tsukisa, they looked like a pair of sisters.
The older sister was cold and aloof, holding the younger sister with a fanatical look; the younger sister had seductive eyes but crossed her arms, her face full of doting.
"I have a lot of wealth. Of course, your lover is equally rich. When we get to my World, you can buy whatever you want." Mori Tsukisa patted Anck-Su-Namun's waist: "So, do you want to leave with this 'commoner' like me?"
Regarding their previous slip of the tongue, Anck-Su-Namun and Imhotep shared the same worry: they were both afraid Mori Tsukisa would vent her anger on their lover.
Now, Imhotep was still worried, but Anck-Su-Namun wasn't. Compared to what her lover excelled at after much experience, the woman was clearly more outstanding at reading people's hearts: in just a few minutes, she had sensed this girl's'special' nature, or rather... her heart's desire for freedom and fun.
She could even feel that behind the girl's vivid, youthful, slowly flowing life force, filled with playful banter and chaotic thoughts, lay a soul... that was indifferent to the World, lazy and cold.
Of course, for these awkward descriptions, one had to thank the fact that the word 'lunatic' hadn't been invented in Ancient Egypt yet. Otherwise, Miss Anck-Su-Namun would be surprised to find that there was such a concise and powerful word in the World that could perfectly describe a person's character.
Anyway, after seeing the answer and then figuring out how to make her like her in a subtle yet pervasive way, it was as simple as breathing for Anck-Su-Namun.
"Please forgive me..." The woman pursed her lips and shook her head: "You possess beauty and wisdom like Isis. My arrogance is nothing more than an interesting performance of a low-born commoner in your eyes..."
When Anck-Su-Namun started using honorifics, Mori Tsukisa began to feel uncomfortable. She thought back to when Nagini first arrived. In Arrietty's words: the adopted Child wasn't quite adjusted to the home yet.
Mori Tsukisa could deeply relate.
But... "Who is Isis?"
"The goddess of beauty," Imhotep interjected. "In our faith, Isis governs life, magic, and marriage. Most importantly: she is collectively known among the people as the 'goddess of beauty.' Only the most beautiful and noble women can be praised as such."
"goddess of beauty is a bit too embarrassing..." Miss Sen, the Goddess of Cosmetics, Clothing, and Gems, gave a couple of fake laughs, then stared into Imhotep's eyes: "I didn't do anything to your lover. Don't worry, and don't apologize. If you want to be my Attendant, start learning to accept things from now on."
Imhotep nervously rubbed his smooth back of the head and looked at Anck-Su-Namun, full of questions: What exactly happened?
He seemed to have heard something just now... foundation?
Is it a liquid with magical power?
Arrietty rolled her eyes and waved her hand, dismissing the warriors behind her.
"Alright, come on, you two, introduce yourselves to the newcomers." Mori Tsukisa took two steps back and pulled over the cold, silent Nagini, who had her arms crossed. She spread her left hand in the air: "Where's Arrietty? bari bari!"
"I am Her Majesty the Queen's knight." Arrietty jumped onto the palm, her left hand on the hilt of her sword and her right hand over her heart, bowing elegantly: "The first line of defense in battle, and the leader of the fairy race."
After the Little Sprite finished, Mori Tsukisa poked Nagini's waist. Only then did the reluctant woman reluctantly speak: "I am Master's—"
Arrietty cut in seamlessly: "Pet."
Nagini gave her a look but didn't refute it.
"I am Anck-Su-Namun, Imhotep's lover." Anck-Su-Namun wasn't as soft toward Nagini and Arrietty as she was toward Mori Tsukisa. It should be said she returned to her original state.
The woman looked in Mori Tsukisa's direction, but only Mori Tsukisa was in her eyes, as if Nagini and Arrietty couldn't even form an image in her pupils: "I follow the goddess of beauty because—"
"Wait a second," Mori Tsukisa shyly covered half her face and waved her hands vigorously: "No! Don't use that title!"
"goddess of beauty? Isis?" Anck-Su-Namun was puzzled: "Addressing you by a divine name is the highest form of respect. Do you not like it?"
She liked it, but it was still embarrassing—Arrietty was even more embarrassed than Mori Tsukisa. One "Her Majesty the Queen," one "Master," it was already strange enough. If another "goddess of beauty" appeared among them...
The Little Sprite imagined it.
—In a shopping mall, bright and fashionable girls are happily on a shopping spree. Suddenly, the tall, cold girl in front turns back, a model-like World-weary face suddenly breaking into a smile as she calls out to the girl who is like her sister:
"goddess of beauty! Come look at these boots! They're twenty percent off!"
Thinking about the strange looks from the sales assistants, Arrietty would probably go crazy... "You'd better change the title, Anck-Su-Namun." The Little Sprite also offered a rare suggestion. After all, once such a title was called out in public, it would be their Queen who would be embarrassed: "Our World doesn't believe in the existence of gods."
"That title is too..."
"Your Excellency the Mage saved my Anck-Su-Namun." Imhotep stood by his lover's side and insisted: "She deserves our respect."
"Your respect is just too embarrassing." What Arrietty didn't know was that another meaning of Isis was: Throne.
She was once a symbol of royal power and the embodiment of the Pharaoh's authority.
"I can rule a city for you, and I can govern the warriors and subjects under your command." Imhotep looked at Anck-Su-Namun tenderly again: "Since she wants to call you the goddess of beauty... please accept her respect for you, our Isis."
Mori Tsukisa: When did I ever want to rule a city...?
Nagini, however, felt that Imhotep would be very useful.
She felt that before long, Mori Tsukisa would have so many Attendants that it would be enough to make her flustered. At that time, perhaps this High Priest from three thousand years ago could make things much easier for her and Arrietty.
"Let's leave it at that. As for the title... it's best not to use it in front of others." Mori Tsukisa rubbed her temples. "Let's go check out that 'Base' first."
"As for the Attendants..."
"We'll talk about it after everything is over."
Mori Tsukisa's Spell Power had only just recovered a bit. With Nagini as a prior example, she didn't want to turn Imhotep and Anck-Su-Namun into cards right now. This would consume her limited Spell Power.
For that city in the sky, and just in case, she had to accumulate strength to face any potential dangers.
For instance, the god who had been eyeing the Bastet god box and had yet to show his face.
Anubis, Guardian of the Duat.
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