《A masterpiece from the past》


 To the Museum: Here the Adventure Begins

    He was walking through a cave when he heard a voice calling his name, encouraging him to enter despite the eerie atmosphere. The cave seemed menacing, but curiosity drove him forward. Suddenly, he froze in shock¡ªa mountain of corpses lay before him, and atop the gruesome pile stood a figure.


    "Who is this person?" he thought. The figure was dressed as a warrior, exuding an aura of power and menace. Before he could react, the figure moved toward him and spoke in cryptic words:


    "You have one day left.


    You have one day left..."


    The ground beneath him split open, and he plunged into darkness, screaming at the top of his lungs.


    Amnay jolted awake, drenched in sweat.


    "Oh my God, it was just a nightmare," he muttered, breathing heavily.


    He climbed out of bed, opened the window, and inhaled deeply, letting the fresh morning air calm his nerves. As he looked out at the garden, a strange feeling stirred within him¡ªan odd mixture of enthusiasm and fear. Perhaps it was the lingering dread from his nightmare, or maybe it was something else he couldn¡¯t quite name.


    A voice interrupted his thoughts. "Amnay! Wake up!" his mother called.


    He smiled and said to himself, "Weird feeling or not, there''s no place for it today."


    "Okay, Mom, I''m already up!" he called back.


    This was Amnay, a university student studying archaeology in his city. He lived with his mother in a small but cozy home. He had no siblings, and his father had died before he was born. His mother often spoke fondly of his father, sharing tales of his adventures and the deep love they had shared.


    Amnay took a quick shower, got dressed, and packed his bag with essentials: a notebook, a magnifying glass, and a guide to the city¡¯s monuments¡ªa gift from his teacher for excelling in his studies the previous year. Before leaving his room, he glanced at a picture of his father on the desk. For a moment, he felt something unusual, but he quickly shook it off.


    "Amnay, hurry up! It''s time!" his mother called again.


    "Coming, Mom!"


    He quickly combed his hair and hurried downstairs to avoid his mother¡¯s disapproval for skipping breakfast. In the dining room, he found her spreading jam on slices of bread.


    "Good morning, Mom."


    "Good morning, Amnay. Today¡¯s a big day! You¡¯re finally visiting the national museum¡ªyou¡¯ll see all the historical landmarks you¡¯ve dreamed of!"


    Amnay had earned a special visit to the national museum as one of six top-performing archaeology students. The visit was an extraordinary opportunity to study rare artifacts and even touch exhibits not available to the public.


    But as he sat down, his mother noticed his distracted expression.


    "Amnay, what¡¯s wrong?" she asked.


    "Nothing, Mom. Just a nightmare."


    "Don¡¯t let a bad dream ruin your day," she said, smiling.


    "You''re right. Thank you, Mom," he said, kissing her cheek. "I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without you."


    Just then, his phone rang. "Oh, it¡¯s my friend. I¡¯ve got to go."


    "But your breakfast!"


    "I¡¯ll just take this piece of bread. Thanks, Mom!"


    "Alright, but don¡¯t make skipping breakfast a habit. Have you ever seen an archaeologist faint from hunger?" she teased.


    "I promise this is the last time!"


    "Good luck, Amnay! Wishing you the best!"


    Amnay leaves his mother and goes to meet his friend to go together to the museum. His friend Erna lives far from Amnay''s neighborhood. Amnay and Erna have been friends since primary school, and they were neighbors until Erna''s family moved due to his father''s work. They later reconnected at the Faculty of Archaeology, and now, both have won the opportunity to visit the museum. Erna is the only child of his parents. His father is a famous detective working at the city police station.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Amnay meets his friend Erna on the street where he was waiting for him. Erna is looking at his phone, seeming absent-minded, when Amnay calls him:


    "Erna! Erna!"


    When Erna sees his friend, his mood changes completely, and he greets him with a smiling face.


    "Amnay, good morning!"


    "Sorry for being late."


    "No worries, I just arrived. I didn''t wake up early today."


    "Me too, my night was full of nightmares."


    "You know, let''s just forget all of that and focus on our visit. It''s going to be a great day! We''ll have the chance to see the time machine."


    "I don''t believe in that. Time travel is impossible."


    "You know the story about the man who disappeared 20 years ago?"


    "I don''t believe in that myth. They only found some drops of blood and concluded, after analyzing them, that they belonged to a man. But no one knows how this man could have entered the museum or what connection he might have to the alleged time machine. Even if they didn''t find certain artifacts in its place, it''s all just speculation."


    "Maybe you''re right, but I believe in your expertise to prove it''s not real and just a myth."


    "Come on, I''m just a university student."


    "Yes, and you''re going to visit the national museum, so you''re more than just a university student."


    Amnay is a hardworking student who loves reading books on all fields, especially archaeology, and is known for his intelligence.


    The bus arrives and stops in front of Amnay''s house. He usually takes it to go to university, but today the destination is the national museum. Amnay and Erna both board the bus, starting a new adventure, not just in their university life but also in their personal lives.


    During the trip, Amnay and Erna continue discussing new research in archaeology, challenges, and the landmarks and artifacts they are going to explore in the museum.


    Meanwhile, in the reception area of the museum, five university students are standing, looking impatient¡ªtwo boys and two girls. They appear to be the students selected for the exceptional visit. An old man is also present, though he doesn''t look that old except for his white hair and mustache. The man is speaking to the girl at the reception desk. Then, Amnay and Erna arrive. They ask the man with the mustache where they can find the supervisor in charge of the university students who won the visit. He smiles and says, "Welcome to the museum! I am Mr. Mano, and I will accompany you during your visit. So, you are Mr. Amnay and Mr. Erna."


    Amnay wonders how Mr. Mano knows their names, but he doesn''t ask and simply thanks him for the welcome, as does Erna.


    Now, let''s learn more about our students: Assoulil and Assirm, the two boys, and Arinas and Titrit, the two girls. Their expressions change when they see Amnay and Erna, especially Arinas. Mr. Mano asks them all to sit down at a round table in a room next to the reception office. They all enter one by one, with questioning looks on their faces. They sit down, and Mr. Mano enters and says:


    "First of all, welcome to the museum. I am Mr. Mano, your supervisor for this visit. You did a great job winning this opportunity¡ªit''s not given to everyone. A little about me: I am a retired professor. I taught at the Faculty of Archaeology for ten years. After that, I retired." He lets out a silly laugh, which makes Assoulil laugh too, but he quickly holds it back. "Now, let''s get to know each other better. Everyone, please tell us your names and dreams."


    Arinas begins:


    "Thank you, Mr. Mano. My name is Arinas, and my dream is to collect artifacts from my town, which is rich in history, and write all the information related to them in an encyclopedia." She says this excitedly, raising her voice:


    "I want to build my own museum!"


    Assoulil laughs again but quickly suppresses it. Amnay seems interested in Arinas''s dream.


    Mr. Mano encourages Arinas: "Follow your dream, but don''t doubt yourself while others are afraid of your true potential. Think about it!"


    Arinas responds: "You¡¯re right, Professor. Thank you."


