That night, Yetao and Bam existed as perfect opposites—one soaring with newfound hope, the other drowning in escalating confusion.
For Bam, sleep had become his enemy. Night after night, the same haunting visions plagued his rest: calling the dream-Yetao "Princess," feeling inexplicable emotions surge through his chest, watching in horror as that same figure plunged a knife into his heart before falling from a cliff with a mysterious smile.
The dreams felt too real, too vivid to be mere figments of imagination. Someone had cursed him—he was certain of it.
Restless and desperate for answers, Bam found himself drawn repeatedly to the site of their first encounter: Khonsu's temple. He conducted surveillance missions there twice daily, searching for any trace of the mysterious pond that had started this nightmare.
But there was nothing. No water, no magic, no answers.
As he paced his chambers like a caged predator, cool night air swept through his window, ruffling his dark hair. The garden below lay peaceful under the celestial glow, while a half-moon watched him with silver eyes.
Then it struck him like lightning.
"It was a moonless night," he whispered, the realization hitting him with startling clarity. The pond had appeared during the new moon—when darkness reigned supreme.
"Why didn't I think of this before?" His hands clenched into fists as determination coursed through his veins. "I need to return there on the next moonless night."
The pieces of his puzzle were finally beginning to align.
....
Meanwhile, Yetao practically glowed with excitement as he tossed and turned in his bed, sleep impossible in the face of such overwhelming hope.
"If Lisa hadn't taken me to that tower today, it would have taken forever to discover the artifact's name," he thought, rolling onto his side with a grin that could illuminate the darkest night.
"Now that we know what it is, Pea will definitely find a way to get me home!" Confidence bubbled through his chest like champagne.
His imagination conjured an image of his friend Dorn back in his world, probably searching frantically like a lost puppy. The mental picture made him laugh until his stomach ached.
But then his expression darkened into a pout. "Serves him right! If he hadn't disappeared in the first place, I wouldn't have gone looking for him and gotten sucked into another world by that cursed museum artifact."
A wistful sigh escaped his lips. "I just hope Pea finds a solution soon..."
....
While the palace slept, Peanut rode alone through the desert night to the banks of the life-giving Nile. The sacred waters reflected starlight like scattered diamonds as he dismounted and knelt beside the river's edge.
His fingers barely touched the surface when the water began to churn. Hapi, god of the Nile's floods, emerged in a cascade of liquid silver.
"The teleportation medium was a sistrum," Peanut stated without preamble, his voice cutting through the night air like a blade.
Hapi visibly flinched.
"Ring a bell?" Peanut's head tilted with predatory curiosity, a dangerous smirk playing at his lips.
"But that is—" Hapi began hesitantly.
"Impossible, right?" Peanut's interruption was sharp as a whip crack.
Silence stretched between them like a taut wire.
With fluid grace that defied physics, Peanut stepped onto the water's surface and approached the river god, his gaze boring into Hapi's very soul.
"When I discovered that his soul is bound by water magic, I had my doubts about you," Peanut's voice dropped to a whisper more terrifying than any shout. "But since you had no apparent reason to betray me, I chose to look the other way. After all, in our little arrangement, you're the one with everything to lose."
He moved closer, close enough that Hapi could feel the menace radiating from his seemingly innocent form.
"That's one reason I've chosen to trust you. But still..." His voice became dangerously soft, eerily gentle. "Is there something you're hiding from me?"
Hapi met his gaze directly, though his hands trembled slightly. "No. I don't want to risk our deal," he replied with as much confidence as he could muster.
Peanut's smile returned—bright, cheerful, and absolutely terrifying. He patted Hapi's shoulder like an old friend. "Good. I'm glad you understand."
Walking backward across the water's surface as casually as strolling through a garden, Peanut called out, "Then I'll pursue the next option and search for Hathor's sistrum in Heliopolis!"
A/N: 'Heliopolis' is a city in ancient Egypt. While the palace is located in 'Cairo', Heliopolis is a different state or city, that played an important part in Egyptian civilization.
With a casual wave, he mounted his horse and disappeared into the night, leaving Hapi alone with his rage and fear.
The river god's fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. "If only he didn't have HIM as a hostage..." The words were torn from his throat like pieces of his soul.
"I need to find a way out of this nightmare faster. Any more delays and he might discover the real reason behind everything..."
With that desperate thought, Hapi vanished beneath the waters once more.
....
The next morning brought news that made Yetao's heart soar.
"What? Heliopolis?" he exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief and excitement.
Peanut nodded with his characteristic gentle smile. "They're hosting their annual festival this weekend. Many servants will be granted leave during that time. I'll announce that I'm taking a group with me today so no one suspects your absence. Pack your belongings—we can depart this evening."
Yetao practically vibrated with excitement as he nodded enthusiastically before rushing off to prepare. The artifact that would return him to his world was finally within reach!
But as his running footsteps echoed through the corridors, they gradually slowed. A sobering realization crept into his consciousness: he was leaving this place forever. The people who had cared for him, protected him, befriended him—he would never see any of them again.
He stopped completely, an unexpected emptiness hollowing out his chest.
"I should have kept myself from getting attached," he whispered to the empty hallway. "What was I thinking, befriending everyone?"
