Diaries
Kassandra

    I stood before the high priestess, and I was awed as I never before have been. She was so strong, so noble. How could I hope to become like her? I closed my eyes, listening to the droning voices of the other priestesses. A cup was slipped into my hand, and I drank from it, tasting the sweet drink that was used in sacrafice for the Goddess Hathor. I drained the cup, and I lifted my voice in song with the others.
     I felt my soul lift from my body. I soared then, and I traveled the path along Nut's body. I walked alongside her in the Fields of Peace, where I sat next to the Great One, Osiris, and his beloved Isis. I ate the food of the gods. I drank the drink of the gods. I was a god. I listened to the priestess' voices swell in song, and the song was praise for me.
     Nut came before me again, and the goddess gave me her hand. I walked alongside her, until we came to the terrible vision of Set. He leaped upon me, and I knew no way to evade him. I felt his hand turn into a claw and rip my soul apart. I knew that Nut watched, helpless. I knew that Osiris and Isis turned away, banishing what they saw from their memories.
     I screamed; not in pain, but with anger; how dare the gods do this to me, a priestess of their great order? I twisted and I fought with the evil god. I scratched at him, and I clawed at him. I beat at him. He fell back, and I knew he was surprised.  
     I lifted upwards again, but this time Nut walked behind me, not beside me. My soul was in agony, but my Ka was fierce, my Ran was strong, my Khaybet was brave, and my Ku was proud. I walked the pahts with the gods, and I was strong.
     I came before Hathor, and she smiled in praise. She dismissed Nut with a wave of her hand, and led me before the Greatest One, the Eye, the Aten: Ra. I walked towards his brilliance, and I was blinded. I felt Hathor push me into his heat, and my soul was destroyed. The pain was unbearable, but there was so much joy mixed in it that I knew not what to do, what to think, or what to feel. I was transformed and in a last flash of binding agony, I knew that I was accepted by the Aten.

     I sat before the high priestess once again, my eyes still closed. My soul was still in pain; it writhed in agony. A small amount of the sacraficial liquid had spilled to the floor. My kilt was torn, in shreds on the floor. My hands were clasped before me, and my right palm throbbed dully. I looked at my palm, and I shrieked with joy. A new, red burn was visible. It was the Eye of Ra. I almost fainted with joy.
     The high priestess beckoned for me to rise; I was her equal now. She held out her right hand, palm facing up, and I saw that I was stronger than she. Her hand held the mark of Shu, god of air. I held the mark of Ra. She sat down, and I struggled against the rising thrill of joy that raced through me. 
     I looked at the temple priestesses; they were no longer chanting. I must have journeyed with the gods for many hours. I was naked, but that was as it should be; I stood before the gods as I had been brought before them. My soul had been bared to them; why should not my body? I turned and walked slowly from the main hall of the temple.