The sun sank behind the dunes, casting long shadows across the desert, as Nick, Dr. Hassan, Aisha, and Amir set out toward the Nile Delta. The night air grew thick with tension as the truck bounced along uneven roads, the destination unknown but urgent. In the back, Nick fidgeted with the parchment in his hand, the words from his mother's journal swirling in his mind. His heritage, his powers, the mysterious demi-god Naramu—all of it felt like a puzzle he wasn't sure he was ready to solve.
Amir al-Dajani, who had joined them at the safehouse, was more than just another Guardian operative. His presence exuded confidence and wisdom. He carried with him a map, one that echoed the lines of the poetic map Nick had, but with added details—symbols of stars and constellations.
"You're the descendant of Naramu, the demi-god guardian. Your blood is ancient, Nick," Amir said as he reviewed the celestial map, tracing lines with a finger that seemed to understand the stars themselves.
Nick didn't look up. "I don't know what to do with that. My mother… she loved him, didn't she? But he had to leave. To protect the balance. And now, I'm left to figure out how to use this power I never asked for."
Aisha spoke from the front of the truck, her voice low. "The power isn't just something that's been given to you, Nick. It's awakened. You're tied to it. And you'll have to learn how to wield it, or it will consume you."
"How do you know so much?" Nick's words were sharp, but his voice betrayed his uncertainty.
Aisha turned slightly, her eyes reflecting the dim moonlight. "I've been following the Guardians for years. Naramu... his story is one of sacrifice. His bond with your mother was never meant to last forever. But that bond gave birth to something else. A force that could alter the course of fate itself."
Nick's hands clenched into fists, his mind racing. The memories of the fight with the Seeker, the sudden surge of power that had almost overwhelmed him, and the way the world had seemed to bend under his will. He wasn't ready. He didn't feel ready.
As the truck neared the river, Hassan leaned forward, his voice weak but determined. "The first stone... it's beneath the Nile, Nick. You'll need to be more than just a man to retrieve it."
Aisha glanced back, her eyes piercing in the dim light. "The powers that guard it are unlike any you've faced. The wards are ancient, bound to the river itself. Only a bloodline like yours can even survive its pull."
Nick nodded, the weight of his destiny pressing heavier on him with every passing moment. As the truck pulled up to the edge of the Delta, he could feel the pull of the river, as if it were calling to him, the first stone beneath its surface waiting to be found.
---
The Temple Beneath the Nile
That night, Nick, Hassan, Aisha, and Amir stood on the banks of the Nile. The river stretched out before them like an endless serpent, its waters shimmering under the light of the stars.
Amir pulled out a set of ancient tools—divining instruments, ornate and crafted with strange symbols. "The temple lies beneath the river, protected by the ward of Thoth himself. We can only approach it when the stars align."
Hassan studied the heavens above, his gaze fixed on the sky. "The lunar eclipse is almost upon us. When the shadow of the moon falls upon the river, the wards will weaken. That's our only window."
Nick felt his heartbeat quicken as the moon began its slow descent. The feeling of anticipation gnawed at him, urging him forward.
Aisha glanced at Nick. "You've been awakened, Nick. But it's not just about finding the stone. It's about mastering what you've inherited. The temple, the power—it will test you."
"I don't have time for tests," Nick muttered, stepping toward the water's edge.
Amir moved quickly, securing the equipment. "Then let's make sure you're ready."
The water began to shimmer as the lunar eclipse reached its peak, casting an ethereal glow on the surface. Nick stepped into the river, the cold of the water creeping up his legs as he waded deeper. He could feel the presence of something ancient beneath him—something that called to his blood.
The others followed, keeping close as the river began to part. The water shifted as if reacting to Nick's presence, swirling and pulling back to reveal a hidden temple, its stone pillars covered in moss and ancient carvings.
"Here," Hassan whispered, his voice filled with awe.
Nick approached the temple, feeling the energy inside it vibrating in his bones. His birthmark, the mark of his bloodline, flared with heat.
The moon had fully eclipsed the earth, casting the temple in a shadowed silence. The wards guarding the temple began to dissipate, as if the temple itself was breathing, waiting.
Nick reached out, placing his hand on one of the stone doors. It slid open with a creak, revealing a long hallway, lined with symbols of Thoth. And at the far end—something that glowed, pulsing like a heartbeat.
The first stone.
But as Nick stepped forward, a sound echoed through the chamber. The air grew thick, and the light from the stone dimmed.
A shadow moved in the distance, something ancient and powerful. The guardians of the stone had awoken.
"Stay alert," Amir said, his tone serious. "This is just the beginning."
Nick's hand clenched into a fist, the power in his veins burning like wildfire.