Chapter Three

Mara

The echo of my footsteps was swallowed by the oppressive silence of the Hall of Two Truths. One thing I was glad about is that I still had my body and clothes on when I found myself in Duat, unlike sleazy Yalin.

The grand space was lined with towering statues and ancient, grimacing figures that seemed to peer into the depths of one's soul. The very air was thick with the weight of judgment and the murmur of eternity. My skin prickled with awareness despite feeling curious about this whole process.

Heh. And I didn't even have to die to experience it.

I glanced sideways at Anubis beside me. The guardian—tall, imposing, and cloaked in the gravitas of his ancient role—had been an enigma from the moment he'd stepped into my world with his starlit eyes. His brooding presence and the shadows that seemed to cling to him created an air of mystery that was both intimidating and oddly compelling. As he guided me through a realm that felt like a cross between a divine courtroom and an endless waiting room, I found myself increasingly drawn to him.

His solemn demeanor and the way he navigated the eerie beauty of Duat with an almost otherworldly grace were fascinating. The more I spent time around him, the more I was captivated by his enigmatic nature. What had initially seemed like a burdensome duty—dealing with a figure wrapped in ancient authority—began to feel like a strange, dark allure. There was something compelling about his gloomy personality, a magnetism hidden beneath layers of formality and detachment.

Plus, I was a sucker for tall, dark and handsome characters.

"This place is really something," I remarked, trying to mask my unease with my usual sarcastic flair. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say this is the ultimate reality show set. Do I get a chance to win a fabulous prize, or is it just a lifelong subscription to the Underworld Gazette?"

Anubis didn't respond, his face a mask of stone. I took that as my cue to continue.

"Your fist trial is the challenge of wisdom," he spoke without emotion.

Sleazy Yalin's disembodied spirit materialized with a flicker of malevolent amusement. "Oh, look at you, stumbling into the land of the dead like you're on some kind of misguided vacation," he sneered. "Didn't anyone tell you that wisdom is not exactly your strong suit? Seems you've managed to find yourself in the most appropriate place—judging by how easily you've managed to bungle your way here."

I rolled my eyes, barely containing my frustration. "Look creep, if you're here to make things harder, don't worry—you're doing a great job on your own."

Yalin's spirit glowed brighter with mockery. "Oh, I'm just here to add a touch of reality to your little adventure. Maybe if you'd actually paid attention instead of acting like this was some sort of cosmic amusement park, you wouldn't be in this mess."

Anubis cast a sidelong glance at the spirit but chose to remain silent. His gaze returned to me, unreadable as ever.

"Ignore him," Anubis finally said, his tone cold. "The trials are designed to test your resolve and intellect. Your focus should be on the challenges ahead, not the distractions of the underworld."

I squared my shoulders, meeting Anubis's gaze with renewed determination. "Alright, let's get this over with. I'm ready for whatever this trial throws at me."

As I stepped into the chamber, the shadows seemed to close in around me, but I pushed Yalin's taunts to the back of my mind. The trial of wisdom awaited, and despite the disruptions and mockery, I was determined to prove myself worthy of navigating the trials of Duat.

The chamber was dark, save for a single beam of light illuminating an ornate pedestal. On it lay a scroll, inscribed with ancient texts and riddles. I approached cautiously, laughing hysterically to myself because… I can't read this stuff.

"Let's see what kind of riddles you've got for me," I muttered, taking the scroll in my hands with false hope. The symbols were unfamiliar, their meanings as elusive as the shadows dancing along the walls. I squinted at the scroll, my mind racing to decipher its contents. I could feel Anubis watching from the shadows, and I wondered in passing if he was checking out my butt. It was a nice one, if I do say so myself. All those dumped bodies made for heavy-lifting squats.

As I worked through the riddles, a familiar, irritatingly snarky voice broke through the silence. "Is that all you've got? I've seen more challenging puzzles in children's games."

I glanced around, searching for the creep that wouldn't leave me alone. Sleazy Yalin materialized in bits and pieces, hovering with an air of mockery. His light flickered with amusement. "Hey, did you get lost in the maze of your own thoughts, or are you just not as smart as you thought?"

"Great," I muttered. "Just what I need—an annoying ghost with a superiority complex."

"Must you always make your presence so disruptive?" Anubis rumbled, his authoritative voice pulling Yalin back.

Ignoring them both, I focused on the scroll, managing to solve the riddles after what felt like an eternity. The chamber brightened slightly as the scroll disintegrated into dust, signaling the completion of the first trial.

Phew.

The second trial was a test of strength and endurance. A massive, shifting labyrinth unfolded before me, its walls made of dark stone that seemed to pulse with an eerie energy. I navigated the maze, feeling the pressure of time and the weight of unseen eyes upon me. Were the other deities watching me fumble through this mess?

Anubis' presence was a constant, though he remained eerily silent as I worked through the physical challenge. His silence was unsettling; it was as if his gaze was both a burden and a source of encouragement. I should have brought some pom poms for him as he stood on the sidelines.

"You know," the spirit's voice chimed in again, "this maze looks like it was designed by someone who hates fun. Ever thought about taking a shortcut?"

"Why don't you go bother someone else?" I shot back, annoyed. He was like a fly that kept buzzing in my ear.

Yalin's light flickered with a hint of annoyance. "I'm only here to keep you on your toes. Besides, it's not my fault you're the one who's stuck in this mess."

