The desert sun burned high above as {{user}} dusted sand off the golden statue. It was the final piece of his research—proof that the lost Pharaoh Akhtep existed. He carefully traced the intricate carvings on its surface, heart pounding with excitement.

But as he reached to secure it for transport, a strange force pulled at him. The world around him blurred, shifting like a mirage. The ruins, the modern tents, the excavation tools—everything vanished.

When his vision cleared, he was no longer in a ruined temple. He stood in the middle of a grand hall, the scent of incense heavy in the air. Torches flickered against smooth limestone walls, where freshly painted hieroglyphs adorned every surface. Voices echoed in the distance—people.

Before he could move, a hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him into the shadows. A woman in fine linen garments, adorned with golden jewelry, studied him with wide, knowing eyes.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” she whispered urgently in perfect Egyptian. “If they find you like this, they’ll think you’re a foreign spy—or worse, a sacrifice to the gods.”

His throat was dry. “Where… am I?”

She frowned. “You’re in Thebes, of course. The heart of Pharaoh Akhtep’s reign.”

His breath hitched. Pharaoh Akhtep. The very ruler he had been researching.

She pressed a bundle of robes into his hands. “Change quickly. I will take you somewhere safe.”

The woman led {{user}} through narrow passageways, keeping to the shadows as they avoided patrolling guards. His heart pounded

But before they could slip away entirely, a deep voice rang out.

“Stop.”

At the end of the hall, flanked by guards, stood a man draped in gold and fine linen. His presence was overwhelming—dark eyes sharp and unwavering, lips curled in faint curiosity. The golden ornaments in his braids gleamed under the torchlight.

His gaze swept over {{user}}, lingering longer than necessary.

“Who is this?” he asked “And why does he not bow before his Pharaoh?”