Guardians of Time (GoT)

Ryan stepped onto the KV5 excavation site, the morning sun casting a golden glow reflected on the desert sands.

The Valley of the Kings' arid terrain stretches out, with sandy dunes and rocky outcrops dominating the horizon.

The majestic temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon stand sentinel nearby.

Colleagues swarmed around the campsite, eager to discuss the day's agenda.

Dr. Maria, stylish in her khaki jacket and sun hat, approached him with a concerned smile. Her bright blue eyes sparkled beneath the brim.

"Ryan, anything wrong?" she asked, noticing his distant expression. "You seem lost in the sands of time." Her voice was tinged with gentle amusement.

"Did something happen?" Dr. Hassan chimed in.

Ryan's brow furrowed, uncertainty etched on his face. He decided only to tell some of his vision.

"I saw something... ," He massaged his temples, and continued:

"I saw a priest here in KV5-14 before we left work yesterday, he was writing on the wall. He turned, and our eyes met. He saw me, Dr. Maria. I'm certain."

Ryan's voice dropped to a whisper.

"He wrote 'Akhet' – the horizon where sun rises – and 'Khepri,' the scarab god. Then, everything vanished."

Dr. Maria's expression turned thoughtful. "That's intriguing. Perhaps your subconscious is processing the hieroglyphs we discovered yesterday?"

"Seeing spirit now, Ryan?" Dr. Ali teased, cuckling.

Ryan frowned.

"But not only that," Ryan mumbled. "The hieroglyphics, the air...were… so vivid."

Dr. Maria exchanged concerned glances with Dr. Hassan. "Perhaps exhaustion? We've been pushing hard. Or maybe because you were shocked with what happened to Dr. Rodriguez…?"

Ryan shook his head. "No, no, it felt... real, authentic. Like the priest was really there."

"We're here for you, friend. Take your time." Dr. Maria smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Ryan's shoulder.

Dr. Hassan nodded sympathetically. "These discoveries can overwhelm anyone."

Ryan nodded, appeasing Dr. Hassan's concern, but his mind told otherwise.

He exhaled softly.

'They will never believe me,' he thought, 'Good thing I didn't tell them all…'

***

The chamber back into serene, only the hushed conversations and gentle clinking of tools filling the air.

Ryan himself sat on the floor and began cataloging artifacts, but his mind drifted back to the priest's piercing gaze. His quill strokes faltered, scribbling illegible marks.

"Ryan? Everything okay?" Dr. Ali whispered while standing and brushing a clay animal figurine. It was a toy for kids in the Ramses II era, usually formed as hand-sculpted cats, dogs, or lions, showcasing playful innocence.

Ryan nodded, forcing focus. "Yeah. Just... lost in thought."

"Haha..I bet you need a cup of coffee to help you focus. Here, grab one." He handed Ryan a cup of coffee

Before the cup stayed safely on Ryan's hand, the cup slipped, the liquid almost thrown to the ground.

Ryan's eyes squinted, and a bit wishing the time to stop so the coffee liquids won't damage anything inside the chamber.

Suddenly, Dr. Ali's outstretched hand and mouth opened, colleagues' digging tools, and dust particles hung suspended.

Time froze. 

Ryan, bewildered, rose from his trance. He stared, then stood up, but the frozen scene remained undisturbed.

'What's going on…?'

With hesitation, Ryan reached for the hovering cup. His fingers wrapped around it, saving the coffee.

And suddenly, time unfroze. Dr. Ali's eyes snapped back to life. "Ryan! Catch—"

He trailed off, noticing the cup already safe in Ryan's hands.

"What... How?"

"You nearly spilled it."

Dr. Ali's eyes narrowed slightly. "I could've sworn..."

He glanced and the coffee cup for a moment then shook his head. "Never mind. Back to work."

Ryan sipped his coffee, pretended as if nothing had happened. But he was lost in thought.

'What was happening… How could time stop like that…?'

His gaze wandered around the chamber and saw Dr. Maria was examining a piece of ceramic shard.

He lingered for a few moments and decided not to tell anyone about the matter.

'No use telling them. They'll blame the desert sun...'

Ryan's hands mechanically sifted through the sand, his mind consumed by the inexplicable events. Two days in a row, two unsettling mysteries happened.

Ryan's gaze drifted back to his work, his quill scratching across parchment aimlessly.

Colleagues' chatter faded into the background as his thoughts swirled. 

***

At dinner time. Dr. Hassan entered the bustling dining area, his expression was grave. "Team, we've received news of another excavation team at KV71, adjacent to our site. They will arrive within a few days."

The room fell silent, forks and knives poised mid-air. The staffs exchanged curious glances.

"Who's leading the team?" Dr. Maria asked, her brow furrowed.

"Professor James leads the team," Dr. Hassan continued, his expression showed a measured frown.

Dr. Maria's eyes narrowed. "James? Isn't he—"

"The infamous 'King of the Nile'?" Dr. Ali snorted, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Arrogant, self-serving, and ruthlessly competitive."

Ryan's eyes widened. "Isn't he the one who disputed your KV5 findings, Dr. Hassan?"

Dr. Hassan nodded. "Yes, Ryan. Actually yeah he did."

"Any information on their objectives?" Dr. Ali asked. "How the hell James could be on the same time as us…"

"Not yet," Dr. Hassan said. "But we'll monitor their progress. Ryan, Dr. Maria, review KV7's layout and potential connections to KV5."

"Who else is on the team?" Dr. Maria asked cautiously.

"James's cousin, Sophia Hill, is the co-lead," Dr. Hassan replied.

"Sophia? That's interesting."

The team exchanged uneasy glances. Sophia Hill was also well known for her cunningness.

Dr. Maria leaned forward. "Let's not underestimate James and Sophia. His tactics are unorthodox and often underhanded."

Ryan only nodded in agreement.

Dr. Hassan's eyes swept the room. "Stay vigilant, team. We won't let anyone mess with our work."