    Next is Assoulil:


    "I¡¯m Assoulil. I love archaeology. I enjoy touching old things and discovering new things. My dream is to solve the mystery of the Indus Valley Civilization."


    Mr. Mano is surprised and says: "Nice dream, Assoulil. But here''s one important thing: Knowledge is the compass that guides you toward your dreams, and reading is the ship that takes you there. My advice is to know more, read more."


    Next is Assirm:


    "Hi, I¡¯m Assirm, and I didn¡¯t come here to talk about my dreams."


    Assirm seems arrogant and not excited for this visit. He is an introvert. Mr. Mano comments:


    "You are a star, but remember, even the most brilliant stars shine brighter when their light is shared." Assirm says nothing, showing his lack of interest.


    Next is Titrit:


    "Hi, my name is Titrit, and my dream is to become rich."


    "And what does that have to do with archaeology?"


    "It¡¯s simple: I¡¯ll return artifacts to their original homes, and it won¡¯t be free."


    "Oh, good luck, but remember, true wealth is not measured by what you have, but by what you give and the legacy you leave behind."


    Finally, Erna speaks:


    "Hi, I¡¯m Erna, and I¡¯m so excited to see the famous time machine that¡¯s located in this museum."


    "Interesting. Just remember, time travel exists in the choices you make today; each decision shapes the future and rewrites the past in memory. Move thoughtfully, for even small steps can ripple through eternity."


    Now, it''s Amnay''s turn:


    "Hi everyone, nice to know you. My name is Amnay, and my dream is to become a great archaeologist and change the world."


    "Changing the world is a noble goal, but remember, changing the world begins with changing yourself. Be the spark that ignites a fire of transformation."


    Mr. Mano smiles and says: "Now that we¡¯ve gotten to know each other, let¡¯s start the countdown from ten. You all know it, right?"


    Amnay, Erna, Assoulil, Assirm, Arinas, and Titrit are all surprised by the question and think it¡¯s a silly test, especially Assoulil. They all answer "yes," and Mr. Mano asks them to begin the countdown. They do:


    "Ten... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one."


    Suddenly, a ground gate opens, and they all fall, screaming, except for Mr. Mano.

 The mission

    In a dimly lit room, the students began discussing what had just happened.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± asked Amnay.


    ¡°Wait, is it possible that the old man kidnapped us? I doubted him because of his mustache,¡± said Assoulil.


    ¡°Are you serious? Just because of his mustache?¡± replied Arinas.


    ¡°Guys, calm down. There are six of us. If someone tries anything, we¡¯ll defend ourselves,¡± said Titrit confidently.


    ¡°Silly museum,¡± grumbled Assirm angrily.


    Suddenly, the room was illuminated as someone switched on the light. The sound of an elevator descending echoed through the air. Moments later, the elevator doors opened, and Mr. Mano entered, greeting them as if it were the first time they had met.


    ¡°Sorry, I prefer using the elevator. Being an old man, I can¡¯t keep up with you youthful folks,¡± he said, letting out a hearty laugh.


    ¡°Mr. Mano, you need to explain what¡¯s going on,¡± demanded Amnay.


    ¡°Oh, mustache man! We need to get out of here,¡± exclaimed Assoulil.


    ¡°But not before seeing the museum¡¯s treasures. Oh no, no, no. You have all been selected to start this adventure¡ªone that will change the world.¡±


    ¡°Just explain what this is all about, and then go change the world yourself,¡± said Assirm, rolling his eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be rude, Mr. Assirm. Everything will be revealed in due time,¡± replied Mr. Mano, maintaining his composure.


    ¡°Mr. Mano, we can¡¯t take any more of this,¡± said Arinas.


    ¡°Yes, I completely agree with Arinas,¡± added Titrit.


    ¡°I think you should tell us the truth,¡± said Erna firmly.


    Mr. Mano¡¯s expression shifted. He pulled up a chair, sat down, and began, ¡°Where should I begin? The owner of this museum received numerous letters from an unknown sender claiming that there is a time machine hidden in this museum. Of course, it¡¯s in the restricted section, hidden away from the average visitor.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡± asked Amnay.


    ¡°With a time machine, we could change everything¡ªhistory, the future, everything!¡±


    ¡°Not to mention we could bring back artifacts from any time period, which means¡­ money!¡± said Titrit, her eyes lighting up. ¡°Let¡¯s find this machine. I¡¯ve already read a lot about it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my dream¡ªtime travel! It¡¯s going to be real!¡± said Erna excitedly.


    ¡°This is going to be a flashy adventure,¡± said Assoulil.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing! I can finally see how ancient museums were built. It¡¯s inspiring,¡± said Arinas.


    ¡°And finally, a little excitement,¡± said Assirm sarcastically.


    ¡°Now you know why I asked you about your dreams. You are the right people for this task. My work here is done. See you soon,¡± said Mr. Mano.


    ¡°Wait, where should we go?¡± asked Amnay.


    ¡°Oh yes, I almost forgot,¡± replied Mr. Mano.


    He pulled a large key from his pocket and unlocked a secret door. Gesturing for them to enter, he left in the same elevator.


    The group¡ªAmnay, Erna, Assoulil, Assirm, Arinas, and Titrit¡ªwere still confused but ready for the mission. They walked through a dark tunnel in silence until Assoulil spoke.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°We should appoint a leader. We need to be organized.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± said Erna. ¡°I suggest Amnay. He¡¯s intelligent, dependable, and has all the qualities of a leader.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Erna, I can¡¯t be a leader,¡± said Amnay.


    ¡°Who should it be then?¡± asked Arinas, but no one answered except Assirm, who expressed his lack of interest.


    ¡°I can be the leader, but you¡¯ll have to pay me,¡± joked Titrit.


    ¡°Come on, Titrit. Are you serious?¡± said Assoulil.


    ¡°Okay, guys, calm down. I¡¯ll be the leader. Does anyone object?¡± asked Amnay.


    No one answered.


    ¡°First of all, our goal is to find the time machine. We must search every inch of this place and preserve any artifact we find. If anyone discovers anything unusual, they should call the rest of us. Our next meeting will be in two hours to discuss our progress. Agreed?¡±


    Everyone nodded and replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    They began walking, flashlights in hand. As they reached the end of the tunnel, they entered a vast room. It was magical¡ªa library, but instead of books, it was filled with artifacts. Their eyes sparkled with amazement.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s search. If anyone finds something strange, let us know,¡± said Amnay.


    ¡°Okay, leader,¡± they all agreed.


    Each student took a different path, and the adventure began.


    Amnay marveled at artifacts he had only read about in encyclopedias. While amazed, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why some artifacts belonged to other countries. He dismissed it as coincidence and continued searching.


    Arinas started drawing a map, marking each artifact¡¯s location with an ¡°X.¡± She planned to use this to organize her future museum.


    Assirm, though bored, inspected every artifact with a magnifying glass, looking for hidden buttons or mechanisms.


    On the fourth path, Titrit excitedly began estimating the value of each artifact.


    Assoulil started categorizing the artifacts chronologically, hoping to identify the oldest ones.


