Chapter Two: Pride of Craftsmen and Mages

“Admit it! I have the upper hand, Dietrich!” I proclaimed. “I managed to retrieve a soul and apply it to a humanoid body. Out matching your golems.” 

I marched into the guest room where I knew the individual I was searching for to be. A girl just younger than me with curled dark brown hair and deeply tanned skin. Her colorful flowing dress featured several layers of fabric. A leather vest with pockets was cinched around her torso with boots and gloves to match. I could make out the outline of a hidden knife stored in her right glove and vanishing under her long sleeve.

“And how, lord Hakim, did you do this?” 

The girl in front of me wore a long flowing dress mixed with practical adornment. Such as a vest with pockets and leather boots. Gloves that I could see had a hidden knife near the sleeve. 

Vasilisa Von Dietrich. Daughter of Joseph Von Dietrich. A rival family to my own.

“Hardy, Har. Your brother helped to get the soul out of the well but I did the work of infusion.”

“Which I do with ease?” Vasi retorted as she flicked her wrist and a small action figure appeared in her hands. 

The toy was inconspicuous and no larger than five inches. However, with a few whispered words under her breath and offering a slight nudge to the tiny back, the toy began to move on its own. A clear sentience and thought was behind each movement. 

“What soul this time?” 

“Archibald, a British soldier who gave his life to free a concentration camp,” Vasi explained as the toy went toward the utensils on her desk, gathering them by the armful. “But go ahead talk about the shabit you made.”

I clenched my fist as I saw her smile.

“I thought you were above our fathers grudge.”

“I am,” Vasi assured me. “I’m just defending my turf. Making living constructs is my expertise, I get to put the stamp of approval. I mean you know the standard.” 

She flicked her wrist and manifested a small humanoid figure. It wore the standard adornments of a mummified Kemtian. A death mask of gold rested on its face, its arms crossed over the chest, and a fake beard attached to its chin. 

“Bring me some orange juice,” she ordered and the figure was quick to come to life to fulfill its purpose.

That was a standard Shabit. A magical tool, traditionally made for tombs that did tasks for their owners in the afterlife. Over the centuries they became more akin to servants to the Kemetic families on the mythical side.

I watched as the small shabit went towards its task with mechanical precision with no complaint or consideration for anything but its task. No mind or thought behind its actions.

I grimaced at it. 

“What I made has it own-”

“Has it tried to kill you yet?” Vasi cut me off. “We both know that-”

“She is intact.” Hakim emphasized, speaking with his hands from passion. “It's not like a regular shabit. She has a soul. She can do as she pleases. Her body is intact.”

“Fine. We will see how Eldora and our fathers view it later,” she rolled her eyes as the golem and shabit prepared her a meal of simple eggs and juice. 

“Wait, are you showing them something?” She did not answer me, instead eating her eggs with a satisfied smile. “By the god’s you are! What are you showing them?”

“Tell me about Kor?” She retorted.

I became quiet. 

“Spymaster’s daughter.” I mumble before shaking my head and speaking softly under my breath. “Home, bring me to Kor.” 

As I spoke my command the foundation shuddered. It moved around me as a doorway manifested to my side, formed from pieces of the surrounding walls and floor. I opened the door knob and was greeted with the sight of a bare room. 

“Misplaced your toy already?” Vasi said between sips of her juice. 

I closed the door behind myself and spoke a magic word. Gold lettering spilling out and going into my own eyes. With the spell enhanced sight I could see a trail of footsteps leading to the wall. With a single knock the wall opened itself to me. 

“Who would-” I looked down to see the tracks of a primate. “I need to reprimanded that baboon.”

“Hey, his casual defiance is part of his charm,” a new voice said as I saw in the corner of my eye a silvery figure. 

“Brother I am not in the mood.”

“Baby bro, why would you say that while surrounded with at least one reason to keep me around.”

“It's not as though they can leave the mansion. It won't let them leave without our permission,” I waved off Martin. “So let Jabroni be my problem to deal with.” 

“Fine, but don’t be too strong with that one…She already dealt with enough.”

