I came back to my house and had begged my mother to let me back in. After much coaxing from my father, I was finally able to be sleep in my old bed. If only I had gotten some rest.

  I was back in the stone temple, wisped away in my dream to the room with the big black pit in the center and those two red eyes staring at me.

  Egen.

  “No, man,” I said, “None of that shit. Don’t you do that. Look, I need these things obviously don’t last long so just tell me. Where can I find you?!”

  I see you found the book.

  “The book?” I asked, “I’ll keep the book for now. No more fucking esoteric calls to action. I’m not some scared boy. I’m here, and I am willing to talk with you. Where are you?”

  After some silence, I looked around trying to absorb as much as I could of the first room, but, from the filtration of my conscious, everything appeared as a dream. I could not read any letters clearly. I could not move fully on my own. That thing that was keeping me here, either it’s powers were limited, or it did not want me to know where it was. It finally called out to me.

  Shai Thuul.

  My eyes shot open, it’s words still chimed in my head like a bell that was rung but stopped prematurely. I repeated the words to myself so I didn’t forget. Shai Thuul. How could I? Shai Thuul, The school for wizards. The very expensive school that only the noble, merchant class, and royalty could afford. The place where bullies and nerds intersected, all of whom were likely rich beyond my wildest dreams. A place to rub elbows with future leaders and senators and businessmen. People close with the Pharaoh. I got up from bed. I needed entry to Shai Thuul, anyway I could. I opened my draw and pulled out a scroll, then undid an untouched vial of ink my parents bought for me last year. My hieroglyphics were haphazard as I had written the letter as fast as I could. I reread it. There were mistakes, it was messy, but it showed my passion and most importantly, it got the point across. I ran to the post office, turned to the clerk and asked, “What’s the fastest way to get this letter somewhere?”

  He cocked his head to the right, my head tracked his movement. Through an open door behind the post office was a cage. Within it was a large eagle with a hood on to keep it docile. It flapped it’s wings once and a gust of air entered the back door and cooled the entire post office. Above it’s name was the symbols for ‘Storm’ and ‘Bird.’

  I handed the man as much deben as I had left after we stole from the bandit in the mountains and handed him my letter. The clerk walked me back with the eagle. He adorned the bird’s leg with the letter, released the cage and the undid it’s hood. The bird’s wings charged, creating condensation around the area and I could see the streaks of lightening ruffle through it’s feathers before the loud sound of thunder. Then, as the lighting flashed again, it was gone. It soured through the wind at an alarming rate and when the lightning in it’s wings flashed again, it broke the sound barrier.

  I thanked the post office man and took the long trek to the shrine of Anubis again. Anubis was sitting on the steps waiting for me. I walked up and sat next to her.

  “How long have you been waiting?” I asked.

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  “Since you told that dog you were going to talk.” She said.

  “I’m sorry to hear you were waiting long,” I said, “It was getting dark and if I didn’t speak to my parents, I’d be sleeping on the streets.”

  Anubis was silent for a while but then said, “I never meant for my mission to come between you and your family.”

  I turned to her, She faced the ground, her eyes closed and her head in her knees.

  “You’re… not mad at me?” I asked.

  Her head shot up and she looked right at me, “Mad at you?!” Anubis yelped, “Why would I be mad at you!? I thought you were mad at me!”.

  “I thought you were mad… wait… wait you thought I was mad at you!?”

  “Of course! She said, “I had to take your power away. I’m sorry about that.”

  “I know but I thought you were mad because of the Ra thing.”

  “Right… what was that about?” She asked.

  I looked down. It was best not to tell her about the book, “It’s not important. So… you thought I was mad at you and I thought you were mad at me.”

  “Yep,” She said, “I’m not mad. I’m not mad about Dale. I know you were only sticking up for me.”

  I smiled at her, “And you… don’t hate me. You were only following orders. So… what’s the damage? How much power have you taken from me?”

  “Just the basenji form. I originally allowed you to use it once a day and gave you WAY too much power. You can have the full form back when you’re level ten.”

  I nodded my head, “It didnt’ seem like I used my mana when I activated it. Felt like just an ability I could use.”

  “Right,” She said, “I guess sometimes you get a special boon that doesn’t draw from your mana. That’s what this was, but like I said, you can only use it fully when you get to level ten.”

  “What does that mean, exactly? Like… if I don’t use mana for it… the power is still there, it just triggers more features when you reach a certain threshold. Right? The whole spell is still inside of me?”

  “I think that’s right,” Anubis said, “Sure! That’s how that works. I’m don’t entirely know.”

  “Well there it is, then,” I said.

  “So… you’ll survive?”

  “Yes, Anubis. I’ll survive”

  “And you’ll still let me be your fair goddess, won’t you?” She asked.

  I looked at her, “That depends, are you still the hottest crier around?”

  Her mouth twitched as she started to smile. Her eyes welled and the panting breaths caused a snot bubble to expand and contract on her right godly nostril. Then, in a squeaky voice she said, “I’m… so… happy… we’re o-o-okaaaaaayyyyyyy.”

  And she hugged me, her snot rubbing on my tunic. I held her as she composed herself.

  She wiped her tears and said, “You know, I heard that water spirit and Dale broke up. Maybe I’ll…”

  “No.” I said.

  “To be a good friend, I should check in…”

  “No.”

  “It would be neighborly to bake him his favorite-”

  I stood up, my face becoming serious. I glared at her, “Anubis. I chose you as my goddess because we have a different rapport than other followers and gods. I like that you treat me more like an equal. Don’t you?”

  She nodded.

  “We’re more of a team. But I won’t have my partner dragging me behind. No more Dale. No more fuckboys. I’m going to rise to the occasion to be your vassal. I need you to rise to be my goddess. Understand?”

  Anubis was caught off guard by my forthrightness, but she nodded her head in agreement.

  “I know dogs are loyal,” I continued, “But we both need to rise above our station for a better shot at happiness.”

  “Alright,” She said, “No more Dale.”

  I smiled at her, “Also,” I said, “I’m going to be attempting to learn some other forms of magic for a while. So I’m not entirely dependent on your power.”

  “Okay. Can I still call on you for a favor?” She asked.

  “Of course, goddess.”

  We didn’t talk long after that. She told me she’d be checking in on me more, that I would see more dogs cross my path. As we talked, I heard thunder in the middle of a bright and shiny dat. I looked up and saw what looked to be a tiny storm cloud ripping through the sky it left a jetstream of cloud behind it. The Storm Bird had arrived. I told Anubis I had to go and rushed to the post office, where the clerk was settling the Stormbird into her cage with a new letter tied to it’s leg. He handed it to me. It was a beautiful scroll sealed with the Duchess’ insignia on it. Nervous, I broke it and opened it right in front off the postal worker. My eyes widened as I read Yajaira’s response.