The sun rose in the east from it's western slumber and it's warm light shone upon golden pyramids decorated with hieroglyphs, giant statues of gods and goddesses carved from bronze and silver. They all radiated to the sun's call. Surely one can never see so many treasures in one place. Not even a dead man's chest on a sunken pirate ship or the jewel boxes of a thousand rich women could come close to compare.
Egypt was a wonder and a beauty to adore and worship. It's craftsmanship and architecture, praised.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Osiris said to Isis. "It is. All of earth's greatest treasures are here," Isis retorted with a smile. She squeezed the palm of her consort. The gaze in her eyes was bewitching.
Thousands came from around the world to celebrate. Dancers from Brazil, Amazons from Dahomey, Priests from Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, gods of Nubia among many others.
The master of the ceremony climbed on the high altar and spread his arms, "Welcome! All of Egypt and the World," The mammoth crowd responded with a loud cheer.
"As we all gather here for the Festival of The Gods," he pointed to his right as gods were welcomed up the high seats.
The Primordial gods marched past first, other important gods came next, gods whose appearance seemed weirder than others. It was either an alligator head or a frog.
"Ptah, god of craftsmanship and architecture," Ptah had his head up high like the best graduating student of a renowned university.
"Thoth, god of wisdom," cheers were heard in the background. Thoth's walk of fame pronounced wisdom, even in his looks not short of the god of wisdom he is. Golden crested cap, gold and silver embroidered robe, hands folded behind his back.
"Hathor, goddess of love," if beauty was a person it was Hathor. Forget Snow white, Hathor is the fairest of them all.
"Ihy, god of music and joy."
"Hail Ra! god of the sun, Pharaoh of All Egypt." the mc bowed as did all of Egypt.
Ra descended from the sky in form of a glowing star but with the colour of the sun. His radiance was blinding. His feet gently touched the marble tiled floor. His radiance slowly diminished, not wanting to blind his subjects.
"Arise, Egypt," Ra motioned with his hand. Gods and men all rose with their head up.
"It gives me great joy to see you all here. Friends from Nubia, Ethiopia even the middle East," Ra paused and glanced at the sky, a beam on his face, "Geb, has something for us. Behold!"
Flowers in the flowerpots placed in front of the gods bloomed, feeling the air with their sweet essence.
The farmers were already over joyous. Corn and wheat buried inside the earth came up like a water sprout. Harvest like never before was coming.
This year's festival was going to be most memorable yet. Not for what has happened, but for what is yet to happen.
The festival had too many activities that one wouldn't be able to partake of all.
Ra sat at the highest seat between his sons, Osiris and Set at something the Roman's would call a Colosseum.
The master of ceremony stood in front of the crowd once more, in a venue separate from where Ra had arrived in.
"Now the hour you've all been waiting for. The Tournament of Anhur." Deafening screams and cheers echoed from the crowd.
The MC wasn't slowing down either, "I give you, your Defending Champion, Sekhmet, The goddess of War."
Sekhmet walked into the sandy stage. Her armour glowed under the sun. Her helm was forged as the head of a lioness, metal clanging steps from her boots, the diamond beads embroidered on strips of fabric flowing down from under the breastplate, and a big sword to sooth like a total badass. What am I saying. She's a BADASS!!!
Ptah waved proudly from his seat. She saw him and grinned underneath her helm.
"Her first challenger, An'ur from the Bull Sector," Boo!! Boo! Boo! showered on the ears of An'ur.
"Didn't he get beaten just yesterday? I doubt if he's even hundred percent for this fight," Bomani laughed hard.
"The Sekhmet I know won't hold back." Tabia laughed harder than him. A hand fell on her shoulder and turned her around. She looked up to see her sister.
"Where have you been? I searched for you everywhere the whole of yesterday?" Tahirah ranted at her sister.
Tabia's joviality ended, she ignored her sister's wrinkled angry face, "I wasn't lost. I was at home, the whole of yesterday," Tabia turned back to the tournament.
Tahirah tried to find her next words more carefully, " I– " Bomani held her hand, closed his eyes and rolled his head, telling her to let it slide.
Bomani knew Tabia needed this moment and didn't want anything to ruin it. Tahirah agreed and sat on Bomani's other side. Only gods sat where they were.
Demigods on the other hand, don't have any seating places. Khaldun had made up his mind to watch the tournament from any high place of his convenience.
He scanned the heights, a sly smile, the statue of Ra's boat. He glided to it, his face felt hot air. He landed on the boat. It wasn't gold plated like the rest. The master of ceremony just called Sekhmet out. No popcorn, how boring.
