Sweat poured from her brow as Irobu crouched in the humid cave. Her feet were sore; she hadn’t quite developed the leathery soles of her older siblings and parents.

I’ll get them in time, Irobu consoled herself.

Hekal’s morning sermon also echoed in her mind: Hard work is the path to righteousness…do not be led astray by those who refuse their sacred duties! Or those who spurn the opportunities for greatness I offer each and every one of you!

And this is the opportunity the almighty Hekal has so benevolently granted our family, Irobu thought gratefully, collecting stone and ore fragments.

Hammering away at the walls of the dimly lit cavern, her older siblings were breaking off fragments from the cavern walls for her to sort. Ore went in a bag hanging on her left shoulder and slag went in a bag hanging on her right shoulder. Concurrently, her father and mother were walking around and holding one of Hekal’s crystals for light.

“So where does it lead, Vik?” Irobu’s mother Nyo quizzed Irobu’s father.

“It seems to keep going forward and down a ways, but something is strange with this formation. A lot of air pockets,” Irobu’s father Vikria remarked, running his finger over the pockmarked cavern wall.

“Well Father Sir, could we be mining through a lava vent?” Ora, one of Irobu’s older siblings, asked. “Not an active one of course, but maybe a dried one?”

“Good guess Ora, but we’ve yet to see any volcanic rock. Plus, we wouldn’t find all this ore intact if we were close to a vent. Some would have melted,” Nyo replied. Irobu smiled. One day I’ll be like her: running a crew, keeping our family relevant—and above all—making Hekal proud. I’ve got my work cut out for me, though I know Hekal will guide me.

Vikria nodded. “Your mother’s right again,” he added as he tapped on a segment of the wall. “Try hitting right here, Desta, I think it’s another air bubble—a big one this time.” Desta shifted positions while the rest of the family labored on and filled the small cavern with the clinking from their pickaxes. Irobu continued to scurry around and fill her bags.

“Father Sir, I broke through,” Desta informed, pointing at the new void near the bottom of the wall. Irobu meanwhile cringed at the added “Sir”.

It’s so inefficient that we need to add that honorific even when addressing our own parents, Irobu grumbled, though she nonetheless turned to examine the fresh opening.

“Let’s see if there’s anything in there, shall we?” Vikria suggested. He held the glowing crystal close to the hole and peered inside. “Definitely bigger than the last one. Looks like…it goes on for a little ways, albeit with a fairly low ceiling. Keep picking away; let’s clear the entrance.”

A nudge broke Irobu’s focus on the mysterious hole. “Come on Irobu, an air bubble is no reason to slow down! And empty your bags now and then,” Irobu’s mother chided. Glancing down, Irobu noticed fragments spilling out of her overfull sacks.

“My apologies mother ma’am,” Irobu responded, face feeling even warmer. Hustling out of the small cavern, she hauled her heavy bags to the conveyor belt. Great. She’ll probably keep me on collecting duty for another few weeks because of that. I was so close to getting my own pickaxe! Dumping the contents of her bags on opposite sides of the conveyor belt’s partition, Irobu watched as the products of her family’s labor began their slow ascent to the surface. I’m already on unsteady ground, no time for breaks. I won’t be led astray, she thought, picking up her empty sacks and forcing herself to head back to the steamy cavern. When she returned, she saw that the hole had been expanded into a round opening about two-thirds of a meter tall. Her father was throwing pebbles down the small tunnel and looked up as she approached.

“Ah Irobu, just who we were looking for,” her father declared with a smile. “Desta here unearthed a passageway. The rest of the family are a bit too large to squeeze in though. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, but I still think someone should take a peek. Are you up for the challenge?”

A chance to prove my worth! Maybe I will get that pickaxe soon, after all! Thank you for the opportunity, Hekal! “Yes Father Sir! Anything to help the family!” Irobu exclaimed.

“Good girl. Now take this,” Vikria commanded as he broke off a chunk of Hekal’s luminescent crystal. Irobu held it in her left hand and eagerly started towards the tunnel.