    Erna studied his phone, staring at a picture of a strange open box with a number plate.


    ¡°Wait¡­ is this the time machine we¡¯re searching for?¡±


    Let¡¯s delve into how Erna came across this picture. Before winning the chance to visit the national museum, Erna had noticed that his father often came home very late, which made him curious about the reason. One evening, his father came home late again, but this time, Erna was still awake. He watched as his father went into his office and opened a picture, but Erna couldn¡¯t see what it was. Suddenly, his father¡¯s phone rang, and he went outside to answer the call, leaving the office unattended. This was Erna¡¯s perfect opportunity to sneak in and take a picture of the mysterious object.


    The next day, Erna began researching what he had seen. He searched online and in books but couldn¡¯t find anything related to the object, except for a peculiar number plate. The box seemed ancient, almost like an artifact, and Erna started forming hypotheses. As the saying goes, ¡°The cub inherits from the lion,¡± and Erna seemed to have inherited his father¡¯s detective skills.


    He remembered stories about mysterious blood drops discovered in the museum twenty years ago and wondered if they could somehow be connected to the box. Could it be a time machine? Erna had always been fascinated with the concept of time travel, and this discovery felt like his golden opportunity to investigate¡ªespecially now that he had been selected to visit the national museum, a treasure trove of artifacts.


    At the museum, Erna meticulously searched for anything that resembled the box in the photo. Eventually, he noticed a large box sitting in a corner. Cautiously, he approached it and started to open it. What he found inside made his jaw drop in astonishment.


    "Wait, is this for real?" he muttered.


    Inside, he found a piece of paper that looked ancient, written in a language only archaeology students might understand. Erna began deciphering it, but something seemed off¡ªthe text was incomplete. The first line hinted at something profound, but the second line didn¡¯t seem to connect. Then, a crazy idea struck him, and he smiled. Maybe the rest of the text was scattered elsewhere, and he or his friends could find it.


    Erna decided to share his discovery with his friends. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Assoulil exclaim:


    "Guys! Guys! I found something interesting!"


    They all rushed toward Assoulil one by one.


    "Look!" said Assoulil. "It¡¯s another piece of text! I found it in a box, written in the same language we studied at university. But it seems incomplete."


    Amnay, Arinas, Assirm, and Titrit froze in disbelief. Then Arinas said:


    "Wait, I found something similar a while ago, but I didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. I thought it wasn¡¯t important or connected to the time machine."


    To everyone¡¯s shock, Amnay, Assirm, Titrit, and Erna pulled out similar papers from their pockets.


    Erna exclaimed, "Yes! This is exactly what I was thinking!"


    "Wait," said Amnay, "are these papers interconnected?"


    "It seems so," Erna replied. "This could be our first clue to finding the time machine."


    Erna then explained the story behind the mysterious photo and asked if anyone had seen anything resembling the box. Unfortunately, no one had. Then Amnay suggested:


    "Let¡¯s collect all the papers we have. Titrit, can you organize them?"


    "Of course," said Titrit.


    Titrit carefully arranged the papers on a small table. To their amazement, the pieces fit together to form a text¡ªor perhaps a puzzle meant for archaeologists to solve.


    Amnay began thinking deeply. Why six papers? And why did the museum¡¯s owner choose us? A strange feeling crept over him as he stared at the assembled text.

 Assirm

    The team is looking at the assembled text, each one thinking and trying to understand the message written down. Assoulil speaks:


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s like that.¡±


    ¡°What? Tell us, did you understand something?¡± asked Erna.


    ¡°Yes, look. We can divide the text into two parts. Let¡¯s translate what it says.¡±


    ¡°I can write down what you tell us,¡± said Arinas, taking out her notebook.


    ¡°Yes, you can start, Assoulil,¡± said Amnay.


    Everyone is waiting for Assoulil to translate the text. Even though all the members could try, Assoulil is the best suited for this. He had come across this language while researching the mystery of the Indus Valley Civilization. Assoulil starts reading aloud as Arinas writes down every word:


    "Under the shadow of the lion,


    The sands of time reveal their mark.


    Only together can you set the spark."


    ¡°That¡¯s a puzzle,¡± said Amnay.


    ¡°And we should solve it,¡± added Arinas.


    ¡°The lion... Is there really a caged lion?¡± asked Titrit.


    ¡°Are you scared of it?¡± joked Assoulil.


    ¡°Of course not! Have you ever seen an archaeologist scared of animals?¡± retorted Titrit.


    ¡°The story is not about a caged lion,¡± said Amnay.


    ¡°It¡¯s a statue,¡± said Assirm.


    Assirm, typically calm and reserved, seemed uninterested in the adventure, but his observation surprised everyone.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Assirm. Now we should find that statue first,¡± said Amnay.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already found it,¡± said Assirm.


    The team looked at him in disbelief. He continued, ¡°While looking for something unusual on the shelves with artifacts, I noticed a lion statue. We can return to its place to see it.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do that, guys,¡± said Amnay.


    The team followed Assirm as he guided them to the location of the lion statue.


    ¡°Here is the lion, but where is its shadow?¡± asked Erna.


    ¡°Guys, everyone turn off their flashlights,¡± said Amnay.


    They all looked at Amnay, then turned off their flashlights one by one, leaving only Amnay¡¯s flashlight on. He moved back until he was near a wall and pointed the flashlight at the statue. The shadow of the lion grew larger and projected onto the wall in front of it.


    ¡°What¡¯s the next step?¡± asked Assoulil.


    ¡°Wait, I can see a different rock. Look at it!¡± said Arinas.


    ¡°This happens only in movies,¡± said Assirm.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try this,¡± said Arinas.


    She pushed the square-shaped rock. Suddenly, a horizontal rocky table emerged from beneath it, with four cylinder-shaped voids.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Arinas! You did a good job,¡± said Amnay.


    ¡°We all have to work together,¡± replied Arinas.


    The team looked at the rocky table, wondering about the next step. Assoulil spoke: ¡°These cylinder-shaped voids should be filled with something. Do you think this will lead us to the location of the time machine?¡±


    ¡°The sands of time reveal their mark. This can help us,¡± said Erna.


    ¡°Yes, maybe it has a relation to an hourglass,¡± said Amnay.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Hourglass... Hourglass¡­¡± thought Arinas. Then she said, ¡°Oh yes, I came across four hourglasses earlier. I was wondering about their arrangement. Maybe they could help us.¡±


    Amnay asked Arinas to bring the hourglasses. She returned with four hourglasses, each unlike any they¡¯d seen before.


    ¡°Maybe these hourglasses fit into the four cylinder-shaped voids,¡± said Erna.


    Amnay asked Arinas, Titrit, Assoulil, and Assirm to place the hourglasses into the voids. They fit perfectly, as if designed for this. Then, the team heard the sound of rocks grinding, revealing a secret staircase beneath them.


    They were stunned.


    ¡°Only together can you set the spark. You really are an amazing team,¡± said Amnay.


