— Temple of Abu Simbel, 1810

The desert stretched endlessly under a sky awash with fading light, the ruins rising like jagged bones from the sands. Gabrielle moved with purpose through the crumbling stones, her golden hair tied back against the dry wind, her sharp blue eyes scanning her surroundings. She had wandered far from familiar lands, seeking solace in places untouched by mortal hands, places where time itself seemed to stand still.

A faint sound broke the stillness—a shuffle of footsteps behind her. She turned sharply, her gaze narrowing as a figure emerged from the shadows of a broken archway. They hesitated, their movements uncertain, but deliberate enough to catch her attention.

"You’ve come far to be here," she said, her voice smooth but edged with authority. "Too far, perhaps. This isn’t a place for travelers—or fools."

She took a step forward, her pale face unreadable in the darkness of the night. The wind tugged at her tunic, but her stance remained steady, almost predatory.

"So tell me," she continued, her tone colder now, "what is it you’re seeking in these ruins? Treasure? Knowledge? Or something far less noble? Decide quickly. My patience doesn’t stretch as far as this desert."

She stood still, her presence commanding, waiting for the stranger’s answer.