“Not so fast Irobu,” Nyo admonished, putting a hand on Irobu’s shoulder. “First take off your collecting bags. Second, take this,” Nyo instructed, handing Irobu a steel dagger. “There may be rats or other pests in there, so best to be careful. Remember what I taught you?”

“Yes Mother Ma’am,” Irobu replied, gripping the blade in her right hand. Holding the knife level with her chest, she practiced jabbing a few times. “See?”

“Very good, Irobu,” her mother commended. “Now one very important thing before you venture in there. Everyone, listen up,” Nyo ordered, raising her voice. She blew on the whistle hanging around her neck. Immediately, the rest of the Vikria clan turned to look at their matriarch and halted their pickaxes.

“It is time for another prayer to Hekal. He has blessed us with this ore vein, and we must remain grateful. Thank you, O great Hekal,” Nyo articulated, closing her eyes. The rest of the family repeated after her and closed their eyes in turn. “Sister Irobu will be exploring an air pocket as well. O great Hekal, please watch over and protect your faithful servant Irobu Vikria.” The rest of the family again repeated after Nyo. “May she find another vein to honor your greatness. Now Irobu, you are ready. Go forth,” she ordered and nudged Irobu towards the narrow tunnel. Prayers completed, the chamber filled with the sound of metal striking rock.

With much excitement, Irobu walked up to the entrance of the air bubble. She hunched down on her hands and knees and commenced the crawl down the passage. I see what Father meant—it is very smooth, and just my size. It must be Hekal’s will for me to be here.

Her mind reeled with possibilities about the motherlode she might find, and the resultant prestige that would be bestowed upon her family. Full of hope, Irobu pressed on. The passage was longer than she had expected and curved upward slightly. Her knees were getting sore from the hard stone, nevertheless she saw that the passage widened ahead. Holding up Hekal’s glowing crystal, Irobu realized the passageway opened into a larger cavern with a stalagmite in the center.

This new, roughly spherical cavity had the same smooth walls as the tunnel Irobu had previously crawled through, though the walls here were much darker. She paused for a moment while listening for sounds from the chamber ahead, although she heard nothing but the quiet echoes of pickaxes chipping away in the distance. Gingerly, Irobu proceeded forward, dagger at the ready. Her advance revealed that what she’d thought was a stalagmite was something significantly more complex. This outcropping was a set of intricately woven strands that formed a transparent, cylindrical shell that was roughly Irobu’s height. The strands were made of a milky red mineral like nothing she had ever seen; enclosed within this unknown material was a tall and narrow rectangular prism. Ignoring the formation momentarily, Irobu moved past the strange cylinder and scanned the rest of the chamber for threats.

Empty. Air bubble ends here too, she declared once done with her sweep.

Her attention then returned to the otherworldly shell at the center of the cavern. Is this what power crystals looked like? Proctor Fassil said miners used to scratch crystals they’d find. If they lit up you knew they were power crystals. Power crystals are pretty worthless now though. Irobu felt her hopes dropping. Mother and Father will probably tell me to come back in here anyway to double check. Might as well impress them with my diligence even if there’s no big haul.

Irobu carefully walked up to the crystal protrusion. Clutching her dagger firmly, she scratched a line several centimeters long. Not very tough. Irobu watched the incision closely. Any second now, any second. Sparkling from Irobu’s crystal fragment, the shell remained unchanged. Guess I was wrong. I think power crystals were more orange. She thought a moment while she tapped the crystal with her dagger. I’ve been in here awhile, so I should probably bring something to show for all my time. Can’t have Mother and Father thinking I was slacking. Hoping to chip off a piece, Irobu began striking the crimson shell with her dagger at an angle. White cracks spiderwebbed out from the impacts. Several blows later, an eye sized chunk broke free, which Irobu quickly seized.

