Rejection!

Osiris carefully stowed away the barley seeds and frowned, his voice laced with confusion. "I never requested Hathor to tend to these seeds."

"She's been ensconced within the Sun City's temple for ages. It's rare to see her outside its sacred walls," he added, his gaze wandering off into the distance.

Set turned to Nephthys, who was just handing over the seeds. "Little sister, was it you who asked Hathor to intervene?"

Nephthys shook her head emphatically. "Not at all," she replied. "With Ra planning a divine assembly, I found myself with idle time and ventured to Sun City ahead of schedule."

"It was Hathor who approached me," she continued, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of her words. "She asked me to deliver these seeds to brother Osiris."

"After the gods convene, extend my thanks to Hathor, and inquire why she took this upon herself," Osiris instructed, his voice calm yet authoritative.

A storm of thoughts raged silently in Set's mind, each more speculative than the last, yet he knew better than to voice them without evidence. He resigned himself to follow Osiris's directive.

Changing the subject, Set produced a jug of barley beer he'd acquired at an oasis. "Try this," he suggested with a hint of pride. "It's crafted by human hands."

Osiris's interest piqued, he nodded. "Certainly."

Nephthys watched Set, her expression one of renewed curiosity. "Brother Set, have you been mingling with the humans?"

"Yes," Set admitted, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "The confines of the temple grow wearisome after my prolonged slumber."

Nephthys's response was a mere nod, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.

"Of all Ra's creations, humans are undoubtedly the most fascinating," Osiris remarked with a chuckle, breaking the brief silence.

"Indeed," Set agreed, his voice tinged with amusement.

Nephthys simply smiled, choosing to remain silent.

Set then passed the jug to both Osiris and Nephthys. "It's strong, reminiscent of desert-grown barley," Osiris commented after taking a sip.

Set nodded in agreement, his thoughts drifting to the legendary sun wine of Sun City, brewed directly by Ra, a beverage of such rarity that it was only gifted when a deity ascended to major god status.

"Unfortunately, it's a rarity reserved for when a new major god is anointed, and given that there are merely over twenty major gods among thousands, the chances are slim," he mused to himself.

"Seth, what's troubling you?" Osiris asked, noting the cloud that had descended over Set's demeanor.

Set sighed, the weight of nostalgia heavy in his voice. "I was just reminiscing about Ra's sun wine."

"I understand," Osiris sympathized, his voice soft and understanding. "Such treasures are indeed hard to forget."

After a time of shared melancholy and laughter over their drinks, Seth, Osiris, and Nephthys continued to chat. Osiris and Seth dominated the conversation with lively exchanges, while Nephthys watched from the sidelines, interjecting now and then with her insights.

"Brother, they're holding sacrifices in the nearby temple. I'll head over there," Osiris abruptly announced to Seth, giving him a knowing smile that was full of implications before he quickly exited the temple.

Seth, left behind, was momentarily puzzled by Osiris's cryptic expression. His confusion only deepened until he caught Nephthys's gaze. She looked at him with a shy yet intense expression, stirring a mix of emotions within him. In that moment, Seth finally grasped the meaning behind Osiris's smile, and a part of him wished to call him back.

"Brother Seth," Nephthys began softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "Mot, the god of storms, sought me out."

Seth could only muster a noncommittal hum in response.

She stepped closer, her voice still low. "He declared his affection for me and proposed marriage."

"Yes," Seth replied quietly, already aware of Mot's intentions since he was the one who had informed Isis of Mot's affections towards Nephthys.

Observing Seth's composed demeanor, Nephthys bit her lip, a hint of resolve in her tone. "I turned him down."

"Do you know why, Brother Seth?"

"I'm not sure," Seth responded, shaking his head, then quickly changing the subject. "Actually, I've been meaning to ask you something."

Nephthys looked puzzled. "What is it?"

Seth set down his wooden cup, a playful smirk playing on his lips. "How well do you know Bastet? I'm curious about her likes and dislikes."

Her expression turned to one of disbelief. "Brother Seth, are you enamored with Bastet?!"

"Yes," he admitted, his smile widening.

Nephthys's eyes welled with tears as she turned away quickly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so happy for you, Brother Seth. It's wonderful that you've found someone special."

"Thank you," Seth replied warmly, but he pressed on. "So, are you familiar with Bastet?"

Turning her back to him, Nephthys shook her head. "No, I don't really know her well enough to help."

"I'm sorry I can't assist you, brother," she added, her voice laced with regret.

"Don't worry about it," Seth reassured her with a smile. "I'll speak to Bastet directly. She'll tell me herself."

"By the way, why did you turn away the God Mot?" Seth queried, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

Nephthys paused for a moment, her voice soft and reflective as she replied, "...Because I don't like him." Her tone held a certain finality, an acceptance of her own feelings.

"It doesn't matter, there are so many gods out there," Seth comforted her, his tone encouraging. "Find one you truly like, who also cherishes you, and then consider marriage."

"Yeah," Nephthys responded in a subdued voice, her gaze distant.

Seth observed her slightly trembling form, a wave of empathy washing over him. Yet, despite his sympathy for Nephthys, he couldn't shake off his own apprehensions. The memories of the myth of the original Seth, the mythic tales of deception, of raising another's son, and of a tragic end, lingered in his mind, a warning against repeating that history.

Indeed, while he had inherited the memories of the ancient Seth, his emotions and resolutions remained distinctly his own. He resolved firmly that his feelings for Nephthys would not mirror those of his predecessor.

And as for Bastet, next time they met, he planned to charm her with a meal, perhaps a barbecue with an extra kick of spiciness.

With a quiet sigh, Seth left the temple and found solace atop a giant flower outside, where he could reflect in solitude.

Inside, Nephthys wrestled with her confusion. She couldn't fathom how Seth's affection seemed to have evaporated over the decades. Once, his gaze held warmth for her; now, it seemed clouded, distracted, perhaps by Bastet. "Could it really be because of Bastet?" she murmured to herself, frustration knitting her brows. "If Seth is lost to me, perhaps I must look to another god..."

When Osiris returned, he found Seth reclining on a water lily and Nephthys brooding within the temple. Curiosity drew him to Seth's side.

Before Osiris could inquire, Seth sat up, sniffing the air and looking squarely at his brother. "Did you accept the sacrifice?"

Osiris sighed deeply, a shadow passing over his features. "I did. The three hundred souls were already lost. Accepting the sacrifice at least grants them some protection from oblivion in the Styx."

Seth shook his head, disapproval clear in his tone. "We should reject such practices, brother. If sacrifices are made, they should adhere to the rules strictly. Acceptance is akin to compromise."

Osiris patted Seth's shoulder, his voice calm and resolute. "I've already instructed them to cease all sacrifices."

Changing the subject, he asked, "Did Nephthys speak to you about anything?"

Seth shook his head, his expression neutral. "She mentioned nothing, except her rejection of the God Mot's affections."