He slapped his cheeks lightly, the sharp sting bringing him back to reality. "I can do this," he told himself firmly, then continued toward his quarters with renewed determination.
Yetao decided to bid proper farewells to everyone who had shown him kindness, though he couldn't reveal the permanent nature of his departure.
He visited all the ladies he'd befriended, telling them he was attending the festival. But something felt off—their responses seemed awkward, almost guilty. Strange murmurs followed in his wake, but he chose not to investigate.
When he found Hanan, he gave her what he knew would be their final embrace.
"I'm going to the festival," he said simply.
Hanan looked as though she wanted to ask something important, but swallowed her words and managed a smile. "Just take care of your health. Let's meet next week."
Gratitude swelled in Yetao's chest, but he couldn't bring himself to shatter her expectation with the truth that they would never meet again.
He searched everywhere for Lisa but couldn't locate her, so he made his way to the library where Chen sat staring blankly at ancient scrolls.
"I haven't seen him for three days," Yetao thought with concern. "Is he ill?"
"Master?" he called softly.
Chen flinched and looked up as Yetao suddenly pressed his hand to the god's forehead.
"Hmm, you don't seem to have a fever. What's troubling you?"
A strange pain flickered across Chen's features. "Gods don't get sick, Yetao."
"You don't get sick?" Yetao's confusion was evident. "But he got sick though," he mumbled, thinking of Bam's hyperventilated state during the temple incident.
"You mean Bam?" Chen asked, catching the muttered words.
Yetao flinched at being overheard.
Chen sighed deeply. "That's because he's human."
"Human? But—" Countless questions erupted in Yetao's mind, but he pushed them aside. "What does it matter if he's god or human? In reality, he's nothing more than an animal," he thought bitterly.
"Chen, I'm leaving for the festival today," he announced instead.
Chen's eyes immediately brightened with hope. "Really? Then I'll escort you! Seeing new places and people might help restore your memories. I can assist with that."
Yetao smiled warmly. "No need to trouble yourself. Pea is taking me."
The light in Chen's eyes died instantly.
"Oh," Yetao realized with sympathy, "he must have wanted to attend the festival and was using 'helping me' as an excuse. Even gods work themselves to exhaustion without rest."
"Chen," he said gently, meeting the god's sad gaze directly. "Thank you for everything. You trusted me when he accused me of being an assassin. You taught me to help recover my lost memories. And... you treated me like a true friend. Thank you so much."
Silence stretched between them as they held each other's gaze. Yetao broke it with a radiant smile, while Chen managed only a forced one in return.
After Yetao left, Chen pressed a hand to his aching chest. "Why does it feel like she's leaving forever? Is she planning to abandon our lessons now that she has a lover?" The thought sent sharp pangs through his heart.
Yetao's final stop was Lisa, whom he finally located in the garden pavilion.
"You're leaving for the festival?" she asked before he could speak.
He blinked in confusion and nodded.
"With Peanut?"
His head tilted questioningly as Lisa sighed deeply.
"That's the hottest gossip in the women's wing right now, Yetao."
"Gossip?" he echoed blankly.
"I figured you wouldn't know. But everyone's saying that Peanut is your lover."
The words hit him like a physical blow. "EHHHHH?" His scream of shock could probably be heard in the next kingdom.
"Someone apparently spotted you entering Peanut's chambers every morning and leaving in different clothes. I only heard about it today. What's really happening, Yetao?"
That's because I'm bathing at his place since I can't use the women's bathhouse as a man. But I can't tell her that!
"Later," he managed with a strained smile. "I'll explain everything when I return."
Lisa shrugged with a knowing look. "Whatever. I won't believe palace gossip until I hear the truth from you directly. Have a safe trip."
Guilt twisted in Yetao's chest like a knife. I'm sorry, Lisa. But I'm never coming back.
"Goodbye, Lisa," he said, the word carrying more weight than she could possibly understand.
....
Carrying his modest luggage, Yetao made his way toward the palace's front gates. Fate, however, had one final encounter planned.
In the corridor ahead, Bam appeared from the opposite direction.
They both stopped dead upon seeing each other.
Time seemed suspended as their eyes locked, hearts racing with unspoken emotions and unanswered questions. Bam's gaze dropped to the luggage in Yetao's hands.
Is she leaving? Bam wondered.
Should I tell him goodbye too? Yetao thought.
But the words never came.
Instead, they began walking again, passing each other in the corridor like ships in the night—no words exchanged, no farewells offered.
Why should I say goodbye to him? Yetao reasoned bitterly. He'll probably celebrate when he learns I'm leaving. That psychopath...
What does it matter if she leaves or stays? Bam told himself coldly. I'm better off not seeing that annoying face in either my dreams or reality.
Neither realized how deeply they would come to regret this moment of stubborn silence.
As Yetao settled into Peanut's carriage, memories flooded back to his first arrival at the palace in Bam's sand-constructed vehicle. The irony wasn't lost on him—he was leaving in the same manner he'd arrived, both times believing that he and the king felt nothing but indifference toward each other.
Once AGAIN, they were separated by pride, misunderstanding, and by the cruel hand of fate.
To Be Continued...