This was a night that no one could ever forget.
The deep purple night sky was without a single cloud, so clear that one could count every star. Sirius hung high in the southeastern corner.
The wind from the direction of the Nile carried the fragrance of plants, and the reeds and palm leaves swayed gently, rustling softly.
The firelight illuminated Xin Hexue’s face. The people of the Nile had never seen skin so white; only on the coldest day in several years, when one climbed to the top of Mount Sinai’s Saint Catherine, could one see such whiteness.
The boulder was red-hot, the flames bringing searing heat, and the light was enough to reveal the images carved into the boulder’s inner wall.
The aged basalt’s dark surface shone faintly with a bluish-gray luster. In the center of the mottled image, a slender, mysterious envoy was dressed in a white robe. He held up a royal scepter symbolizing power, standing between the one wearing the red crown and the one wearing the white crown.
From the tips of his toes flowed the broad Nile River, winding from south to north into the distance. In the river bloomed lush green aquatic plants and the deep blue lotus flowers.
High behind him hung a golden solar disk, with deep-blue hieroglyphs engraved at its side…
The astrologer stepped forward solemnly and read out the words above. The unique pronunciation of the Egyptian language lent each syllable a mysterious rhythm, echoing in the air like ancient symbols, filled with sanctity and majesty.
[“At that time, the messenger of the gods will descend, white as moonlight, red as the dawn.”
“His arrival will quell disputes, filling the Nile waters across the land, and the soil fertile and bountiful.”
“He shall choose the ‘one true king,’ bringing abundance and prosperity.”]
The astrologer’s expression gradually shifted from solemnity to reverence. He gave Xin Hexue a deep look, the corners of his eyes lined with the traces of age. He turned urgently to the king, who had been surrounded by the crowd, and said, “Pharaoh…”
The guards raised their torches high, forming a circle that illuminated the scattered rubble and surrounding chaos. In the solemn silence, Rahotep slowly stepped forward.
This young pharaoh had the spirited vigor of his father’s features, but his brows and eyes also carried the gentleness of his mother, making him seem like a benevolent yet dignified new king.
Unlike Anubis’s short, neatly cut black hair that covered his ears and nape, Rahotep wore a solemn and intricate braid, the ends bound with gold rings, falling naturally with a slight wave.
His upper body was narrow-waisted and broad-shouldered, his tanned skin adorned with a collar inlaid with turquoise and gold. His lower body wore only the royal traditional kilt, its surface embroidered with gold-thread patterns. The pleats hung in layered folds from his waist to his knees, showing his strong legs and steady gait.
Rahotep’s gaze swept over the gorgeously painted stone wall, and finally stopped on the young man with long silver hair.
He raised his hand halfway, then made a gesture that carried both respect and the dignity of a king. Meeting Xin Hexue’s eyes, he said warmly, “Honored Divine Messenger, your appearance must surely be in response to Upper Egypt’s call.”
Rahotep extended his hand to Xin Hexue. “Please come with me to Thebes. The people of Thebes are awaiting your arrival. They need your guidance.”
He invited this messenger of the gods to the capital of Upper Egypt.
Xin Hexue narrowed his eyes slightly, the curve at the corners of his eyes like the eyeliner of a cat, then relaxed them again.
Once the wariness between his brows faded, only the coolness of a lake under the moonlight remained.
A fair hand rested in Rahotep’s warm palm.
…
That hand was then snatched away by Seto-Anubis.
Rahotep paused slightly, his expression unreadable. “You are being very rude, Seto.”
The royal, wearing a jackal mask, completely ignored his elder brother’s rebuke. Seto held Xin Hexue’s right hand stubbornly, like a child who had just found his mother after being lost.
“Nephtys.”
Seto lowered his head, staying by the young man’s side without leaving even half a step.
Rahotep knew his brother well; his way of thinking could not be explained by a normal mind.
He gave up the struggle for the divine messenger’s hand, turning instead to address all those present. His voice was steady and rang across the quarry’s cliffs. “The prophecy has appeared. The light of Ra, the sun god, now shines upon the land of Upper Egypt. All who have witnessed this must serve the divine messenger with endless loyalty and faith.”
Spears struck the ground, the sound echoing, and guards and officials knelt, full of reverence for the will of the gods.
“Honored Divine Messenger, we are willing to offer loyalty and protection to your every step.”
“Upon the land you grace, we will forever obey your summons and accept your guidance.”
Although he understood how sincerely the people of this ancient civilization believed in the gods, the “divine messenger”, who was raised under atheism, still pursed his lips in mild discomfort.
Wrapped in his robe, the long, snowy-white tail trailing behind him had yet to be retracted like his cat ears, and it swayed silently.
K’s mechanical voice spoke faintly.
[Meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow.]
Xin Hexue: [?]
The mature system translated for himself, [The holy fire shines, the holy light radiates, all my disciples, meow meow meow meow.]
Xin Hexue: […]
Xin Hexue: [Stop meowing like a cat.]
Half annoyed, he looked like a kitten who couldn’t stand a human’s grammatical error.
…
As for the brewing explosion in the quarry, the guards captured Nub and the slave who had been unable to escape because of the stone pressing down on him. Creating such a crisis upon the pharaoh’s arrival was hard not to be interpreted as an assassination attempt on the pharaoh.
Xin Hexue requested Rahotep to pardon the two men.
“Of course. Without them, the will of the gods would not have been declared so promptly tonight.”
The pharaoh, with a heroic face, smiled and announced to the captain of the guards that the two slaves were granted special pardon.
“I will release these two slaves from Nubia to the southern border of Aswan,” Rahotep said, then turned back to look at Xin Hexue. “Iah, what do you think of this arrangement?”
