LOGINThe hidden passage fell into complete silence when no one spoke.The only sound was the echo of hurried footsteps as we rushed toward the ancient iron door at the end of the corridor.Ramose stepped forward first, pressing both hands against the weathered metal."It's reinforced," he said.Aziel rested his palm against it before frowning. "They locked it from the inside."I looked toward Kharef, silently praying he would have another way and notice his face became colder than stone."Break it." he demanded."Yes, My Pharaoh." Ramose and Aziel drew their swords.The heavy blades slammed against the ancient lock.Clang!The deafening sound echoed through the narrow corridor.Again.Clang!Again.Clang!The thick iron groaned but refused to yield.With every strike, my heart pounded harder inside my chest until I could barely breathe.‘Please… Please let Meera be alive. Please... let everyone be safe.’One final strike.BOOM!The ancient lock shattered and the massive iron door slowly cr
The Temple of Ra slowly returned to its usual rhythm.From where I stood beside High Priest Anen, I watched the citizens bow as Pharaoh Kharef descended the temple steps with the calm authority that seemed to follow him everywhere.To everyone around us, it looked as though everything was over.The Black Sun King mounted his enormous black stallion while his generals gathered around him."My Pharaoh," Ramose called quietly.Kharef gave a small nod."We return."The royal procession rode through the temple gates beneath thousands of watching eyes, disappearing into the busy streets of Thebes.I felt something inside my chest sink.So... he was really leaving?After everything that had happened today... after nearly being burned alive… He was simply going back to the palace?I lowered my gaze, trying not to feel disappointed.Maybe this was how kings lived.Maybe saving one foreign woman wasn't important enough to delay the affairs of an entire kingdom.Beside me, High Priest Anen remai
The temple square fell into complete silence, no one moved. Hundreds of eyes remained fixed on the towering man standing beside me. The Pharaoh.Even though I couldn't understand most of their language, I could feel the weight of whatever was happening.The queen stepped forward gracefully. She spoke with calm confidence, her elegant voice echoing through the temple.Then she pointed directly at me.Great… I didn't need to understand Egyptian to know she was talking about me.I instinctively lowered my gaze before looking at Kharef to see his expression remained unreadable.Why is everyone waiting for him?He slowly turned toward me and my heartbeat instantly quickened. His golden eyes studied me quietly, making me feel as though he could see far beyond my face.The warm sunlight caught my hair as the breeze carried several loose strands across my shoulders.I suddenly became painfully aware of how different I looked from everyone else; my pale skin, my light brown hair and my blue e
The thunder of hooves echoed across the temple square.No one spoke or moved. One by one, the people stepped aside, creating a wide path through the frightened crowd.I lifted my head despite the ache in my neck.A rider emerged from the sea of people atop a magnificent black stallion that moved with calm, unhurried confidence.My breath caught.It was him, the Pharaoh.Kharef… He wore no elaborate crown, only a simple golden circlet resting against his long black hair. A dark cloak billowed behind his broad shoulders while polished golden armor reflected the afternoon sun with every measured step his horse took.There was no army surrounding him.Only three men rode behind him, each carrying themselves with the quiet confidence of warriors who feared nothing.Even from where I stood, I recognized General Ramose. Beside him rode Captain Menes, while the third man, dressed almost entirely in black, watched everything with sharp, unreadable eyes. Aziel, commander of the Royal Shadows.O
The first thing I felt was a cold stone beneath my feet. Then… Noise. Thousands of voices surrounded me. They shouted words I couldn't understand, some sounded angry and some sounded afraid.Others… Simply hated me.My eyes slowly opened and bright sunlight immediately blinded me. I frowned and blinked several times before everything came into focus.A massive temple stood before me, gigantic sandstone pillars stretched high into the blue sky with golden banners fluttered in the warm wind.Hundreds… No… Thousands of people filled the enormous square.Every single pair of eyes… Was staring at me."What..." I whispered. "Where am I?"Only then did I realize my wrists had been tied together with thick rope and fear shot through my chest.I instinctively pulled against the bindings but they didn't move."What is this?" My voice trembled. "Why am I tied up?"A loud voice suddenly echoed across the square and everyone immediately became silent. An elegantly dressed woman slowly walked onto
The chamber remained deathly silent.Kharef still stood beside Maritza's empty bed, his hand tightly clutching a single strand of her golden hair.No one dared speak.Then— Dong...A deep bell echoed across the royal city.Once.Twice.Three times.It wasn't the palace alarm but it was the Temple Bell.Every face inside the chamber changed.The High Priest Anen frowned deeply before he walked back to the temple."That bell… It summons the people."Before anyone could ask another question, hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.The doors burst open and Sitra stumbled into the room, breathing so hard she nearly collapsed.She immediately dropped to her knees."My Pharaoh!"Kharef stepped forward. "Speak."Tears streamed down the young servant's face."Lady Maritza..." She struggled to catch her breath. "...is at the Temple of Ra."The room froze and Sitra continued,"The Queen gathered the people. She said… She has captured a dangerous witch.""Witch?" Ramose repeated in disbeli