“You were against this from the start,” I pointed at my brother with an accusatory figure towards his smug smile turned scowl.

“You brought her to life. You deal with it. We are Oni, we handle our shit.” Martin said as he stood tall above me. “So, as the only one of us with the doctorate and some background in healing psyche. Don’t push control if you wish her to stay here. Try not making the leash tight.”

I paused to consider his words. “I was not planning to anyway. I just want to make sure she was ready to meet father.”

“Ha, I’m sorry, stupid comment but atleast buy her dinner first.” 

“Please stop.” Martin patted my head in response. “I’m not a kid anymore. I am fifteen and my birthday is coming. I'll be a full adult.”

“My dude, you are only an adult by magical standards. Not the mortal realm. I still get to call you shortie or mess with ya.” 

I grimaced at his comment. “I still did something akin to a miracle and I want you both to admit it.” 

“Bringing a clay statue to life is basic magic, what about this one is special?” 

A large shadow overtook my own as the new individual entered the conversation. Looking up I saw a large man with a bald head and a goatee. His rippling muscles clear as day beneath his tank top.

“Hello, Jamil. Running around with another man’s wife again?” I said to my imposing brother.

“At least, I have lovers. You are already wasting time with this project instead of letting Mother plan out an engagement,” he fired back.

“What about Martin?” I whined.

“I have a Spartan prince and a Persian one fighting for my hand in chariot races. You haven't left the damned lab for a week,” my other brother came from behind me with a piece of buttered toast in his hands. 

“Martin.”

“Baby bro,” he said with a cheeky smile. “Now when are we having our display? Or have you forgotten that even a soul without a physical mind still needs mental stimulation?” 

“She is fine. We used to do meditation in the dark like that, perhaps it will-”

“She, brother. We call female-identifying people ‘she’,” Martin corrected. “If you wish for this experiment to succeed. You do well to learn the art of the honeyed tongue.”

“Now, I know you are speaking nonsense,” I said with crossed arms. 

“Perhaps, but you will do well to learn to listen to my youngest.” 

The temperature of the room rose by ten degrees. The light turned a gold tint and my jewelry became hotter against my skin. My brothers and I bowed to him, our father as he walked in, a gold disk shining behind his head. Behind him, being pulled by the collar of his shirt, was a, in my opinion, somewhat bratty blonde boy with red tipped curls in his hair.

“Let go, Old Man. You can't just keep me here," the teenage boy growled obstinately, the short ponytail of loose curls lashing behind his head as he shook around.

“Daegan, we brought you into our home to tutor you. The least you can do is allow yourself to enjoy it.” 

“I don’t think he will listen to you, Father,” I said as the boy kept desperately struggling in his grasp. 

“It is a good lesson for all of you.” Father said as he waved his hand open in the wall. Tossing the young man inside. “To retain order you must seize control.”

“Perhaps you should give him some fresh air. We appreciate our time here-”

“I don’t!” Daegan kept throwing a fit.

“-But maybe we can see the rest of the city?” Vasi asked.

“I need to be outside, you jerk!” Daegan shouted out almost ferally.

“Is the patriarch of this family not allowed to keep his family and guests safe?” Father questioned rhetorically as he tossed Daegan into the hole in the wall. 

“Jerk!” Daegan cried out as he slid down a hidden stone slide. 

The assembled family simply looked on as their father washed his hands of the still-yelling boy. 

“You were doing a project today.” Father looked toward me. “I am aware that Eldora had to sign off on something for you so I have expectations. Something with a shabit.” 

I paused in front of him. “I-I am working on it.”

“Weren’t you gloating about it a minute ago?” Vasi added as I cursed her in my mind.

“Well, you must have made good progress then. Bring it to me.” 

“W-what?” 

“The project you made. The Shabit. I wish to see the progress and assess it. See if it was worth the time and effort you put into it,” Father said as he took a seat at the table. “Bring it to me within the next hour. I have that long before the machine of politics pulls me back from my break.” 

“Right!” I stood upright. “I am ready to show off what a year of work has accomplished.” 