Xin Hexue lowered his eyelashes, feeling somewhat sleepy from the heavy night dew.
His name was difficult for the people of the Nile to pronounce, so when Rahotep asked, he hesitated for a few moments. This brief pause made Rahotep misunderstand.
Rahotep took it to mean that the divine messenger’s real name could not be spoken lightly, or else, like in the legend of the Sun God, revealing it would force him to lose part of his divine power.
After all, according to ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, a person’s name was not just an identifier, it was directly connected to their soul, power, and destiny.
Thus, for convenience in their communication, Rahotep decided to call Xin Hexue by the name Nefer-Iah.
Nefer-Iah.
Beautiful… moon.
Those eyes, clear like the moon over a lake, turned their gaze on Rahotep.
“You are a merciful king.”
There was a deep look in Rahotep’s eyes, and the firelight from the surrounding oil lamps could not illuminate the emotions within them.
“Iah must be tired. In that case, please rest first.”
“Tomorrow, when the sun hangs directly overhead, the ceremonial boat will depart from the Aswan quarry and follow the Nile to Thebes.”
…
The area near the quarry was mostly gravel plains and desert, far different from Thebes, the capital in the Nile Valley. Most of the living conditions here were harsh. To welcome the pharaoh’s arrival, the local supervisor had the servants and craftsmen urgently refurbish his own residence and several other houses, to host the pharaoh, the divine messenger, and the accompanying nobles.
The house where Xin Hexue stayed even had a small bathhouse, located just behind the garden.
Palm leaf fences and stone walls surrounded it in a circle for privacy, with occasional scents of sandalwood and frankincense drifting up from the steaming bath.
Wool carpets covered the floor, extending all the way to the bath’s entrance.
Servants respectfully saluted the divine messenger as he entered, adding heated water from clay jars into the pool. Bundles of herbs hung from the walls, and beside the bath was a wooden lounge chair covered with a soft cloth pad. Fine spices and frankincense oil were placed in containers nearby.
A maid stepped forward, lowered her gaze, and stood behind the divine messenger to remove his heavy robe and other garments.
The water was at a perfectly comfortable temperature, neither too hot nor too cool.
Xin Hexue immersed himself in the water. He could smell the scent of cedarwood, cinnamon, and mint rising from the bath. Egyptians used such plants and herbs to make bathing agents, ensuring both cleanliness of the skin and relaxation of the body and mind.
The maid held a delicate wooden comb and gently combed through his damp silver-white hair, letting the water and strands flow over her palms.
After passing through three small worlds, Xin Hexue had almost forgotten such meticulous service. He refused, saying, “That won’t be necessary.”
The maid’s face instantly went pale. She knelt to the ground, her expression showing clear sorrow. “Divine messenger, have I done something wrong? Is that why you wish to entrust such a sacred duty to another?”
Xin Hexue’s eyelid twitched.
He had almost forgotten.
Bathing, as an act often associated with the gods’ blessing, the renewal of life, and sacred rituals, symbolized purity and closeness to gods. For a high-ranking attendant, serving the divine messenger during a bath was even considered an honor.
Other servants, who were responsible for pouring hot water from clay jars into the pool, glanced at the maid with envy in their eyes.
“…It’s fine,” Xin Hexue pressed a hand to his forehead. “You’ve done well. Continue.”
The bath was carved from smooth stone, with fine textures at the bottom. The rippling water reflected moonlight and candle flames, casting a faint glow that danced over the young man’s white skin.
Silver hair, like the Milky Way, streamed through the comb, softly spreading over the water’s surface.
Who would doubt that such a person was the messenger of the gods?
Only a god manifesting in the flesh would have such skin and hair, right?
The maid’s expression was reverent and gentle.
“The divine messenger’s white hair and skin are like the moon, and your eyes are the color of the first blush of dawn.”
She spoke softly.
He must be the messenger sent by the god Thoth and the Sun God to deliver their will.
Xin Hexue half-closed his eyes.
Suddenly, his sharp hearing picked up a subtle sound different from human voices.
He raised his hand, signaling the maid to stop.
The sound of water rippled as Xin Hexue rose from the bath, and a servant came forward with fresh, clean cloth and garments, assisting him in drying off and dressing.
His robe trailed over the wool carpet, faint traces of water sliding down to his inner ankle.
Xin Hexue said coldly. “Come out.”
A young royal wearing a jackal mask emerged from the corridor, finally kneeling firmly on one knee to the ground.
Strange patterns spread across Anubis’s mask, and his golden-brown eyes met Xin Hexue’s gaze. “Nephthys.”
A transparent robe called a kalasiris covered the kilt wrapped around his waist, clinging lightly to the divine messenger’s body and revealing white skin beneath. With each step forward, the fabric as thin as a cicada’s wing swayed like rippling water.
Finally, the divine messenger stopped in front of Seto.
His hand landed on Seto’s black hair.
Seto’s hair was cut short and neat, with edges falling straight beside his ears down to his neck, like a sharp short blade, and all the ends were perfectly even.
Xin Hexue’s fingers applied slight pressure, forcing Seto to tilt his head up to look at him. “Why are you spying?”
The young man’s kalasiris was as sheer as gauze, hardly covering anything. Without the heavy daytime robes, he now wore the light, airy garments of ancient Egypt, only a layered kilt wrapped at the waist, its pleats reaching to the knees.
Seto’s eyes took in two faint pink points. His pupils contracted, and his throat was dry as the desert. “Mother Goddess… my lord.”
Xin Hexue lowered his eyelashes, his voice faint and cold. “Bad boy.”
