The day had finally arrived, and here I was, stepping onto the land of Egypt. Excitement bubbled within me—it felt surreal. I had never imagined visiting Egypt in my lifetime, though I had heard countless tales of Cleopatra, Pharaohs, and Ramses. The air seemed to hum with ancient secrets, as if the land itself whispered stories of the past.
The pyramids of Egypt, especially the Great Pyramid of Giza, were marvels I had only read about. Massive stone blocks perfectly aligned to the cardinal points stood as testaments to the ingenuity of a time long gone. How did they build such wonders without modern technology? Perhaps they had knowledge or tools they kept hidden from us, something far beyond our understanding. Mysteries surrounded the pyramids—hidden chambers, unexplained mathematical precision, and their links to the stars. It was impossible not to be captivated by their grandeur and enigma.
"Kylex, your room key" my teacher said, pulling me from my thoughts as we stood at the hotel's reception. I nodded, taking the key and heading to my room. The hotel was modern but had subtle Egyptian decor—a mix of polished marble and golden accents that hinted at the region's rich culture.
Jennifer's room was right next to mine, and as I was about to settle in, a knock on my door pulled my attention. I opened it, already suspecting who it might be.
"Yes?" I asked.
Jennifer stood there, a little fidgety. Her hand slid through her hair nervously before she looked down, avoiding my gaze. "Would you mind if I… be your trip partner?" she asked softly, her voice uncertain.
I smiled instinctively but quickly wiped it away, keeping a neutral expression. "Yes, I would definitely mind" I replied coldly, watching her reaction.
Her face fell. "Oh..." she murmured, her shoulders slumping slightly.
"Only if" I continued, drawing her attention back, "you study harder for the tour. I want you to tell me the creation and history of every place we visit."
Her brows furrowed as she looked up at me. "You're intelligent, but I'm not... How am I supposed to learn all of that in one night?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
I leaned against the doorframe, pretending to think before replying, "I can help you."
Her face lit up immediately, her earlier hesitation replaced with excitement. "Really?!"
"Yes" I said, stepping aside. "Come in. Let's start with Egypt's history."
Jennifer entered my room, her mood visibly brighter. I couldn't help but smile inwardly as I closed the door behind her. This trip was already turning out to be more interesting than I had anticipated.
The very next day, I rushed toward the bus, my bag swinging wildly as I shouted, "Wait for me!" My voice echoed through the air as James leaned out of the window with his usual smirk.
"Nerdy is late!" he teased, but before I could respond, Jennifer stepped in, landing a quick punch on his arm. "Watch your mouth!" she snapped, her face flushed with annoyance.
As I climbed into the bus, slightly out of breath, our teacher greeted me with a stern look. "Next time, we won't be waiting for you, Mr. Kylex."
"Hm" I muttered, taking my seat beside Jennifer, avoiding James' mocking grin.
During the bus ride, I could feel James' gaze fixed on us, his expression a mix of curiosity and something else. I turned to Jennifer. "So, did you learn everything?" I asked, ignoring the burning stare from across the aisle.
"I guess…" she started, but I interrupted her, "You fell asleep while studying, didn't you?"
Before she could reply, James cut in, his voice loud and intrusive. "So, you guys were in the same room last night?"
Jennifer glared at him. "So what?" she shot back.
"No… nothing" he said, suddenly quiet, though the smug look on his face remained.
Yes, we were in the same room last night, but nothing happened. I had no interest in Jennifer that way, but I didn't want to hurt her either.
The bus came to a halt near the pyramids. I stepped off, my heart racing. "The last remaining wonder of the ancient world…" I murmured, my eyes wide as they took in the sheer magnitude of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was surreal.
Jennifer stood beside me, her face lit up with excitement. "I wonder how they built this over 4,500 years ago?" she asked, glancing at me.
"Are you excited?" she added.
I nodded, unable to take my eyes off the massive structure.
We moved closer, and James, ever the opportunist, couldn't resist another jab. "I don't think we need a guide. This nerdy historian will help us!"
"Shut up, James" the teacher snapped, silencing him.
Jennifer, eager to show off her one-night crash course in Egyptology, chimed in, "Each block weighs between 2 to 5 tons, and there are over 2 million of them!"
"Yes, Jennifer, and imagine the effort it took to build this without modern machinery" I added, my voice filled with admiration as I stared at the pyramid's perfectly aligned blocks.
Inside, the guide's voice echoed through the chambers. "The pyramid has three main chambers—the King's Chamber, the Queen's Chamber, and a subterranean chamber. The King's Chamber, made of red granite, contains the remnants of a stone sarcophagus. Scientists believe hidden chambers might still be undiscovered."
He gestured to the Sphinx visible in the distance. "To your right, you'll see the Sphinx, a limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a man, believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre. Its purpose is still debated—some say it's a guardian of the pyramids."
He continued, "As you explore, pay attention to the hieroglyphs and carvings. They tell stories of the pharaohs, their gods, and the incredible legacy they left behind."
The day flew by as I immersed myself in the mysteries and genius of the architecture. By the time we boarded the bus, I felt exhilarated. "What's next? Maybe the Nile River?" I thought aloud.
But as we sped down the road, we were forced to stop. The driver turned to the teacher. "Should we take another route or wait here?"
The teacher hesitated, and I spoke up. "It's better if we get to the hotel as soon as possible. It's a no-moon night, after all."
"What's with the no-moon night?" James asked, frustration evident in his voice.
"Egyptians believed it brought danger and chaos" I replied, keeping my tone matter-of-fact.
Jennifer added, "It's true. Apophis, the serpent of chaos, was believed to attack the sun god Ra during his nightly journey through the underworld."
I nodded. "On moonless nights, Apophis was thought to grow stronger, symbolizing chaos overwhelming order. Egyptians performed rituals to repel him and restore balance."
Jennifer chimed in again, "And don't forget Khonsu, the moon god. On no-moon nights, he was believed to grow weaker. It's said that Set, the god of chaos, thrived during this time, even betraying Osiris."
James shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable. "You two are just making this stuff up."
"Maybe" I said, smirking, "but what if there really are forces out there you don't want to mess with?"
Luka, sitting behind us, laughed. "Woah! You two just roasted him alive!"
The bus erupted in laughter, and James slumped into his seat, muttering under his breath. I couldn't help but smile as we continued our journey, the mysteries of Egypt swirling in my mind.