I walked away from the nearest hallway. I only let my breath out when I was sure they couldn’t hear me. My hand pressed on the wall and I mentally commanded it to show a map of the estate. 

Sprawled out before me was the current entire lay out of the home. From the upper layers where the offices of the city’s bureaucrats were, to the middle layers where many of the family amenities existed, To finally the bottom layers where all of the family secrets were. The last level held our labs for magical experimentation and was even where the family vault resided, as well as other hidden rooms. The map went as far as to highlight the trap rooms in between the usable ones. 

“Where are you?” I charged the map with a bit of magic and saw a small image of a baboon's head going along a line on the map. “Jabroni.” 

I let myself fall into the floor. My body transmuted into sand as it passed through the building grain by grain. 

One hour. One hour to show that a year's worth of effort was worth it. 

What the hell is that Baboon doing?

I slid between the layers of the estate like water through sidewalk cracks. Going between rooms and hallways that stretch long and wide. My consciousness spread between the grains of sand. Feeling every sensation and maintaining the form despite also trying to keep my sense of self. A single mind shared between many pieces spreading out to search for my servant. Then, at last, one finally smelled the distinct Baboon fur and heard his voice.

I moved all the grains towards the location near the bowls of the home, the border of where the labs end, and where some of the old tunnels exist. The deepest edges of the estate.

I saw, through the scattered vision, the face of the girl I brought back. With  the specification from Eldora I gave her a body that was strong and firm. A being of living clay that could shrug off any conventional form of death. Only complete annihilation could destroy it yet it maintained the appearance of being a full, almost perfect replication of a human’s body. One that was carefully sculpted into a strong, athletic frame with a strong back. 

Lively brown eyes like that of healthy tilled soil, speckles of a watery blue in the center of the earthen color. Her shining dark hair was tied back to a ponytail. I couldn’t take full credit for her design, I had emulated another’s work from entertainment sources I indulged in during my rare spare time.  

She walked next to my main baboon. My personal attendant and pet, Jabroni of Heliopolis. He was walking on all fours as he led the target of my search onto a high bridge. 

I let all of my sand fall onto a spot behind them.

“What is-” She turned to see me reform from the pile of sand, re-materializing into my human form before her eyes.

“‘What’ is me, Hakim Oni. ‘Why’ is the important question and that must be answered by this one.” I pointed my staff at Jabroni who only lightly moved the cane away from his face.

“As if a young woman doesn’t deserve a walk instead of confinement.” The shabit nodded to Jabroni’s words. “Whatever manner of vehicle her soul uses hardly matter to the meer fact that a living mind needs-”

“Father wishes to see her,” I interjected with a stern tone. 

Jabroni could be as sassy as he wanted but he serves the family. Regardless of his own feelings, he follows our orders. 

The baboon scowled but took a bow. 

“Is your father the chief of this place.” The shabit asked. 

“My father is the priest of a god that ruled over a land several times your homeland’s size.” I tried to explain. “He is not a man accustomed to waiting and I rather not try his patience. Your resurrection took over a year of resources and manpower. It will not be thrown into the drain because you got antsy in a room.” I tried to keep my calm but my fear was dictating the tone. 

“And if I refuse?” The shabit asked.

“...Don’t.” I said calmly as I tapped my staff and a square door, made of celestial matter that resembled a starry sky. 

“I want a promise.” 

“All you need to-”

“I want you to swear that you will protect me.” The shabit stood in front of me with little hesitation. I took a slight step back. 

“I can’t-” I stopped myself. Last thing I need is to piss her off right now. “Fine, I guarantee your protection under the rights of Jehuti. God of magic, writing and law. Now can we please stop wasting time and get to the presentation.” I try to urge them both. Jabroni looked toward the shabit and waited. She gave a nod. 

“We are ready to take our leave.” Jabroni said with a small curtsy. 

“Finally.”  I said as I guided them into the portal. Jabroni getting in first while the Shabit nearly froze before entering. “Its as simple as going into a doorframe.” I offer my hand. “Will you be fine going in if you held my hand on the way.” She looked at my hand and then the portal. Hesitating for a second before taking it. Going into the portal hand in hand.