EPISODE 01 “The Traveling”
Kamsi stood in the dusty museum archive, the worn leather journal in her hands. She had been studying the artifact for weeks, trying to uncover its secrets. But something about it continued to elude her.
As she turned the brittle pages, a small compartment opened in the book’s spine. Inside, she found a tarnished silver pocket watch, emblazoned with an intricate filigree design. She held the watch in her palm, mesmerized by its beauty.
Kamsi studied the watch carefully, noticing an inscription on the back: ‘Tempus Omnia Manet’. Latin for ‘Time Stands Still’. It seemed an odd phrase for a timepiece.
As she turned the watch in her hands, the face glinted in the dim light, revealing a single hand that moved not by minutes, but by years. Kamsi gasped, realizing she was holding something far more powerful than a simple timepiece. It was a key. A key to the past.
Heart racing, Kamsi’s mind spun with possibilities. Could this watch really send her back in time? She had to find out. But how?
As she pondered her next move, a sudden chill enveloped the archive, despite the warm summer day outside. The air felt heavy and charged. Kamsi whirled around, sensing a presence in the room. But there was no one there. She shivered as a voice whispered in her ear, ‘The past awaits you, Kamsi.’ And then, just as quickly as it had come, the chill disappeared.
Kamsi’s hands trembled as she held the watch, still unsure of what to do. But as she examined it more closely, she noticed something. A small button nestled against the side of the watch case. Could that be the mechanism for traveling back in time?
With a deep breath, Kamsi pressed the button. The room was filled with a bright, blinding light. When the light subsided, Kamsi found herself standing in a lush, green countryside. A man in Victorian-era clothing approached her, eyes alight with curiosity.
The man’s mouth gaped open in shock as he stared at Kamsi. “My goodness, what a most unusual sight! You are not dressed as a lady of our time,” he exclaimed.
“I’m… I’m not from your time. I’m from the future,” Kamsi stammered, uncertain of how the man would react.
“The future? Do tell, what is it like?” The man’s eyes danced with excitement, his curiosity apparently piqued.
Kamsi pondered how to explain the wonders of the modern world to this stranger.
Kamsi began, slowly at first, to describe the future to the man. She told him of incredible inventions like the automobile and the airplane, of advances in medicine and science, and of the ever-changing landscape of fashion and technology.
The man listened with rapt attention, hanging on every word. “It sounds almost like a world of magic!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.
Kamsi smiled. “It might seem like magic to you, but it’s just the world as I know it. But I’m here for a reason.
I don’t belong here. I need to get back to my own time. But I need help.” Kamsi explained the mysterious watch to the man, showing him how she had arrived in his time and how she believed it was the key to returning home.
The man studied the watch, running his fingers over the intricate designs. “It’s a fascinating piece,” he remarked. “I’m no expert in such things, but perhaps we can find someone who is.”
Kamsi’s heart lifted at the man’s offer of assistance. “Do you know of anyone who might be able to help?
“Indeed I do,” the man replied. “There is a friend of mine who lives nearby, a scholar of the sciences. If anyone can help you, he will. Please, come with me.” He offered Kamsi his arm, which she took hesitantly.
As they walked through the area-side, the man introduced himself as Asrar. Kamsi asked him, are you a Muslim. Asrar replied “yes” He told her stories of the area, pointing out landmarks and sharing bits of history. Kamsi found herself captivated not only by the fascinating world of the past, but by Asrar warmth and intelligence.
The sun was starting to set as they approached Asrar’s friend’s home. It was a quaint, rustic cottage surrounded by lush gardens. The door opened before they could even knock, revealing a tall, thin man with wire-frame glasses and a wild shock of hair.
“Asrar! How wonderful to see you,” he exclaimed, ushering them inside. “And who is this young woman you’ve brought with you?”
Kamsi gave a small curtsy. “My name is Kamsi. I’m… not from this time.”
The man’s eyebrows rose.
“Not from this time? Fascinating,” the man said, his interest piqued. “Do tell me more. What’s brought you here?”
