Brooklyn House.
The mansion, magically hidden atop an abandoned warehouse, stood silent and imposing. Built with large blocks of limestone, its steel windows, adorned with discreet hieroglyphs, reflected the soft light of the surrounding environment. The entrance, a solid wooden door without knobs or handles, could only be opened by magic, keeping the place safe and invisible to mortals. Access to the building was via stairs leading to a secluded pier on the east side of the East River, where the waves lapped gently, as if the place were distant from everything and everyone.
On the third floor of the mansion, a simple but comfortable room offered a sense of tranquility. A private balcony with glass doors let the daylight in, offering a discreet view of the river. The atmosphere was modern, with a state-of-the-art computer and a flat-screen television, as well as a sound system that filled the space with the soft music he preferred. The king-size bed, with its ivory headboard, was positioned in a way that seemed to invite rest. In the corner, a divination bowl rested, silent, like a mystical and discreet detail. The room's kitchenette, stocked with Twix, Skittles, and ginger ale, brought a personal touch to the simple but cozy space.
Carter blinked slowly, consciousness returning gradually. His mind was still foggy, and his body felt like it weighed a ton, as if it had been crushed by invisible pressure. He felt every muscle ache as if he had gone through a battle he couldn't quite remember.
For a few moments, he remained motionless, trying to reorganize his fragmented thoughts. Then, like a dam suddenly bursting, the memories flooded his mind.
Oh, right...
They had traveled to the Duat on a desperate mission: to awaken Ra, the Sun God, so that he could face Apophis and prevent the destruction of the world. With the help of Ikki, one of his best friends and one of the most powerful magicians on Earth, they had found Ra, only to discover that he was senile and unable to fight. Determined to restore him, they sought his other aspect, represented by a sacred scarab.
Along the way, they visited his father, Osiris, and his mother, before wagering their own lives against Khonsu to buy time. It was a journey full of risks and challenges, but they were determined.
Then, Ikki reappeared.
He had stayed behind to face Vladimir, Apophis's servant, and in the process managed to recover the scarab, forcing Ra to absorb it and regain his true power. With that, the Sun God fully awakened, using Ikki as a host to face the Forces of Chaos that were attacking Brooklyn House. Together, they swept away the enemies and saved Amos, Zia, Walt, and the surviving magicians.
It seemed like a definitive victory.
But then, Apophis escaped from his prison.
Vladimir, even in death, had already prepared a plan B, and the Serpent of Chaos emerged into the world. Through a portal conjured by an allied magician, Carter and the others were transported to Cairo, where the final confrontation took place.
And, against all odds, Ikki won.
Hosting simultaneously the powers of Ra and Set, becoming the [Eye of Ra] and the [Eye of Set], he destroyed Apophis in an epic battle. The cost was high: his life force was drained, aging him physically. However, the fact that he was under the influence of both Ra and Set at the same time made Carter feel a little more at ease about his friend harboring only the God of Chaos.
Ra is a cool guy.
In the end, it all ended like that.
The House of Life, the organization that governed the Egyptian magicians, knelt before Ikki, proclaiming him their new Pharaoh. In modern times, the Per Ankh had become a global order, operating from three hundred and sixty nomes spread throughout the world. Now, his friend was the highest authority among all Egyptian magicians. The most surprising thing? He had changed his vision. He no longer wanted to destroy the gods but rather to study and improve magic.
So why was Carter remembering this now?
It's been a year since those events. Yet, it felt like it had only happened a few hours ago...
He shook his head and pushed the thought away. Instead, he focused on the last year he spent with his sister, Zia, Walt, his uncle Amos, and, of course, Ikki, at Brooklyn House. During this period, any remnants of the Forces of Chaos were eradicated, and the Per Ankh came to venerate Ikki with such devotion that they would die for him if necessary. This had an unexpected side effect: there were no more internal conflicts or factions that wanted to overthrow his and Sadie's leadership, who had become official leaders of the Brooklyn Nome which was considered spatial, only for those descended from true pharaohs.
The first few months were incredible.
Training magic, traveling the world with friends, exploring new knowledge... Everything seemed perfect.
Until everything changed with a single piece of news.
Ikki announced that Ra and Set were no longer communicating with him. As if they had disappeared.
Alarmed, Carter tried to contact Horus and received the same response: absolute silence. Bes and Bastet left for the Duat in search of answers... but never returned. Only a single message reached them through dreams:
The time has come for the gods to abandon mortals.
It was then, amidst all this uncertainty, that Osiris and his mother appeared one last time.
They said goodbye, explaining that Ra had made a non-negotiable decision: the Duat would be sealed. The gods would no longer interfere in the mortal world.
