In a harsh desert, under a scorching sun and an approaching sandstorm, the air was thick with suffocating heat, making it difficult to breathe. Sweat dripped from the workers' foreheads, even with the few umbrellas that barely provided shade. Some slowed their movements, others wiped their brows with their sleeves, but they all continued working in silence.
Amid this scene, an Egyptian police officer stood in front of the excavation team's tent, speaking to archaeologist Yaqub with a tone of clear annoyance:
Officer: "Alright, Mr. Yaqub, we're done. You may resume digging, but make sure the site is properly secured."
Yaqub nodded in thanks as the officer left, then lifted his nearly empty water bottle to his lips, contemplating the scene before him. Workers were busy digging, photographers were documenting discoveries, and illustrators were recording intricate details. Tents and fences surrounded the site, while a few umbrellas offered limited protection from the blazing sun.
Inside the Main Tent
Amid a pile of archaeological equipment and computers dedicated to analyzing scans and geological surveys, David sat with an unusual focus, like a child who had found an intriguing new toy. Meanwhile, Soma was engrossed in studying ancient papyri, attempting to decipher the hieroglyphics, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
When Yaqub entered, Soma looked up and asked without lifting his hands from the manuscript:
"What happened?"
Yaqub sighed and replied:
"The officer was annoyed because we rushed into excavation without properly securing the site, but it's fine now. Don't worry about it."
Soma showed no concern and went back to his work, while Yaqub turned to David, who hadn't lifted his eyes from the computer screen:
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the Valley of the Kings? You know the Supreme Council of Antiquities has only given us a year to excavate. There are still many undiscovered tombs there."
David answered indifferently, his eyes still fixed on the screen:
"The Valley of the Kings is full of tombs, yes, but it doesn't interest me. Everything there is already well-documented. Here... here, I feel something different."
Soma chuckled and said:
"Leave him be. You know he's eccentric. His family gave him the latest equipment, and he's obsessed with the pyramids—nothing else excites him."
Yaqub studied David for a moment before sighing quietly. David wasn't just an enthusiastic archaeologist—he was also the primary financier of this research, thanks to his family's immense wealth in Europe and Asia. So, Yaqub didn't press further and instead focused on refilling his water bottle before returning to analyzing artifacts and estimating their ages.
Break Time... and a Surprise
Time passed quickly, interrupted only by the voice of the Egyptian site supervisor, Hamza, calling from outside the tent:
"Mr. Yaqub, Mr. Soma, Mr. David... we're done for the day. We'll continue tomorrow."
His words seemed ordinary, but there was something unusual in his tone. Yaqub noticed it and approached him, asking:
"Hamza, right? You seem like you have something else to say. What is it?"
Hamza looked at him steadily, then said calmly:
"In five days, work will stop for two days. Everyone will have a break to return home and celebrate with their families for Eid al-Fitr."
A look of confusion crossed Yaqub's face as he asked curiously:
"Eid al-Fitr?"
Hamza nodded:
"Yes, we are in the month of Ramadan. We fast from dawn until sunset, without eating or drinking. After the month ends, we celebrate Eid."
Yaqub's eyes widened in surprise as he glanced at the workers at the site, then muttered aloud:
"You've all been fasting all day? In this heat?!"
Hamza simply nodded:
"Yes, and we'll fast again tomorrow." Then, he excused himself and walked away.
Yaqub remained standing, processing what he had just heard, before sharing it with David and Soma.
David laughed, amused by the thought:
"That's insane! I can barely handle thirst, and I drink water all day. And these guys haven't had a single drop? Impressive!"
Soma, on the other hand, merely gave a slight nod, thinking but not commenting. To him, this topic wasn't as important as their real goal… searching for magic.
Two Months Later…
Soma lay in his room, staring at the ceiling, his heart pounding between fear and excitement, yet he felt deeply frustrated. Despite their significant discoveries about ancient Egyptian curses, they hadn't found anything truly extraordinary.
He closed his eyes, recalling the past months, then sighed before turning to Yaqub and asking:
"What do you think? Have we wasted our time?"
Yaqub considered for a moment, then replied:
"I don't know, but it's puzzling… I asked Hamza about magic, and he said it exists, but not as we imagine. Not like in stories or movies—it's something forbidden in Islam, only used to cause harm, like making people sick or separating loved ones. So he didn't care about it and didn't tell me anything more."
David grinned widely and interjected:
"Then why don't we search differently? Instead of focusing on magic, let's look into science!"
Soma glared at him and snapped:
"Are you joking? Have you forgotten why we're here?"
But unlike Soma, Yaqub seemed to seriously consider the recurring thought in his mind. Finally, he said calmly:
"Actually, he might have a point… The ancient Egyptians were more scientists than they were sorcerers."
Soma frowned but had no counterargument. In the end, he sighed in resignation:
"Fine, do whatever you want."
Nine Months Later…
Despite all the exciting discoveries, nothing truly different from previous archaeological expeditions had surfaced.
One night inside the tent, Soma sat in silence while Yaqub observed him. Finally, Soma spoke with a trembling voice:
"Is there really nothing? Have we wasted all this time?"
Yaqub replied with forced confidence:
"Don't lose hope. We'll find something—I'm sure."
Soma laughed bitterly:
"It's been eleven months, and only one month remains. Do you really think a miracle will just happen out of nowhere?"
But before he could continue his sarcasm, David suddenly shouted from behind his computer screen:
"Oh my God… what is this?!"
Yaqub and Soma immediately lifted their heads, tension filling the air…
The Next stop: An unexpected discovery