Peanut's fingers tightened around Zababa's throat, his normally gentle face contorted with a primal rage that made the Mesopotamian war god tremble despite his own considerable power.
"You better lay low until I give you my next orders," Peanut hissed, his voice barely above a whisper yet cutting like a blade. "If you try to act on your own, I might just crush your territory like a piece of dust."
With that final threat hanging in the air, Peanut released his grip and vanished, leaving Zababa gasping for breath.
Once alone, Zababa's humiliation transformed into fury. He slammed his fist against a nearby pillar, the impact sending cracks spider-webbing through the stone. The violent sound summoned his trusted subordinate, Bako, who appeared in the doorway with concern etched across his features.
"Should we let him leave?" Bako asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Zababa turned on him with blazing eyes. "Then what? Are you going to fight him? Don't even think about it!" The war god's voice boomed through the chamber, making Bako flinch visibly. "We can't put our country in danger by fighting him. It's already a privilege that he's on our side now. We can't risk anything."
Confusion clouded Bako's face as he struggled to comprehend his master's uncharacteristic fear. "But... why are you fearing him? As far as I know, you're the strongest among our gods and the only one who can put up a fight with those Egyptian gods. Who is he? How did you meet him?"
Zababa shot him a glare so intense that Bako immediately lowered his gaze and murmured an apology.
A weary sigh escaped Zababa's lips as his shoulders slumped slightly. "Just know that he's far more than those gods," he explained, his voice now grave. "He could bring that country to ruins with a snap of his finger. But holding on because of some shitty reason." He shook his head in disbelief. "Seems like Makko messed up with the wrong person."
Bako's fists clenched at the mention of his fallen friend. "But..." The word hung in the air, heavy with grief and frustration at his inability to avenge Makko's death.
Seeing the turmoil in his subordinate's eyes, Zababa placed a reassuring hand on Bako's shoulder. "Don't worry," he said, his tone softening. "Now we know of his weakness."
Bako looked up, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes.
Zababa's expression turned calculating, the wheels of strategy turning behind his eyes. "Send a group of our men undercover to that kingdom," he instructed, his voice low and measured. "Find out who was the guy Makko messed up with. I need everything. Don't leave a single thing out." His eyes narrowed. "If Peanut is really on our side trying to kill Bam, then we'll do nothing. But if he changes his mind, we need to make our move."
Bako's eyes sparkled with renewed purpose—the faint but tangible possibility of avenging his friend giving him strength once more.
Meanwhile, in the Egyptian Palace...
Yetao sat cross-legged on the floor of the art hall, half-heartedly cleaning while his mind wandered to the treasures that might be waiting in the library. His hands moved mechanically through the menial tasks assigned to him, but his thoughts were elsewhere, scheming ways to gain access to the forbidden section once more.
"Why do you look like that?"
Lisa's voice jolted him. He looked up to find her standing over him, her head tilted in curiosity.
Yetao released a dramatic sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his soul. "I want to go to the library," he admitted bluntly.
Something in Lisa's demeanor shifted, a flicker of hesitation crossing her features before she gathered the courage to ask what had clearly been on her mind. "Yetao... so..." She fidgeted nervously with the edge of her sleeve. "Do you really like Seshat?"
The question caught Yetao so off guard that his face contorted comically in surprise. "He's just my master," he explained with another sigh. "He's teaching me so I don't become a bird brain like someone said." His lips formed a small pout before he added in a barely audible mumble, "Also, that grumpy guy has already marked his territory on Chen. I don't want to have bad blood with him."
Despite his attempt at discretion, Lisa heard every word, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. "What? Who marked territory on whom?" she exclaimed, unable to contain her shock.
It was only then that Yetao realized he'd spoken his thoughts aloud. He slapped his forehead in embarrassment, a flush creeping up his neck. "Can you please not tell this to anyone?" he pleaded in a whisper, forcing a smile. "It's just my assumption."