The shock was absolute.
The House of Life, accustomed to following the Path of the Gods in recent months, found itself without direction. Despair spread among the magicians, and the future seemed uncertain.
But Ikki, as always, created a new path.
A path that inspired even those who had lost faith.
They began to call him the Pharaoh of Pharaohs.
Ikki had shown the magicians that they didn't need to rely on the Egyptian Gods to be strong or to use magic. For the past few months, he had guided them, challenged traditions, and revolutionized the very essence of Egyptian sorcery.
But, in the midst of this new era, a cruel truth hung over them all.
The Duat was gone.
No one could access it.
Carter ran a hand over his face, feeling the weight of this revelation settle once more in his mind.
He would never see his parents in the Duat again. He would never have the chance to speak with them, nor feel their presence, however brief it might be.
Not even the gods he knew and respected.
Not even Horus.
The memory of the falcon god was almost palpable. For so long, he had been by his side—advising, guiding, sharing his strength. Horus was more than a deity. He had been an ally, a mentor, a part of himself. Now, all that remained was a strange and painful void, as if a piece of his soul had been ripped away without warning.
And his parents...
Carter swallowed hard. Months had passed, but he still felt that tight knot in his throat whenever he thought of them. He had accepted death as part of the cycle of life. He knew that the Duat was the destination of those who departed. But now, not even that destination was accessible.
It was a forced goodbye. A definitive cut.
He could no longer see them, no matter how much he wanted to.
Carter shook his head, trying to dispel the thoughts that still weighed on his mind. He headed to the bathroom, feeling the cold floor beneath his bare feet. He turned on the faucet and let the water run for a moment before rinsing his face, the coolness helping to clear his confused mind.
He looked up at the mirror and, for a moment, stood still.
His reflection looked different. His features were more defined, his face less childish. His shoulders seemed broader, his posture a little straighter. He ran his hand over his chin and felt a slight roughness. Stubble? Since when did he have to worry about that?
He frowned, analyzing the details he had never noticed before. He looked... older. Oh, right. He was sixteen already. But when did that happen?
Time had passed so quickly that he hadn't even realized it. Between battles, losses, and changes, his own evolution had gone unnoticed.
"When did I grow up so much?" he murmured to himself.
He sighed and looked away, picked up his toothbrush, and started brushing automatically, the taste of mint toothpaste bringing a refreshing sensation. After finishing, he went back to the bedroom and picked out more suitable clothes for the day. He put on a comfortable shirt, jeans, and sneakers before finally leaving.
Carter closed the bedroom door behind him, the light morning breeze flowing through the hallway. Sunlight filtered through the windows, dyeing the walls with soft golden hues. The air still carried a tranquil freshness, the silence only interrupted by the distant sound of traffic and the gentle rustling of curtains in the wind.
After taking a few steps down the hall, he saw Sadie leaving her own room. She stopped when she noticed his presence, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. Her expression was the same as his, a mixture of longing and resignation, as if they had both awakened from the same "dream."
"Yesterday was my birthday..." Sadie commented, crossing her arms. Her voice was neutral, but he knew his sister well enough to perceive the melancholy behind her words.
Carter nodded. He hadn't forgotten. How could he? They even had a birthday party yesterday.
"A year ago, we celebrated in the Duat. With them. Although it wasn't under the best of circumstances..." Sadie looked away, biting her lower lip slightly.
"I know..."
Silence hung for a moment, laden with memories that neither of them wanted to relive. Carter observed his sister more closely and, for the first time in a long time, noticed how much she had changed. Sadie was taller. When did that happen? And her face looked more mature, more refined. The resemblance to their mother was undeniable.
"You're looking more like her..." he said without thinking much.
Sadie blinked, surprised, and then gave a small smile, half sad, half proud.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Taller, prettier..." Carter shrugged. "But don't worry, you still haven't surpassed my natural elegance."
Sadie snorted, rolling her eyes, but the ghost of a smile remained.
"Still an idiot..."
Carter just smirked. It was a small moment, but somehow it made the weight feel a little lighter. They no longer had their parents. They no longer had the gods who were by their side. But they still had each other. And for now, that was enough.
They descended the stairs in silence, still processing everything that had happened. The first floor of the mansion enveloped them with its familiar grandeur, the cedar ceiling rising four stories above them, supported by stone pillars covered in hieroglyphs. The balconies of the upper floors offered a wide view, where a peculiar mix of musical instruments and ancient Egyptian weapons decorated the walls.
