I need to be stronger.
As Zoser wandered through the towering shelves of the vast library, his keen eyes scanned the ancient books and yellowed manuscripts tightly packed on the timeworn wooden racks. He was desperately searching for any mention of Anubis, any clue that might unravel the mystery behind the catastrophe that had obliterated his village. The scent of aged paper and cracked leather filled his nostrils, but it didn't distract him from his quest.
He entered the section dedicated to ancient deities, where dust had settled thickly upon the shelves, as if this part of the library had remained untouched for years. His small fingers brushed over titles engraved in enigmatic scripts until his gaze fell upon a book distinct from the rest—a pitch-black cover adorned with the image of a jackal's head. His heart pounded, and with trembling hands, he pulled the book from its place.
The cover was inscribed in an archaic language, but Zoser could discern the title: "Secrets of Anubis: Guardian of the Scales and Gatekeeper of the Underworld."
He sat on the cold floor, cautiously opened the pages, and began to read:
"Anubis, god of the dead, weigher of souls, and guide for those crossing into the afterlife. It is said he can restore balance between worlds and has granted select humans unique powers related to the soul and death."
The words seemed to come alive before his eyes, as if speaking directly to him. He flipped through the pages eagerly, seeking more, until a passage caught his attention:
"Anubis was not merely a ruler of souls but also a master of dark secrets. Ancient texts speak of mysterious rituals associated with him, believed to bestow exceptional abilities upon chosen individuals. Some ancient priests were said to have summoned Anubis's power, but these rituals were concealed following the great conflict among the gods."
A shiver ran through Zoser. The great conflict... the war that Anubis lost, leading to his diminished influence. Could this be why information about him is so scarce?
He continued reading until he reached a chapter titled:
"Anubis and Spiritual Energy: Guardians of the Gateways Between Worlds"
Holding his breath, he read intently:
"Anubis has long been associated with the afterlife, but few know that some of his rituals aimed to transfer souls from one realm to another or even protect them from forces seeking to manipulate them. Legends tell of entire villages disappearing after certain ceremonies, with inhabitants believed not to have died but to have transitioned to another dimension through still-unfathomable powers."
Entire villages disappearing...!
Zoser's eyes widened, and his breathing quickened. Could his village be one of them? Were his parents and fellow villagers not killed but transported elsewhere?
He quickly turned the page:
"In some instances, this phenomenon occurs when a 'soul gate' is activated—a convergence point between the physical and spiritual worlds. These gates are said to be guarded by ancient energies and can only be opened under specific conditions, such as the proximity of a rare celestial event or the activation of a particular power buried in the earth since ancient times."
His breath caught. The gate!
Could the explosion caused by his dog, "Benyamin," have opened such a gate? Was the event that befell his village not destruction but a transition?
But... how could he be certain? How could he find his village and reunite with his family?
He leafed through more pages, but the information seemed incomplete, as if entire sections had been deliberately removed or obscured. Doubts swirled in his mind, especially after realizing that details about Anubis were exceedingly scarce following the ancient war he lost, which diminished his impact on the world.
Suddenly, the librarian's voice interrupted, announcing the end of the allotted reading time.
Zoser closed the book slowly, unwilling to leave. He felt the answer was close, yet still out of reach.
He left the library, but his thoughts remained within. Something was missing, something he had yet to comprehend...
Then, the image of the old hag flashed in his mind.
The mysterious woman he had seen after his village vanished, the one who carried a black book and an Anubis figurine. Who was she? And why did she appear immediately after the explosion?
A chill coursed through him. If there was an answer, it lay with her. But he realized that finding her wouldn't be easy... and extracting information from her would require a strength he didn't yet possess.
In that moment, for the first time, Zoser felt an urgent need to become stronger.
Not just to survive, but to uncover the truth... and reclaim all he had lost.
---
A quiet night... and a room glowing under the light of a faint candle.
Zoser sat on his bed, a blank sheet of paper and a pen in front of him, staring into space as he tried to organize his thoughts. The recent days had been filled with challenges and discoveries, but one thing became clear to him—he needed to become stronger.
He picked up the pen and began to write:
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My Plan to Improve My Strength
First: Understanding Strengths and Weaknesses
"To achieve strength, I must understand myself first. I will enhance my strengths and work on minimizing my weaknesses."
---
1- Strengths:
✅ My Physical and Combat Skills:
Thanks to my training with Onar, I've become skilled with various weapons such as swords and spears. I've also started mastering hand-to-hand combat techniques, but I still need more training to improve my speed and accuracy in advanced situations. I may need to focus more on military tactics and develop a fighting style that suits my skills on the field.
✅ Possessing the Eye of Horus and the Scarab of Anubis:
The Eye of Horus gives me the ability to heighten my awareness and detect traps with clear vision, but I need to upgrade it to the second level (the Eye of Revelation) to be more effective. I will look for ways to activate it fully when I need it.
The Scarab of Anubis remains a mystery. Although I gain energy from it, I haven't yet learned how to fully activate its power.
✅ My Presence in the Academy:
The academy provides me with an amazing learning environment. I have access to rare manuscripts and expert instructors who can help me acquire more knowledge about ancient powers and the mysterious rituals associated with them. Being here is a priceless opportunity.
---
2- Weaknesses:
❌ My Spiritual Power Level:
I need to find ways to make ether absorption more efficient. I require continuous training to improve my ability to control and use spiritual energy effectively in combat. Perhaps I can learn meditation techniques or ancient rituals to increase my control over the ether.
❌ The Activation Level of the Eye of Horus:
I can't activate it for long periods, and the fatigue that follows using it is a major flaw. I must learn how to enhance its activation level so I can use it consciously and effectively in critical moments.
❌ My Lack of Knowledge about the Scarab of Anubis:
I don't know much about the powers of the Scarab of Anubis, so I need to search for any information about it.
---
Second: Development Plan
📌 1- Developing My Spiritual Power:
Daily meditation to increase my awareness of spiritual energy. I will set a specific time each day to train my ability to absorb and control spiritual energy.
I will look for techniques within the academy to improve my ability to absorb ether more efficiently. I may need to train with instructors who have deeper knowledge in this field.
I will test my spiritual abilities in different situations to understand their limits and discover what can be improved each time.
📌 2- Improving the Use of the Eye of Horus:
Intensive training to activate the eye when needed, and practicing using it in dangerous situations or battles.
I will try to understand its internal activation mechanism so I can use it consciously at the right moment.
📌 3- Uncovering the Secrets of the Scarab of Anubis:
I will search for teachers or scholars in the academy who have knowledge of the Scarab of Anubis or might possess ancient texts that explain how to activate its power.
I will experiment with touching the scarab at different times and observe its effect on my spiritual energy. I must be cautious, as it may have unexpected consequences.
---
Zoser closed his notebook, took a deep breath, then laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.