[ he'd thought the worst, at first. he'd thought he was back there, back in that swirling, all consuming darkness that he'd known for millenia. the difference now being that sense of self and identity that he never had back then, and he's not sure what would be worse: another three thousand years alone in the shadows without his memories, or those same years spent knowing what all he'd lost and could never recover again?

for most of the trek into the castle, as soon as he's confirmed this isn't the shadowy prison he'd previously been confined to, he's relatively silent. Atem's head is swimming with questions - what happened, why am I here, how I am here - but he follows the apprentice leading him through the castle, nervous hands holding on tight to the golden puzzle hanging around his neck, and for the most part, he keeps his mouth shut. maybe there's some part of him that's afraid of this being some sort of illusion, another trap. or that somehow, he'd made a miscalculation in his return. regardless of the hows and the whys, knowing this isn't what's supposed to happen at all is making it incredibly difficult to fit in, so to speak.

eventually, alone in the living quarters with nothing but his thoughts, he tries to process it. the door remains slightly ajar, but he hardly pays any mind to it, only trying to keep his voice low as he paces back and forth across the room. ]

You're fine ... you're okay, you're fine. [ he stops, looks at his hands, frowns at their trembling. this body is actually his. he's real, he's solid and corporeal and-- ]

You're ... alive, for some-- for some reason. [ shakes his head, deep breath. the Millenium Puzzle is here with him, he knows exactly why. ] But you're fine.

[ with enough time, he feels more or less accepting of everything that's happening. it's still a strange and unsettling experience, but the more time he spends here, the easier it is to adapt. this is really happening, and he's really here - not observing the world from above while seated upon a golden throne in the afterlife. but here among them, in a different time, a different place. well and truly alone.

not ... not completely alone, Atem reminds himself. there are still plenty of people in the library when he walks in late that evening, but none are familiar faces. socializing, even now, remains one of his weaker skills. something he needs to get better at if he's going to survive this new life here.

he misses them. misses everyone. but this will be easier if he doesn't think about it. he needs a distraction.

luckily, Atem finds something suitable. rather than piles of books and histories to comb through, he's instead seated at a table with a deck of playing cards, a tower currently in the works in front of him. there's also a few boxes on the table containing board games - a chess board, checkers, and several others stacked one on top of the other. ]

Care to join me for a game? [ said when someone approaches, or to anyone giving his card tower a curious glance. he offers them a half smile, nerves evident but he is trying, the remaining cards with their beautifully intricate artwork shuffling in his hands. anyone is free to call him out for showing off. ]