    <hr>


    In a luxurious office, the museum owner sat in his chair, smoking a cigarette and watching surveillance footage. He was observing Amnay¡¯s team. Looking at a picture of Amnay, he said, ¡°You look just like him. I¡¯ll reclaim what your father stole from me.¡±


    He picked up his phone and called Mr. Mano.


    ¡°Mano!¡±


    Mano entered, apologizing for being late. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Agguilas.¡±


    ¡°You should always be here. The plan should begin now,¡± said Mr. Agguilas.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell the guys to get ready,¡± replied Mano.


    ¡°You can go,¡± said Mr. Agguilas.


    When Mano left, Mr. Agguilas opened a drawer, taking out a stack of letters. Angrily, he muttered, ¡°You want to destroy my life? Everything I built? No. I won¡¯t let you. I know you¡¯re here. You want revenge? I¡¯ll change the past. Yes, with the time machine¡­ and then I¡¯ll kill you.¡± He laughed maniacally.


    <hr>


    Amnay¡¯s team descended the stairs with flashlights in hand. At the bottom, they found a tunnel leading to a rock table. In the center was a stone cylinder with six small diamonds embedded in it.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t look like the picture I took¡­ but why?¡± thought Erna.


    Amnay turned to Arinas. ¡°Puzzle continuation, Arinas.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, pulling out her notebook.


    ¡°Listen, guys. This is the puzzle:


    ''When the moonlight touches the stone,


    The path to the future shall be shown.


    Turn the wheel to set time free.''


    ¡°I think the stone is that cylinder,¡± said Erna.


    ¡°Yes, it should be,¡± said Titrit.


    ¡°It¡¯s the only thing that makes sense,¡± said Assirm.


    ¡°Flashlights are the only light source we have. There¡¯s no moonlight,¡± said Arinas.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Everyone, point your flashlight at the diamonds,¡± instructed Amnay.


    The team aimed their flashlights at the diamonds. A small stone wheel slowly rolled out from the cylinder.


    ¡°That¡¯s the wheel. We should turn it. Yes, we did it, guys!¡± exclaimed Assoulil.


    "But what about our dreams? Are we really going to travel to the past?" asked Arinas.


    "That''s a good point," Assirm replied. "At best, this is just a visit to the museum, not to the future or the past. Besides, we don¡¯t even know if that stone cylinder is the alleged time machine."


    "It has to be," said Titrit.


    "I agree with Assirm," Amnay chimed in. "Something has felt strange since the beginning of this adventure. I was so excited to see artifacts in this museum, especially ones that are far away in other countries. For me, that felt like traveling. But I think these artifacts are stolen¡ªand everything stolen should be returned to its rightful owner."


    "And I am the owner," said a cold voice behind them.


    The group turned to see Mr. Aguilas walking toward them.


    "You¡¯ve all done an excellent job," Mr. Aguilas continued. "Now, there¡¯s one more small favor I need from you as the owner of this museum."


    Suddenly, Mr. Mano entered, clapping his hands. "My children have done it! Sorry for being late, Mr. Aguilas. Are the kids ready?"


    "Yes, sir," Mr. Aguilas said curtly.


    Amnay and his friends were still confused. Nothing made sense.


    "I can¡¯t take this crap anymore," Assirm muttered. "I¡¯m leaving. This silly adventure¡ªI thought it could be interesting."


    "You¡¯re not leaving this museum," Mr. Aguilas said, pulling out a gun. "You know too much. And the only way to keep a secret with someone is..." He smirked menacingly.


    "Is to kill them," Assirm finished, glaring at him.


    "Exactly," Mr. Aguilas said, leveling the gun. "I¡¯ve built my own empire¡ªmoney, power, everything. I do whatever I want: killing, stealing, you name it."


    "But why did you choose us?" Amnay demanded angrily.


    "You little students won¡¯t get me into trouble," Mr. Aguilas sneered. "You were perfect¡ªbright, curious, and easy to manipulate. Intelligent young minds dreaming of visiting a national museum... and now you¡¯re going to use that time machine to change the past for me. In return, you¡¯ll get everything you ever dreamed of."


    "I won¡¯t participate in your crimes," Assirm said firmly. "You belong in prison!"


    "Oh, look at the brave one!" Mr. Aguilas laughed. Then, without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.


    "NO!" Amnay, Erna, Assoulil, Titrit, and Arinas screamed as Assirm collapsed to the ground.


    "What have you done, you monster?" Assoulil shouted.


    "My rules are simple," Mr. Aguilas said coldly. "Obey¡ªor die."


    Amnay rushed to Assirm¡¯s side, cradling his head on his lap. "Stay with us, Assirm. We¡¯ll save you, I promise!"


    "There¡¯s no time," Assirm whispered weakly. "I can smell my mother¡¯s scent... My mother, she¡¯s waiting for me. She passed away a month ago, and I¡¯ve been lost without her. She was my support, my light in the darkness. She encouraged me to follow my dream of becoming an archaeologist¡ªa teacher who would inspire students to love archaeology, just like she inspired me.


    "But I was so blind. I worked day and night, chasing that dream, while she was suffering in silence, hiding her illness to let me pursue my ¡®silly¡¯ ambitions." Tears streamed down his face.


    "My mom... I see her now. I¡¯m going to meet her... to apologize..."


    These were Assirm¡¯s final words. The room fell into silence as his lifeless body grew still.


    The team was left in a heavy, mournful atmosphere, their sadness mingling with fear and anger as they stared at Mr. Aguilas, who stood unbothered, his gun still in hand.

 Through the Portal

    ¡°Now listen to me carefully. This is what awaits you if you don¡¯t obey,¡± said Mr. Aguilas.


    ¡°Who do you think you are? You just killed our friend! That¡¯s unjust!¡± said Assoulil.


    Assoulil seemed ready to attack Mr. Aguilas, but Amnay intervened to calm the situation. ¡°Okay, Mr. Aguilas, as the leader of this team, I accept the mission, whatever it is,¡± said Amnay.


    ¡°Good boy. Look at the real leader,¡± replied Mr. Aguilas.


    The rest of the team looked at Amnay in a sad and confused silence. Erna understood why Amnay made this decision¡ªhe had seen the pure evil in Aguilas¡¯ eyes.


    ¡°I agree with Amnay,¡± said Erna.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see my friends dying,¡± Titrit said, wiping away tears.


    Arinas remained silent, paralyzed by the crisis, with no option but to follow.


    Assoulil turned back to look at Assirm¡¯s face and thought to himself, This criminal will pay, sooner or later.


    Amnay gently laid Assirm down and stood to face Mr. Aguilas. ¡°Tell us what we have to do,¡± he said.


    ¡°You are going to search for some documents from the past, twenty years ago. On April 5th, 2005, at night in this museum, you¡¯ll find a masked man with a black backpack. Those documents are vital to me¡ªbring the backpack to me,¡± explained Mr. Aguilas.


    ¡°We¡¯ll do it, but don¡¯t hurt any of my friends,¡± Amany insisted.


    ¡°Mano, check the time machine,¡± ordered Mr. Aguilas.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± replied Mr. Mano.


