As they walked on the hot sand of the desert, Kurou stepped on a black fat-tailed scorpion, known as one of the most agressive and dangerous scorpions in the world. The arachnid didn't like being stepped on at all and stung Kurou's foot hard, injecting a sufficient deal of venom to kill an elephant. Riddle took the chance and killed the scorpion quickly, making a meal out of it.
"FUCK, THAT HURTS!", Kurou said, jumping on one leg, his foot swelling instantly, although only for a few seconds.
"Hahaha, watch your step, Kurou", Tut said, amused. "Those little guys are ruthless".
"I could have died here, you know?", Kurou said, dissatisfied. "Africa is not for beginners".
"No, it's not. Be glad that all you felt now was a little bit of pain", Tut said.
"A little bit...look, I think I see someone", Kurou said.
There was a woman tending to a couple of myrrh trees. She had brown skin, her hair tied up, and was wearing plain clothing, a yellow shirt and loose white pants. As Kurou took a good look at her face, he could only describe it as the pinnacle of African beauty.
She was digging through the myrrh tree bark with a dagger until its trunk started to secrete a resin she collected on a bowl. "It's a resin they use as face embellishments", Tut explained.
Without looking, the woman threw the dagger in her hand towards Kurou, piercing his chest before he could even think of dodging. The impact pushed him a few steps back, but he stood his ground.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME AT EVERY GODDAMN CHANCE YOU GOT?", Kurou yelled.
Tut was about to scold him when the woman spoke in a very elegant voice.
"I'm not trying to kill you, Post-Mortal. I'm well aware of your state. But the fact that you got hit so easily kinda proves my point", she said.
"What point?", he asked, pulling the dagger from the wound, already regenerating.
"That you are not ready to face real danger", she said.
"I don't want to face real danger, Miss. I just want to go fishing by a fishless lake somewhere, but oases are kinda hard to find these days", Kurou said.
"Humorous, aren't you Post-Mortal?", she asked.
"Would you please stop calling me Post-Mortal? I have a name, you know?", he said, annoyed.
"I do know, Kurou. I even know it's supposed to mean black, am I wrong?", she said.
"Kurou, would you please mind your manners?", Tut said.
"What? Why? What's wrong with my manners?", he asked.
"Tutankhamon is a very religious and respectful person, Kurou. He feels uncomfortable with your lack of formality around people he deem important", the woman explained.
"So he thinks you're important?", he asked.
"Of course she is!", Tut protested.
"I'm Hatshepsut, Kurou", she said with a smile. "Some call me Maatkare as well".
"So you are the Queen Hatshepsut? Alive just like little boy Tut here?", he asked, surprised.
"Pharaoh, not queen", Hatshepsut frowned. "There's a difference. I didn't just marry a king, I rightfully inherited the throne by being the genuine child of a Pharaoh", she said, serious.
"Okay, duly noted, so...how come you are alive? Got revived through a coven ritual like Tut?", he asked.
"I don't have a coven!", Tut interrupted. "And my followers will be rewarded by Amon-Ra for the sacrifices they made for my ressurection".
"I see you two have become good friends", Hatshepsut said. "What about that little treasure you have there with you?", she pointed at the jackal.
"This is Riddle. He's a smart jackal, but also a prick when he wants to", Kurou said.
"I can see why. He feeds off your behaviour", she said.
"Ouch".
"This conversation has been delightful, but unfortunately our time is short. Maat has a very specific purpose for this meeting. She wants me to prepare you for what's to come", Hatshepsut said.
"I heard that before like half a dozen times, Hat", Kurou said. Egypt is in danger, someone's gotta stop it from going armaggeddon, we need a hero, I'm not a hero, but I'll have to play one anyway".
"You're hopeless, Kurou", Tut said.
"Leave him be, brother", Hatshepsut said. "More importantly, let's have a little spar here, is that acceptable, Kurou?".
"What do you mean? Wanna fight me, right here, right now?", Kurou said.
"Yes. Just a friendly bout. No hard feelings if you lose", she said with a smirk.
"All right. No hard feelings then. Me against the Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Mom would be so proud", he said.
