Chapter 1: The Artifact
It was right before him. Just at the end of the path, a gleaming golden box sat on a pedestal, surrounded by three statues representing Osiris, Ra and Obelisk.
All he had to do was reach it…
Of course… it wouldn't be that simple.
Akira smirked as he looked at the path before him, noting the intricate patterns that were carved into the tiles.
One last game. Nothing I can't handle.
There were three main carvings in the tiles. One of the Eye of Horus, the head of Anubis and an ankh.
Anubis is symbolic of the afterlife and I'm not looking to be judged now… so, probably best to avoid him.
He held up his lantern, narrowing his eyes.
The Eye of Horus is symbolic of restoration and protection… Well, it sounds like the Gods are on my side with this one…
And the ankh...The key to eternal life…
"Heh." He chuckled, grinning. "It was a good game, Pharaoh but I believe this is my victory." He looked up at the pedestal.
Nothing was going to stop him at this point.
Step on the wrong tiles - fall to your death.
Step on the right ones - victory is mine.
Akira took a deep breath before making his choice. He stepped onto the tile with the eye first. It sank into the ground slightly before he moved to the next - the head of Anubis.
"Protection from the Gods… Avoiding judgment, for the Pharaoh is a god and therefore exempt… and last…"
He moved to the ankh.
"The key to the afterlife, the ankh! The Pharaoh's eternal life."
He waited a moment, looking around - the last time he got too cocky he almost had an arrow pierce through his head.
"UWAH!"
SHING!
"THAT WAS WAY TOO CLOSE!"
Akira took a deep breath, steadying himself. It was now or never…
"I win."
He took the box into his hands. It was cool to the touch, the eye on the center glinting in the light. If he didn't know any better, he would've thought it blinked at him.
"Finally…"
The excavation was almost over. He had the last piece… then he could truly dig deep into the research of this place. He looked up at the statues, a wry grin coming to his face… that quickly faded, as the pedestal sunk into itself.
The mouths of the statues began to open one by one, the stone sliding into place.
Oh… crap. I didn't check that…!
FWIP!
FWIP!
FWIP!
Akira let out a yelp, ducking down as a wave of arrows shot out at him, the man covering his head. The lantern fell from the pedestal with a crash as the light went out.
He could hear it all around him as he scrambled for the exit. He bolted, box in hand as he stepped down on the tile.
The ground under him began to shake as the entire crypt seemed to tremble with activity. Akira let out a sharp gasp, trying to stay upright, breaking into a sprint… the tiles falling behind him as he went.
He couldn't tell where he was going with how dark it was.
One minute he was upright… the next, the floor gave out from under him.
Akira let out a sharp gasp as he began to fall.
"Daddy! You're gonna come home soon right?"
"You'll be safe… right?"
"I'll see you very soon…"
I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry-!
"NO!"
Just as the void began to swallow him whole, a hand reached out, grabbing onto his arm, stopping him in the air.
"You played well. I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if I let such a man meet an untimely end like this."
Within moments, Akira was pulled up onto a platform, light coming around him. What had once been a dark void was now illuminated with an ethereal golden light, the area around them transformed into a throne room.
Akira swallowed hard, looking around in confusion.
Where was he?
He had just been in the tomb they had discovered, hadn't he? The winding labyrinth of puzzles and traps were gone… The throne before him now, shone with gold and jewels, animals of many kinds etched into it.
Perched on the throne, was a young man… no… a boy, as he approached. His eyes grew wide, as he took in his appearance.
A boy, with wild hair and red eyes that gleamed with warmth… and mischief. A large pendant, made of gold hung around his neck, glinting in the light of the torches.
"You played well." The boy stood from his throne, walking down the steps, folding his arms behind his back. "It's been a long time…"
"Do I… know you?"
He smiled, bowing his head.
"If I could safely answer that I would. I feel as if I do… but my memories are as fragmented as this." He took off the pendent, holding it out to him…
There was a burst of light, as it came apart forming a box in his hands… the one Akira had been after.
"The treasure…" Akira swallowed hard.
The boy smirked.
"A treasure you thought it was worthy to risk your life over… Then again, it doesn't surprise me. You did in the past… Akira Mutou."
Akira's eyes widened at this.
"How…?"
"I was informed that one day you would come. Destiny so decreed it. That the reincarnation of Asim of the royal guard would be the one to bring the puzzle to those destined to put it back together."
"What…?" Akira shook his head. "I'm… I'm not a guard. I'm just an Egyptologist. This is… This is just a dream… A hallucination - probably mold in the tomb-"
The boy chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
"Practical as ever." He held the box out to him. "Perhaps, you'll feel differently…"
Akira hesitated before reaching outward, taking the box gingerly into his hands.
There was a jolt, as energy began to surround him.
The boy smirked, the crown on his head disappearing revealing an eye in the center of his forehead.
He reached forward, tapping Akira's head.
"When you open your eyes."
"Fall back!" He called out, as he blocked a bandit's sword, growling, pushing back against them. "Everyone fall back, now!"
"Where is he?" One of the guards asked. "I lost track of him!"
"What…?!"
"The Pharaoh…!"
"Open your mind… and your heart."
The throne room swirled around him at a dizzying speed, the brilliant colors, the hieroglyphs, everything blurring into one… the boy king, smiling at him as everything went dark…
When he awakened, he was on the floor of the crypt once more. His lantern scattered in pieces across the area. His head ached as he sat up slowly, rubbing the back of it.
"Mgh… What the…?"
He looked around him, puzzled. Everything was how it was when he entered the tomb. The tiles were back in order… the statues seemed to glare at him as he looked back up at them…
The only thing missing was the box… that was right beside him on the floor.
"What the…?" Akira lifted it up. "Was that just a dream or the concussion talking?"
"Open your mind."
… Maybe there was something to Dad's old stories..
Akira shoved the box into his bag, hurrying for the exit. He didn't need to spend any more time here as it was.
Besides… We have a new find and new discoveries to make.
Who was the king this tomb belonged to?
Why was he hidden away?
Oh, I can hardly wait…!
He smiled.
I can't wait to show them what I've found!