One evening, after a particularly productive day of training, Zeni found herself sitting with Neith under the canopy of a large sycamore fig tree. The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows across the village and everything felt right in the world.

Well, perhaps not everything.

Zeni had been struggling with something for the last little while. Like happens with so many people when times are at a state of calm, without anything particularly vexing or problematic in her tiny slice of universe, her brain was bothering her, convincing her that something was amiss. This was her imposter syndrome working on overdrive, causing her to question her own progress and truly, to cause her to feel quite confused.

"I feel like there's so much I still don't understand about this world," Zeni admitted, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "Embarrassingly, one of those is the Ka system, for example. I know a little, and I know you’ve explained some…but, can you give me more detail? I want to know as much as I can."

Neith nodded, sensing the shift her pupil’s mind had taken. But Neith was nothing if not a keen teacher, and knew when to elaborate to sate the anxiety of those trying to find their way.

"The Ka system is a fundamental building block," she began. "It's an innate energy that flows through everything and everyone. It's both a measure of one's potential and a manifestation of their personal growth."

"In our world, an individual's Ka is like a reflection of their soul," Neith continued. "As you gain experience, your Ka grows stronger, allowing you to access new abilities and enhance your existing ones. The more you learn and grow, the more powerful your Ka becomes."

"But how is that defined?" Zeni asked. She’d gotten more comfortable in the last few weeks, and felt finally prepared to ask more nuanced questions. Her fear of ignorance had stopped her before, but now, armed with some knowledge, it seemed less like something someone ignorant would do, and more as something someone trying to learn would do. Knowledge was funny in that way.

Neith smiled.

"That is a wonderful question. You see, Zeni, the might of one's Ka is represented by what we call 'levels.' As you face challenges and overcome obstacles, your Ka accumulates experience, gradually raising your level. The higher your level, the stronger your Ka, and the more capable you become. There are also tiers within those levels, that show marked progress in the same, but more incremental way."

"So, it is just like a—“

Zeni had caught herself almost saying ‘like a video game.’ However, while the others knew she was from another world, she didn’t think having to explain a concept like that would be a way of keeping the conversation progressing.

“…Like a way of measuring our personal growth and development?" She said instead.

"Precisely," Neith affirmed. "And as you grow, you'll find that you can manipulate your Ka in various ways. For example, you can channel it into enhancing your physical or magical abilities, or even imbue it into objects to create magical artifacts.”

“So…” Zeni ventured, getting brave. “If levels dictate how strong you are, then why do I need to spend so much time down here in the dirt, squabbling with my own abilities? Wouldn’t it make more sense to just grab some sick advancements and call her good?”

Neith chuckled.

“Ah, you have stumbled onto the quandary that enraptures all of us, at first,” she said. “You could focus simply on advancing the levels and tiers of your desired areas as a short term solution, yes. But it is more than that, as you have seen during your training. It is one thing to gain the necessary power, but what good is a powerful longbow if you do not have the strength to pull back the string?"

"That sounds like a lot,” Zeni said. “Guess I’m going to have to hit the books if I ever want to be an efficient, productive boss babe. There’s loads I don’t know.”

Neith nodded.

"Indeed, there is. But it's important to remember that the path to true mastery is diligence. It takes time, dedication, and a willingness to learn from your experiences."

Neith leaned back against the trunk of the tree, her eyes twinkling.

“But there’s obviously more to it than that, right?” Zeni asked, leaning back as well. “I mean, if that was all there was to this system, it would be pretty straightforward, right? Simple. But, if that was the case, then a bunch of people would just be tooting around and blasting minor sphinxes to bits with their sweet ass rocket powers.”

"Zeni,” Neith began, sounding as though she was on the cusp of revealing conspiratorial information. “Shall we delve a bit deeper?”

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Zeni, now fully invested because of her attitude simply scooted closer to the woman and smiled up at her.

“Please proceed,” she said—much too formally.

Neith regarded her for a moment, and there was a stab of worry in Zeni’s heart that the woman would change her mind. But it was all a ruse. Neith smiled back at her, and after seeming to consider the consequences, nodded and began.

“Much like in your case, when a person first discovers their Ka, they are assigned a class. This class is a choice, but the offered selections are initially determined by one’s innate talents, abilities, and affinities. However, this is only the beginning."

She paused for a moment, allowing Zeni to process the information.

"As you progress in your class, you'll find that there are additional modifiers and attributes that can alter and enhance your abilities. These modifiers are unique to each individual and can lead to countless variations and specializations within a single class."

"So, my abilities will change and grow alongside me?" Zeni asked.

"Yes," Neith replied with a nod. "And there's another aspect of the Ka system that allows for even greater customization—Ankhs. These magical artifacts can grant you new powers, enhance existing ones, or even allow you to modify or completely change your class. They are often found within dungeons, themselves—though, that is not the only criteria for their emergence."

"Dungeons produce these… Ankhs?" Zeni asked.

Neith nodded.

"As long as a dungeon remains active, it will continue to generate Ankhs. This is why adventurers like the Rahhalah seek them out. Not only for the thrill of discovery and the promise of treasure, but also for the chance to obtain Anks and expand their abilities."