Kamsi and Asrar exchanged a glance before Kamsi continued. “I have a device that I believe transported me to this time, but I’m not sure how it works. I was hoping you might be able to help me figure it out.”
The man’s expression was one of intense concentration. “A time travel device, you say?” He gave a small chuckle. “You know, most people would think you were crazy.
“But then again, I’m not most people.” The man grinned. “My name is Charles, by the way. Charles Babbage.”
Kamsi’s eyes widened. “Babbage? As in… the Babbage Engine?”
“Not the very same,” Charles said with a nod. I want to be like Charles Babbage the father of computers, that is why I changed my name too because I want to be like the great man “Come now, let’s have a look at this device of yours.”
Kamsi carefully removed the watch from her pocket and handed it to Charles, who took it in his hands with great care. He examined it thoroughly, running his fingers over the engravings and turning it over in his hands.
“Fascinating, simply fascinating,” Charles murmured. “I must say, this is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Tell me, Kamsi, what exactly do you know about this device?”
Kamsi explained everything she knew about the watch, describing how she came across it and the inscription on the back. As she spoke, she became increasingly aware of Asrar’s gaze on her. His eyes were warm and friendly, and she couldn’t help feeling a connection between them.
Finally, Charles set the watch down on a table. “Well, I must say, I’m stumped.
“But I believe we can work this out together. For now, though, I think you should stay here with us. It’s late, and I doubt you’d be able to find your way in the dark.”
Kamsi glanced out the window, realizing how late it had become. “Thank you, Charles. I appreciate your help.” She hesitated for a moment before turning to Asrar. “And I’m grateful for your assistance as well.”
Asrar smiled. “It was my pleasure, Kamsi. I’m happy to help in any way I can.” He gestured towards the hallway.
“The guest room is this way,” Asrar said, guiding Kamsi down the hall. The room was cozy and well-furnished, with a four-poster bed and a crackling fireplace. Kamsi sank onto the bed, exhausted from the events of the day.
“Thank you again,” she said to Asrar. “I… I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
Asrar nodded, his expression softening. “I’m happy to be of service. And don’t worry – we’ll figure this out. You’re not alone in this.”
Kamsi felt a sense of comfort wash over her as Asrar spoke. Despite the strangeness of her situation, she felt safe and supported. As Asrar turned to leave, Kamsi impulsively reached out and grasped his hand.
“Asrar,” she said softly, “thank you. Truly.”
Asrar squeezed her hand. “Anytime, Kamsi. I’ll see you in the morning. Sleep well.” With that, he withdrew his hand and left Kamsi alone in the guest room.
As she drifted off to sleep, Kamsi couldn’t help wondering what the future would hold.
Kamsi awoke the next morning to the sound of birdsong and a crackling fire. She stretched and yawned, her mind still foggy from sleep. But as she sat up in bed, she remembered where she was.
A knock at the door broke her out of her reverie. “Kamsi? Are you awake?” Asrar’s voice was gentle and kind.
“Yes, I’m awake,” Kamsi replied, opening the door to see Asrar standing outside. “What time is it?”
“It’s just past dawn.
“We have much to do today,” Asrar said, motioning for Kamsi to join him. “Charles has already started analyzing the watch, and he believes there may be a clue hidden within the filigree design. But before we delve into that, we should break our fast.
Kamsi followed Asrar down the stairs, her stomach rumbling. She was surprised to find Charles already in the kitchen, preparing a hearty breakfast.
“Ah, Kamsi, good morning!” Charles greeted her cheerfully. “I’ve made porridge, boiled eggs, and toast. I hope you’re hungry.”
“I’m famished,” Kamsi replied with a laugh. She took a seat at the table, watching as Asrar poured a cup of tea for her.
As they ate breakfast, the three of them discussed the watch, sharing their theories and ideas. Kamsi was impressed by the depth of Charles’s knowledge, and she found herself drawn into the conversation.
“The engravings on the watch are quite intriguing,” Charles mused, pulling the watch out from his pocket. “I believe they may be a form of code.”
Asrar’s eyes lit up. “A code?