    As he inspected the time machine, he noticed a small inscription above the stone wheel: One turn equals one year ago.


    ¡°It¡¯s just as he told us,¡± said Mr. Aguilas.


    ¡°But how will we return after traveling?¡± asked Assoulil.


    ¡°The time machine will travel with you. Once the mission is complete, you¡¯ll return to the same spot,¡± explained Mr. Mano.


    ¡°Good. Call the team to set it up,¡± said Mr. Aguilas.


    Mr. Mano whistled, summoning six men. Two carried Assirm¡¯s body, two supervised, and two began turning the wheel of the time machine¡ªone turn, two turns, and so on until they reached twenty turns. The stone cylinder transformed into a glowing blue gateway, radiating a magical aura.


    The team stared in disbelief, their eyes wide with wonder.


    ¡°The gate will close in one minute,¡± said Mr. Aguilas. ¡°Today is April 4th, 2025. You¡¯ll travel to April 4th, 2005, giving you one day before the mission starts.¡±


    The men forced Amnay¡¯s team toward the gate, pushing them through one by one. After they entered, the time machine vanished.


    Mr. Mano turned to Mr. Aguilas. ¡°It¡¯s just as Detective Amayk said,¡± he remarked.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Yes, but I still don¡¯t understand why he told us his story and claimed he¡¯s coming for revenge. I think he¡¯s lost his mind,¡± said Mr. Aguilas, laughing.


    ¡°But sir, how can you be sure it¡¯s him sending the letters and not someone else pretending to be him?¡± asked Mr. Mano.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m certain it¡¯s him. Amayk was clever¡ªalmost clever enough to expose my crimes to the world. But I stopped him, locked him away in that place. I didn¡¯t realize the myths about the time machine were true. In just one week, he found it. My mistake was not supervising him carefully. And I made another mistake when I let his friend steal the documents that incriminate me!¡± Aguilas shouted, firing his gun toward the ceiling.


    ¡°His friend had evidence I kidnapped Amayk. He worked in silence, without going to the police. He stole the documents and tried to save Amayk, but I caught him. I searched everywhere but found neither the documents nor Amayk. Do you remember, Mano? Do you remember what I did?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. You killed him,¡± said Mano.


    ¡°Yes! With this very gun,¡± said Aguilas, laughing maniacally.


    Suddenly, one of the men carrying Assirm¡¯s body burst into the room, panting.


    ¡°Sir! Sir!¡± he shouted.


    ¡°What happened?¡± demanded Aguilas.


    ¡°He¡¯s still alive!¡±


    On the other side, Amnay, Erna, Assoulil, Titrit, and Arinas felt as though they were falling from the sky¡ªweightless, as if drifting in a dark void without stars. They heard strange, distorted sounds mixed with their own screams. Suddenly, a light appeared¡ªit was the sun. The sensation of falling stopped abruptly, and without warning, they found themselves seated in a public garden, dressed in unfamiliar clothes. It felt magical; none of them could believe what had just happened.


    ¡°Guys, have we really traveled to 2005?¡± asked Assoulil.


    ¡°But wait¡­ why are we dressed like this?¡± Arinas added.


    ¡°Hold on! Where¡¯s the time machine? Aguilas told us it would travel with us,¡± Erna said, scanning the area.


    ¡°This bag I¡¯m carrying feels really heavy¡ªthere might be something inside it,¡± Amnay said. He took it off and pulled out a stone cylinder.


    ¡°Is this even possible? I always thought time travel was a myth,¡± Amnay mused.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to find out today¡¯s date,¡± Titrit said, raising her hand to call over an old man walking nearby.


    ¡°Wait, Titrit, what are you doing?¡± asked Arinas.


    ¡°Why not? There¡¯s no harm in asking,¡± Titrit replied.


    ¡°I think we should keep this a secret,¡± Arinas cautioned.


    ¡°We belong to this time now, even if it¡¯s not ours,¡± Amnay reasoned.


    ¡°Yes, my child, who called me?¡± the old man asked, stopping by.


    ¡°Me, sir,¡± Titrit said politely. ¡°Can you tell me today¡¯s date?¡±


    The old man chuckled and replied, ¡°Children these days forget so easily. It¡¯s April 4th.¡±


    ¡°And the year?¡± Erna pressed.


    ¡°2005,¡± the old man said. Then he added, ¡°I wish I could forget or go back 20 years¡ªmaybe I could fix my mistakes. But never mind a senile old man like me. Live your lives and never forget why you live. That will push you forward. For me, it¡¯s too late. Goodbye, children.¡±


    His words resonated deeply with Amnay¡¯s team, inspiring them to face their challenges head-on.


    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Titrit called after him.


    ¡°No worries,¡± he said before vanishing from sight.


    ¡°First, let¡¯s figure out where we are. Does anyone recognize this place?¡± Amnay asked.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re in the National Garden. I¡¯ve been here before, but it looks different,¡± Assoulil said.


    ¡°That¡¯s normal¡ªwe¡¯ve gone back 20 years,¡± Erna explained.


    ¡°Our first priority is to hide the time machine. We can¡¯t carry it everywhere we go,¡± Amnay said.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Let¡¯s look for a hiding spot here,¡± Arinas suggested.


    ¡°This place is full of people. Someone might notice it,¡± Titrit argued.


    ¡°But no one would guess it¡¯s a time machine,¡± Arinas countered.


    ¡°I agree with Arinas. Let¡¯s hide it in the children¡¯s play area. It¡¯s too heavy for children to move, so no one will suspect a thing,¡± Erna proposed.


    ¡°Great idea! Now let¡¯s move¡ªbut first, I have a plan,¡± Amnay said.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Erna asked.


    Amnay shared his plan, and everyone agreed. Then, under Assoulil¡¯s guidance, they searched for the perfect spot to hide the time machine. Once the garden became quieter and the children went home, they carefully dug a hole in the sand where the children played. Assoulil placed the time machine inside and covered it.


    ¡°I think that¡¯s enough. No one will suspect anything hidden here,¡± Assoulil said.


    ¡°Good job, Assoulil,¡± Amnay praised.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s leave this place,¡± Erna urged.


    ¡°Our next step is to find the National Museum. We need to watch for anyone entering with a black backpack, steal it, and leave without harming them,¡± Amnay instructed.


    ¡°Understood, Amnay,¡± Arinas replied.


    ¡°We can do this, team,¡± Titrit added.


    Filled with hope and courage, Amnay and his friends left the garden, ready to face the tough challenges ahead.

 Through the Streets of Time

    Amnay and his friends stepped out of the park, their eyes adjusting to the soft glow of the late morning sun. The city stretched before them like a time capsule, each step unraveling the differences between 2025 and 2005.