Zeni considered this for a moment. The voice in her mind, the one she still heard many nights before bed, was strong in her memory. She needed to know the meaning of the words, but still, even so, felt as though she couldn’t voice her reasoning.

“The dungeon, child. Find it. End it. Consume it. Whatever must be done. There is nothing to be gained from allowing their unfettered growth. Destroy its very nature and stopper its strength. It shall not be allowed to fester in the earth and manifest its dark designs.”

"What would happen if…a dungeon was destroyed?” Zeni finally asked. “Completely."

Neith chuckled, the notion clearly amusing to her.

"Destroy a dungeon? That's quite an imaginative thought, Zeni. But no. It's something practically impossible. You see, dungeons are living, breathing entities, deeply connected to the very fabric of our world. They regenerate and adapt over time, making them virtually indestructible."

Uh-oh, Zeni thought. That occasional voice in my head is gonna be pissed.

“But you mentioned Ankhs would keep flying outta there as long as it’s active. So they don’t die?”

“Well,” Neith said. “Dungeons don’t die in the same way we would. Instead, when they expend too much energy over time, they will go into a period of rest. Typically for a few dozen years, or in more extreme cases, centuries.”

“I see,” Zeni said. Though, if she was being honest, she didn’t think she actually did.

"Now, let's get back to the Ankhs," Neith continued. "There are various types of them, each with their own unique properties. Some may grant you new skills, while others enhance your existing ones. Some even allow you to merge two or more classes together, creating a hybrid class with its own distinct abilities."

Neith shifted her position slightly, her voice changing to that of a learned teacher lecturing a student.

"Ankhs come in a variety of types, each catering to different aspects of one's abilities. For example..."

She held up a finger.

"First, there are Elemental Ankhs. These Ankhs enhance your control over a specific element, like fire, water, air, or earth. They can also grant you new elemental abilities or, in rarer cases, allow you to manipulate additional elements."

"Second, we have the Physical Enhancement Ankhs. These boost your strength, speed, endurance, or agility. They can also grant abilities related to physical combat, such as increased proficiency with weapons or unarmed fighting techniques."

"Third, there are Skill Ankhs. Created to bestow specialized skills or knowledge upon the wielder, ranging from crafting and cooking to tracking and stealth. They can be invaluable for mastering professions or surviving in the wild."

Neith took a deep breath and continued.

"Fourth, there are Defensive Ankhs. These enhance your resilience, grant you protective barriers, or improve your ability to dodge and parry. They're particularly useful for those who find themselves on the front lines of combat."

"Fifth, are Healing Ankhs. They improve natural healing abilities, enable one to heal others, or even, at the more graduated tiers, grant the power to revive the recently deceased—under certain circumstances, of course."

“Of course,” Zeni said, nodding sagely.

"Sixth, are Supportive Ankhs, focused on aiding allies by enhancing abilities and providing strategic advantages—or offering various forms of utility."

"Seventh, we have Mental Ankhs. They—naturally—improve mental faculties, such as intelligence, wisdom, or perception. They can also grant psionic powers or enhance resistance to mental attacks."

"Eighth, there are Summoning Ankhs. Ninth are Transformation Ankhs, and tenth, we have Curse Ankhs. The eleventh are Chance Ankhs—which influence luck in various aspects of life, from combat to gambling and everything in between."

She paused before continuing.

"Finally, twelfth, we have Pharaoh Ankhs. These Ankhs possess one-of-a-kind abilities that don't fit into any of the other categories. They can be extremely rare and valuable, offering powers and potential that are entirely their own."

Zeni pondered Neith's words, when an idea came to her.

"Neith,” she said. “Based on my current abilities, what type of Ankhs should I try to acquire?"

Neith considered this.

"For you? Well…I suppose I'd suggest focusing on either the Elemental or Curse Ankhs. Enhancing those will make you even more versatile in combat. You might also consider looking for a Skill Ankh to further refine your potion-making abilities."

Then Neith regarded her.

“How is your curse invocation shaping up, by the way?”

Zeni blanched at this question, feeling her ears get hot. Neith seemed to notice this, and breezily switched topics.

“What shall we have for dinner tonight?” She asked, looking off toward the village where her home was. “I was thinking of unearthing the goat shanks from the arcane icebox. How does that sound? Perhaps roasted in olive oil, garlic and dill? Oh! We’ve also got freshly drawn pomegranate juice from Ayah’s orchard.”

But Zeni didn’t respond. It seemed as though something was on her mind. She sat for a moment in quiet contemplation before finally looking up.

"How difficult is it to find a Pharaoh Ankh?"

Neith chuckled, clearly delighted by Zeni's thoughtful enthusiasm.

"Pharaoh Ankhs are so rare that you'd have better luck finding the moon in the river. They are incredibly difficult to come by, and many spend their entire lives searching for one without success.”

She pursed her lips, as though weighing the question before finally saying, “But who can say for sure? I’m an optimistic woman at heart. Perhaps fortune will smile upon you during your journey."