“Yes,” Charles said with a nod. “The letters seem to be arranged in a pattern that doesn’t match any known language. But if we apply some basic cryptography techniques, we may be able to decipher it.
Kamsi leaned forward, fascinated. “Do you think the code could tell us how to use the watch?”
Charles considered this for a moment before answering. “Possibly. Or it could be a clue about who created the watch in the first place. Either way, it’s worth investigating.
Asrar turned to Lila. “I have some basic knowledge of cryptography.
“Then let’s get started,” Kamsi said, eager to begin. The three of them settled around the table, with the watch between them. Charles took out some paper and a quill, ready to record their findings.
Asrar began by studying the filigree engravings carefully. “There’s definitely a pattern here,” he murmured. “The letters are arranged in a grid-like formation, with some repeated more often than others. That could indicate a substitution cipher.”
Kamsi nodded, following Asrar’s logic.
“We need to figure out what each letter stands for,” Charles said, tapping the quill against his chin. “One possibility is that the most common letters represent the most common letters in English. So, for example, if the letter ‘X’ appears the most frequently in the code, it might stand for ‘E’.”
Asrar copied the code onto a clean sheet of paper, his brow furrowed in concentration. “That’s a good start,” he agreed. “But I think we may need to try some other methods, too. We could look for common letter combinations or even try a frequency analysis.”
Kamsi watched as Asrar and Charles discussed different strategies for cracking the code. The excitement in the room was palpable, and she couldn’t help feeling a sense of camaraderie with these two men, despite the fact that she’d only known them for a day.
“Here’s an idea,” Kamsi suggested. “Maybe we could try using the watch itself as a clue. What if the location of the letters within the filigree design is important? Could that be part of the code?”
Asrar and Charles exchanged a glance, considering Kamsi’s suggestion.
“You may be onto something,” Charles said, his eyes bright with intrigue. “After all, the watch is clearly more than just a timepiece. It’s possible that the designers embedded clues in the very design itself.”
Asrar leaned forward, peering closely at the watch. “Let’s start with the letter that appears most frequently in the code,” he said. “If Kamsi’s hypothesis is correct, it might correspond to a specific location on the filigree.”
The trio studied the watch, their eyes darting from letter to pattern and back again.
Suddenly, Charles let out a triumphant cry. “There!” he said, pointing to a small section of the filigree design. “See that series of interlocking circles? I think that may correspond to the letter we’re looking for.”
Kamsi squinted at the watch, trying to make out the intricate pattern. “Yes, I see it,” she said. “What if that represents an ‘E’?”
Asrar grinned. “Let’s test that theory.
The three of them worked together, applying the proposed code to the rest of the engravings on the watch. After a few minutes, they had translated several words from the filigree pattern.
“It’s working,” Kamsi breathed, her eyes wide with excitement. “We’ve got ‘time’, ‘travel’, ‘history’…”
“And ‘the key’,” Asrar finished. “That could be a hint about the watch itself, or even about how to stop it.”
Charles nodded, his expression thoughtful.
“Indeed,” he said. “And notice that the word ‘travel’ is centered in the filigree pattern, almost like a focal point. I suspect that may be significant.”
Asrar studied the watch again, his fingers tracing the engraved letters. “Maybe the watch doesn’t just open a portal to the past. Maybe it can send us anywhere in time and space.
Kamsi’s breath caught in her throat. The implications of Asrar’s theory were staggering. “But if that’s true, what does that mean for our plan to stop the watch?”
“It means we need to understand the watch’s capabilities before we try to interfere with them,” Charles said, his tone serious. “The last thing we want to do is accidentally create a time paradox or cause some other kind of irreparable damage.”
Asrar nodded, his face sober. “You’re right. We have to be cautious. But we also need to move quickly. The more we know, the more prepared we’ll be.”
Kamsi took a deep breath, steeling herself for the task ahead. “So what’s our next step?
“We need to experiment with the watch,” Charles said, his voice firm. “We need to see if our theories are correct, and if so, what it’s capable of. But we must be extremely careful. Kamsi , I’m assuming you know how to activate the watch?”
Kamsi nodded, her hands shaking slightly. “Yes, I do. But I’ve only used it once.
