Chapter 5: Training with Aharon
The dawn broke over the Egyptian desert, its golden light spilling across the sand dunes and casting long shadows over the ruins that dotted the landscape. Deep within the heart of these ancient lands, hidden from the world’s prying eyes, Amara and Aharon stood facing each other on a flat, rocky plateau. The air was still, heavy with the promise of the heat that would soon descend upon the desert.
Amara wiped sweat from her brow, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her muscles ached from the relentless training Aharon had put her through, and every inch of her body screamed in protest. They had been at it for days, with barely any time to rest between sessions. Every morning, before the sun reached its zenith, they would begin, and every evening, when the desert winds cooled the air, they would end, only to resume the next day.
“I can’t do this,” Amara panted, dropping to her knees in exhaustion. “It’s too much, Aharon. I’m not… I’m not a warrior like you. I’m just an archaeologist.”
Aharon, standing tall and unyielding, his expression hard as stone, looked down at her with a mixture of frustration and impatience. His dark eyes, sharp and piercing, reflected his displeasure at her words.
“You think Apophis cares what you are?” he snapped, his voice cold and unrelenting. “You think he will spare you because you’re ‘just an archaeologist’? Get up, Amara. We’re not done.”
Amara winced at the harshness in his tone, but she knew he was right. The stakes were too high for her to give up now. But the training… it was brutal. Aharon’s methods were relentless, pushing her far beyond what she thought she was capable of. Every session left her feeling broken, her confidence shattered, her spirit weary.
“Please, Aharon,” she pleaded, her voice cracking.
“Just… give me a moment. I need to catch my breath.”
Aharon’s eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin.
“You don’t have the luxury of time, Amara,” he said, his voice laced with anger. “Every moment you waste could bring Apophis closer to his goal. If you can’t endure this, how do you expect to face him? How do you expect to save your brother?”
The mention of Nelson sent a jolt of pain through Amara’s heart, reigniting the fire of determination within her. She had to save him. She couldn’t let Montross win, couldn’t let Apophis plunge the world into chaos. But still, the exhaustion weighed heavily on her, threatening to crush her resolve.
“I’m trying,” she whispered, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes.
“I’m trying so hard, but it’s just… it’s too much.”
Aharon let out a frustrated sigh, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
“Do you think this is easy for me, Amara?” he demanded, his voice rising with barely controlled anger.
“Do you think I enjoy watching you struggle? But this is not a game! If you don’t learn to harness the power Bastet has given you, you will die. And so will everyone else.”
His words struck Amara like a physical blow, the truth of them undeniable. She knew he was right, knew that the fate of the world depended on her ability to master the powers bestowed upon her. But the training… it was like nothing she had ever experienced. Aharon was a warrior, born and bred for combat. She was not. And every time she failed, every time she faltered, it felt like she was letting him down, letting everyone down.
“Why can’t you just… go easy on me, just for a little while?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“I’m not like you, Aharon. I wasn’t raised to fight, to face gods and monsters. I’m trying, but I’m not you.”
Aharon’s eyes flashed with something close to fury.
“You’re right—you’re not me. And that’s why you need to learn, Amara. Because if you don’t, you’ll die. And if you die, everything we’re fighting for will be lost.”
Amara bit her lip, her emotions swirling in a chaotic storm. She understood his frustration, his impatience. But every time he pushed her, every time he demanded more from her than she thought she could give, it only deepened her sense of inadequacy. She felt like she was constantly failing him, failing herself.
“Then help me!” she cried, her voice breaking. “Help me understand how to be strong like you, how to fight like you. I don’t know how, Aharon. I don’t know how to be what you need me to be.”
Aharon stared at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the harshness in his eyes softened, just a fraction, as if he was wrestling with something deep inside himself.
“Strength isn’t something that’s given, Amara,” he said, his voice quieter, though still firm.
“It’s something you forge. Through pain, through hardship, through pushing yourself beyond what you think you’re capable of.”
He took a step closer, his tone losing some of its sharpness.
“I’ve seen the strength in you, Amara. It’s there, buried beneath your doubt and fear. But if you don’t dig deep and find it, no one else will do it for you. Not even me.”
Amara looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. She could see now that his anger wasn’t just frustration with her—it was rooted in something deeper, something he hadn’t shared with her. She could see the weight of the responsibility he carried, the pressure of knowing that the fate of the world might rest on their shoulders.
“I’m scared, Aharon,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m scared of failing, of not being strong enough, of letting everyone down.”
Aharon’s expression softened further, his eyes reflecting a rare flicker of understanding.
“We’re all scared, Amara. Even the greatest warriors feel fear. But what matters is what you do with that fear. Do you let it paralyze you? Or do you use it to drive you, to push you harder, to make you stronger?”
Amara swallowed hard, her mind racing with his words.
“I want to be strong, Aharon,” she said, her voice filled with quiet resolve.
“I want to save Nelson, to stop Apophis. But I don’t know how.”
Aharon nodded, his expression more compassionate now.
“That’s why we’re here. That’s why I’m training you. But you have to meet me halfway, Amara. You have to push yourself, even when it feels impossible. Because out there, when you’re facing Apophis, there won’t be anyone to hold your hand.”
Amara nodded slowly, her determination solidifying in her heart. She wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up, her legs trembling but her resolve firm.
“Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll try again. I’ll keep going.”
Aharon’s eyes glimmered with approval, though his tone remained stern.
“Good. Now, let’s go over the basics again.”
He stepped back, assuming a fighting stance, his movements precise and controlled. Amara mirrored him, though her posture was less confident, her movements less fluid. She could see the difference between them, the ease with which Aharon moved, the way his body seemed to flow with the energy around him. She felt clumsy by comparison, her limbs heavy and uncoordinated.