    ¡°Look at this,¡± said Assoulil, gesturing toward a row of old storefronts with faded signs. ¡°No holographic displays, no automated kiosks. Just people, walking into shops like it¡¯s the most natural thing in the world.¡±


    ¡°It feels simpler,¡± said Titrit, her eyes scanning a vintage billboard advertising a flip phone. ¡°But also... busier. People aren¡¯t glued to screens; they¡¯re actually talking to each other.¡±


    Erna nodded his tone serious. ¡°It¡¯s a reminder. We are not just in a different time; we are in a different world. And we have to blend in if we¡¯re going to succeed.¡±


    They walked along the bustling streets, weaving through the crowds, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amazement. The team could not help but marvel at the differences: the absence of electric cars, the older buildings untouched by years of modernization, and the chatter of a world without social media.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this is what life used to be like,¡± Arinas said. ¡°It¡¯s like stepping into a history book.¡±


    Amnay, however, remained focused. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time to admire the past. Our mission is critical, and we can¡¯t afford mistakes. Let¡¯s figure out where the national museum is.¡±


    They approached a vendor selling newspapers. Amnay stepped forward, clearing his throat. ¡°Excuse me, sir, can you tell us where the national museum is?¡±


    The vendor looked up, slightly puzzled. ¡°The national museum? It¡¯s on the other side of the city, near the old government district.¡±


    ¡°Is there a bus we can take to get there?¡± asked Erna.


    The vendor nodded. ¡°Yeah, catch the number 15 bus. It¡¯ll take you close.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Amnay, as the group exchanged glances and headed toward the nearest bus stop.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    The bus arrived with a groan of its engine, its exterior faded and scratched. The team climbed aboard, exchanging amazed glances as they took in the retro design: patterned seats, coin-operated fare boxes, and an analog timetable posted near the driver.


    ¡°This is what public transport looked like back then?¡± Titrit whispered, sliding into a seat.


    ¡°It¡¯s surreal,¡± said Assoulil, gazing out the window as the bus rumbled through the streets. ¡°No smart systems. No AI guidance. Just a driver and a route.¡±


    The hour-long ride offered a chance to observe the city in its 2005 state. The streets were narrower, lined with parked cars instead of bike lanes. Billboards displayed printed advertisements, not the dynamic holograms they were used to.


    ¡°We have to stay sharp,¡± said Amnay, breaking the silence. ¡°Tonight is crucial. If we don¡¯t get that black backpack, everything we¡¯ve done will be for nothing.¡±


    Erna leaned forward, his voice low. ¡°What if Aguilas was wrong? What if the guy doesn¡¯t show up?¡±


    ¡°Then we adapt,¡± said Amnay firmly. ¡°We¡¯ve made it this far. We can¡¯t let doubt hold us back.¡±


    Finally, the bus pulled up near the national museum. The group disembarked, their eyes immediately drawn to the familiar yet altered landmark.


    ¡°It looks almost the same,¡± said Arinas, studying the museum¡¯s entrance.


    ¡°Almost,¡± Titrit corrected, pointing to the faded paint and the overgrown garden surrounding the building. ¡°Time has a way of changing things.¡±


    They found a large tree near the museum''s entrance and settled beneath its shade. The hours passed slowly as the sun began its descent, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink.


    ¡°Okay,¡± said Amnay, as the shadows grew longer. ¡°Everyone knows their position. Keep an eye on every angle of the museum. We can¡¯t let him slip past us.¡±


    The team nodded and split up, positioning themselves strategically around the museum. With no communication devices, they relied on hand signals to communicate. A simple wave, a nod, or a pointed finger was all they needed to stay in sync.


    As darkness fell, Titrit spotted movement near the west entrance. She caught Amnay¡¯s eye and pointed discreetly. Amnay followed her gaze and saw him¡ªa man with dark hair, wearing a gray coat, and carrying a black backpack. The description matched Aguilas¡¯s intel.


    Amnay signaled to the others, who converged silently, closing in from all directions. The man seemed unaware, his attention fixed ahead as he approached the museum¡¯s side door.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± said Amnay, stepping into the man¡¯s path. His voice was calm, but his body was tense, ready for action.


    The man stopped, his expression confused. Before he could react, the team surrounded him, cutting off any chance of escape.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to run,¡± said Erna firmly, his eyes locked on the black backpack.


    The man froze, his grip tightening on the bag.

 My Father …

    The team surrounded the man with the black backpack, their breaths shallow as adrenaline coursed through them. The man¡¯s eyes darted between them, his grip tightening on the straps of his bag.


    ¡°Hand it over,¡± said Amnay, his voice low but commanding.


    The man hesitated, his stance defensive. Erna stepped closer, his expression unyielding. ¡°We¡¯re not asking twice.¡±


    Realizing he was outnumbered, the man reluctantly unfastened the bag and handed it to Titrit. His face was a mixture of frustration and defeat.


    ¡°What¡¯s in this isn¡¯t for you,¡± the man said, his voice trembling.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t for you either,¡± Amnay shot back. ¡°Leave. Now.¡±


    Without another word, the man turned and hurried off into the darkness, glancing back only once before disappearing into the night.


    <hr>


    The team wasted no time. Amnay swung the backpack over his shoulder, and they dashed back toward the garden where their time machine was hidden. The streets blurred as they ran, their breaths quick and heavy.


    ¡°Are we sure this will work again?¡± asked Titrit, keeping pace with the others.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Amnay replied. ¡°It¡¯s our only way forward.¡±


    When they reached the garden, they moved toward the spot where they had buried the travel time machine. The garden was quiet and empty of people, but they still walked carefully, keeping to the shadows to avoid drawing attention.


    ¡°This is it,¡± whispered Assoulil, pointing to the exact location.


    He crouched down and began digging into the soft earth with his hands, scooping away sand until the metallic surface of the time machine became visible. Carefully, he lifted it out and shook off the remaining dirt. The moonlight glinted off its surface, giving it an almost otherworldly glow.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Alright,¡± said Arinas. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    Amnay placed the backpack beside the machine and grabbed the wheel. With each turn, the machine emitted a low hum that grew louder, resonating in their chests.


    ¡°Ten more,¡± Assoulil counted, his voice steady.


    The hum turned into a high-pitched whirring as Amnay completed the twentieth turn. Suddenly, the air around them shimmered, and a glowing blue gate materialized, just as it had the last time. Its edges crackled with energy, and the light it emitted bathed the garden in an ethereal glow.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± whispered Titrit, her eyes wide.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± said Erna.


    One by one, they stepped through the gate, the sensation like stepping through water without getting wet. As they passed through, they felt a strange, familiar sensation, like falling endlessly through a dark, starless sky.


    <hr>


    When they emerged on the other side, they were standing in the national museum¡ªbut something was different.


    ¡°Our clothes!¡± exclaimed Titrit, looking down. Their old attire had vanished, replaced by the outfits they had worn in their original time. The fabric felt rougher, more familiar.


    ¡°It¡¯s like we never left,¡± said Assoulil, tugging at his sleeves.


    The museum around them was eerily quiet, its grand halls illuminated only by moonlight filtering through high windows. The air was thick with tension as they moved cautiously through the corridors.


    Amnay¡¯s heart sank when they reached the exhibit and saw the empty pedestal.


    ¡°It¡¯s gone,¡± said Arinas, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Before anyone could respond, a faint noise echoed through the hall¡ªa shuffle of footsteps. Amnay motioned for everyone to stay still. From the shadows, two figures emerged, their faces partially obscured by the dim light.