“That’s a start,” Charles said. “But if we’re going to learn more about the watch, we need to use it more extensively. Here’s what I propose: we’ll use the watch to travel to different locations, but in small increments. For example, we’ll travel one minute into the past, and then return immediately. That should give us a sense of the watch’s range and accuracy without causing too much disruption.”
Asrar looked worried. “Are you sure that’s safe?”
Charles held up a hand. “As safe as we can be, given the circumstances.
As the discussion continued, kamsi couldn’t help noticing the way Asrar’s hair curled ever so slightly at the nape of his neck. Or the way his eyes danced with excitement when a new idea was proposed. He seemed more and more intriguing to her by the minute, a welcome distraction from the ever-present danger of the watch.
Their conversation continued, but Kamsi found herself increasingly distracted by Asrar. The softness of his voice, the way he leaned in when he spoke to her—everything about him seemed designed to draw her in. And, against her better judgment, she was beginning to fall under his spell.
Asrar, for his part, was not immune to Kamsi’s charm. He found himself marveling at her intelligence, her determination, and her ability to adapt to these strange circumstances. And when she smiled, his heart gave an unexpected flutter.
Charles, however, remained oblivious to the growing attraction between his companions.
As the day wore on, Kamsi and Asrar grew increasingly comfortable with each other, their banter becoming more natural, their glances more lingering.
“This is ridiculous,” Kamsi whispered to herself, attempting to push her feelings aside. “We’re in the middle of a time travel crisis. I don’t have time for this.”
But she couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through her chest whenever she caught Asrar looking her way. And she knew he felt the same.
Charles, oblivious to the romantic undercurrent, clapped his hands together. “Right, then. Let’s test the watch.”
Charles’ words snapped Kamsi and Asrar back to reality. They moved to stand beside the watch, which was now sitting on a nearby table.
“I’ll do it,” Kamsi said, her hand hovering over the button. “If something goes wrong, I need to be the one to fix it.”
Asrar nodded, understanding. “I’ll be right here, just in case. And if it’s safe, I’ll follow after you.”
Kamsi’s heart gave an involuntary flutter at the thought of Asrar coming to her aid. “Ready?” she asked, her voice steady.
With a deep breath, Kamsi pressed the button. The room was engulfed in the same blinding light that she remembered from before. When the light subsided, she found herself standing in the same spot, but a minute in the past. Everything looked exactly the same, except for one thing—Asrar was standing there, frozen in time, a look of concentration on his face.
Kamsi stepped toward him, unable to resist reaching out and brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “Asrar,” she whispered, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. “I hope I don’t screw this up.”
With that, Kamsi pressed the button again, and the world around her faded back into the present. Asrar was there, looking at her with a mix of concern and wonder.
“Are you all right?” he asked, stepping closer.
Kamsi nodded, finding it hard to meet his gaze. “I’m fine. Everything went as planned. I was only gone for a minute, but the watch seemed to function properly.”
Asrar smiled, relieved. “That’s good news. But how did it feel?
“It felt…” Kamsi searched for the right words. “It felt powerful, in a way. Knowing that I could manipulate time, even just a little bit, it was… heady.”
Asrar nodded. “I can imagine. But be careful, Kamsi. Power like that can be dangerous if not handled properly.”
His eyes searched hers, and Kamsi felt a jolt of electricity course through her. “I know. But I think we can do this, Asrar. Together.”
Asrar nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Together, then.”
“We should tell Charles,” Kamsi said, breaking away from the intensity of the moment. “He needs to know the watch is working properly.”
Together, they returned to the sitting room, where Charles was waiting anxiously.
“Kamsi! You’re back. I was starting to worry. So, was it successful?”
Kamsi nodded. “Yes, I traveled one minute into the past and then returned safely. The watch seems to be functioning correctly.”
Charles’s face lit up. “Excellent! This means we can move forward with our investigation.”
“And not just that,” Asrar said, his voice low and determined. “It means we can start looking for a way to stop the watch before it does any real damage.”
