Guardians of Time (GoT)

Ryan went back to his room, his mind in a mess. He turned off the light, and then collapsed onto his bed, too drained to examine the papers scattered before him.

'I haven't overcome my nightmares, yet that chamber KV5-14 visions, time stop at coffee incident, now at all time, Professor James...'

He sighed. 

Never in his life he was in this turmoil. Born into a middle-income family, Ryan's life took a devastating turn when his parents died in a bus accident when he was just eight. He was sent to an orphanage, where nightmares began haunting him two to three times a week, starting the night after their funeral.

'What a joke…' he sighed again.

Sitting up in bed, he lifted up his shirt, under the dim moonlight through the window, he inspected his chest for symbols or the clock image. Nothing. There's no sign of leftover marks whatsoever.

'Was it also a new form of nightmares…? But today, the coffee did stop midair when the others were around me…'

He laid back his head on the pillow, and just gazed at the ceilings, and fell in slumber.

Not long after, his chest glowed softly in ethereal blue light under his shirt, and then dissipated.

***

Ryan now stood in a chamber with shelves filled with scrolls, parchments, and hieroglyphic symbols all over. He could smell the humid and dusty air of a library.

'This is… the same library chamber I had the vision?'

It was indeed the same place. He stood at exactly the same spot as he left it. But this time the library was in the dark, only a few brazier torches lit the room. 

The priest who was gazing at him was not in his place anymore. The library was very quiet, only some scribbling sounds by some priests under the oil lamps, not far away from where he is standing now.

'Guess they also knew the term of working overtime as well…'

Feeling the scrolls he was still touching, he flinched and left the area.

'It's too dark for me to read. Bringing the scrolls under the lights may cause commotions because they can't see me. Not to mention bringing the torch, haha…' Ryan chuckled at his own joke.

He walked southwest to the treasury section. According to his memory of The Temple Library of Medinet Habu's layout, the treasury was on southwest from the entrance, while the scriptorium or writing area was on the northeast.

He arrived at a cedar wood double-door, it was locked with a big bronze lock. Two guards were standing on each side.

'Guess the records were right… It really has security measures.'

Ryan studied the mythological scenes carvings at the door leaves.

'Winged Isis and Nephthys… Anubis and Horus…'

'Goddess and Gods guarding the treasury…' 

He exhaled, and left the treasury with disappointment. He was eager to see the artifacts and jewels inside the treasury.

'Never mind, I've seen most of them on the records anyway…'

He walked down the dimly lit corridor, when a sudden male voice sounded behind him.

"Ha-khah we-kh Her-khet-ep Dje-ba-a Khnu?"

Ryan jolted and let out a stifled gasp. He turned around and saw the priest who was gazing at him the other time, in front of him.

It was the ancient Egyptian language!

It meant, 'Are you the newly appointed time master?'

'How the hell he can see me while others cannot?'

But that was not the issue, the problem was what was he talking about? Time master?

'"Ha-khah Mu Het-ep, Ha-khah Khah-w puh Ha-khah"

(Excuse me, are you talking to me?)

Ryan gulped, 'Lucky I can speak this language.'

"Ha-khah Khes."

(Yes.)

"Khenti Dje-ba. Heh."

(Time Guardian. You.)

"..."

"What the hell are you talking about…" Ryan muttered.

"You are a Time Guardian."

Ryan's jaw dropped. 

"You can speak English?"

"Of course. Because I am also a Time Guardian."

A sense of understanding rushed over Ryan, even just a tiny piece.

"That explains why you can see me while others here can't?"

"Certainly. It's better for you to follow me, we can talk freely at my chamber."

***

The young priest guided Ryan out of the Library and went to Medinet Habu Temple's priest quarters.

He opened a chamber and gestured to Ryan to get in.

It was a small room, 3-4 meters long and 2-3 meters wide. The flooring was made of limestone, and the wall consisted of mud bricks. There was a stone pedestal, a niche for sacred images or relics, benches, a small altar, storage compartments, oil lamps, and small ventilation.

The young priest gestured to Ryan to sit on the bench while he sat on the other side of it.

Without further ado, he introduced himself.

"My name is Paser. I was born and lived in this era, here in Egypt. I can talk fluently in English because I lived in England during the Napoleonic War in 1804."

"What..the..?" Ryan's jaw dropped once again.

Paser continued, "You may not believe everything, but you must believe because we can travel through time and dimension."

"What are you even talking about…?" Ryan sighed, "Ah, I know, I am in a dream. I must have slept over…"

Paser shakes his head, "No, you are not."

Ryan blinked. 

Once.

Twice.

Paser kept silent.

Sigh..

"Alright. What is Time Guardian?" Ryan finally gave up.