Explorer's Guide to the Megaverse [Inter-Universal Protectors Series Companion Book]

I cannot believe she talked me into this...

Amneris and I have been friends for the last five thousand years. We met on the day she died. It was safe to say we Gods knew she was different from the beginning.

Instead of passing through the Gates and Trials, Amneris appeared out of nowhere and fell into the River of Night. Here she was rescued by Ra and the Gods with him at the time who were completing their nightly journey through the Duat.

Ra bought her to the Hall of Judgment where Auser and I waited.

“Watch over her,” he said to us. “There is something different about this soul.”

It was true. She had a more physical form than any spirit I’d seen at the time. She glowed brighter and radiated power. It was a strange power we could all sense coming from her. Something more powerful than Ra himself. It was unheard of but Ra did not appear concerned.

It was a while before the new spirit awoke. The demon Auser posted to watch over her led Amneris into the Hall where myself and Auser were working.

“Ah, I see you are awake,” Auser said cheerfully.

Amneris looked around, taking in everything. “Sorry, but where am I?”

Auser and I exchanged confused glances. “You are in the Hall of Judgement,” I said.

“The where?”

It was safe to say this was the first and only time a spirit had arrived in the Hall with no knowledge of where they were. Then again, she had not gone through the Trials nor the Gates. It was clear something was wrong here.

“The Hall of Judgment. The place where souls of the newly dead make their way to reach A’aru.” Auser explained.

Amneris blinked. “I’m dead?” She raised a hand to her stomach. “I thought it was a bad dream . . .”

The poor girl was beyond confused. I felt sorry for her. Even Auser was concerned.

“You really have no idea where you are?” I asked.

She shook her head. “If this really is the Afterlife, then I am in the wrong one. Why would I end up here . . .” Her strange violet eyes widened. “I died on an Earth inside a universe. That must be why I came here and not there . . .” Amneris looked up at us. “This has been a mistake. I should not be here.”

“You must have come for a reason,” Auser said. “Even us Gods do not have answers.”

This made her smile, if only a little. “Don’t I know it.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Okay, so I ended up here for some unknown reason. I’m guessing this means I have to follow the rules I haven’t already somehow broken?”

“That is right.” Auser gestured toward the Scales. “As you have skipped the other Trials, we will have to start with the Weighing of the Heart.”

“How does that work?”

I held up a large white-gold feather. “This is a feature of the Bennu. It ways exactly the same as one Human soul--”

Amneris held her hands up in a T shape. “I’m not Human.”

I turned to Auser. “This could be a problem.”

“Got anything that weighs the same as one Lyriumian soul?” she asked.

Auser leaned forward. “The Bennu feather weights the same as a soul. We say Human as we get Humans here.”

“Ah.” Amneris clasped her hands behind her back. “Continue.”

“Right,” I said, momentarily stunned. “We weigh your heart against the feather. If the heart is lighter, you reach Paradise. If the heart is heavier, depending on the weight of your sins, it will be eaten by Ammit and you will be erased from this world.”

Ammit raised her head and wagged her tail excitedly at the idea of being given a heart. She yapped happily, jumping forward to sit at the base of the scales, panting like a puppy wanting a treat.

Amneris leaned down to scratch under her chin. “This adorable little thing?”

Auser sighed. “Please do not call the Devourer of Souls ‘adorable’. She has duties.”

“I bet she does.” Amneris leaned down to cuddle Ammit. “Whose an adorable little Devourer of Souls? You are! Yes you are!” Ammit licked her cheek.

I crossed my arms. “I have never seen Ammit so happy to see a spirit before judgement.”

“Yes,” Auser agreed. “This is unprecedented.”

Amneris put down Ammit, turning to us suddenly. “Wait, you said ‘weighing the heart’. How do you weight a heart when there’s no heart to weight?” She looked at me, at Auser, then down at her chest. “Oh.”

“You will not feel a thing,” I assured her.

“Right,” Amneris said. “That’s great. Just let me--”

She fell to the ground.

I gaped. “Since when can spirits faint?”

Auser’s thoughtful expression returned. “There is something very strange about this one. Perhaps it would be best to keep an eye on her.”

Safe to say we kept an eye on her. Once Amneris--surprisingly--passed her judgment, I took her to A’aru myself. Every now and then, Auser would call her back to help with the occasional problem that arose. She soon became a regular worker in the Hall. I suppose that is how we became good friends, though you would never notice it with the way we argue.