You stand in the shadow of the massive monument as a warm breeze sweeps across the sun baked sands. Your quest has drawn you here, though you know not what you expect to find.
The individual stones, some taller than you, that make up the structure fill you with awe and wonder as you imagine the effort put into its creation, the centuries it has seen.
Out of the corner of your eye, you catch some movement and look around to see a small, gray spotted cat slinking in the shadows. She turns and regards you with jade green eyes before twitching her tail and disappearing around a large block.
Curious, you follow. You step around the block and find no cat, but upon the stone here are engraved ancient hieroglyphs. As you watch, a strange shimmer goes across the carvings, like gold caught in the sun. You're drawn to this strange glow, and without thinking, you reach out and touch it. There's a click and a whirring sound, a creaking rasp of stone on stone, and the block moves back revealing an opening in the earth and a stone staircase leading down into darkness. A pair of glowing eyes shine in the shadows, and you watch in amazement as the cat from earlier slips down the stairs in front of you.
You take a few steps before the darkness gives you pause. You're just about to turn back when you see a light flickering ahead. This bolsters your courage and stirs your curiosity, so you press forward.
A little ways down the stairs, you come across the source of the light. An alcove is carved into the stone walls, and in it rests a single candle, its light spreading a warm glow over the worn stone. You stop to consider how it got here and who lit it only to hear the plaintive "meow" of your feline guide echo from further down the staircase. Picking up the candle, you continue after her.
The staircase ends in a large chamber with colorful frescos painted upon the walls. A statue of a bearded pharaoh stands on the other side of the room, considering you with dark, unmoving eyes.
The cat glides across the room to sit at the pharaoh's feet. As you watch, she touches the sandaled foot of the statue. You approach and find a piece of parchment there, upon which two letters are written: SC.
You suspect this might be an important clue on your quest, so you pocket the paper. The candle continues to glow, the light of its flames illuminating the images on the wall. The pictures seem to come to life. You can almost smell the muddy banks of the Nile, the reeds swaying in the breeze, the cries of wading birds, and the chatter of fishermen as they mend their nets. You hear the wails of the mourners in the funeral procession of the great pharaoh, and the perfume of a lovely queen wafts around you.
Then the illusion fades and you find yourself in the silent chamber once more.
The cat rises and leads you back up the stairs into the sun. On your way out of the secret chamber, you place the candle in its alcove once more, in case anyone else wants to journey into the secret pyramid chamber. You do, however, sense that you can return here any time you wish, to experience the magic of this ancient place and slip from your present into a long forgotten past.
Mythologie's Sands of Time collection is inspired by the history, legends, and treasures of Ancient Egypt.
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