Kurou had barely finished his sentence and Hatshepsut was already face to face with him, throwing a punch so powerful it broke his jaw and sent him rolling over the sand.
Kurou stood up and straightened his jaw, already regenerating.
"Ow, that really hurt!"
"That's the power of a Pharaoh, young man. You must be strong enough to withstand that, at least, if you want to have a chance against the ones you're going to face in the future", she said, dignified.
"That again, huh", Kurou said and ran towards her, delivering punches and kicks she avoided or parried easily.
"You have no technique, Kurou, and you leave yourself too open because you're virtually immortal", she said.
"I'm not a fighter, Hat. I'm just a dude. You're asking too much", he said.
"Fair enough. Come on. I'll let you punch me in the face as a handicap", Hatshepsut said.
"You're letting me punch you in the face, just like that?" Kurou asked, lowering his eyebrows. "Yes", she said curtly.
"Fine. I'll take that". Kurou bolted in her direction and threw a punch to Hatshepsut's face with all his might. Much to his surprise, his wrist and knuckles broke from the impact against her face, as if it was made of steel.
Looking at Kurou from the corner of her eye, Hatshepsut held his wrecked wrist and twisted it, causing him to scream in pain.
Hatshepsut was ready to deliver another powerful blow to Kurou's face when he, fighting through the pain, attacked her with the same arm whose wrist had been broken.
The result was a bloody mess.
Kurou barely managed to escape Hatshepsut's punch, while catching her off-balance and slashing her face with his broken hand, like a whip. It didn't cause more than a scratch to her face, yet she stood in silence for a moment, lost in thought.
"You really don't care, do you?", she asked.
"No, I don't, Ma'am".
"All right. Keep that style, if you're ready to face the consequences. And by that I mean a lot of pain. You're a little twisted in the brain already, so I think you're gonna be fine. Let's move onto the next step of our training. Shadow manipulation", she said.
"Wow, I must be headlining the news all around Egypt these days. Everyone knows about my superpowers", Kurou mocked.
"Focus, soldier. I want you to try to use your shadow power. You have to understand that this power is an extension of your soul, a mirror image that only lasts a couple of seconds but will perform an action at your choosing. Now try to imagine yourself attacking me, without moving your body", she said, firmly.
"Huuh, that really sounds easier said than done", Kurou said.
"JUST DO IT!", she commanded.
"Yes Sir!" he shouted, much to Tut's exasperation.
Kurou closed his eyes and tried to sense his own soul. He put an effort into repeating those situations where he effectively accomplished to manipulate that power.
"Don't try to emulate the same feelings of despair or surprise that once triggered that power, Kurou", she said. "In order to master it, you have to dig deep into the reason why you can do it".
"I have no idea why I can do it, Hat".
"You'll find the answers sometime, I believe", Hat sighed, slightly disappointed. "For now, I'll throw a stone in the air and you catch it with your power, okay?".
"Fine", he said. She tossed the stone into the air and he forcefully projected his shadow towards it, prompting a fart.
"KUROU!", Tut scolded him, desperate.
"Sorry about that, folks", he said. "It seems I still have retained a few physiological aspects of a human being".
"The worst part", Hat said. "Try again, will you?".
"Right. Let's do this", Kurou said.
As Hatshepsut threw the stone again, Kurou projected his shadow in its direction.
A faint, translucent image of Kurou, identical to himself, including the clothes he was wearing, projected in the stone's direction, extending its arm to grab it in the air. It lasted a second and vanished, before it could touch the stone.
"Good for starters", Hatshepsut said. "Let's keep practicing".
Hatshepsut put Kurou through hours of practice on end until he could finally catch the stone with his mirror image before it vanished.
Kurou laid on the ground, not tired physically but mentally. Practicing something he never thought possible a couple of days ago could be incredibly draining.
"I don't ever want to do this again. I want to go home and drink mashed potatoes through a straw", he said.
"If you don't keep training and refining your abilities, you will be mashed potato soon enough", Hatshepsut said.
"Why are you doing this? What does Maat want from me?", he asked.
