Maggie Shade is one of the story’s deuteragonists, and the modern-day reincarnation of Zahra, an Egyptian priestess, who bore a mystical pendant, whilst serving as one of Pharaoh Atem’s many protectors, five-thousand years ago, all-the-while, having to possess traits of “flawless beauty”, “brightness”, and “a warrior-like heart”, that lived on within her present-day self.

A proficient duelist, hailing as a champion from the United Kingdom, Maggie was born within a family of historians; her father, a professor, and her native mother, who had a passion for studying and translating the pyramids. Since her mother’s passing, and her father’s disappearance, Maggie became a “lone wolf”, and ventured out on her own to find reconciliation, before learning that the fate of her father was linked to a several millennia-old battle between the forces of good and evil.

With the mysterious artifact her late mother had bestowed upon her, Maggie is forced to look back on the stories she grew up on about the old world, as well as those about an ancient king, who had saved his kingdom from darkness, of whom she discovers herself having a significant connection with, shortly after crossing paths with him, in the present day.

DESIGN
Appearance



Abilities
Through her pendant, Zahra holds the power of the Shadow Realm and, in addition of her being linked to the Wolf of the Moon, she holds the ability to see and control Duel Monsters.

Personality
Having to be a rather determined priestess, Zahra is a warrior, by-heart. An assigned-protector to the kings of Egypt, even though she was one of the youngest disciples in her clan, Zahra was a courageous, headstrong individual, who was raised to show full commitment to her duties, even if they were to last for the remainder of her life. By means of fulfilling her purpose, her passion never seemed to dissipate from her very being. Having to be part of the female minority during ancient times, Zahra’s training, as well as the gaining of respect from those higher than herself was very difficult, but she quickly gained recognition, due to her refusal of accepting defeat. Her professional efforts to make sure she met the satisfactions of her superiors, meant that Zahra will go as far as to not trust others at first glance, as well as speak her mind, not sugar coat anything, nor let her feelings get in the way of her duties.

Etymology
While the term itself corresponds with these two very different albeit related meanings, it is distinguished to their use in various Middle Eastern countries.

The name Zahra is a common female-given name, whose primary meanings are translated to “beautiful”, “bright”, “shining”, and “brilliant” in Arabian, though some believe it to, literally, be spelled as Zahrah, meaning “beauty”, “flower”, or “blossom”.

BIOGRAPHY
History
Born around Third Millennium B.C., Zahra was raised by a worshipping clan of the deity Bane, whose primary goal is to guard the kings of Egypt from conflict and misfortune. Eventually, she grew into the shoes of a young priestess, armed with knowledge in ancient magic, and was sent to the capital of Egypt to repel cultists to rebellions from Prince Atem of the late Pharaoh Akhnamkanon. Zahra guarded His Majesty undetected; all-the-while, having to be unaware of herself being watched by the royal family’s supernatural servant Shadow, a djinn-like entity disguised as a young priestess, that was created by Akhnamkanon, out of the ancient magic of the Pharaoh’s Millennium Pendant. The two became quick friends through their shared goal.

Even though Zahra had succeeded in protecting the prince from many dangers, without so much as giving a sign, she was forced to reveal herself, after Atem was kidnapped by a cult, and nearly sacrificed to one of the lesser gods. Since then, the two became quick friends, and Zahra would never be too far away from his side. Soon enough, by the time they had reached their late teens, where their feelings of loyalty became those of affection. However, before they could come to terms with these newfound feelings, Atem took seat upon the throne, and Zahra was now one of his many guardians. Unfortunately, like Shadow, this put Zahra in a position, lower than the sacred court, having to be in the dark, and looked down upon by some of the high priests; Priest Aknadin and Seto, in particular.

Soon, by that very same year, during the battle against Zorc Necrophades, Zahra protected Atem, one last time, having to prove her deep love for him by taking a powerful hit by the demon; “the ultimate sacrifice”, as recalled by Shadow, shortly before the djinn placed the girl’s pendant in a secret space within the Tomb of the King, right near her loved one. This memory became so rare and powerful, that Zahra’s patron god Bane, knowing the king would need them once more, felt that his disciple deserved another chance, having to be reborn as Maggie.