Up there something caught his eye. A completely cloaked group of people, he thought they were people. On any other day he would have ignored. He whoosh down as fast as he could. The cloaked menace spotted him and dispersed, taking different routes.
Khaldun chuckled, he was no fool. He followed one. He landed hurriedly, to chase on foot, to avoid drawing unwanted attention to himself. The cloaked individual ran inside the crowd. The next time Khaldun saw him, he was entering the backstage of where the gods were seated. You've got to be kidding me.
Khaldun still followed. He could hear cheers of Sekhmet tearing An'ur apart. The running man stopped, Khal moved slowly so as not to alert him. He pushed the cloth thinking it was a cloak, leading him outside behind the master of ceremony.
He was surprised all eyes were on him. Like why did everybody stop what they were doing. Sekhmet paused from devouring An'ur.
He couldn't find the courage to laugh so he did what he could do, stay silent and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ra stood from his seat. Khaldun turned around slowly.
"What is it you were going to say?" Ra stretched forth a hand, "Surely you didn't think everyone stopped for no reason. Speak!" Ra urged him.
Khaldun sighed, "I think I sa– no that's not right. I saw a cloaked man."
Seshat hissed, rolled eyes. Ra raised his eyebrows. "Tell me you didn't stop the tournament because of a cloaked man."
"No. That's not it," Khaldun summoned courage, "Three days ago, I saw a six men by the bank of the Nile eat my kill like cannibals."
So this is what he saw, what nonsense, Seshat thought, slowing losing her cool. She was not the only one who felt so. Other gods were already irritated by hearing Khaldun's voice.
"At least I thought they were men. They were Titans. Titans that could shape shift," He marched to where the MC stood and shouted. Confidence in his every word.
Joke, absolute nonsense! I think he's drunk! He's gone mad! Somebody hit that bastard! Different gods yelled from all corners.
Ra's hand in the air commanded them to stop. He made advances towards Khaldun, he tapped the demigod's left shoulder, "Are you sure of what you saw?"
Khaldun looked deep in his eyes and answered, "My father told me to never doubt my eyes."
Ra was convinced. He glanced at Horus and smiled. The lord of the air beamed back.
"Very well," he removed his hands from Khaldun's shoulder, "If Titans can shape shift then it can only mean one thing. They are here with us," Small murmurs came from the crowd. Mothers held their children close.
"Fear not! For the revealing light shall expose every malicious presence amongst us," Ra's stretched his hand forward and the spear got bigger and brighter. He pointed it at the sun, a bright light shone on the earth like a watchtower's light.
Evil and malicious presence produced a red crimson light, the light protruded up that everyone could see it.
Fathers and mothers feared for their children.
Gods clenched their fists. Some drew spear, others bow or swords.
The red light increased progressively, one, two, three, four … ten … fifteen.
The gods could not wait anymore, they charged before the numbers were complete. Instinct and years of combat training marched them to the jaws of death.
People cleared from where the red lights were produced. Legs tangled between themselves. Children fell on each other, adults stepped on them like doormats. None wanted to wait for the other.
"Nephthys!" Set pounced on his feet, ready for bloodshed.
"On it," The goddess of protection flew out to do what she does best, PROTECTING. Isis followed after her.
"Brother stand with me," Osiris said to Set, revealing his spear.
Set nodded in return.
"I think you should head back to your boat. This might be some plot to release Apopthys," Set squeezed his hand on his rod with a serpent head.
"Indeed. I believe I can leave things down here to the both of you," Ra elevated in the form of light which he had come down with. This time much faster like a shooting star.
Horus touched Khaldun, "Go make sure your friends are safe."
Zahra Horus needed to say no more. Khaldun flew faster than the fastest bird.
Sekhmet was out of the stage with one giant leap. Heading for the closest red light.
Tabia shook with fear, it's happening again. They are here. They've come for m–
"Tabia! Tabia!" Bomani shook her body to wake her from trembling thoughts. Her expressions showed fear.
"Yeah," Her voice cracked. "Let's get out of here." Bomani helped her stand up. She blinked and nodded.
Loud cries were heard. Blood on the streets. Titans transformed from shredding cloaks, flesh and bone. The size of the big ones didn't make the gods falter.
Gods awakened their armour faster than others. Those who did quickly were able to endure the blow from the titan. Those who did not burned to crisp. It had a name on it's head 'Breath to Ash.'
This year's festival was going to be most memorable because of what is yet to happen.