Chop. Chop. Chop.
Four Black Hawks swept across the dunes, their shadows racing over the ancient land as they escorted a convoy of armed personnel toward a newly uncovered excavation site near the pyramids.
Below, camel riders halted and looked skyward, shielding their eyes from the relentless sun as the choppers roared past like mechanical beasts.
At the site, dozens of archaeologists moved busily between massive, sun-bleached tents. Security was tight—private contractors with rifles slung over their shoulders patrolled the perimeter. Though the Egyptian government had granted permission for the dig, the high-level security suggested they were after more than just forgotten relics.
One of the Black Hawks descended, kicking up a whirlwind of sand as it touched down. The side door swung open, and a figure stepped out, gripping his hat against the rotor wash. He wore a dust-covered outfit suited for desert archaeology—boots, cargo pants, and a lightweight shirt rolled at the sleeves.
As he approached the largest tent, sunlight caught his features: black hair streaked with silver, eyes sharp with purpose.
From inside the tent, a voice called out, "Ah, Xavier. You made it."
Xavier stepped in, brushing sand off his wide-brimmed hat. "Of course, Sundara. How could I miss the biggest discovery of the century?"
A man with dark brown hair and striking green eyes stood near a table cluttered with maps and artifacts. He crossed his arms, eyes narrowing at Xavier. "Why do we even need this guy? We were told we'd be proceeding without any third parties. Sundara, what's going on?"
Sundara, unbothered by the tension, glanced between the two men. "Kale you try translating an ancient language no one's cracked in centuries. Like it or not, Xavier's the only one we can trust with this. In fact," she added, turning to the skeptical man, "it was our contractors who specifically requested him. His reputation isn't just for show—he's the real deal."
Kale grumbled under his breath, clearly not thrilled about the situation, but he still geared up for the trip. Once the three were ready, Sundara led them into the tomb.
Xavier lit a torch, its flickering flame casting dancing shadows along the ancient stone walls as they made their way through a narrow tunnel. Eventually, they reached a dead end.
"This is as far as it goes," Sundara said, turning to Xavier. "What do you think?"
Xavier stepped forward, his eyes scanning the inscriptions etched into the stone. "The Sun. The Moon. The Truth," he murmured, tracing the faded symbols with his fingers.
He thought for a long moment, then looked at Sundara and gave a small nod. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a round relic—an artifact previously recovered from a site in North America. Carefully, he placed it into a circular indentation in the wall.
The stone shook.
With a deep rumble, the floor gave way beneath them.
The three plunged into darkness, crashing into a pool of icy water below. Gasping for air, they surfaced and swam quickly to the stone shore. As they pulled themselves out, the chamber around them slowly came to life—crystals embedded in the walls flickered to brilliance, casting a soft, ethereal glow across the ancient space.
But what truly caught Xavier's attention wasn't the light.
His breath hitched as he stared at the murals covering the walls—vivid depictions etched in ancient paint. On one side, the radiant Sun. On the other, the serene Moon. And in the center…
The Sun and Moon, intertwined—forming a single, haunting symbol.
"The Eclipse," Xavier whispered.
Just beneath the mural, an ancient script was carved into the stone. He leaned in, reading it
His breath caught. Eyes wide, heart pounding.
No… it can't be. That's impossible.
He rubbed his eyes, but the words didn't vanish.
Taking a step back, his face drained of color.
"What is it, Xavier?" Sundara asked, her voice tight, her expression pale.
Kale narrowed his eyes, hand drifting to the pistol at his side, fingers brushing the holster.
"This world…" he muttered. "It's… it's—"
But before he could finish, something glinted in the light—resting on a pedestal in the center of the chamber.
A necklace.
Silver. Delicate. Unmistakably shaped like a crescent moon.
The Moon Pendant.