Chapter Text
Prologue:
Ancient Egyptian times
High above the world, far beyond the reach of human hands, Khonshu stood on a wide stone balcony. The air around him was still and quiet, broken only by the distant sounds of the heavens. Tall pillars made of pale stone rose around him, holding up the roof above. Their surfaces were smooth, worn down by time that even gods could not fully escape. Khonshu leaned against one of them, resting his weight on it as he looked down through the clouds.
Below him was the mortal world.
From this height, everything looked small. Rivers were thin lines cutting through the land. Cities were nothing more than clusters of tiny shapes. Humans moved through the streets like insects, unaware that a god was watching them. Khonshu felt nothing but frustration as he watched them go about their short, fragile lives.
They looked so weak. So helpless.
He did not understand why they existed the way they did. They fought each other, feared each other, and wasted their lives on things that did not matter. Most of them lived and died without ever changing anything. It was rare for a human to stand out, and even rarer for one to be useful. Rarer still for one to deserve his power.
For centuries beyond counting, Khonshu had searched every land, across every continent. He had watched kingdoms rise and fall. He had seen rulers turn to dust and temples crumble into ruins. All the while, he searched for one thing: a human worthy of becoming his champion.
Someone strong enough to carry out his will in the mortal realm.
Someone worthy enough to act in his name.
Someone worthy enough to take his place among the Ennead, the council of gods, but to do so while walking among humans.
Again and again, he had been disappointed. Every time he thought he saw potential, it faded quickly. Humans always failed him. Each one seemed more small and pitiful than the last.
“Are you still looking?”
The voice came from behind him, calm and familiar. Khonshu did not react right away. He already knew who it was. Slowly, he turned his head and looked over his shoulder.
Standing there was Thoth, god of wisdom and magic. His former teacher. His mentor from long ago. Thoth’s expression was calm, but his eyes showed concern. He had seen this scene many times before.
After a moment, Khonshu turned back to the balcony’s edge and continued watching the world below.
“You have been searching for hundreds of centuries,” Thoth said as he walked closer. “What makes you think you will find your champion now?”
Khonshu’s jaw tightened. His voice was cold when he answered.
“Just because you were my mentor many centuries ago does not mean that I answer to you,” he said. “Nor do I owe you any explanation.”
Thoth stopped beside him and followed his gaze downward. He watched the humans moving through their lives, unaware of the gods above them.
“Why do you even want a champion?” Thoth asked after a moment. “You have everything you could ever want here in the Celestial Heliopolis Palace. Other minor gods would kill for the chance to remain in the heavens.” He raised a hand and pointed toward the mortal realm. “And yet all you want is to go down there.”
Khonshu’s hands clenched into fists.
“Is it not enough that they worship you?” Thoth continued.
“It is not about worship,” Khonshu snapped. His voice echoed slightly between the pillars. “It is about worth. It is about finding someone who can do my work down there. Someone who can spread my message and carry out my judgment.”
Khonshu turned and looked directly at Thoth. For just a moment, he saw disappointment cross his former teacher’s face. Thoth had always hoped Khonshu would abandon this obsession. That he would accept his place among the gods and stop worrying about humans.
But time meant nothing to a god. Waiting meant nothing.
“Fine,” Thoth said at last, sighing as he stepped back. “Do whatever you wish with your time. But do not come to me when you fail to find this champion you seek.”
Without another word, Thoth turned and walked back toward the palace, disappearing through its massive doors.
Khonshu remained where he was, alone once more.
He knew Thoth had a point, even if he hated admitting it. Centuries had passed, and still no worthy human had appeared. But that did not matter. Giving up was not an option.
He would wait. For decades. For centuries. For as long as it took.
Sooner or later, his champion would come.
And when that day arrived, Khonshu would be ready.