Mummy Evolution

Moments later, they were inside a royal chamber—minimalistic, yet royal. Simple gold and ivory furnishings gleamed in the soft light of hanging lanterns, and from the side, a woman observed them with amused, golden eyes.

The legendary tomb raider, Ismera Ramses.

The mother of the Blind Saint.

She was fresh out of a bath, steam still rising from her olive skin, clad in an elegant bath robe as she sipped from a glass of deep crimson wine.

There was power to this woman.

Zainah, thoroughly embarrassed, squirmed out of Sett's hold, standing stiffly at his side. Internally, she cursed him with every cuss word she knew—which, frankly, only amounted to five.

Bastard, rascal, idiot, fool, donkey!

I am still in my sleeping clothes, damn it!

"Why did you bring her here, Sett?" Ismera asked with a smile.

Sett grinned and, without hesitation, placed his hands around Zainah's waist, gently turning her toward Ismera. "I came to show off my treasure." He made a slow gesture. "Look, this is my wife—isn't she cute as heck?"

Zainah's lips twitched, her face burning as she tried to step back. Sett only tightened his grip slightly. She pouted inwardly, Bastard, just you wait.

Ismera took another sip of her wine.

"Do you want me to beat him up for you?"

Zainah's eyes immediately lit up. "You'd do that for me… Grandma?"

Sett's expression changed. "No-no way!"

"Sure. Why not?"

Moments later, Sett was standing outside the room, rubbing his bruised ego.

Inside, Zainah sat beside Ismera, though she wasn't offered any wine.

The older woman poured herself another glass, swirling the deep liquid as she studied the girl.

"What do you think? Has he changed after being away?"

Zainah scoffed. "No. He's the same rascal as ever."

Ismera chuckled.

"Do you like him?"

The girl blushed, then began fidgeting, making the older woman laugh even more.

The girl's face turned pink. She fidgeted. The older woman laughed.

"He does know how to boast," Ismera mused. "And I must admit, you are worthy of being boasted about. A charming little thing."

Zainah's flush deepened.

Ismera laid back, sipped her wine, and remained silent for a few seconds.

"Assume Sett is not going to become a Pharaoh," she asked. "Would you still feel the same about him?"

Zainah blinked.

"Why such a sudden… question?"

"Because I want to know. Just answer truthfully. I would know if you lied."

Zainah sighed. "If you are questioning my loyalty to Sett, grandma, you underestimate me and Sett both. He is a charming man, one I have been smitten with since we were both five years old." She shook her head. "I don't think his charm needs to even be discussed, not to someone who knows him so well."

"What if someone more charming, richer, and more capable comes to court you?"

Zainah couldn't stop a small smirk that tugged at her lips. "Assuming such a thing is even possible—I mean Sett allowing someone to be better—why would that matter anyway? If someone better comes, am I just to leave him for another person?"

She stood up.

"Obviously not, my Sett would be so pitiful if I did that." Zainah took a deep breath, a smile that would charm the world on her face. "You don't stay with the person you chose because they're the only one—nor because they are the best."

Ismera watched her with a smile.

Zainah continued, "Sett's at least not perfect, he is—ugh—if anything a bit annoying. Look, he didn't even greet me properly after coming here and now I am in an interrogation room with the world's proclaimed best Tomb Raider."

Ismera had to agree on that. That boy sure had a knack of bringing trouble for others.

"And Sett might not always be the best among all my suitors and what not," Zainah said. "But you stay with the person you chose because they're the one you chose, and no storm or stranger, no matter how much stronger or richer, can rewrite that. That is the basics of love, if I can't even follow that, wouldn't I be a vain woman undeserving of him?"

When you choose someone, you choose them over everyone else.

It doesn't matter if someone more beautiful, stronger, or richer comes along—if you let them take your heart so easily, then your love was never real to begin with. Love is a decision, a commitment, one that starts the moment you give yourself to someone.

If you can't stand by that, if you waver at the first temptation, then you're neither ready for love nor worthy of it.

And yet, so many people fail to grasp something so simple.

Zainah took the bottle of wine from Ismera's table and poured a cup for herself.

Then, she proclaimed: "I, Zainah Ramses, wife of the Seventh Pharaoh, have knelt to no man but him. And I will not do that from here on either. Not in this life, not in any other."

Ismera sipped her wine, her heart simmering with admiration.

Sett really knew how to boast.

Zainah really was beautiful. In more ways than one.

Outside the room, Sett clenched his chest—his own face as red as a ripe tomato. His heart thudded inside his chest, and he clenched his fists.

Inside the room, the girl drowned the alcohol in one go—only to immediately gag.

The little wine that went into her throat felt like liquid fire. Lava. And it made her face go from flushed red to crimson, unhealthy red. But soon, it began to fade. Of course, the sensation of indescribably powerful wine remained in her mouth.

"That's too strong for you," Ismera said, amused. "Drink the fruit juice beside it. I didn't give it to you because you can't handle it."

Zainah flushed, reaching for the juice with all the dignity she could muster.

Outside the room, Sett looked towards the distance and noticed a woman walking towards the room, her eyes closed but her footsteps firm. Immediately, Sett ran upto her and held her hand. She smiled at him.

"I was thinking that it is time for your return," she said. "How was the Tomb?"

Sett took a deep breath. "I lost."

"You lost?" She raised an eyebrow. Then nodded. "I understand. Then figure out why you lost, improve, and do not lose again. Even if you lose, lose due to a different reason."

Failure was the footstep to success, but failing repeatedly without analysis and growth was mere foolishness.

Execute, fail, improvise, fail again, improvise until you no longer fail.

Sett smiled.

He hugged his mother.

"Right to advice, huh, Mother Empress," he said, emotional. "It's just been a short time, but I missed you."

Neilara shook her head with a smile.