The sound of their footsteps echoed on the floor, resonating softly through the vast space. In the center of the room, the black marble statue of Thoth seemed to observe them, imposing and wise. The enormous fireplace, large enough to house a car, dominated one wall, with a plasma TV positioned just above it. Around it, two leather sofas were comfortably arranged on a giant snakeskin rug.
It was then that their gazes landed on someone already present in the hall.
Zia.
Carter blinked, surprised. He'd seen her last night at his sister's birthday, but since when was she so beautiful? Her black hair, once shorter and messy, now descended to the nape of her neck, framing her face impeccably. The perfectly cut bangs added an elegant touch, while her smooth, silky strands reflected the surrounding light.
But it wasn't just her hair. Her body had matured, the traces of a girl giving way to the curves of a young adult. She wore Egyptian-style clothing, a black top that enhanced her figure and light white pants that balanced the ensemble. Her caramel-colored skin retained that warm glow, and her amber eyes, lined with kohl, held a striking Arabian charm.
For a moment, Carter was speechless.
Sadie, of course, noticed.
"Yes, Carter, we get it. She's beautiful. Now can you close your mouth?"
He cleared his throat, trying to cover up his reaction.
"I... uh, good morning, Zia."
Zia, sitting on the leather sofa with a relaxed posture, looked up at them when Carter spoke. She nodded and said, "Good morning, Carter, Sadie..."
"Good morning, have you seen Walt?" Sadie asked directly.
"He's not awake yet."
Sadie snorted, but before she could retort, she changed the subject. "And Ikki? Where did he go? Don't tell me he woke up late for the first time?"
Zia just casually pointed toward the hallway as she said, "When I woke up, he had gone outside to take a call from the Leader of one of the Nomes..."
"Do you know what it was about?" Carter asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"No idea..." Zia rolled her eyes before saying, "But it didn't seem that important."
The door opened softly, and Ikki entered the room with the same imposing presence as always. He wore gray sweatpants and a black shirt that highlighted his perfect physique, every line of his muscles visible beneath the tight fabric. His hair, usually falling in loose strands, was tied back in a low ponytail, making his face even more defined.
All eyes turned to him.
"Good morning," Ikki said, his voice firm but calm, as always.
Carter automatically replied, "Good morning."
Sadie, on the other hand, crossed her arms and assessed him with shrewd eyes. "Finally decided to show up. So, what was this mysterious phone call about?"
Ikki didn't answer immediately. He just smiled slightly and walked over to the sofa, sitting beside Zia. It was a natural gesture for him, but not for her. Zia maintained her serene posture, but the proximity made her heart race, and she cursed herself as she felt the heat spread across her face.
Carter and Sadie exchanged a quick glance.
Ikki finally broke the silence, his expression serious as he faced them.
"Nothing too important. But it's good that you're awake. We need to talk."
There was a weight to those words that made the Kane siblings hesitate before sitting on the sofa opposite him. The air grew thicker.
Ikki took a deep breath before dropping the bomb.
"In a week, I'm leaving." His voice was calm, but laden with certainty. "And I won't be back for a while."
Silence filled the room.
Sadie frowned. "What?"
Carter leaned forward, as if wanting to make sure he'd heard correctly. "Leaving for where?"
Ikki gave them a brief look, pondering how to explain that he had to return to his life as a demigod.
He wasn't going to explain that, after absorbing Ra and achieving what he could call Pseudo-Divinity, he decided to go further, taking the Duat itself for himself.
And, with it, all the remaining deities.
It was an unthinkable act, daring even for him. But it was inevitable.
He consumed all the remaining Egyptian mythology. Which boosted his Divinity in Formation to an impressive sixty-two percent.
But, as always, power comes with consequences.
Billions of souls were left homeless. The underworld that once welcomed them was gone. Now, they were trapped, without a destination.
The responsibility for this rested on him.
Ikki knew he needed a solution. So, he created one.
A new underworld. A domain of his own.
The Other Side.
Unlike the old Duat, it wasn't a testing ground. It was a true paradise, molded for the spirits of those who still carried the Egyptian faith, offering them a worthy rest.
Creating this new world was easy, considering his power level. But stabilizing it? That required more than he expected.
Billions of aimless souls. Rules to be established. Divine structures to be formed. Ikki ruled personally as he adjusted every detail, ensuring that the Other Side became a self-sustaining system.
Time was on his side. While he was consumed by this process, in the real world, not even an hour had passed.
In the end, he created something perfect.
The Other Side molded itself to the deepest desires of each soul, offering a home without pain, suffering, or bitter memories. A place of perpetual happiness, without the weight of the tragedies of mortal life. Of course, only for those who had goodness in their hearts and repented of their sins.
Julius and Ruby Kane were there.