    Erna¡¯s flashlight flickered on, and the beam landed on one of the men. He froze, his eyes widening.


    ¡°Dad?¡± Erna whispered, disbelief evident in his voice.


    The man stepped closer, his features unmistakable now. ¡°Erna,¡± he said, his voice filled with both surprise and caution.


    Amnay turned his flashlight to the second figure, and his breath caught. The man standing before him was hauntingly familiar¡ªhis jawline, his stance, even the way he looked at Amnay.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± Amnay murmured. ¡°You¡­ you look like my father.¡±


    The man¡¯s expression softened, but his eyes held a mix of sadness and determination. ¡°Amnay, there¡¯s so much you don¡¯t know.¡±


    For a moment, no one moved. The weight of the encounter pressed down on them, questions racing through their minds. Who were these men? What were they doing here? And most importantly, what did this mean for their mission?

 The truth

    Amnay was really surprised. He had always believed his father was dead¡ªthat¡¯s what his mother had told him. And now, during an adventure with his friends, he was confronted by a man who claimed otherwise.


    ¡°Wait, what are you trying to tell me?¡± Amnay asked the man who bore an uncanny resemblance to his father.


    ¡°I am your father, Amnay¡ªyour father, Amayk,¡± said the man, his voice firm yet emotional.


    ¡°But I thought my father was¡­ dead. That¡¯s what my mother told me,¡± Amnay replied, his voice trembling with disbelief.


    ¡°Yes, she had to tell you that,¡± said Amayk gently. ¡°She believed it was the best choice. I disappeared twenty years ago, and she wasn¡¯t sure whether I was alive or dead. She couldn¡¯t bear to let you live with false hope, so she made the painful decision to protect you from uncertainty.¡±


    ¡°But my mother never lies to me!¡± Amnay protested, his voice rising.


    ¡°This was for your own good, my son,¡± Amayk explained patiently. ¡°Imagine living with the constant hope that one day your father might return¡ªor worse, fearing that he lost his life in some unknown place. She wanted to spare you that anguish.¡±


    Amnay couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. The surprise on his face refused to fade, and his friends tried to calm him down. The sheer shock of this revelation was overwhelming. What started as a visit to the national museum had spiraled into a whirlwind of events: the mission given by Aguilas, the visions of his crimes, the death of Assirm, and their time travel to 2005.


    ¡°Calm down, Amnay! We can¡¯t believe this man just because he looks like your father,¡± Erna said, her voice steady. ¡°Father, what brought you here? Can you explain what this man is saying?¡±


    ¡°No, he is absolutely right, my son,¡± Erna¡¯s father, Gart, said solemnly.


    ¡°But how is this possible?¡± Arinas asked, her voice tinged with doubt.


    ¡°I will explain everything to you,¡± Amayk said. ¡°But first, let¡¯s leave this place. There¡¯s a comfortable room upstairs where you can rest. Travel has been hard on all of you.¡±


    ¡°But what about Mr. Aguilas? I¡¯m afraid he might still try to harm us,¡± Titrit said nervously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Gart reassured her. ¡°Aguilas has been arrested. He will pay for all the crimes he committed.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Amayk said, placing a comforting hand on Amnay¡¯s shoulder. Amnay still looked uneasy but didn¡¯t resist.


    Amnay, Erna, Arinas, Titrit, Assoulil, Amayk, and Gart left the room, leaving behind a haunting, unforgettable memory. The myth of the time travel machine had become real, taking them on a journey that was both the worst moment of their lives and one of the greatest adventures they could ever experience.


    They arrived at the place where they had first met Mr. Mano, but this time, they used an elevator. Seated in the room with Amayk and Gart, Assoulil couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe all this! How did they even arrest Mr. Aguilas? Where did they get the documents?¡±


    Amayk turned to the group, his eyes focused on Amnay. ¡°Listen carefully, especially you, my son,¡± he began. Amnay, however, showed little interest.


    ¡°Twenty years ago, your mother and I were living peacefully in our home. I was working as a detective.¡±


    ¡°A detective?!¡± Amnay exclaimed. ¡°How is that possible? My mother never told me that!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s understandable,¡± Amayk replied. ¡°She probably didn¡¯t want you dreaming of becoming a detective. If you had, you might have encountered my friends and discovered that I was investigating Aguilas¡¯ crimes.¡±


    Amnay said nothing, and Amayk continued.


    ¡°Yes, I was investigating Aguilas. He made his fortune by stealing, killing, and trafficking artifacts from around the world. One day, we received a report from someone near Aguilas¡¯ castle. They¡¯d heard a gunshot, but none of the detectives wanted to investigate¡ªthey were all afraid for their lives. I took the risk and sneaked into Aguilas¡¯ castle, determined to uncover the truth.¡±


    Amnay recalled the artifacts he and his friends had found while searching for the time travel machine.


    ¡°For the first time, I discovered that Aguilas¡¯ wife wasn¡¯t at home. I started asking around¡ªat hospitals, among her family¡ªbut I couldn¡¯t find anything. I began to suspect that Aguilas might have killed her.¡±


    ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible!¡± Arinas and Titrit gasped.


    ¡°The criminal! Killing people must be his hobby,¡± Assoulil muttered.


    ¡°Yes, after extensive research, I found the truth¡ªAguilas had indeed killed his wife. But I needed proof. I asked my friend Belk to infiltrate Aguilas¡¯ castle by pretending to be a driver looking for a job. His real mission was to gather evidence. Unfortunately, Aguilas was very clever. He¡¯d been watching me ever since he realized someone was asking questions about his wife.


    ¡°One day, I woke up early, with no work to do. Your mother surprised me,¡± Amayk said, looking at Amnay. ¡°She told me she was pregnant. I can¡¯t describe my happiness¡ªI was the happiest man alive. I hugged her and told her she¡¯d be the most beautiful mother in the world.¡±


    ¡°And she was,¡± Amnay whispered, his voice filled with emotion.


    Amayk paused for a moment, his eyes distant. Then he continued, ¡°I was so overjoyed that I went to the supermarket and bought every baby item I could find. But as I left, a group of unknown men arrested me. Aguilas had me kidnapped and locked me in the same place where you later searched for the time travel machine. He threatened me, demanding that I abandon my investigation. But I knew Belk was close to finding proof. He¡¯d discovered bloodstains in Aguilas¡¯ bedroom that matched his wife¡¯s blood type. That gave me the courage to hold on, even as Aguilas beat me until I bled.¡±


    ¡°Wait! Are you saying the bloodstains they found in the museum belonged to you?¡± Erna asked.


    ¡°Yes, they belong to Amayk,¡± Gart confirmed.


    ¡°Aguilas confessed all his crimes to me,¡± Amayk continued. ¡°He was confident he¡¯d kill me eventually or force me to give up. For him, killing people was easier than drinking water.¡±


    ¡°And he told you why he killed his wife?¡± Arinas asked hesitantly.


