Page 93 of Aru Shah and the End of Time

She held her shirt over her nose and mouth as they walked. Almost everything she had seen that had anything to do with the gods and goddesses was lavish and beautiful. But this place looked like a prison. The walls were a wet shade of pink. Every now and again, a gust of hot wind brought the stench of rotting fish.

“Maybe the weapons are rotting?”

“They can’t rot! They’re celestial.”

“How do you know?” demanded Mini. “Are you an expert in all things celestial?”

Aru was going to answer, but she tripped and stumbled. A slender, shining silver thread stretched across the ravine, and the moment she touched it, it triggered something deep in the large cave. Neon words now dangled from the stalactite:

THE CHAMBER OF THE ASTRAS

Astrameantweapon.

Specifically ones that had supernatural abilities.

Aru’s pulse raced. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be excited about needing a highly magical and highly powerful weapon (because that just meant your enemy was also highly magical and highly powerful), but she still wanted toseeit. She would’ve wanted to take a selfie with it if her mom hadn’t refused to buy her a phone….

“Why wouldn’t the gods keep their weapons with them?” Mini asked. “What if they got stolen or something?”

Aru looked around this dark place. Above them, the stalactites cast a light so stingy that Aru couldn’t see much of what lay ahead. “Maybe they figured they were safe here?”

“But there’s no protection!” Mini said archly. “It’s just a smelly cave. That makes no sense.”

“Maybe the smell is what’s protecting it?”

“Hmm…maybe you’re right. Definitely smells like demon repellent.”

Aru frowned. For a room that was supposed to be full of celestial weapons…it was decidedlyemptyof weapons.

“Hey, there’s something on the floor,” said Mini. She crouched, pressing her palm to the ground. “Ugh. It’s wet. More of that weird smelly water stuff.” And then Mini was quiet for a minute. “Aru?”

Aru heard Mini, but didn’t turn. The ball turned warm in her pocket, but she didn’t take it out. She was distracted by the dangling words. Before, they had spelled out:

THE CHAMBER OF THE ASTRAS

But now the words had elongated and changed. She stepped closer to read it.

ANSWERS HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.

THINGS AREN’T AS THEY SEEM.

THERE’S POWER TO FIND HERE

AND KNOWLEDGE TO GLEAN.

BUT TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN,

AND TIME HAS NO EARS.

IF YOU DON’T MOVE QUICKLY,

YOU’LL MEET ALL YOUR FEARS.

“Did you see this sign?” demanded Aru. “It talks about men, but what about women? Rude.”

Mini ignored her. “Aru, this moisture isn’t some weird humidity.”

“So?”