Carter and Sadie's parents.
Happy.
Without any memory of the Egyptian gods.
Without any memory of their own deaths.
Without any memory of the children they left behind.
They lived in peace, surrounded by idealized versions of Carter and Sadie, smiling, innocent children, trapped in a past that never led them to the world of the gods, that never put them on the path of magic and sacrifice.
Was it a stupid thing to do?
Rationally speaking, he had achieved the perfect ending, since he had covered up his act of devouring all the Egyptian Gods.
It is worth noting that it was also easy to do, since his feelings were so numbed that any emotional bond seemed like a distant memory from another life.
After absorbing Ra and reaching the level of a Pseudo-God, it plunged him into a state he now called False Nirvana, a threshold between enlightenment and total indifference. The emotions that once moved him became numb, as if his own humanity was dissolving.
He had coringed.
The idea almost made him laugh now, but at the time… At the time, it all seemed too logical. If there was no emotion, there was no pain. If there was no attachment, there was no weakness. It was a state of pure calculation, pure rationality, where every decision was made without hesitation, without guilt.
A god shouldn't be concerned with human things, right?
After stabilizing the Other Side, Ikki turned his attention to the remnants of the Forces of Chaos that once served Apophis. Without hesitation, he eradicated every fragment, erasing any trace of their existence.
And then, he turned to his friends, now safe in Brooklyn House.
With a single thought, he cast large-scale magic, something that surpassed any limits of ordinary sorcery.
He would alter the collective perception of reality.
Everyone connected to the Egyptian world, whether by lineage, belief, or direct experience, would come to believe that a whole year had passed since the war against Apophis. But it wasn't a superficial illusion. They would live that time.
The magic he cast didn't just alter memories; it shaped experiences. During a single day in real time, those affected literally lived twelve months of a story that Ikki had only outlined. His mastery of the [Authority of Time] and his ability to rewrite perceptions ensured that the magic flowed seamlessly. Like an author dictating the chapters of a book, he provided a draft of what should happen, and the magic filled in the gaps, constructing lives, events, and transformations that never actually occurred.
Each person affected had vivid memories of this year.
They felt the tiredness of months that never existed, the nostalgia for moments lived only in an illusion, even the emotional and physical growth corresponding to the elapsed time.
It was a story not only written in the timeline, but experienced in its entirety.
For all of them, time followed its natural course. They remembered the events of that "year" clearly. But when they looked at today's date, they would realize that, technically, only a single day had passed since the fight against Apophis (since the year remained the same).
A moment of estrangement. An uncomfortable feeling, as if something were out of place.
But then, the doubt would dissipate like smoke in the wind. Their minds, shaped by magic, would fill in the gaps with vague justifications, convenient forgetfulness.
The discrepancy would never become a real problem. Just a curious detail, soon ignored.
It was a perfect distortion of reality.
A lie so well crafted… that it became indistinguishable from the truth.
But setting that aside, Ikki answered Carter casually.
"I need to go back to my homeland for a while… But I'll keep in touch, I won't disappear. But I don't know how long I'll be gone, maybe a few months or a year…"
Carter looked away. He was never good at expressing certain feelings and, even if he would never admit it aloud, he knew that, after everything they had been through, Ikki was more than just an ally. In a way, he had become a constant presence—almost like a brother.
But Carter wouldn't say that.
Instead, he simply asked:
"Are you sure you need to go?"
Ikki noticed the hesitation in his voice, but didn't press. He just smiled slightly.
Zia, on the other hand, remained silent. Her gaze was complicated, as if she were processing something she didn't even understand herself. Now, hearing that he was leaving, she felt something grow inside her—a sense of loss she didn't want to name.
Ikki noticed the charged atmosphere and shrugged, trying to lighten the mood.
"Don't worry so much. I'll still be here for another week. We can train together, spend time together, like always."
Sadie, who had been silent, snorted, crossing her arms.
"Well, in that case, I want at least one last chance to beat you in a magic duel."
Ikki laughed.
"You can try."
The mood lightened a little, but everyone knew that, deep down, this farewell wouldn't be easy.
The truth was that not even Ikki could predict the consequences of his actions.
The marks he left wouldn't disappear so easily.
His actions were like footprints in the sand of an infinite desert. He could try to erase them, sweep them away with the wind of magic, or bury them under new layers of time, but in the end, something would always remain…
The magic he used to reshape everyone's perception was no different. It was like throwing a stone into a calm lake; the initial impact was controlled, the waves dissipated gently on the surface, but the currents below continued to move.
Invisible.
Silent.
And sooner or later, those currents would return to pull him back to what he tried to bury...