    ¡°Yes. His wife was a good woman who fell in love with him, unaware of his crimes. But over time, she began to suspect him. She eventually discovered his artifact thefts and even saw a video of him killing one of his own men. She demanded a divorce, but Aguilas refused¡ªnot out of love, but because he feared she¡¯d expose him. Their argument ended with him killing her.¡±


    ¡°Are there really people like him in this world?¡± Arinas asked, horrified.


    ¡°Yes, unfortunately,¡± Gart replied. ¡°That¡¯s why punishment exists.¡±


    ¡°But what does all this have to do with the time travel machine?¡± Amnay asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re right to ask,¡± Amayk said. ¡°After refusing to give up, Aguilas gave me a week to think it over. During that week, I was left alone, hungry and thirsty. While searching for something to eat or drink, I found something strange¡ªa book.¡±


    ¡°A book? What kind of book?¡± Titrit asked.


    ¡°It was a book describing how to find the time travel machine. But it was written as a puzzle to solve,¡± Amayk explained.


    ¡°Wait! Like the puzzle we solved together?¡± Erna exclaimed.


    ¡°Yes, exactly,¡± Amayk said with a faint smile. ¡°And that¡¯s where my adventure¡ªor perhaps my curse¡ªbegan.¡±

 Twenty years ago

    Amnay began thinking about the man who just revealed himself to be his father¡ªa detective. Then Erna asked, "But how did you solve the puzzle?"


    "Because I¡¯m the one who wrote it," said Amayk.


    "What? How?" asked Assoulil, surprised.


    "I mean, when I said the book I found was written like a puzzle¡ªit¡¯s like the puzzles I wrote for you to find the time machine," explained Amayk.


    "You mean you¡¯re the one who separated the puzzle into pieces, cut it into six parts, and helped us find the time travel machine?" asked Amnay.


    "Let¡¯s just say I helped Aguilas prepare the adventure you lived," replied Amayk.


    "Wait! Are you the unknown person who sent Aguilas the letters revealing the existence of the time machine?" Arinas inquired.


    "Yes," said Amayk.


    They all fell silent in shock. Then Amnay broke the silence, asking, "Why did you do all of that? Why did you help him?"


    "I understand your point of view, but I had my reasons. Just let me continue the story of how I found the time machine, and you¡¯ll understand everything," said Amayk.


    "Let¡¯s listen to him," said Gart.


    "Like I told you, I was searching for something to eat. I discovered a lot of artifacts, but one of them stood out," began Amayk.


    "Weird? How?" asked Titrit.


    "It looked like a box but was made of rock. I picked it up¡ªit was really soft. But I was hungry and tired, so it slipped from my hands and broke. That¡¯s when I noticed something unusual¡ªa hidden book inside the rock. I destroyed the rest of the rock and pulled out the book. Its title was A Masterpiece from the Past."


    "A Masterpiece from the Past?" repeated Amnay.


    "At first, I didn¡¯t think it was related to the time machine. I started reading it¡ªit wasn¡¯t a big book. It described the history of some artifacts, especially the time machine. The book gave many details about it: a cylindrical stone with six diamonds. When light hits it, a stone wheel appears to guide time travel¡ªone turn equals one year, either forward or backward. The book also mentioned many rules. At first, I didn¡¯t believe it and tossed the book aside, thinking it was fiction.


    "But then I found something that matched the description in the book perfectly. It had the same features! I couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªI had found the time machine! Suddenly, my mind was filled with ideas: traveling back to warn myself about past mistakes, revisiting my childhood, and even seeing my parents again.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "I decided to test it. I placed the cylindrical stone where the moonlight could shine on the diamonds. Though it was heavy, I managed to position it. As soon as the light hit it, the cylinder started moving, and a stone wheel emerged, just like in the book. I turned the wheel slightly, and that¡¯s when I saw it."


    "The blue gate," whispered Amnay.


    "Yes, the blue gate," confirmed Amayk. "I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes¡ªit was like magic! After a moment, it disappeared, just as the book had described."


    "And what else did the book say that you haven¡¯t told us?" asked Amnay.


    "A lot, my son," replied Amayk.


    "Then tell us the rest," urged Arinas.


    "Of course. After discovering the time machine, I knew I had to hide it from Aguilas. I suspected he might find it if I left it unprotected. So, I searched the room where I was being held. I looked for anything unusual and eventually found a square-shaped rock that was different from the others. I pushed it, and a horizontal rocky table emerged with four cylinder-shaped voids.


    "I realized I needed to fill the voids with something, so I kept searching until I found what I needed¡ªhourglasses!" said Amayk.


    "Hourglasses?" asked Arinas.


    "Yes. When I placed them in the voids, a secret staircase appeared beneath me. I used a flashlight I¡¯d found and carried the time machine down the stairs with great difficulty. I hid it in the spot where you eventually found it. Suddenly, I heard someone entering. Panicked, I removed the hourglasses to close the staircase, returned to my original position, and pretended to be tied up.


    "Then I heard a voice calling my name," said Amayk.


    <hr>


    Amayk heard someone calling, "Amayk! Amayk! Are you okay?"


    "Wait, who are you?" asked Amayk.


    "Your friend¡ªyour assistant, Belk," the voice replied.


    "Belk? How did you get in here?" asked Amayk.


    "I posed as a driver to infiltrate Aguilas¡¯s castle. Let me help you," said Belk.


    "Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ve already untied myself," said Amayk, standing up.


    "As expected of the great detective Amayk. Are you hungry?" asked Belk.


    "Yes, I¡¯m starving," replied Amayk.


    "I brought food, but thieves stole most of it. There were five of them¡ªthree boys and two girls," said Belk.


    "Even girls steal?" asked Amayk.


    "Don¡¯t worry. They didn¡¯t take the important thing," said Belk.


    "You did it, Belk!" exclaimed Amayk.


    "Yes, detective. I brought the documents that prove all of Aguilas¡¯s crimes," said Belk.


    "Now, let¡¯s get out of here," said Belk.


    "But how?" asked Amayk.


    "There¡¯s an elevator nearby¡ªI know how to use it," said Belk.


    "You¡¯re amazing," said Amayk.


    Amayk noticed that Belk had a gun.


    "You¡¯re fully prepared," said Amayk.


    "Of course," replied Belk. He pulled another gun from his pocket and handed it to Amayk.


    Amayk retrieved the book about the time machine. Suddenly, gunfire shattered the silence¡ªAguilas¡¯s men appeared, shooting everywhere. Amayk and Belk quickly hid and started firing back.


    In the chaos, Belk was hit in the foot.


    "My foot!" cried Belk.


    "Hold on, Belk!" shouted Amayk, continuing to shoot.


    "I don¡¯t think we can finish the mission, detective," said Belk.


    "No! We can¡¯t lose after all the effort we¡¯ve made!" said Amayk.


    "Detective, please do something," pleaded Belk.


    "I have a plan, but we don¡¯t have time to explain. Just trust me and follow my lead. I¡¯m sorry for what might happen," said Amayk.


    "Don¡¯t apologize! I¡¯ll follow you¡ªI don¡¯t care if I die for justice!" said Belk.