Charles nodded, his expression turning serious. “Indeed. The watch must be stopped, for the sake of history itself.”
“But how do we do that?” Kamsi asked, the weight of their mission suddenly seeming heavier than ever.
Asrar reached out and took her hand, a gesture of support and solidarity. “We’ll figure it out, Kamsi. Together.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, the trio began to discuss their next steps. Charles suggested that they begin by studying the watch’s mechanisms, while Asrar proposed using the watch to travel to other historical periods, to gather more information about its origin and its capabilities.
Kamsi agreed, though she couldn’t help but feel a sense of apprehension. “I’m worried about what might happen if we use the watch too much,” she said. “We don’t know what kind of effects it could have on history.”
Charles nodded. “A valid concern, Kamsi.
“But consider this,” Charles continued, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “What if we could use the watch to learn more about how history unfolded? If we traveled to key moments in the past, we could gather information that would be invaluable to understanding the watch and its effects.”
“And how would we do that?” Kamsi asked, intrigued despite her reservations.
“We would focus on times and places where the watch might have had an impact,” Asrar replied. “For example, we could travel to Northern, when the pyramids were being built. Or to the court of Waziri (the prime minister of the emirate)
“We would observe the events, looking for any evidence of the watch’s influence. Perhaps there were unexplained technological advancements or strange occurrences that might have been caused by the watch. By gathering this information, we could gain a better understanding of how the watch works and how to stop it.”
“It’s a bold plan,” Kamsi said, feeling a surge of adrenaline. “But what if we’re too late? What if the watch has already caused irreparable damage?”
Asrar squeezed her hand. “Then we’ll do our best to fix it.
With their plan in place, Kamsi and Asrar began to prepare for their first journey through time. Charles helped them gather supplies and map out their route, but it was clear that they would be venturing into uncharted territory.
The night before their departure, Kamsi found herself alone in the guest room. She was nervous, her thoughts racing with questions and doubts. What if something went wrong? What if they were never able to return?
But as she stood by the window, staring out at the night sky, she saw a shooting star streak across the horizon.
With Kamsi gazing out the window, watching the shooting star dance across the night sky. She felt a strange comfort from its beauty, as though it were a sign that she was on the right path.
Taking a deep breath, Kamsi turned away from the window and prepared herself for the journey ahead. The next day would bring new challenges, and she needed to be ready.
Morning came too soon, and Kamsi woke to find Asrar waiting for her in the hall.
As Kamsi rose from bed the next morning, she felt an electricity in the air that matched the buzz of excitement in her veins. A new day, a new chapter, and a new world awaited her just beyond her chamber doors.
She couldn’t help but smile when she saw Asrar waiting for her in the hall, a backpack slung over one shoulder and an encouraging grin on his face. “Ready for an adventure?” he asked.
Kamsi nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline.
“Then let’s go,” Asrar said, leading her down the stairs to where Charles was waiting. He looked a bit more anxious than usual, his hands twisting nervously around a sheaf of papers.
“These are the coordinates you’ll need,” he said, passing the papers to Kamsi. “The first stop on your journey is Northern. I’ll be here when you return. Good luck, and be careful.”
Kamsi swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. “We will,” she promised.
“To be continued….”
EPISODE 02 ”Finding Hannah (on going)
It was a strange sensation, feeling the world shift around her as the watch’s magic took hold. One moment, Kamsi was standing in the hallway of the manor house, and the next, she was surrounded by the scorching heat of the Northern desert.
“Whoa,” Asrar breathed, taking in the endless dunes of sand that stretched as far as the eye could see. “This is wild.”
Kamsi smiled, despite her nerves. “Tell me about it.” She pulled the map and coordinates from her pack, her hands shaking slightly as she examined them.
“We need to find the Valley of Madawaki (the commander and head of the emirate army),” Kamsi said, scanning the map. “That’s where the first pyramid was built. If the watch has been used in Nothern, there might be clues there.”
Asrar nodded, taking the map from Kamsi and turning it this way and that, trying to get their bearings. “We should head in that direction,” he said, pointing off into the distance. “If we stay on course, we should reach the Valley of the Kings by nightfall.”
