*Ancient Egypt*
*(The God Council)*
"Shu?!" everyone gasped in shock.
Immediately, Tefnut ran towards him, worry shining in her eyes, and drew him into a tight hug.
"Shu?! Oh my! I missed you so much! When did you wake from the trance? Are you okay?" she said all in one breath as tears burst from her eyes.
"It's okay, Tefnut," Shu said, consoling her. "I am fine now. No need for you to worry." He kissed her forehead and gently wiped her tears.
"Supreme Father," Shu said, bowing to the sun god.
"Shu, when did you wake from your trance?" Ra asked, trying to hide his worried expression. He was still in shock from the earlier discussion before Shu arrived. The sun god did not want his son to see how deeply troubled he was over the name 'Aposis.'
"Not long after Tefnut left our abode. I greet you all, fellow deities of Egypt," Shu said with a weak but clear voice.
All he received were nods from the other gods, who chose to hold their peace—except Horus.
"Air god Shu, you are very welcome," Horus began, offering no cold shoulder.
"Thank you, deity of sky and war," Shu replied with a slight smile, releasing Tefnut and sitting beside his father's right hand.
"Air god," Horus started again, "you were saying something about it all being your fault…" His tone suggested the council eagerly wanted to hear what Shu had to say.
Shu took deep breaths before speaking. "I would like to talk to the supreme father alone," he said seriously.
The whole council fell into deep silence. None dared speak when the supreme father wished to speak privately.
Ra could not understand why Shu wanted a private conversation, but he knew one thing for sure: whatever it was, he wouldn't like it.
Nevertheless, he dismissed the other gods and goddesses and took Shu to his abode, a place convenient for conversation.
"What do you want to talk about?" Ra asked seriously, settling into his throne-like chair and giving Shu his full attention.
"Supreme Father, Aposis was the one who attacked me and took Nut with him," Shu said restlessly—but was surprised that his father did not react.
"Supreme Father, did you hear me? I said Apo..." Shu tried again but was cut off by Ra's raised hand.
"I already know, Shu. But what I don't know is why you want to tell me this privately," Ra retorted.
"There is more, Supreme Father," Shu replied with desperation.
"What do you mean, Shu?" Ra asked, eyes eager.
"Supreme Father… he was from the future," Shu said gravely, clearly unhappy with what he was revealing.
"Nonsense, Shu! How do you know? How are you so sure?" Ra could no longer contain his shock and blurted it all in one breath.
"Supreme Father, his aura and will increment told me so. Besides, when I threatened him with Geb's name, his reaction proved he knew exactly where he was and planned to take Nut there—to reunite with Geb," Shu explained, his mind struggling to comprehend the flood of information. He felt as if he were going insane with all that had been happening to his family.
"Calm down, Shu. Maybe he was just bluffing and nothing more," Ra muttered, more to himself than to Shu.
"No, Supreme Father. I may not be the god of divinity or truth, but I know one thing for sure: he was telling the truth. I stared into his eyes, Supreme Father, and saw sincerity while he spoke. He may be a demon god, but he is still a soul of Egypt. Every Egyptian soul can be discerned through the eyes—and that is exactly what I did. I tell you now, Father, that demon god was from the future and took Nut there as well," Shu said, his voice full of conviction.
"I do not agree with you, Shu. I mean, Geb and I cast him ourselves into the pit of darkness and sealed him there till eternity after his last strike on us. So how can you make me believe he is from the future when he is no more?" Ra said, convincing himself more than Shu. He desperately did not want to believe Shu's words, even though he knew Shu was speaking truthfully.
"No more, you say? Supreme Father, you and Geb didn't destroy his soul. Rather, you left it to rot, which he definitely didn't fulfill. Now he is back to have his revenge on my family," Shu said, giving Ra more reasons to believe.
"Even if I believe you, Shu, what do you expect me to do about it?" Ra asked, darting his eyes around, waiting for Shu's request.
"Supreme Father, I request an order to bring Geb home—back to now—so whatever plot Aposis is laying out won't take effect once Geb is out of the picture," Shu answered thoughtfully.
"Okay then, bring him back by the morrow's first light," Ra said with authority.
"We have one issue, Supreme Father," Shu said with disappointment.
"What could that be?" Ra asked, desperate to know the problem.
"Supreme Father, I cast the spell so that only Geb can break the bonds of the hourglass. I did this to stop myself from releasing him if ever I could no longer contain my fatherly love," Shu said, bowing his head before Ra.
"So you mean only Geb has the will to bring himself back now? No one else—not even you, who used the ancient hourglass on him?" Ra asked, disbelief in his voice, needing clarity.
"Yes, Supreme Father. Please forgive me—I never knew this would happen, and we would have to call his banishment so soon." Shu was disappointed with himself; he never expected any of this.
He never even hoped to see Aposis again in his lifetime, but here he was, still active in the lives of his two children. He just wanted everything to end—the madness of incest that led Nut and Geb to this mess—to be cut off.
"Don't beat yourself up about it," Ra said, seeing the disappointment on Shu's face as he seemed lost in thought. "It's okay, Shu. We are gods, and nothing is impossible for us. Gather yourself, air god." He patted Shu's back.
Shu composed himself, taking a seat at the other end of the room, chin in hand, lost in thought.
Ra paced up and down, back and forth, also thinking about how to ensure Geb's presence with them in present Egypt.
Truthfully, Ra's main reason for this was so he could have Geb close—just in case Aposis changed his mind and decided to attack or seek revenge. Geb would easily take care of Aposis and defend Ra with his will.
He knew well that without Geb's assistance and alliance, Aposis and his league of demons would have taken over Egypt by now. That was the main reason Ra racked his brain: to find a way to bring Geb back and keep him with them—especially now that Aposis had returned.
Shu rubbed his palm across his face but stopped halfway as he suddenly recalled something.
"Supreme Father," he called with joy.
"What is it, Shu?" Ra answered, quickly turning to him.
"I have an idea," Shu said, delight and a smile lighting his face.
Ra's face brightened immediately—finally, something good. He sighed with relief. "Speak," he said, authority and joy mingling in his voice.
"We must proceed with the Ritual of the Earth, and we shall use it to send a message to him," Shu said sternly, looking at Ra, who seemed to understand.
Shu knew his son well—how quick-witted he was. He trusted Geb would understand and find a way to return before they even began to think of how to bring Nut back, whose case was a far harder nut to crack.
Ra considered briefly. Though he had been reluctant earlier, now he had no choice if he truly wanted to stand against Aposis.
"Okay then, so be it as you say. The ritual must hold" …