4 Amran, Lady of Kasdim

David prodded his golden sigil. An intuitive screen, it displayed useful information such as the date and time, his schedule, and the most relevant – a map.

The map already marked important locations such as his room, gyms, training facilities, cafeterias etc…

Seeing a small spin hidden amidst the larger marks, David calibrated his compass and advanced towards the direction of the pin.

Gomorrah was lively. Truly a big city of its own right, the streets were dotted with bars, villas, casinos, restaurants and everything a mortal man would want or need. While David did not care for the gambling houses or museums, each restaurant provided a different theme and cuisine from an Earthling region.

Speaking of that, the architecture around him also modeled itself after Earthling architecture. The quarter he walked through resembled Mediterranean architecture: colorful and symmetrical buildings lined the streets, large domes were nothing rare, and narrow alleys eased the navigation of pedestrians.

'Here…' According to his map, he had to move along one of the narrow alleys.

Fortunately, despite their width, the alleys were still full of life, and Earthling couples giggled whenever a passerby observed their public displays of affection.

A few turns and twists later, David lost himself in the maze-like alleys. On top of that, this hilly alley was quieter and dim.

David stopped and caught his breath.

"Phew…" He crouched down on the rough stairs and inhaled.

The sigil map did not take into account the smaller alleys, and while it indicated that Amran was near him, he didn't know how exactly to reach her.

Looking around, he tried to peer beyond the darker alleys to see if there were any doors, any openings, any institution that might house a lady around here.

"A lost Earthling, great."

David tilted his head towards the origin of the mocking voice.

A tall woman towered over him. Olive-skinned and olive-eyed, she stared down at him. Her attire was quite unusual. Her first layer of clothing was a white toga that covered her lower body, her breasts and knotted on her neck. On top of that, a green toga adorned her waist and left shoulder, and a similarly-green veil covered the top of her head.

'Doesn't seem like an Earthling.'

She likely knew where he could find Amran.

"Good day, Lady. I'm searching for an individual named Amran, my sponsor Nimrod told me to search for her as soon as I reach the Otherworld-

"Megiddo."

"Excuse me?"

"Do you think we call our world the Otherworld? Have more respect, you're on Gomorrah, and the planet over there is Megiddo, unless you want me to also spell it for you?" The woman pointed at the continental landmass hovering over Gomorrah and sneered.

'Unpleasant.'

"I apologize. I was not aware of the distinction, I'll make sure not to make that mistake again," Especially not when a random passerby here could be a deadly wizard, huh.

The woman's face contorted into condescending smile. Her eyes observed him, analyzing the minutiae of his reactions and facial expressions. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't decipher much from David's eternal poker face.

"Nimrod sent you?" Her face softened considerably at the mention of that name.

"Yes, Lady."

"You don't look like much. Uh, let me correct myself, none of you Earthlings look like much (expect Greyhound, maybe), but how did you get Nimrod as your sponsor?"

Great way to ask a question, missus virtue.

"I passed a test. A pain test," Unless prodded or coerced, he would give no further details, only enough to confirm he indeed associated with Nimrod.

"Hahahaha…!" The woman laughed sincerely.

"That Nimrod, ever since he became a mind mage, he's turned into quite the madman."

If she knew something about Amran, that would maybe help him.

She stared around her, and her smile washed away. With a calm manner, she said, "You know, Nimrod's quite the good guy, as weird as he might seem. He's trustworthy."

She examined his face for a reaction. David remained expressionless.

She chuckled, "He won't turn around and stab you in the back, and that's a low bar, I realize, but it's enough in Megiddo. I'm not saying you should trust him fully, you can never be too cautious, but I don't think he would betray you out of the blue; especially with that contract sponsors sign."

"Love your neighbor but close your doors?" David recalled an idiom from Earth.

"Exactly. Is that a quote by Greyhound?" She smiled at the mention of Greyhound.

"He was an Earthling, after all."

"No, he was not like you."

"Meaning?" David frowned.

"Greyhound took his duties to save Megiddo seriously. Earthlings can't save our world, only we can, but Greyhound got close, and then…"

"He disappeared?" Information sometimes traveled between Earth and the Otherworld.

"Yes, in the jungles of Nabataea, near my homeland of Kasdim. I'd not weep over the deaths of a million Earthlings, but I cried."

Greyhound was an interesting figure, both on his homeworld and the Otherworld. However, another part of her sentence compelled him.

'Kasdim?'

"Would you be perhaps be Lady Amran?" David fixed her and asked.

"That would be me."

"I'm-

"Spare it, I don't need to process the name of someone who will escape like all others in five years, or become the Guild's bitch."

David tightened his fist.

"I won't leave."

"That's what they all say."

"I've reconciled to living here, I'm not returning to Earth."

Amran scowled, "Living? Even if you're faithful to your words, you'll die as soon as you leave this place. Enjoy your forty-nine days in limbo."

"What do you mean?"

"Hah! Do you really think Gomorrah prepares you Earthlings for Megiddo?" She placed her index finger right before his face.

"Ye-

Apparently, it was a rhetorical question, as she replied herself before he could speak, "Not at all…not at all. This place, trust me, is heaven compared to the real deal. Do you know why Heaven is eternal?"

"Because once you're in Heaven, you can't go anywhere else."

Apparently, she also did not expect him to reply. She stared at him, wide-mouthed in shock, "That's a common saying in Megiddo, how do you, an Earthling, know it?"

'Now that's a good question…' David vaguely remembered why he knew this quote.

"It's a common saying on Earth too," He lied.

Her gaze softened so slightly now. David deduced she disliked Earthlings, but liked when they knew about her homeworld. Noted.

The two stood in awkward silence.

"Why did Nimrod send you to me, then?"

"To help me in Gomorrah."

Amran's eyebrows wiggled at his response.

"To help you? Do you think you're worth helping? Are you the next Selena or Greyhound?"

'Presumptuous.'

"Look, my ancestors were women of the highest divination skills in the continent…Stuff happened, but I can read your settings, and you're not anything special."

"I'm not being difficult here. I just don't see why I would train YOU over another 'talented' Earthling because you have connections. Do you think you'll survive in Megiddo with those? Connections?"

David had no way to retort.

However, if that man Nimrod sent him here, there had to be a reason.

"I'm not a needy man, nor a lazy Earthling like you generalize us all to be. I don't claim to be the next Greyhound, but I'll work my best to redeem and make use of this life-changing opportunity."

Amran nodded, but added, "Also, I don't know what help you want from me."

"I'm going to die on my own, as you, Lady, said ear-

"Afraid of death? Why did you come her-

"Let me finish. I'm not afraid of dying, but I came here not to die a miserable death having accomplished nothing, but at least a hero. What will you lose if you help me? At most, I'll be negligeable cannon fodder that may die for the true hero to shine. But, if you leave me to die now, isn't that much of a shame? Gomorrah looks quite expensive to maintain, it would be wasteful if Earthlings were to die the moment they step out of here."

"I'm not with the Guild here, so we're not the ones paying for maintenance. But I'll admit you have a point."

"A way with words, perhaps. The coward's way is words, but you may survive and become some diplomat if you play your cards right."

David chimed, "So, Lady Amran, what do you say?"

"Ah, so arrogant. Hold up your sigil."

Amran clicked her sigil with his.

"I'll meet you tomorrow at the location marked on your map. If I don't see your potential by tomorrow, give it up."

"That won't be a prospect, unfortunately."

"Hah! Earthling! You amuse me. What is your name?"

"David."

"David Bergstein."