The trio walked for about forty minutes before Anaïs finally spotted the city's edge. She hadn’t noticed the time passing since Sobek, true to himself, had filled the journey by recounting his misadventures and encouraging Anaïs to share some of her festive experiences in return. She had tried to avoid the most embarrassing ones, which always involved consuming too much alcohol. Still, the crocodile god was very persuasive and eventually got her to spill the beans, much to the amusement of Anubis, who maintained his mocking little smirk throughout the trip. She already knew he would use this information against her to tease her one day. The idea didn’t entirely displease her, since something told her that he wasn’t trying to harm her. It was a form of camaraderie, and, more importantly, a sign of his interest in her.

Spare the rod, spoil the child, she chuckled inwardly. Too bad he doesn’t provide any ammunition against him; don’t tell me he’s never done anything embarrassing...

Indeed, Anubis spent most of his time listening to the pair’s conversation, occasionally commenting on certain topics to share his opinion, but he shared very few personal memories and experiences. Yet, judging by Isis’s evident affection for her adoptive son, he seemed to have had a relatively calm and violence-free childhood. It made one wonder how he ended up so serious and introverted. Perhaps he harbored dark secrets...

As they made their way through the lively streets of the city, Anaïs experienced for the first time the sensation of being a celebrity. She wasn’t naïve—no one knew who she really was—but the Blessed seemed to have judged her as a woman of high-status thanks to the presence of the two gods beside her, despite her simple dress and lack of jewelry. She had only put on a pair of sandals to avoid injuring her feet, which were not used to walking barefoot. Her appearance was more reminiscent of a poor girl in rags than a superior soul, but apparently, no one here was shocked by her style of dress. She was greeted with the same respect as the two deities; she received approving nods or gentle smiles, always with a curious glint in their eyes, but it never turned to contempt or hostility. In the first few minutes, the way the city’s inhabitants accepted her without even knowing her stirred something within her. When she began to get used to the feeling, she allowed herself to respond and greet them back with a shy smile. She might as well enjoy it, as her instincts told her she would quickly adapt to this being her new normal.

Note to self: Don’t forget that I’m not quite human anymore.

There were cereal fields all around the city, and the land was then divided into areas of pasture, desert, and scattered forests further away. On this side of the city, the edge was desert-like, and the climate was slightly warmer than at Anubis’s villa. The houses gave way to a stretch of empty sand several meters wide until they reached the Dakhleh Oasis, which was like a postcard paradise. The place was quite intimate, with the oasis being the size of a small pond. The water was turquoise and perfectly reflected the sun’s rays. There were trees, cacti, and bushes all around, the vegetation triumphing over the desert sand thanks to the water resource. Behind the oasis, a small cliff surrounded it in a semi-circle, and Anaïs could see adults using it as a comfortable spot to sunbathe while keeping an eye on the children and teenagers playing in the water below. The rock and tall trees provided shaded areas appreciated by those who could no longer bear the gentle warmth of the sun. Here, it was never harsh, but not everyone enjoyed the sharp, constant brightness.

"The children... what happens to them here?" Anaïs suddenly inquired, the scene having raised many questions in her mind. "Do we age in the Afterlife?"

"You're asking these questions now?" Sobek chuckled. "Usually, humans are curious about how the Duat works the second they set foot here. They've heard about it all their lives and want to know if everything they've been taught is true..."

"Humans from her time have forgotten us," Anubis reminded him, defending the young woman. "It's not surprising that she knows nothing about the Duat. The soul of the Blessed materializes here in its most optimal human form, according to the individual's perception. That means some regain the face of their young adulthood, while others continue to age because they believe they haven't yet reached their full potential. For children, it's a bit more complicated. They grow here until a certain age, then they decide for themselves. Appearance isn't something fixed in the Afterlife; think of it more as a direct reflection of the soul."

"But souls can't die, right? The Blessed spend eternity here," she asked as they approached the Oasis.

"Pain exists, but not death," Sobek interjected. "Some Blessed can no longer bear the idea of spiritual immortality and choose to exile themselves."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"What happens to them then? Do they become evil beings?" Anaïs continued, her curiosity knowing no bounds.

"They reincarnate on Earth," Anubis resumed in a neutral tone, "but their right of access to the Field of Offerings is revoked forever."

