A few days passed, and the world couldn't stop talking about the Sahara Forest. What was once an endless stretch of desert was now a lush green landscape centered around the towering crystal statue and its golden pool.
Theories about its origin were everywhere.
Religious leaders called it a divine miracle, claiming the crystal to be a sign of God's work. "This is Eden," one preacher declared on television. "The Lord has blessed this Earth once more."
UFO enthusiasts connected the event to radar anomalies from weeks prior. "It's aliens terraforming the planet!" a viral YouTuber shouted in his video.
Meanwhile, self-proclaimed wizards and magical enthusiasts argued online that the crystal was the work of ancient fairies. On forums, one thread read:
User1: "The crystal is definitely a cocoon for the Fairy Queen. Just wait, magic will return to Earth."
Reply1: "Or it's just a big shiny rock. Chill."
Despite military efforts to block off the area, people flocked to the Sahara Forest, flying drones to capture footage and posting videos online. One TikTok video of the glowing forest canopy at night reached millions of views, with comments ranging from awe to skepticism.
On television, scientists and experts debated the event.
"I wouldn't jump to conclusions about aliens," astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson said during an interview. "But if this is real, it's operating on technology we don't understand."
Physicist Michio Kaku speculated, "This could be an energy source far beyond our capabilities. Artificial or natural, it challenges everything we know."
Biologists like Dr. Jane Goodall were intrigued. "If this is an ecosystem created overnight, we need to understand its balance. It's astonishing, no matter the explanation."
The world buzzed with speculation, wonder, and theories, but nobody could explain how it had happened, or why.
A week later, the military relaxed their control around the barrier. Crowds gathered, taking selfies and recording videos, many daring to touch the shimmering edge of the energy field. Each time, their hands met resistance, like pressing against glass.
An old man and his six-year-old granddaughter stood among the crowd. He smiled down at her as she pointed to the barrier.
"Grandpa, can I touch it?"
"Of course, sweetheart," the man replied, his voice calm. He stepped closer, lifting his hand to the barrier. He fully expected it to push back like it did to the others.
But his hand passed through.
The crowd gasped as the shimmering field rippled around his arm. He froze for a moment, then looked down at his granddaughter. "It's okay," he said softly, gripping her hand tightly. "Come with me."
Together, they stepped forward. The barrier rippled again, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
The crowd erupted into shouts. Phones were raised, recording the entire event. Someone yelled, "Did you see that? He just walked through!"
Social media exploded within minutes:
"Elderly Man and Child Enter Sahara Forest!"
"Who Are They? Chosen by the Crystal?"
"Is This Proof of Divinity or Advanced Science?"
Alex sat on the terrace of his villa, watching the sun set. In his hand was a steaming cup of coffee, though his focus was elsewhere.
When the old man and his granddaughter stepped through, Alex's gaze sharpened. He set the cup down, leaning forward slightly.
"Someone got in," he said, more to himself than anyone else.
[That didn't take long,] Lily's voice echoed in his mind.
"No, it didn't," Alex replied, standing up. He walked to the edge of the terrace, his eyes fixed on the distant crystal. "I wasn't expecting this so soon."
[You sound surprised?]
"Yes, for the most part," Alex said. He paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "But the barrier doesn't stop everyone. It tests them. If they pass, they're allowed in. It seems they were worthy."
[So, what now?] Lily asked.
Alex smiled faintly. "Now, we wait and see what they do…" His voice trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished.
As the footage of the old man and the child walking through the barrier went viral, governments across the globe scrambled to act. Every intelligence agency, think tank, and research institution was ordered to find answers. Who were these two individuals? What made them special?
In a secure conference room at the Pentagon, a group of military officers and intelligence officials watched the video on a loop. The room buzzed with conversation as Director Claire Mathis of the CIA addressed the room.
"Priority one: we need to know everything about them," she said firmly. "Get their names, their backgrounds, their genetic history, and any medical anomalies. Contact the embassy in Algeria and send a team to the Sahara immediately."
"Yes, ma'am," a junior officer responded, flipping through a file. "We've already tapped into the social media accounts of people who were present. Facial recognition is being run through our global database."
"Good," Mathis said. "I want results by the end of the day."