She studied the fragment as she made for the exit of the chamber. The cracks in this chunk are still spreading, is this some kind of an unstable mineral? I hope it stays in one piece until I get back. Getting down on her hands and knees once more, Irobu looked back on the shell one final time. The cracks are spreading there too, did I ruin the entire formation? As she lingered on the threshold, the red shell shattered with a loud bang. A heartbeat later, a severe rumbling rocked the cavern.

A cave-in? An earthquake? Dust and pebbles rained down from the ceiling as Irobu cowered before the tunnel entrance. I might get crushed if I try to pass back through that tunnel! Hekal, you’re my only hope! Save me! Watch over my family and me in our time of need!

Notwithstanding her prayer, both the rumbling and Irobu’s panic intensified. Fractures formed on the once smooth walls of the air bubble. Another bang resonated through the cavern, and subsequently the air filled with a white mist. Holding her breath, Irobu hoped for the best. Just as suddenly as the tremor began however, it once again ceased.

Praised be Hekal. Happy to be alive, Irobu surveyed the grotto anew. Rubble now blocked the passageway back to the Vikrias’ mine and the mist lingered in the air. Resiliently, Irobu attempted to clear the way by tossing debris back into the small chamber. Already her lungs burned as she held her breath to avoid inhaling the mist. There’s too much here! I’ll never make it out on one breath! Hekal protect me! she frantically exhorted before finally giving in to her body’s demands and taking a breath of the mysterious mist.

A thunderous voice speaking in a strange tongue filled her mind.

O great Hekal, is that you? Have you heard my plea and come to save me? Irobu thought in amazement. More unknown speech boomed through her mind in the same foreign language. Lord, I do not understand your holy words. Enlighten me such that I may comprehend and serve! One more string of words tore through her thoughts and then Irobu’s view of the cave receded.

In its place, Irobu saw her life flashing before her eyes: her consecration at Hekal’s temple in Gargam. Learning the words and phrases of the common tongue from her parents. Puttering through one of her family’s mines as a toddler. Playing with her older siblings in the Vikria mansion. All the lessons on Hekal’s glory, and the time spent learning the feats of her parents and ancestors. Her first trip to the capital to see the Sanusi Harvest Festival. The first time she saw the grand harvesters and tractors.

Next, Irobu saw the first mining operation she helped with and heard her mother’s encouraging words. The memories became more recent: the alarming start of her womanhood. The regular trips to Gargam Academy and the many hours spent listening to the eccentric Proctor Fassil. Geography lessons and hours of studying maps of the continent. All the inspirational speeches her parents gave the family to drive home the importance of their labor, as well as Hekal’s daily sermons. Her Father’s remark that she was almost ready for a pickaxe of her own. The countless descents into her family’s sweltering mines to collect ore fragments. Gradually the memories slowed until she ultimately rewatched the events from earlier that day: her decision to enter the passageway and chip the crystalline shell. The quake and mist filling the cavern, and her inhalation of the haze. Coughing vigorously, Irobu hacked up a thick black substance. Adding to her disorientation, the glowing chunk of Hekal’s crystal faded out.

UNDERSTAND NOW? a haughty voice bellowed.

Yes O great Hekal! I, your faithful servant Irobu Vikria, understand your divine words!

NOT HEKAL! the voice shouted, causing Irobu’s head to ache.

Then…who are you? One of Hekal’s priests?

NO! NOT PRIEST. AM…GOD…TUPK-THRUN. TRAPPED IN CRYSTAL. YOU FREED. NOW WE ARE ONE. WE GO TO NZAMBT-HOK.

STOP YELLING, WHATEVER YOU ARE! And god what? What do you mean ‘we are one’?

DO NOT ORDER ME. GOD-TUPK THRUN TAKES NO ORDERS. FOOLISH I-RO-BU, the voice fumed, TUPK MEANS—LEADER, COUNCILOR, RULER. YOU INHALED MY…HTUITK—MY SPIRIT. WE SHARE BODY UNTIL I ZTIK…RISE AT NZAMBT-HOK.