“Focus on your breathing,” Aharon instructed, his voice calm and measured. “Let your breath guide your movements. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Keep your core tight, your stance strong.”
Amara did as he said, trying to calm her racing heart and focus on the rhythm of her breath. She mimicked his movements, though they felt stiff and awkward. Aharon watched her closely, his eyes sharp and attentive.
“Good,” he said, his voice a mix of encouragement and critique.
“But you’re still too tense. Relax your shoulders, let the energy flow through you.”
Amara nodded, trying to loosen her muscles, to let go of the tension that had built up in her body. She could feel the power within her, the gift that Bastet had bestowed upon her, but it was like trying to grasp water slippery, elusive, hard to control.
Aharon moved closer, correcting her posture with a firm but gentle hand.
“You’re overthinking it,” he said, his voice low and steady.
“Stop trying to force it. Let it come naturally. The power is already inside you just need to learn how to let it out.”
Amara closed her eyes, trying to center herself, to find that elusive connection to the power within. She could feel it, a warm, pulsing energy in the pit of her stomach, but every time she tried to harness it, it slipped away, leaving her feeling frustrated and inadequate.
“I can’t…” she began, but Aharon cut her off.
“You can,” he said firmly. “Stop doubting yourself. Stop telling yourself you can’t. You’ve been chosen by Bastet for a reason, Amara. You have the power you just need to believe in it.”
Amara took a deep breath, forcing herself to push aside the doubt, the fear, the frustration. She focused on the warmth in her core, letting it spread through her body, letting it guide her
The sun was already high in the sky, casting its relentless heat across the desert. Amara, Aharon, and Bastet had been traveling for hours, their progress steady but slow. They had stopped to rest and hydrate, but now it was time to move on. They needed to cross the next stretch of desert before the sun reached its zenith, and their trusty camel, Rusty, was supposed to be their help.
Amara stood beside Rusty, who was sitting stubbornly in the sand with a look of absolute disinterest. Aharon was on the other side, attempting to coax the animal to stand with a combination of commands and gentle nudges. The camel, however, remained resolute in its refusal to move.
"Come on, Rusty," Amara said, her patience wearing thin. "We need to get going. The sun’s getting hotter, and we’ve got miles to cover."
Rusty responded with a slow blink, as if to say, “I’m quite comfortable right here, thank you.”
Aharon sighed and wiped sweat from his brow. "Maybe a little push will do the trick," he suggested.
They both put their shoulders into it, pushing against the camel’s side. Rusty didn’t budge an inch, instead shifting slightly to get more comfortable. The camel emitted a soft grunt that seemed to convey its contentment with the current position.
Amara exchanged a look with Aharon. “Maybe Rusty just needs some motivation,” she said. She rummaged through their supplies and pulled out a handful of dates, a favorite treat for camels.
She waved the dates in front of Rusty’s nose, hoping the enticing smell would persuade the camel to get up. Rusty sniffed the treats and then glanced up at Amara with a look of complete disinterest, as if to say, “Nice try, but I’m not moving.”
Aharon chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s like he’s purposely ignoring us.”
“Maybe he’s just bored,” Amara suggested, trying to maintain her sense of humor despite the mounting frustration. “We’ve been on the move for a long time.”
Aharon crouched down and spoke to Rusty in a soothing tone. “Come on, old friend. Just one more push, and then we can get to some shade and a nice meal.”
Rusty remained unimpressed, giving Aharon a long, bored look. Amara sighed and joined Aharon, both of them giving Rusty one final, combined push. The camel, however, simply shifted its weight to a more relaxed position and let out a long, satisfied sigh.
“I think Rusty has a mind of his own,” Amara said with a rueful smile.
Aharon laughed, his frustration turning into amusement. “Seems like it. Well, I suppose we’ll just have to find a way to convince him to cooperate.”
Bastet, who had been watching the scene unfold with keen interest, finally decided to intervene. She padded over to Rusty and gave him a gentle nudge with her head. Rusty turned his gaze toward the ethereal cat and blinked slowly, as if considering her presence.
To Amara’s and Aharon’s surprise, Rusty lifted its head and stood up, stretching its legs with a yawn. It seemed that Bastet’s intervention had done the trick.
“Of course,” Amara said, shaking her head in disbelief. “A little feline magic and our camel is ready to go.”
Bastet gave a satisfied flick of her tail and trotted back to her usual spot, clearly pleased with herself. She looked up at Amara and Aharon with an air of triumph.
“Well,” Aharon said, patting Rusty’s side with a grin.
“I guess we have our magical feline to thank for this.”
Amara laughed, relieved that their stubborn camel was finally moving.
“Thank you, Bastet. I think we owe you one.”
As Rusty ambled forward, carrying their supplies and providing a much-needed break for their tired legs, Amara and Aharon exchanged amused glances. The camel’s stubbornness had been a challenge, but it had also provided a moment of levity in the midst of their serious journey.
With Bastet leading the way, the group continued their trek across the desert, their spirits lifted by the humor of the morning’s antics. They were reminded that even in the face of stubborn camels and endless sand, they had each other and their loyal companions to rely on.
As they made their way toward the next destination, Amara couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected turn of events. The desert was full of surprises, and today’s lesson was a reminder that sometimes, even the most frustrating challenges could lead to moments of laughter and camaraderie.
“Ready for the next adventure?” Aharon asked, giving Rusty an encouraging pat.
Amara nodded, her eyes sparkling with determination.
“Absolutely. Let’s see what the desert has in store for us next.”
With their stubborn camel finally cooperating, the group set off once more, their bond strengthened by the shared experience and the playful magic of their feline friend.