Alright Ever, are you ready for your first reaping?

  Ever’s legs still ached from standing all day, but he replied, *Yes, Mentor.*

  I know you’re tired; human bodies are fragile and need resting. Lucky you’re a bit supernatural.

  Ever lifted off the ground ever so slightly. He started floating away from the ice cream shop, slowly at first, then picking up speed. He made to walk even though his feet didn’t touch the ground, accelerating past people.

  We’ll be at the retirement home in a couple minutes. Ever jumped as his form passed through the front of a bus, past all the passengers and out the other end.

  Let’s go through the basics.

  Ever blinked. *Souls are bound to Earth because they have ‘unfinished business’.* He never knew quite what that meant, but said it anyway. *Your job - my job - is to help them resolve this by communicating with them.*

  What do you do with the scythe?

  Ever perked up. He’d spent many a session observing the mythical tool, and finally he would be using it.

  *The scythe is the sensory bridge between the real world and Underworld. It will transform into something the soul can interact with, which will allow them to make peace with this world and agree to move on.*

  There was a pause; Ever knew Death was waiting for him to continue.

  *The scythe will not transform if the soul I’m trying to reap doesn’t feel understood. My job is two parts: to show that I understand their suffering, then to choose the most suitable human sense for the form that the scythe will take.*

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Death grunted. So you have memorized the readings. Let’s see you put them into practice.

  Ever stumbled as he came to an abrupt stop. He looked up at the sign in the dying light. ‘Hilltop Retirement Home’. He made his way up the footpath.

  Don’t forget the scythe.

  *Right.*

  Ever held his two hands in front. The space warped and with a pop, Death’s scythe fell into his palms. He floated through the front doors, through an elderly couple on their way out and into the lobby.

  “Can I help you there?” Ever started, looking at the woman behind the desk. She put her glasses on, which magnified her eyes. “You’re not the usual reaper fellow who comes by.”

  “You… can see me?”

  There was a knowing twinkle behind the woman’s eye, weighed down through years of working with those about to step over the breach.

  “Death’s become young and handsome, or is that a disguise?”

  “My name’s Ever. I’m Death’s apprentice.”

  Oh that’s Brenda.

  *Is she dead?*

  No, though she might as well be given how boring it is to work here. Death snort-laughed at his own joke. Some humans who interact with a lot of people who die might start being able to see us.

  “I take it you’re here to see Margaret?” Brenda asked.

  Ever checked with Death quickly. “Yes.”

  The nurse nodded. “She passed this morning. Lovely lady. Amazing with the knitting needles, she was.”

  “Thank you, may I go in?”

  Brenda extended her arm towards the main room and Ever made his way in.

  “Ever was it?” The soul from the underworld turned around, floating in place.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll do fine.”