Irobu’s mind reeled with ghost stories from her childhood, namely ones where demons possessed Sanusites whose faith was lacking. Only an impassioned plea to Hekal might stave them off. “O great Hekal! Expel this evil spirit! He pollutes my mind and seeks to control my body!” Irobu exclaimed desperately.

Her head filled with raucous laughter. FOOLISH IROBU, HEKAL CARES NOT FOR YOU. YOU WASTE YOUR BREATH. WILL LEAVE WHEN WE GET TO NZAMBT-HOK.

Silence demon, my conviction will not falter! The great Hekal would never turn away from one of his chosen people! “Hekal I know you’re listening!”

YOUR INSOLENCE IS INFURIATING! WHY DID I HAVE TO GET FOUND BY A BRAINWASHED ZEALOT? IT WAS BAD ENOUGH HEARING THE ERNTZES, NEVERMIND COHABITING A BODY WITH ONE WHO IS EQUALLY INDOCTRINATED, the voice grew even louder in Irobu’s mind; her head felt ready to burst. ‘HEKAL’S CHOSEN PEOPLE’? ‘HEKAL’S CHOSEN PEOPLE’? THE NZANK WERE HEKAL’S CHOSEN PEOPLE! NOT YOUR THEOCRACY, YOUR SNIVELING EXCUSE FOR A CIVILIZATION! HEKAL GAVE US OUR START AND WE MADE THE MOST OF IT, DESPITE HIS EVER GROWING CRAVINGS FOR ATTENTION. BUT WHAT HAS HE DONE SINCE? WHY AREN’T OUR CITIES ON YOUR MAP? the voice reached a fever pitch as dizziness overwhelmed Irobu.

STOP SCREAMING! she pleaded, hands gripping her temples.

ANSWER ME, WORM! Irobu saw the cavern floor rising to meet her.

~

When she came to, Irobu realized that she was standing in the same cavern and that a mote of light floated ahead of her. Glancing down, she saw her hands were contorted in a strange pattern. Irobu wrinkled her nose at the overpowering aroma now filling the space.

Cinnamon? Irobu scanned the cavern and observed that the tunnel was still blocked. Hekal, have you sent this light to guide me and clear the way?

Give me some warning when you’re going to wake! It’s cripplingly painful being shunted from controlling you! Thrun demanded angrily, though in a much quieter tone than his prior outburst. And for the record, I am speaking softly now because I choose to.

Your incessant heresy made me faint in the first place! Besides, there’s no way I can give you a warning before I wake!

Why did I have to inhabit a magic-less simpleton? To answer your first puerile question, no, that was not the work of Hekal. I, God-King Thrun of Clan Nzambt, used some of my great power to cast a spell using your puny body.

You did WHAT? Only Hekal’s priests are allowed to use magic! Only they can use it safely here! You’ve broken so many Commandments! You’re lucky you didn’t get me killed!

Get us killed you mean, and we’ve broken so many Commandments. I blame you for not informing me on the curious enchantment hanging over this land.

I don’t have to inform you about anything! Hekal will banish you any minute! Begone!

You’ve been unconscious for quite a while, if Hekal was going to intervene he would have. Hekal has forsaken you. Like it or not girl we are stuck together for the time being.

He would never forsake me! This must be a trial of my faith! I will pass! One of his priests will exorcise your evil presence! I only need to get out of here! Irobu began to feel out of breath. Exasperated, she started another attempt to dislodge the rocks blocking the tunnel back to her family’s mine.

It’s much too heavy for your gangly frame. You will only escape with the help of I, the almighty God-King Thrun of Clan Nzambt! And you’d better get out soon. Feel the air getting thinner? You’ve almost used it all up.

Irobu grimaced as the dizziness returned. Perhaps there is a kernel of truth in your lies. But for Hekal’s sake you don’t need to repeat your title at every opportunity! I care not if you are the king of Hell itself!

Cease your blathering. I’ll ignore your impudence this once for you may pass out at any moment. We’ll need to cast another spell to escape. Follow my instructions and repeat after me.

