In a Hotel Room in Cairo
The atmosphere was tense. One of them sat browsing his laptop, while another watched their friend—the reason they had come to Egypt. Since their arrival, an unshakable feeling had settled within him—a strange mix of excitement and fear, as if something was waiting for him here, something he couldn't quite explain.
Their other friend, the one who had been the calmest a few days ago, seemed deeply engrossed in reading about Egypt. However, he gradually slowed down, eventually setting the book aside. He turned to his anxious friend, tapping his finger rhythmically on the table, savoring the moment of silence before finally asking:
"Is it done?"
The third man lifted his head slowly, as if lost in thought, before responding in a steady voice:
"Yes. Tomorrow, we'll receive our excavation permit."
That sentence alone was enough to light up their faces with excitement. At last, they were about to begin. Each of them had a different reason for being here, but they all shared the same goal: to explore the depths of Egypt, hoping to uncover something no one had found before.
They had to wait an entire week for the permits to be processed. And throughout those days, the strange feeling that followed them never faded—a lingering sense of anticipation, as if something was calling them from beneath the sands.
The Next Day – Supreme Council of Antiquities
The room was filled with the sounds of shuffling papers, murmuring conversations, and the occasional ringing of phones. A line of people waited their turn, and one of them leaned slightly toward his friend, whispering:
"Do you think they'll approve the sites we chose?"
His friend answered confidently, "Why wouldn't they? Honestly, I only care about the site near the Great Pyramid. The others don't matter to me at all."
The other man glanced at him in silence, noticing the slight tremor in his hands. This wasn't mere nervousness—it was something deeper, something he couldn't quite define. He sighed softly and turned back, waiting patiently for their turn.
The third member of their group, who had been observing quietly, finally asked,
"Why were you so insistent on that specific site? It's already been excavated before, and nothing new was found there."
The other man paused, then smirked.
"I don't know. It just feels... interesting. And besides, the pyramid looks beautiful."
His two friends exchanged glances but chose not to comment. This kind of response was expected from him.
Meanwhile, the quietest among them was lost in thought. The memories that had once come to him so often, haunting him relentlessly, had started to fade since their arrival—but they hadn't disappeared completely. He was certain that all of this meant something, especially since he firmly believed in the existence of magic. It wasn't just academic curiosity; deep down, he knew that what he was experiencing was not normal. Even his two companions, despite their differences, seemed to sense something similar in their own ways.
His thoughts were interrupted when a staff member called their names. They immediately stood up and walked toward the desk, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
Inside the Government Office
The government official carefully reviewed the documents before him, scrutinizing each page before finally looking up at the three men standing before him. It was clear they were archaeologists, but what caught his attention was that they weren't from the same university—or even the same country. Still, he didn't let his expression reveal anything as he studied them one by one.
He glanced briefly at the first—a young Japanese man, average in appearance, but visibly nervous. His companion, in contrast, had distinct European features and appeared much calmer. The third man, however, was somewhat different… His features were also European, but there was something in his documents that made the official pause for a few extra seconds before returning to his papers.
Finally, in a formal tone, he announced:
"Mr. Yaqub, Mr. Souma, Mr. David… Your request has been approved for two out of the three excavation sites you applied for. The first is near the Great Pyramid, and the second is in the Valley of the Kings. The third site, however, was not authorized."
The three men exchanged glances. Yaqub was the first to speak.
"Why wasn't it approved?"
Souma simply looked on, puzzled, while David remained indifferent as long as the pyramid site was secured.
The official answered curtly,
"Because another expedition is already operating at that location."
He didn't elaborate further. Instead, he handed them their documents, saying in an official tone:
"Welcome to Egypt. I wish you a successful expedition and fruitful discoveries."
It was clear that the meeting was over. They took their permits and exited the office.
On Their Way to the Site
As they walked through the hallways of the building, each of them was lost in thought. Excitement and apprehension swirled together in their minds—a sense that they were on the verge of something far greater than they had imagined.
Yaqub glanced down at the permit in his hand before looking up at his friends with a determined smile.
"Let's go… It's time to begin."
In their eyes, the same anticipation gleamed—the expectation of uncovering something that no one had ever seen before.
Their next stop: the excavation site.