Lisa blinked rapidly, her mind struggling to process this information. "But how did you even come to that conclusion?"
Yetao leaned closer, his voice dropping even lower. "It's not just one or two incidents. Whenever I call Seshat 'Chen,' he's grumpy. Whenever Chen acts good to me, he's grumpy. And not only that—when Chen and I were casually playing that day, he became grumpy and tied me up with his sand." His brows furrowed in contemplation. "I know he's always a grumpy guy, but his grumpiness levels up when we interact. And I know he is not letting me go to the library because he doesn't want me and Chen to meet."
Lisa stared at Yetao, her mind racing. Judging by what she's saying, it seems Bam is just protective of Seshat. He must've been suspicious of Yetao and trying to separate them. But how can I say that Seshat is the one who raised Bam? He's like a father to Bam.
Her gaze lingered on Yetao's pouty expression, and a mischievous gleam entered her eyes. This is fun now. Let me just hide it and see what she does.
"I will speak to Bam about you going to the library," Lisa offered with a smile that concealed her amusement. "Don't worry, Yetao."
Before Yetao could respond, Lisa had already turned on her heel, making her way directly to Bam's quarters where he was immersed in state affairs, scrolls and tablets spread across his desk in organized chaos.
"Why did you prohibit Yetao from going to the library?" Lisa asked without preamble as she strode into the room.
Bam looked up from his work, one eyebrow arched in annoyance. "Why do you care about that?" he asked coolly. "First of all, why are you disturbing me when I'm working? Get out." His voice wasn't angry—just calm, measured, and deadly serious.
Lisa sighed, planting her feet firmly. "No. I want to speak now."
Recognizing her stubborn stance, Bam sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. He carefully set aside the scrolls he had been reviewing and folded his arms across his chest. "What do you want?"
"Let Yetao go to the library," Lisa stated simply.
"No." Bam's response was equally concise.
"Bam, she's really just trying to learn," Lisa persisted. "From the moment she arrived at the palace, she's been nothing but good to everyone. Why are you still suspecting her?"
A pause hung between them before Bam responded flatly, "Because she's nothing but suspicious."
Lisa exhaled slowly, gathering her patience. "I know you're protective of Seshat. But you doing this is more suspicious than her being an assassin."
Bam tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "What's suspicious about me wanting to protect Seshat?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
Before she could stop herself, Lisa blurted out, "It really makes me think that you like Seshat." The words had barely left her mouth when she bit her tongue, immediately regretting her impulsiveness.
Shock flashed across Bam's face, followed by confusion as Yetao's words from the temple echoed in his mind: "Aren't you wary of me because you think I'm getting too close to Chen?"
A slow smirk spread across his lips as understanding dawned. How did she come up with that? Doesn't she really know how the world works? Or just heard about my birth?
Observing Lisa's embarrassed expression, his smirk deepened. "Tell her to come to the library from tomorrow," he said, his voice surprisingly soft.
Lisa's head snapped up in disbelief. "Really?"
Bam responded with a simple nod.
"You better not take back your words," Lisa warned before hurrying from the quarters to deliver the good news to Yetao.
....
That night, Yetao fell asleep with a smile on his face, his dreams filled with strange visions. A particularly vivid scene, Bam appeared with elf-like ears and crimson eyes, smiling and chatting happily with him. Everything else remained blurry and indistinct.
When morning came, Yetao stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the dream. Did I dream about it due to what happened in that place? The memory of their accidental kiss flooded back, causing him to slap his own cheeks in an attempt to return to reality.
"Get it together, Hu Yetao," he scolded himself. "That's just a dark past induced by some dark spell."
....
The Next Morning...
Yetao practically skipped to the library, his steps light with anticipation as he imagined that he can find out what it was that made him come here. His joyful stride faltered, however, when he spotted an unwelcome presence within.