Kamsi looked up at the blazing sun overhead, her brow furrowed.
As the day wore on, Kamsi and Asrar trekked through the dunes, struggling against the relentless heat. Kamsi’s throat felt parched, and her feet ached in her boots. But she kept going, driven by the thought of finding the answers they needed.
Finally, just as the sun began to set, they crested a dune and saw the outline of the pyramids against the fiery sky. Kamsi gasped, awestruck by the sight of the ancient monuments looming before her.
“We made it,” Asrar whispered, his voice hushed with reverence.
Kamsi took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. “We need to find a way into the pyramid,” she said. “The clues we’re looking for might be inside.”
Asrar nodded, his gaze darting around the desert. “There must be an entrance somewhere. Maybe on the north side?”
Together, they circled the base of the pyramid, their eyes searching for any sign of a doorway or passage. But the sun had dipped below the horizon now, and shadows were creeping across the sand.
Suddenly, Asrar let out a low whistle. “Look,” he said, pointing to a narrow crack in the rock. “I think this might be it.”
Kamsi peered into the darkness, her heart racing. The crack was barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through, but it seemed to lead into the heart of the pyramid.
“This is it,” she said, her voice low. “Are you ready?”
Asrar nodded, and together they ducked into the narrow passageway, leaving the desert behind.
As they descended deeper into the pyramid, Kamsi and Asrar found themselves surrounded by ancient idols and symbols that seemed to glow in the dim light.
“We’re in,” Asrar whispered, his voice echoing in the stillness. “Now what?”
Kamsi’s voice gaze roamed over the walls, seeking any sign of the watch’s influence. Then, in a flash of inspiration, she remembered something Charles had mentioned—the watch might have left behind artifacts or technology that was out of place for the period.
“Keep your eyes open for anything that doesn’t belong here,” Kamsi said to Asrar. “Something that might have been left behind by the watch.”
They continued to explore the corridors and rooms of the pyramid, their senses heightened in the darkness. Then, in a small alcove off to the side, Kamsi spotted something that made her heart skip a beat.
“Asrar, look,” she said, pointing to a small, metallic object resting on a stone pedestal. It was sleek and smooth, unlike anything they had seen in northern.
Asrar approached the pedestal with caution, his fingers brushing lightly over the surface of the strange object. It was rectangular in shape, with a smooth, glossy finish, unlike anything they had seen in Northern.
“What is it?” he whispered, turning the object over in his hands.
“I don’t know,” Kamsi replied, “but it’s definitely not from this time period.”
Asrar nodded, his eyes widening in realization. “The watch,” he said. “This must be a clue. We need to bring it back with us.”
Carefully, they wrapped the object in a piece of cloth and tucked it safely into Asrar’s pack.
“We should keep moving,” Kamsi said. “The deeper we go, the more likely we are to find something important.”
They continued through the maze of corridors, growing more and more confident with each step. Then, at last, they reached what appeared to be a central chamber.
It was here that they found what they were looking for—a small, circular device with a series of buttons and dials, resembling nothing so much as a miniature version of the watch.
Just as Kamsi and Asrar stepped closer to examine the device, a low, ominous rumble filled the chamber. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and cracks began to spiderweb across the walls.
“What’s happening?” Kamsi cried, bracing herself against the wall.
“The pyramid is collapsing,” Asrar shouted over the noise. “We have to get out of here!”
The ground shook again, even more violently this time, and Kamsi and Asrar knew they didn’t have a moment to lose. They turned and raced back the way they had come, weaving through the corridors with their hearts pounding.
But the pyramid seemed determined to stop them. Stone blocks tumbled from the walls, crashing to the floor, and dust billowed up in choking clouds. The two struggled to breathe, coughing and gasping as they pressed onward.
Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Kamsi spotted a ray of light filtering through a crack in the wall. “There!” she cried, pointing toward the light.
Asrar saw it too, and they both made a mad dash for the crack. It was narrow, even narrower than the passageway they had come through earlier, but they knew they had to take the chance.
With a last burst of energy, they squeezed through the crack, tumbling out into the desert just as the pyramid crumbled to the ground behind them.
