From the high stone balcony overlooking the palace's inner gardens, half a dozen young white-robed priests—the acolytes devoted to Neftraya—watched the pool in near-reverent silence.
They wore immaculate white-and-purple linen tunics cinched with golden sashes at the waist; their shaved heads were covered by hoods, even at night.
Neftraya told them that Apophis's malice was stronger in the darkness, so they must keep their heads protected. They were all between eighteen and their mid-twenties, chosen for their purity and ambition, yet still far from the wisdom carried in the Great Priestess's eyes.
Mernpter, the eldest, broke the silence first, his voice low—almost a whisper—as though fearing Kharvathar might hear.
"He is motionless… But I still believe he is a Ba of God Amimerth, sent to scourge Khemet because we no longer worship him."
"Obviously not," objected another acolyte, Nifirtari. "He is a Spirit of glory given form. He will serve our priestess—he was sent by Amphof himself."
"You are both wrong," Amernhotp, the tallest acolyte, said bluntly. "Lady Neftraya did not want to tell us, but I know this is a monster she defeated and brought under control. Perhaps a monster from some eastern god sent to rid themselves of us—but it failed." He looked seriously at his companions.
"Why do you think the pharaoh would trouble himself to protect the entire city, claiming an enemy was coming? Losing days of work and productivity, foreigners fleeing, fear spreading?"
"Thieves took advantage to stay and loot. I heard soldiers say bodies were found in the fire from the destruction…" Mernpter added.
"Others died too—in the richer areas near the obelisk—for refusing to abandon their homes. Fools. Death is cruel to those who do not obey the pharaoh."
Unlike the three friends, Lizhireri watched in silence, almost drawn to the human form she saw floating there in the pool—not by the nudity, as Neftraya did not forbid it but advised them, unlike other acolytes of all priests, to express their sexuality with intelligence.
The difference from the other three also lay in her appearance—she was the only one permitted by Neftraya's order not to wear a hood at night.
"He is a god, isn't he?" The young woman was certain. The others looked at her.
"I heard the followers of Priest Ameinemhat spreading to the people that it was a test from the gods. They said the pharaoh himself ordered the warning." Nifirtari approached Lizhireri and looked at Kharvathar.
"But that it is over now, and that it was Uras'Diptsur himself, the beloved divine one, who defeated him." She sighed, recalling the battle at the temple.
"But we few saw how the elves appeared and reacted. Whatever that thing down there is, the elves do not like it—and they fear it."
"Very intelligent," Neftraya's voice sounded abruptly as she appeared. The four bowed in surprise.
"But put aside your speculations and return to your duties. Not you, Lizhireri." She said. The other three left, and the young woman remained.
"My lady?"
"I underestimated how the ideal of greatness could affect Uras. Now he wants Kharvathar to advance against the elves, and that is not good for me."
She looked at the young acolyte and smiled.
"How good that you are here to help me. Come—I will introduce you to him."