Journey Across the Nile

Chapter One

In the blazing sun, Nena is playing senet with her best friend. They were playing in a square, in the town of Septunis. Nena has light brown skin and dark brown hair. She also has hazel eyes. Zalika, her friend, is beating her by far. "Come on, Nena. How are you this bad?" Zalika said laughingly. "How are you this good? "  asks Nena in return. Zalika laughed as she threw the sticks, and won the game. "Ha! I won." she said, grabbing the oil next to the board. "This is mine now." Nena looked with a disappointed face at Zalika, who laughed once again. "You know you can't play senet without gambling. It makes it more fun!" "I know, I know. But, remind me, how is this fair again? You're the best player of Septunis. " Nena exclaimed. "And, you're sweating like crazy." "What is that for an argument! Besides, it's sjemoe. It's dry and hot. Just like the rest of the country." Zalika said. "It's Kemet. What do you expect!" Nena said laughingly.  "Fair enough." Zalika said. "Nena! Time to eat!" Nena's mother shouted. "Coming!" Nena shouted back. "See ya!" she said to Zalika and ran inside. "What are we eating?" she asked. "Goat, your favorite." Nena's mom, Jamila said. "Nice. Let's eat. I'm hungry." Nena said while sitting at the table. "Good evening to you too, Nena." Netos, her older brother, said smiling, who was already at the table. "What do you want Netos?" Nena asked. "Nothing. Yet." Netos said, still smiling. "I don't trust you at all." Nena said , sitting down. "Both of you, stop this. Eat your food." their mother said, a bit annoyed. "Yes, mom." Nena and Netos said in chorus, and they ate in silence. "Why are you guys so quiet?" Jamila asked. "Don;t have much to say." Nena said. "Same here." Netos said. "If you guys aren't going to say anything, I have an announcement. I have a date." Jenna said smiling. Netos almost choked on his goat as a response, before he could actually reply . "Excuse me?" Their dad had died a few years ago, and their mom did not have much luck in the love department ever since. The fact that she found someone came as shock. "What's his name? Is he hot?" Nena asked. "Well, his name is Jafari." began their mother. "Continue." Nena pushed. Then they heard a knock at the door. "That must be him!" Jamila said and went to greet him. "Since when does mom want a boyfriend again?" asked Nena. "No idea." replied Netos. "I have to leave. Go to bed on time! Bye!" Jamila said and went away. "So, what now?" asked Nena. "We have some fun, and go to sleep." Netos said. "Boring." Nena said. "Whatever. Do what you want." said Netos. "No, wait. Magic." Netos said smilingly. "Magic? We can't even do magic. What about Heka?" Nena asked. "Fair point." Netos said. "Contact the gods?" "That's illegal." Nena said. "But why? Why can't we contact the gods? What's so wrong with that?" Netos asked. "Wel, people started to abuse the power. People got hurt. Horrible things." Nena said. "I know. Just sucks though. Why would people to that to others?" Netos wonders. "I have no idea. The power got to their head, I guess." Nena said. "Only magicians are allowed to use magic. After they went to a 5 year long schooling. Why would you want to do that?" asked Netos. "Let's not complain about this, and do something fun." Nena suggested. "Fine, what do you want to do." Netos sighted. "No idea. Senet?" Nena asked. "Sure thing." Netos said and got up to get the senet board.

"I'm going to bed. I'm tired." Nena said later in the evening. "Good idea. It's actually late. Let's go to bed." Netos said. They ran up to their respective rooms. Nena crashed on her bed, and fell asleep almost immediately. While sleeping, suddenly got a visitor. "Nena? Can you hear me?" A boy asked. The boy had black hair, and blue eyes. He looked the same age as Nena: late teen. "Who are you?" Nena asked. "Maybe you recognize me in my other form. But you don't recognise me? " the boy said and his head transformed into a jackal, and wore a kilt and was shirtless. "Anubis? How? Why?" Nena asked startled. "Listen to me. You have heard of  the Nifei right?" Anubis asked. "Yes. They are a myth. They don't exist. What about them?" Nena said confused. "Well, they do exist. They are still out there." Anubis said. "But, how? Didn't they die when Amethyst bound them in the sarcophagi?" Nena asked. "No. they don't die imately. It takes time before they die, and chaos takes over." Anubis explained. "And why are you telling me all this? You're a god. " Nena asked. "You can save them. You can make the balance right again." Anubis said to Nena. "First, change back human. It's disturbing to see a jackal head on a human talking. No offence. Second of all, why me? How can I help?" Nena asked,still very confused. Anubis turned back human again. "Better?" he asked. "Yeah." Nena said. "But continue your explanation." "Here's the thing. Amethyst made sure that no god can access the chained Nifei. Humans can, but they don't have the power to reverse the magic. But Amethyst overlooked the fact that if human and gods combined go to the Nifei, they can undo the curse." Anubis explained. "But thats illegal. Hosting magic of the gods." Nena said. "Fair enough. But rules are meant to be broken. And in this case, if we don't, the world won't be the way it is now. Horrible. Chaotic. Nothing is stable." Anubis said. "But, why are you telling me this. Can't you get a magician or someone skilled in heka?" Nena asked. "No, because they can't cope with the amount of magic." Anubis said. "And I can?" Nena said. "That's right. You are able to host the gods power." Anubis said. "So, I need to go and save the world?" Nena asked. "Yes." Anubis said. "But why wait until now. Amethyst did this ages ago." Nena asked. "Because we weren't sure who was capable enough. People who can host gods often don't know it themselves. So it's hard to find one." Anubis explained. "You're the first one we have found that can handle it. " "Ok, when do I start and find the Nifiei. Who will I host?" Nena asked. "You need to start as soon as possible. All we know is that the Nifei are in the oldest pyramid built." Anubis said. "You mean the pyramid of Djoser?" Nena asked. "That one." Anubis said. "It's really hard enter the pyramid. Djoser had Imhotep weave in magic in the pyramid for the defences. Over time, they only strengthened and got more unpredictable. Then Amethyst did his own magic on top of that. So that's something." Anubis said. "Will I be alone?" Nena asked. "No. We are on your side Nena. We gods are everywhere. So we are with you at all times. But, you can bring someone with you if you want." Anubis suggested. "As in a human being. Might be good that you have someone to be with trough this all." "Ok, I'll leave in the morning." Nena said. "What about my parents? And Netos?" "I'll leave them a message." Anubis reassured Nena. "Can you also leave a message to Zakila? I want her to join me." Nena asked. "I will. Now go to sleep. You need it." Anubis said.  "Wasn't I already sleeping?" Nena asked before she fell into a dreamless sleep.