Richard couldn't stop staring at the message on his screen. The countdown kept ticking, relentless, as if every passing second pushed him further into the unknown.
[New mission available]
Objective: Find information about the Book of Ur-Kigal
Time remaining: 48 hours
The system offered no further details, but Richard knew he couldn't ignore it. There was something about that name, "Ur-Kigal," that called to him, like a missing piece of a puzzle he didn't even know he was solving.
---
That morning, Richard received an email from Marcus Henshaw with the details of the expedition. The archaeological site was located in a remote region of the Middle East, in a desert that seemed as inhospitable as it was mysterious. The email included a list of items he needed to bring: lightweight but durable clothing, camping gear, and any tools he might need for taking notes or documenting findings.
Richard spent the rest of the day preparing. First, he went to a supply store to buy appropriate clothing for the desert: sturdy fabric pants, long-sleeved shirts to protect himself from the sun, a wide-brimmed hat, and trekking boots. He also bought a new backpack, a canteen, and a small first-aid kit.
At home, he reviewed his personal equipment. He packed his laptop, a notebook, pencils, and a digital camera. He also included the book he had found in the library, *"Rituals and Beliefs of Ancient Mesopotamia,"* and the portable scanner Elliot had given him. Before closing his backpack, he placed the amulet Emily had given him inside, feeling a strange sense of calm as he touched it.
Finally, he printed a map of the region where the archaeological site was located. Although he knew Marcus and his team would guide him, he wanted to be prepared for any eventuality.
When he finished, he sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the backpack. It was the first time he was leaving the country, let alone for something this important. Excitement and fear mixed in his chest, but he knew he couldn't back out.
---
The journey began early the next day. Richard took a taxi to the airport, where he boarded an international flight to a city near the desert. During the flight, he tried to distract himself by reading the book he had packed, but his mind kept returning to the system's message and the mission ahead.
When the plane landed, Richard immediately felt the change in the environment. The heat was oppressive, and the dry air seemed to suck all the moisture from his skin. At the airport, a jeep awaited him, driven by a man Marcus had sent.
The jeep ride was long and exhausting. As they ventured deeper into the desert, the landscape became increasingly barren and desolate. Sand dunes stretched as far as the eye could see, and the sun shone with an almost blinding intensity.
Richard tried to make conversation with the driver, but the man was sparing with his words. Instead, Richard spent the time observing the landscape and taking notes in his notebook. He also reviewed the map he had printed, trying to familiarize himself with the region.
When they finally arrived at the archaeological camp, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and red. Marcus Henshaw greeted him with a firm handshake and a tired smile.
"Richard Wonder, right?" Marcus said. "Welcome to the site. I hope you're ready to work."
The camp was small but functional, with several tents arranged around a central excavation area. There was an air of tension in the place, as if everyone was waiting for something to happen.
"Is this where the texts were found?" Richard asked as he followed Marcus to the main tent.
"Yes, but there's something you should know. This place… isn't like other archaeological sites. Some of the workers have reported strange things: tools disappearing, sounds at night, even shadows that seem to move on their own."
Richard felt a chill but said nothing.
---
That afternoon, Richard began exploring the site. There was something about the ruins that drew him in, as if an invisible force was guiding him. The structures were imposing, though partially buried in the sand. Broken columns, fragments of tablets, and remnants of inscriptions covered the area, as if the place had been abandoned abruptly thousands of years ago.
As he walked, Richard noticed a pattern in the inscriptions: a recurring symbol that looked like a spiral surrounded by eyes. He remembered seeing it in the book he had read in the library, where it was mentioned as a symbol of transition between worlds.
Suddenly, something caught his attention. A tablet partially buried in the sand glowed faintly under the sunlight. Richard knelt down and began to carefully unearth it. The tablet was covered in symbols he didn't recognize, but they felt strangely familiar.
When he touched it, he felt a buzzing in his head, as if something was trying to communicate with him. He closed his eyes, and suddenly, he had a vision:
An ancient ritual unfolded before his eyes. Several hooded figures surrounded a stone altar, their faces hidden in the shadows. At the center of the altar, a bright light emanated from an object he couldn't identify. The figures murmured words in a language he didn't understand, but they resonated in his mind like an echo.
The vision shifted. Now he saw a vast desert, with ruins similar to the ones he was exploring. On the horizon, a hooded figure watched him. Although he couldn't see its face, Richard felt it calling his name.
When the vision ended, Richard staggered backward, breathing heavily.
"Are you okay?" Marcus asked, arriving just in time to see him.
"Yes… I think so," Richard replied, though he wasn't sure if it was true.
Marcus looked at the tablet with interest.
"That tablet… we hadn't seen it before. It seems important."
Richard nodded, still trying to process what he had seen.
---
That night, while reviewing his notes in the tent, the system activated again.
[Mission completed.]
Reward unlocked: Access to the First Level of the System.
Richard felt his heart race. Before he could process what it meant, a new message appeared on the screen:
[First Level unlocked. Available abilities: Inscription Analysis, Echo Vision.]
Richard stared at the message, feeling a mix of awe and fear. For the first time, the system seemed to offer him something tangible, something he could use.
Outside, the desert wind howled, dragging sand against the tents. Richard knew this was only the beginning.
---