Kamsi and Asrar collapsed to the ground, panting and covered in dust. For a moment, they simply lay there, taking in deep gulps of fresh air. Then, gradually, their shock began to fade, and they turned to look at each other.
Asrar’s eyes were wide, his face covered in a layer of sand and grime. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice shaking.
Kamsi nodded, a weak smile tugging at her lips. “We’re alive,” she said. “That’s all that matters.”
The two stared up at the star-filled sky, still coming to terms with their narrow escape. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade away—the danger, the mission, even the watch itself.
And then Kamsi felt a warmth on her face, a soft pressure against her lips. Asrar was kissing her, tenderly, almost reverently.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, or next week, or even in a hundred years,” he whispered, his eyes meeting hers. “But I know that I want to spend that time with you, Kamsi.”
For Kamsi, the world seemed to spin and slow all at once. Her heart was racing, her mind spinning with the weight of Asrar’s words. She knew that this moment, like everything else they had experienced, was a product of their extraordinary circumstances. But it didn’t feel that way. It felt right, and true, and utterly, undeniably real.
“Asrar,” she murmured, her lips barely moving against his. “I don’t know what’s going to happen either. But I do know that I want to be with you, too.”
Their lips met again, this time with more urgency, more passion. For a few stolen moments, Kamsi forgot about the watch, about the crumbling pyramid, about everything except the feel of Asrar’s arms wrapped around her.
And then the air shimmered, and a low buzzing noise filled the desert.
Kamsi jerked back, her eyes wide with shock. “Asrar, look!” she cried, pointing to a shimmering portal that had opened a few feet away.
As Lila and Ethan stared at the portal, their hearts racing with adrenaline and fear, they realized that they were on the verge of another adventure—one that might hold the key to their mission.
“What is that?” Ethan asked, his voice trembling with awe and uncertainty.
“I’m not sure,” Lila replied, her eyes fixed on the swirling colors and patterns of the portal. “But I think we have to go through it.”
Ethan nodded, his hand finding hers as they took a tentative step forward.
With their hands clasped together, Kamsi and Asrar stepped into the portal, their feet leaving solid ground as they were pulled into the swirling vortex.
For a moment, they felt weightless, suspended in time and space, caught in the flow of the portal’s energy. And then, suddenly, they were spat out onto a cobblestone street, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a busy city.
“Where are we?” Kamsi asked, her voice breathless with surprise.
The street was teeming with activity, with people dressed in elaborate, colorful costumes that seemed to come straight out of a history book. A street vendor was hawking his wares nearby, the smell of exotic spices and roasted meat filling the air.
Ethan looked around, his eyes wide with wonder. “This must be market” he said, his voice low and awestruck. “But… when?”
Kamsi’s eyes were drawn to a sign above a nearby inn. “It says… 16th century,” she whispered. “We must have traveled back in time again.”
Their surroundings were beginning to feel like something out of a dream, but Kamsi knew they had to focus. They had traveled back in time for a reason, and they needed to find out what it was.
“We should try to blend in,” she said, gesturing to the people around them. “Maybe we can ask someone for help.”
Asrar nodded, straightening his posture to try and look less like a time-traveler. “We’ll ask about the watch,” he whispered. “See if anyone knows anything about it.”
Kamsi and Asrar wove their way through the crowd, doing their best to look inconspicuous. The people around them seemed to be too caught up in their own lives to notice the two newcomers, which was a small blessing.
Eventually, they found a place that seemed to be full of people who looked like they knew a thing or two about the city.
“What if we ask for directions?” Asrar suggested. “We could say we’re travelers from a different town, and see what they know about the watch.”
Okay. Kamsi agreed, and the two approached the bar, trying to look as casual as possible.
“Pardon me, sir,” Asrar said, addressing the bartender. “We’re travelers from a small village to the north. Can you recommend a good inn for the night?”
The bartender raised an eyebrow, his gaze sliding over the two of them. “A fine question, young sir,” he said, his voice thick with a Cockney accent. “But ye might be interested in something else entirely. Have ye heard of the legend of the Time Watch?”