Bam sat regally beside Chen, engaged in what appeared to be administrative duties. The other servants moved about with nervous energy, their movements stilted under Bam's watchful gaze, but the god showed no intention of leaving. He remained firmly planted at Seshat's side.
Yetao's jaw dropped in disbelief. What's with that wacko? he thought, frozen at the library entrance.
Chen looked up and, noticing Yetao, offered a warm smile. "I thought you wouldn't come today either. I'll be free after sending this letter. Just wait for a while."
Confusion clouded Yetao's thoughts. He didn't know that this insane guy is the one who forbid me from coming here?
Yetao shot a fierce glance in Bam's direction, only to be met with an equally intense glare. Sensing the power dynamic, Yetao immediately lowered his gaze like a scolded cat and retreated to the farthest corner of the library, well beyond Bam's immediate line of sight.
I've already seen so many scrolls and books when Chen used to teach me, Yetao thought as he frantically skimmed through the shelves. If I saw a familiar image, I would've known. But it wasn't there. I just need to skim through the untouched ones.
So engrossed was he in his search that he failed to notice when the other girls completed their cleaning duties and departed, leaving him alone amidst the towering shelves.
"What are you searching so eagerly?"
The sudden voice made Yetao flinch violently. He turned to find Bam standing uncomfortably close, his imposing figure blocking any escape route.
"It's nothing," Yetao mumbled, attempting to sidestep the god and move to another section. Bam reached out to stop him when Chen's voice called from across the library.
"Yetao? Where are you?"
Relief flooded through Yetao as he seized the opportunity to slip away from Bam's grasp, hurrying toward the sound of Chen's voice.
Left alone, Bam stood motionless, a memory surfacing unbidden. The kiss. His brow furrowed in confusion and frustration. Did it really happen or was it just my hallucination? The question plagued him, but he couldn't possibly ask Yetao now, not with Chen present.
Moving to sit near them, Bam found his thoughts scattered, unable to determine whether the events in the temple or his vivid dreams held any truth. Without realizing it, his gaze fixed intently on Yetao, studying every movement and expression.
Yetao could feel Bam's stare drilling a hole on his face but refused to meet his eyes, instead throwing himself wholeheartedly into Chen's lesson as a distraction. He listened with exaggerated focus, forced embarrassed smiles when he made mistakes, and allowed his eyes to widen with genuine delight when he earned Chen's praise.
A small smile tugged at Bam's lips, masked quickly as a scoff. What is she? A cat? he wondered.
Unable to bear the weight of Bam's scrutiny any longer, Yetao finally looked up, their eyes meeting in a moment that seemed to stretch infinitely. Bam's breath caught in his throat, his heart accelerating for three distinct beats before a voice shattered the connection.
"Yetao."
Peanut stood at a distance, his expression unreadable. Yetao's face lit up with surprise, and Peanut addressed Chen without acknowledging Bam's presence.
"It's already this late. She needs to eat, Seshat. She's not a god like you."
As if on cue, Yetao's stomach released an audible growl that echoed through the quiet library.
Chen smiled indulgently. "I'm forgetting that you're a human sometimes. Go eat. Let's continue tomorrow."
Though internally mortified by the timing of his body's betrayal, Yetao nodded and rose to follow Peanut from the room.
As they walked, Peanut leaned close to Yetao's ear and whispered, "Did you find anything?"
"No," Yetao murmured back. "Maybe tomorrow." He offered a small smile as they continued walking.
Peanut glanced back over his shoulder, noting the confused expression frozen on Bam's face. His eyes darkened with an emotion too complex to name.
Not again. I'll never make that mistake again, Bam. I'll make your end come sooner, he vowed silently as he guided Yetao away, his friendly demeanor masking the sinister thoughts swirling beneath.
Yet somehow, no one seemed to detect the dangerous intent in Peanut's gentle manner, and Bam remained alone with his conflicted feelings toward the increasingly mysterious woman who had entered their lives.