As we stepped into Victor's house, a sudden, deliberate knock resounded against the wooden door, making the air in the room turn heavy. Victor hesitated, his eyes narrowing as though already sensing trouble. Slowly, he opened the door.
Standing there were soldiers, their faces shadowed by the dim lamplight from outside. Their eyes were sharp, unyielding.
"Kylex? Ir-ek r met-hedj m-a ten" the tallest of them declared, his voice cold and commanding.
(You have to come with us.)
My heart skipped a beat. How did they know my name?
The soldier continued, his words cutting through the silence. I was being accused of espionage—of being a spy from a rival nation. Before I could even process what he said, iron chains clamped around my wrists, the chill of the metal biting into my skin.
I turned to Victor, a silent plea in my eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll find a way" he said with quiet determination, resting a steadying hand on my shoulder.
I gave a faint nod, swallowing my fear, and allowed myself to be led away.
The path to the palace felt like a journey into another world. Under the pale glow of oil lanterns, the massive structure came into view. The palace towered into the night like a phantom of the past, its sandstone walls adorned with faded carvings and symbols I couldn't understand. The golden top of the main tower caught faint glimmers from the torches below, but the rest of the palace was wrapped in shadows, as if hiding secrets it wasn't ready to reveal.
Inside, the atmosphere was heavy with the scent of incense and centuries-old stone. The soldiers led me down long, winding corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly, each step echoing ominously. The dimly lit passages felt like they were alive, the flickering flames of oil lamps casting shadows that twisted and shifted on the walls.
Finally, we arrived at the dungeons. The air turned colder, damp and thick, carrying the unmistakable stench of decay and mold. The cells were ancient—rough-hewn stone chambers with rusted iron bars and uneven dirt floors. Every sound, from the clank of chains to the faint drip of water, seemed to amplify in the oppressive silence.
They shoved me into one of the cells and locked the heavy door behind me with a resounding clang. The cell was suffocating, the darkness pressing in on me as my mind raced with questions.
But before I could collect my thoughts, a sharp pain shot through my skull. It was as if an unseen force was tearing my mind apart, dragging me into the void. I clutched my head, gasping, the world around me spinning wildly.
Then, everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, the cold and damp of the dungeon was gone. Instead, I found myself in a room bathed in the soft, golden glow of oil lamps. The air was warm, rich with the scent of aged wood and herbs. I pushed myself upright, my heart pounding as I took in my surroundings.
This wasn't any ordinary room—it was a royal chamber, ancient yet striking in its opulence. The walls were painted with faded murals of gods and celestial patterns, their colors muted but still hauntingly beautiful. Woven tapestries hung in tattered elegance, depicting scenes of battle and celebration. The bed beneath me was low but wide, layered with intricate linen and thick, patterned blankets.
The floor was made of packed earth, smooth and cool beneath my bare feet. Ornate pottery and delicate bronze artifacts were scattered on low wooden tables, their surfaces etched with ancient symbols. Oil lamps flickered in carved niches, their light casting dancing shadows that seemed alive, whispering untold stories of the past.
My breath quickened as I struggled to comprehend how I had come to be here. The last thing I remembered was the suffocating chill of the dungeon, the unbearable pain in my head—and then, nothing.
But now, here I was, in an ancient royal bedroom that felt both real and impossibly surreal. My pulse raced as a single question echoed in my mind: What just happened?
As I struggled to make sense of my surroundings, a faint creak reached my ears. I froze, my heart pounding as the shadows in the room seemed to grow darker, more oppressive. Then, from the dimly lit corner of the chamber, a figure emerged.
Tall, imposing, and cloaked in an aura of authority, he stepped into the light. His attire spoke volumes of his status—an ornate linen robe adorned with intricate gold patterns, a wide collar of precious stones resting regally on his broad shoulders. His face was stern, etched with the wear of age and the wisdom of battles fought. A neatly trimmed beard framed his sharp jawline, and his piercing dark eyes carried a weight of centuries, as if they could see straight through me.
"So, you woke up" the figure said, his voice deep and commanding, yet eerily calm.
I scrambled to my feet, my pulse racing. My throat felt dry as I blurted out, "Who… who are you?"
He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "I am Khastor," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "King of this land."
The name hit me like a thunderbolt. The man standing before me wasn't just a figure from some old tale—he was the King Khastor, the ruler whose name and kingdom had vanished from history. I felt my legs weaken under the weight of the revelation.
"But… how do you know English?" I stammered, unable to mask the tremor in my voice.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, though his eyes remained as cold and calculating as ever. "Languages are merely tools, boy" he said. "I have mastered many of them—Greek, Aramaic, Nubian… and English, though it is not of my time. My children possess this ability as well. It is a gift we are born with, passed down through generations."
I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the man who was both legend and mystery. His words carried an air of inevitability, as though he had been waiting for this moment. Around us, the flickering lamps cast shifting shadows on the walls, making his towering figure appear larger, more ominous.
The silence stretched, heavy with questions I couldn't yet form. His gaze never left mine, and for the first time, I realized the gravity of my situation. I wasn't just a visitor to this world—I was in the presence of a king, a ruler shrouded in forgotten history and unanswered secrets.