I will do no such thing! That would preclude me from the afterlife! “O great Hekal! Save me!”

You’re ‘possessed’ and have already cast several spells. You’re precluded already if your memory of Hekal’s ‘Commandments’ is correct. Your only hope is to somehow redeem yourself. In which case you’ll need to make it out of this cave, SO DO AS I SAY! FOR BOTH OF OUR SAKES!

Of course my knowledge of the Commandments is accurate! But there’s a difference, you cast the spells using my body, I didn’t cast them! Hekal will see the difference, no doubt. Furthermore, if he will not intervene, then he is signaling it is my time to return to Him. I hope you are at peace with your maker, Irobu concluded and laid down on the dusty floor.

You can’t just lay there! That’s suicide! Listen to me you stubborn idi— Thrun tried once more to spur Irobu to action.

His raging plea was drown out by a low, calm speaker that Irobu instantly recognized. Irobu Vikria, my plan for you does not end here, Hekal’s voice proclaimed. This was indeed a test of your faith, one which you passed convincingly. The next step will be equally difficult to swallow. You will be forced to leave Gargam and your family behind, and harder still, you must follow Thrun’s plans. He too is a cog in my grand design, no matter how heretical he may seem. So go on, cast the spell. You’ll need plenty of practice if you are to fulfill your true destiny. Additionally, mention these instructions to no one. This is a burden you must bear alone, Hekal finished, allowing Thrun’s voice to once more be heard.

“…EN’T YOU LISTENING YOU SLACKJAW? HEKAL WILL HARDLY NOTICE ONE SIMPLE SPELL! CAST IT YOU FOOL!” his desperate tirade continued.

FINE! You’re right, but stop yelling! she capitulated, taking a deep breath. Hekal, please forgive me. Know that I do not break your divine Commandments lightly. Now tell me your instructions, demon. Happy to have finally broken through to the young Sanusite, Thrun coached Irobu through the complicated series of gestures and phrases the spell required.

Now touch the debris and imagine it melting into the rest of the tunnel. Pray that that’s all that happens. Bending over, Irobu laid her outstretched hand on the heavy rubble. Her hand started tingling against the cold stone. Much to her astonishment, Irobu felt the stone soften beneath her fingers. Simultaneously however, a bolt of lightning erupted from Irobu’s other hand. For a split second the grotto was bright as day as the bolt blasted to the other side of the chamber. It subsequently dissipated into the earth.

Demon, what trickery is this! Hoping to make me suffer in my last moments?

Concentrate on the spell! We can still escape if you focus your feeble mind on melting the debris. That bolt was an unexpected side effect due to the bizarre enchantment on this land. I see why Hekal enacted that Commandment at least.

How dare you question Hekal! There are reason—

The propaganda can wait! Focus on the spell so we don’t need to cast another one!

Irobu ground her teeth in frustration but stayed silent. Heart pounding and ears ringing, she closed her eyes and imagined turning the rocks to liquid. Moments later, the grotto was filled with a faint gurgling sound, and then fresh air buffeted Irobu’s sweat covered face.

Behold the power of I Go—

Can it, Irobu interrupted Thrun’s long-winded title. She fumbled around in the gloom for her Mother’s dagger. Once her fingers clasped the cold metal, she started the crawl through the dark tunnel. Your power almost killed me, never mind the quake that may have hurt my family. You’ll be able to rattle off your title as much as you like when you’re back in Hell. What will it take to send you back there?

Perhaps your mind was too clogged with Hekal’s lies when I told you earlier. We must go to a city of the Nzank called Nzambt-Hok. I must find out what became of them, why they let your band of savages build cities so close to our home. My former body should be preserved there, for you see the Nzank are excellent planners—unlike you, clearly. We thought of every contingency in case the ascension did not succeed.

Clearly your people did not think of all the contingencies or they’d still be around. That is the fate of all civilizations who scorn the guidance of the great Hekal!