"Maat is the root of all things. Her design is not easy to comprehend, let alone explain. But I know, for sure, that she is the true meaning of Justice, in this world. Whatever purpose she has for you, it has to be a rightful one", she said.
"Well, that's good to hear, although not very informative", Kurou said. "I think I'll be going n...", and before he could finish his sentence, she threw her dagger again at his chest, but he managed to block it with the back of his hand.
"I see you already improved a little. Still trying to pay for your sins through pain, I guess, but at least you protected yourself a little", Hatshepsut said.
"I appreciate your thoughts and words, Hatshepsut. But I don't care about my sins. Someone said my heart is heavy, but I really don't care about that. I just wanna finish all this so there's no monster chasing me around the world anymore. I never thought I would be dragged into a mythological turned real war of gods and kings. I just wanted something to alleviate the boredom and it turned into this", Kurou said.
"I know what you mean. I also don't care about sins or guilt. They impair our sight and hinder our spirit. Whatever you choose to do now, I can guarantee it's too late to run away. Your actions will impact not only Egypt's future, but possibly the whole world's", Hatshepsut said.
"That's just great", Kurou said, annoyed.
"See it the good way", Hatshepsut mused, "now you can evolve from the useless slob you have always been into someone actually useful for the world".
"Am I supposed to thank you for that?", Kurou said.
"No, Kurou, I will thank you when that happens", she said.
"Right. Guess we're off, huh? No more throwing daggers?", Kurou asked.
"No more daggers, I promise", she said.
"Okay, huh, nice to meet you then, Hat. Call me, will ya?", he said.
"What?", she asked, confused.
"Don't mind him, sister", Tut said. "He's not worth your time or attention".
"Hey!", Kurou called out.
"Give me a moment with Hatshepsut, will you, buddy?", Tut asked.
"Sure, I'll be right there playing with my jackal", Kurou said.
Although playing wasn't exactly how one would describe having a hand ripped off by extremely sharp teeth.
-------------
Tutanhkamon and Hatshepsut talked for an hour or so, and Kurou was lying on the sand, trying to take a nap. A naja bit his foot, and he screamed in pain. He was about to kill the snake when Tut yelled at him.
"DON'T!".
Kurou stopped in his tracks, allowing the snake to escape. It ran towards Tut, who crouched while the snake erected its body as if it was being charmed.
Tut's eyes glowed silver for a minute or two, and as the glow faded, Tut rose to his feet.
"Wadjet says it is time", he told Hatshepsut, turning his gaze towards Kurou and Riddle.
"Very well", Hatshepsut said, looking at Kurou with a stern expression. "Listen to me, Kurou. Sutekh, or Set, is trying to come back to the realm of the living. He is no ordinary foe: as the Egyptian God of deserts, storms and violence, you can expect from him nothing but destruction and desolation. I don't know how well versed you are about the Egyptian Myths, but what's happening now has all the chances of turning out different from what's written in history books".
"By different you mean worse", he said.
"Yes. You are being presented with a choice now. You can either choose to fight Set, risking your own existence, or leave Egypt to never return. I can't guarantee you'll have peace of mind whatever choice you make", Hatshepsut said.
"I don't feel comfortable playing hero, and I'm not a savior or a messiah", Kurou said. "I really don't know what you're expecting of me, Hat".
"It's not about what I expect, it's about what has been done", she said. "You are a Post-Mortal, Kurou. That is not a myth or legend, that's just plain taboo. No living man or woman should ever escape the Weighing of the Heart. But you did. Special or not, you did it, and nobody knows why".
"And that means I have to stop a war between Egyptian Gods", he said, skeptical.
"No, that means you have been caught in the crossfire. You're a victim, Kurou. You were never expected to stop a war. But that might be the only way you can avoid not only the destruction of Egypt, but also your own".
"Because of Ammit".
"Precisely", Hatshepsut said. "The Devourer won't ever let you rest".
"I get it", he said. "Where should I go, then?", he asked.
"Cairo", she said. "Tutankhamon will show you where you need to go. Now please hurry. We need to stop this madness before it gets too late."