So, there was a way to leave this paradise, although it would forever close its doors. That was good information to know. Despite the evident happiness and tranquility of the city's inhabitants, Anaïs could easily imagine that eternity might become burdensome. Life on Earth certainly had its flaws, but the idea that nothing was permanent since death could take everything away gave an undeniable richness to all living experiences. Did happiness have the same intensity when it was impossible to go through periods of sorrow? Or was it just Anaïs's mind still thinking too much about human concepts?

"Don't worry, you have eternity to learn how everything works here," Sobek teased, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Great," she grumbled playfully.

Her questions were quickly forgotten when they finally arrived in front of the clear water. The place was simply paradisiacal, even with the few dozen strangers who were also enjoying the location. The younger ones didn't pay attention to the new arrivals, but the adults immediately recognized the two gods and instructed their children to behave or even leave the area. The deities were treated with such respect that some of the Blessed preferred to leave so that their presence wouldn’t disturb them. When the trio sat in the sand, not far from the water, only six individuals remained, still enjoying the sun, either lying down or sitting on the warm rock.

Anaïs immediately removed her sandals to bury her feet in the fine desert grains, enjoying the sensation against her skin. She sighed in contentment, her eyes sweeping across the landscape and the stretch of water before her. It wasn’t very deep and would probably only reach her waist when she stepped in, but just looking at its surface reflecting the green of the few trees surrounding the Oasis had a truly calming effect on her nerves. Sobek mimicked her, unbuttoning his linen shirt to reveal a firm and muscular chest. Anubis, more modest than the extroverted God, simply removed his own shoes.

"The Dakhleh Oasis is known for soothing the soul’s torments and bringing peace to the Blessed affected by mood swings," Sobek explained, burying his hands in the sand behind his back. "I don’t know if it’s true and if it actually has magical properties, but its effect is real."

"Placebo or not, it works for me," Anaïs confirmed with a smile.

"You should go for a swim, it’ll be even more effective if you ask me," he chuckled amusedly, glancing at her dress.

"Ha ha, very funny. I knew you had planned this all along!"

"Planned what?" Anubis finally asked, not understanding the true meaning of their conversation, too absorbed in his own thoughts.

"Nothing!" they exclaimed at the same time, Anaïs annoyed and Sobek in a teasing tone.

He’s going to be disappointed if he thinks I won’t rise to the challenge. If he wants to play, let’s play.

A mischievous smile aimed at Sobek appeared on her lips as she stood up and walked toward the oasis. She stepped into the first few dozen centimeters of water simply by walking, then dived headfirst when it was deep enough, hands forward to break the surface. She swam a few meters in the middle of the small pond, holding her breath the entire time, then stopped when her sense of direction told her she was facing the two gods. With a leap, she rose out of the water, her head forward so her hair hung down and she could toss it back in a shampoo commercial-worthy effect. To accentuate her little show, she sensually ran her fingers through her hair to slick it back, which caused the wet fabric of her dress to cling to her skin. The two gods could clearly see her silhouette and every curve, down to her nipples, pointed by the friction. Anubis noticed the detail, discreetly averting his eyes, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Anaïs couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his reaction and ended up letting herself fall backward to float on the surface, her body still shaking with laughter. She closed her eyes, enjoying the serenity that filled her at that moment. The calm before the storm, she had no doubt.

Sobek joined her in the water a few minutes later and mimicked her by floating on his back. Anubis watched them from a distance, his wound too fresh for wading to be comfortable. They enjoyed the oasis for about two hours, alternating between swimming and resting on the shore. The jackal-headed god tried his best not to glance at Anaïs’s transparent silhouette, who took wicked pleasure in pretending to be innocent, supported by an amused Sobek. Gradually, the Blessed from the cliff had left the area, leaving the trio alone. No one had dared to disturb the gods’ tranquility. Anaïs didn’t complain; she appreciated the calm it offered them. These moments were going to be rare, she had no doubt.

When the sun was relatively high in the sky, Anubis called out to them.

"We should start heading back to Imentet," he suggested, putting on his sandals. "It’s almost time to meet with my mother."

The tension that had left Anaïs's body during their visit to the Dakhleh Oasis reappeared at the mention of the goddess. She sighed but put on her shoes anyway, without much conviction. Between Isis glaring at her at every opportunity or interaction with her son, and Nepthys outright ignoring her, she had doubts about how well dinner would go. Of course, no one would openly attack or disrespect her, but that wouldn’t prevent the atmosphere from being tense.

We’re going to have to accept each other and make peace if we’re going to work together on their quest... Anaïs concluded, already annoyed at the thought that it would mostly be up to her to show good faith.