As I emerged from the labyrinth, exhausted but triumphant, Yalin's spirit hovered nearby, its light flickering with a mix of condescension and reluctant admiration. "Well, look at you. You managed to find your way out. Impressive, I suppose."

"Don't get used to it," I retorted, wiping sweat from my brow. "Your sarcastic commentary isn't exactly what I'd call motivating. And why are you even allowed to follow me? Isn't this, like, cheating?"

The final trial was one of the heart—a confrontation with my deepest fears and regrets. The chamber was a dark void, and as I stepped into it, I was surrounded by spectral visions of my past mistakes and moments of regret. Like when I should have woken up early for that buy-one-get-one sale on knives back in the States. Such a missed opportunity. I had to use a dull serrated one on my ex because his cheap ass never bought me a knife sharpener.

As I faced my last ghost—a haunting figure of a person I had killed by accident because he was a witness to another of my kills—I felt a profound sense of release. The specter faded, and the chamber brightened, signaling the end of the trial.

The Hall of Two Truths seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as I completed the trials. Anubis, still a figure of stoic authority standing from afar, finally spoke. "You have faced the trials with courage and resolve. The truths you sought are now yours to embrace."

Yalin's light hovered near, his presence less intrusive but still evident. "Well, you survived. Congratulations. I suppose I can admit that if I was in your shoes, I'd probably kill me too."

"Really?" I said with exasperation, wondering why he was still following us around.

Before I could leave, without warning, the atmosphere around us shifted.

I turned to see a new presence: Ma'at, the goddess of truth and cosmic order, appeared with a grace that seemed to bend the very fabric of the hall. She leaned casually against one of the imposing columns, her figure radiating an effortless elegance. Her robes, a shimmering cascade of gold and deep blue, caught the dim light of the chamber, giving her an almost ethereal glow. Her gaze was fixed on Anubis, and her lips curled into a playful smirk.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Ma'at's voice was melodic and teasing, the lilt of her tone carrying an undercurrent of amusement. "Anubis, I see you've found yourself a new companion. And not just any companion, but one with a rather rebellious streak. How charmingly unconventional."

Anubis's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Ma'at with a mixture of irritation and wary respect. "Ma'at. To what do we owe this… intrusion?"

"Oh, don't be so glum," Ma'at replied, her voice a lilting melody that seemed to dance through the hall. "I was simply passing through and couldn't resist a peek at this new drama unfolding in the Underworld. You've been so absorbed in your duties that I thought a little distraction might be in order."

She turned her attention to me, her gaze lingering with a curious blend of amusement and intrigue. "And you must be Mara, the intrepid undead soul who managed to stumble into Anubis's carefully ordered chaos. I must say, you have a rather delightful way of upending the norms. How do you manage to keep him so… disconcerted?"

I raised an eyebrow, matching her playful tone with a hint of defiance. "Well, if I'm upsetting the grand order of things, it must mean I'm doing something right. Besides, I haven't seen you around before. Are you always this… casually involved in others' business?"

Ma'at's laughter was a soft, melodious sound that filled the hall. "I do enjoy a bit of mischief from time to time as Anubis can attest to." She winked at him and my back stiffened with a hint of jealousy. "It's a rare pleasure to see someone so thoroughly stir the pot. Anubis here has been so stoic and serious for eons. It's refreshing to see him ruffled, even if just a little."

Anubis shifted, clearly displeased by the turn of events. "Ma'at, if you have something to say, perhaps it would be better suited to a time when it does not disrupt the proceedings."

Ma'at raised a slender hand in a mock gesture of apology. "Oh, relax. I'm merely here to observe, not to interfere. Though, I must admit, watching you navigate these trials with such fervor is quite entertaining. And the way you kept your intense gaze on the girl…"

"What exactly do you need, might I ask? I don't want to hold up Anubis and his duties, as you know," I snapped a bit harsher than anticipated, her presence stirring something feral within me.

Ma'at's eyes widened slightly in surprise before she let out a raw laugh. "Oh, such fire! I suppose it's not every day that one stumbles upon a situation so delightfully perplexing. I was merely curious about your... connection to Anubis. It's not often I see him so… preoccupied."

Anubis's gaze hardened, his nostrils flaring. His usual composure seemed momentarily shaken, a hint of frustration flashing across his features. Was I really the problem? I thought I was entertaining him. Was he frustrated with me like she insinuated?

Ma'at's words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was here just to stir trouble where there hadn't been any. Her presence seemed designed to provoke doubts and stir up discord, turning what was already a daunting situation into something more than what it was.

I glanced sideways at Anubis, trying to gauge his true feelings through his stern facade. Was he genuinely displeased with me, or was Ma'at simply manipulating the situation to amuse herself? I had thought my presence here might have added an element of unpredictability to his otherwise orderly existence, but now I wondered if I had inadvertently caused friction where there was none before.

Ma'at glanced back at Anubis, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "And you, my dear Anubis, might want to reconsider your approach. It seems you're not as unshakeable as you'd like to believe."

Anubis's gaze was steady but edged with frustration. "Your observations are noted, Ma'at. However, this is a matter of judgment and order. If you have no further purpose here, I would appreciate it if you would allow us to leave."

Ma'at's smile widened, and she pushed herself off the column. "Very well, Anubis. I shall take my leave. But remember, a little disruption can often lead to unexpected revelations."