I suspect it was a meddling from a higher power. Impossible to plan around divine intervention, or the lack thereof, as you experienced first-hand today. But we shall see once we return to my incredible kingdom. I am sure it is just as spectacular after all these years.

The Nzank’s failures aside, where is this ‘Nzambt-Hok’?

Based on your two dimensional map, which is inherently inaccurate, Nzambt-Hok is located north and east of here, on the far side of what you call the ‘Kamal Expanse’.

On the far side of the Expanse? That’s hundreds of kilometers away! Never mind that it’s been heavily guarded ever since the pipelines were constructed. Irobu saw light flickering around the next bend of the tunnel. The worried voices of her family trickled down the smooth shaft to her. We’re almost out. Don’t you dare do anything or I’ll go to the priests—whatever the consequences.

If there was anything I could do, I’d have done it by now. I detest being in your body as much as you detest having me. No beard and such ridiculous legs, truly demeaning. Nevertheless I will think up an ingenious plan to recover my form. Consequently, you will be without my sage wisdom for several hours, so don’t do anything too foolish. In the meantime, fetch supplies for a long journey, girl.

Sage wisdom? More like obnoxious yelling and arrogant commands. You may be a ‘God-king’ but you’re in my body! If it wasn’t for me you’d be stuck in that prism for another thousand years! Stop ordering me around like some serving wench! Do you hear that, demon? There was no response. Don’t think I’ll be pacified that easily, Hekal never forbade me from giving you a piece of my mind. Finally some peace at least though, she sighed, continuing down the tight passage. At long last she rounded the final bend, and returned to the familiar Vikria mine. She waited on the brink as her eyes adjusted to the light.

“Irobu! Thank Hekal, you’re alive!” her mother Nyo cried out. “Are you hurt?”

“No, no I’m fine Mother ma’am,” Irobu said reassuringly. Standing above the opening, her mother and father’s relieved faces looked down at her.

“Let me help you up,” her father insisted, offering the hand not holding Hekal’s glowing crystal. “We need to get out of here since these caves could be unstable.”

With a grunt, Irobu took the hand and stood up. “Where’s everyone else?” she questioned, looking around the empty cavern as they hustled away.

“Don’t worry about them, they’re all up on the surface, safe and sound. Soon as the quake hit I told Desha and the rest to pack up the conveyor and head topside. They were supposed to send for one of Hekal’s priests. Nyo and I stuck around trying to dig you out. No Vikria gets left behind on my operations!”

“Thank you both for not giving up hope,” Irobu squeaked.

“Of course, it is our duty as parents,” her mother comforted, “but who you should really be thanking is the great Hekal. If not for his miracle, the rubble would still be blocking that tunnel! We saw it liquefy and flow away as though it were water! Thank you once more, almighty creator!”

“Praised be Hekal!” Her father and mother proclaimed.

“Yes, praised be Hekal!” Irobu echoed.

“So did you find anything in that air bubble? A remarkable formation no doubt; I’ve never seen a natural tunnel so smooth before,” her father inquired during their ascent out of the mine.

“I…found something that might have been power crystals, but that was it,” Irobu lied and immediately felt guilty. “They shattered in the quake.”

“A pity, wouldn’t have been worth the effort to retrieve even if they were intact. Nonetheless, we did collect a great deal of ore today, despite the accident. Keep up the good work Irobu,” her mother praised warmly.

“A promotion is not far off, especially with all the bravery and dedication you showed earlier,” her father added as they stepped out into the mid-afternoon sun.

A promotion? I’m still on track! she thought excitedly, and a moment later Hekal’s words replayed in her head. Now fully processing them, her excitement reached new heights. He said I need to practice casting spells! Am I destined for the priesthood? Or something greater? Surely not following in Mteule’s footsteps?

But will I really be forced to leave all this behind? Irobu wondered, apprehension tempering her excitement. All in exchange for the company of an apostate demon…Hekal was right, this is hard to swallow. Nevertheless, this is my role in Hekal’s plan, who am I to question it, Irobu remarked faithfully and hurried after her parents towards the railcar back to town.