Across the Atlantic, the FBI collaborated with NASA and DARPA to analyze the phenomenon of the barrier. A physicist leaned over a massive screen displaying energy readings from the Sahara.
"This thing doesn't behave like anything we've seen before," he muttered."
At MI6 headquarters in London, Sir Malcolm Price, the director, poured over the latest intelligence reports. His assistant, Anna Crawford, entered the room with a tablet in hand.
"We've identified the man, sir," she said, handing him the device. "Name: Elias Grayson. Retired schoolteacher. British citizen. The girl is his granddaughter, Amber Grayson."
Price raised an eyebrow. "And why, exactly, can a retired teacher and a six-year-old child pass through an impenetrable barrier?"
"Unknown, sir," Anna admitted. "But we've dispatched a team to their home in Brighton. Covert surveillance is in place, and their medical records are being reviewed as we speak."
"Good. Keep the PM informed," Price ordered. "And if MI5 or the Americans find something before us, I'll have your head."
In Tokyo, the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office convened an emergency meeting. Commissioner Takeshi Nakamura addressed his staff.
"We must tread carefully," Nakamura said. "The Sahara Forest is not in our jurisdiction, but Japan must not fall behind. Use our global networks to gather information discreetly. Contact their families if necessary."
"Yes, Commissioner," a subordinate replied.
Meanwhile, a team of Japanese geneticists was quietly flown to a UN research station near the Sahara to offer "scientific assistance." They carried state-of-the-art DNA sequencing equipment, hoping to analyze samples covertly.
In Beijing, the Ministry of State Security (MSS) took swift action. At a high-level meeting, Deputy Minister Zhang Wei outlined their approach.
"We've already hacked into international databases for any records on the Grayson family," Zhang said, pacing the room. "Our agents in Europe are mobilized. Ensure we're the first to uncover their secrets."
A senior officer added, "Our satellite systems are scanning the barrier. Preliminary data suggests it emits a unique electromagnetic field. We should consider deploying drones to gather physical samples."
"Do it," Zhang commanded. "And make sure no one knows we're involved."
In Paris, the DGSE (Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure) held its own meeting. Director Amélie Laurent reviewed the reports.
"The old man is one of ours," she announced. "French-born, moved to the UK decades ago. We'll reach out to his extended family here."
"Should we share intel with the EU task force?" a staffer asked.
"Only the basics," Laurent replied. "This isn't just about Europe. If we're the ones to uncover the truth, France will lead the narrative."
In Moscow, the FSB (Federal Security Service) operated with characteristic aggression.
"We will not be left behind," General Sergei Ivanov declared. "Deploy agents to Algeria immediately. If necessary, offer 'assistance' to their government in securing the site."
One officer suggested, "Should we retrieve the family for questioning?"
"Nyet," Ivanov said with a smirk. "Not yet. For now, monitor their every move. If the Americans or Chinese get too close, we intervene."
As intelligence agencies raced to uncover more about Elias and Lily Grayson, they quickly hit a dead end. Their investigation revealed that the old man and his granddaughter had no living relatives.
Further digging into their family tree revealed tragic results: Elias had lost his entire extended family during the early years of the Ukraine war.
In a matter of day, the international network of intelligence agencies found themselves grasping at straws. The Grayson family's history was riddled with gaps, no direct relatives survived the war.
They had vanished without a trace, and the agencies were left with no way to connect them to any known bloodlines or ancient secrets.
The American CIA, Russian FSB, and the European intelligence community quickly shared their findings. There was nothing remarkable in the Grayson's medical or genetic histories. They were ordinary citizens, unaffected by the chaos surrounding the barrier. Yet, somehow, they had been able to enter the site without harm.
As the agencies looked to the next possible lead, they continued to monitor the situation in Algeria with growing frustration. Satellites scanned the barrier, drones hovered above, and teams of covert agents scoured the area.
From his villa, Alex watched the chaos unfold with mild amusement. Using his perception, it provided him with constant updates, including who was trying to study it and how.
"They're persistent," Alex said, sipping his drink.
[Do you think they'll figure it out?] Lily asked.
"Not anytime soon," Alex replied. "The barrier's design is simple, it doesn't care about governments or machines. It only tests the hearts of those who touch it."
As governments raced to uncover the truth, Alex leaned back, feeling relaxed while listening to the schemes and plots going on at the background.