Kamsi’s heart jumped.
The bartender’s words sent a chill through Kamsi’s spine. “The Time Watch?” she repeated, trying to sound casual. “What is it?”
The bartender leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “It’s a legend, passed down from generation to generation. Some say it’s a device that can transport ye through time, to any place or era ye can imagine. But if ye ask me, it’s naught but a fairy tale.”
Kamsi and Asrar exchanged a glance, their hearts racing.
“Is it true that this Time Watch can be dangerous?” Asrar asked, trying to mask the urgency in his voice.
The bartender nodded slowly. “So they say. Legend has it that the watch was cursed by a powerful sorcerer, who placed a terrible spell upon it. Those who use it are said to be cursed as well, doomed to wander the corridors of time for eternity.”
Kamsi and Asrar exchanged another glance, their eyes wide with fear. If the legend was true, then they might already be in danger, cursed by the very device they were searching for.
“We must find out more,” Kamsi said, her voice determined. “There must be someone in this Town who knows about this legend. Someone who can help us understand what we’re dealing with.”
The bartender nodded, his eyes full of mischief. “I might know a man who can assist ye. He’s not exactly reputable, but he’s got an ear for gossip and a nose for secrets. If anyone in Town knows the truth about the Time Watch, it’s him.”
With a few more questions, the bartender pointed Kamsi and Asrar in the direction of a narrow street at the edge of town.
“Ye’ll find him there,” the bartender said, giving them a conspiratorial wink. “Mind ye, he’s not one for pleasantries. Ye’ll have to pay for his silence, if ye know what I mean.”
Kamsi and Asrar thanked the bartender and made their way out of the place, their minds racing with questions. If the legend of the Time Watch was true, then they had stumbled into something far more dangerous than they could have imagined.
The seedy place was easy to find, but the task of finding the informant was more difficult. It was a dark, smoky place, filled with rough-looking patrons who eyed Kamsi and Asrar warily.
“We should split up,” Asrar whispered. “You look for the informant. I’ll keep watch.”
Kamsi nodded and moved through the crowd, keeping her eyes peeled for anyone who looked like they might have information. And then she spotted him—a man with a scarred face and piercing eyes, leaning against the bar and nursing a mug of ale.
Kamsi approached the scarred man with caution, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. “Are you the one they call the Raven?” she whispered, using the name the bartender had given her.
The man didn’t move, didn’t even blink. But his eyes flickered with a hint of recognition.
“What do you want with him?” he asked, his voice rough and low.
Kamsi bit her lip, considering her next move. “I’ve heard he knows about the Time Watch,” she said, her voice equally low. “We’re looking for information.”
The scarred man leaned closer, his eyes narrowing to slits. “You’re a fool, girl,” he said, his voice barely audible over the noise of the tavern. “The Time Watch is nothing but trouble. It’s not something you should be meddling with.”
Kamsi’s heart sank. “But we need to find it,” she insisted. “It’s the only way to save our home.”
The scarred man shook his head, his eyes glinting with pity. “I can’t help you,” he said. “The watch is long gone, lost to the sands of time.
Kamsi felt a surge of frustration, but she couldn’t give up now. “Surely there must be some clue, some way to find the watch,” she pleaded. “We’re running out of time.”
The scarred man sighed, a calculating look in his eyes. “There might be one thing,” he said, his voice guarded. “But it won’t come cheap. What are you willing to offer in exchange for the information?”
Kamsi’s eyes flickered to the pouch at her belt, where she kept her coins.
Kamsi hesitated for a moment, weighing the value of the information against the risk of giving away too much.
“I’ll give you twenty coins,” she said, her voice firm. “But only if the information leads us to the watch.”
The scarred man sneered, as if the offer was an insult. “Twenty coins is nothing,” he spat. “But I’ll make you a deal. You give me fifty coins, and I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
Kamsi’s jaw clenched. She hated haggling, but she knew she had to play along.
“Thirty-five coins,” Kamsi countered, her voice edged with frustration. “That’s my final offer.”
The scarred man considered her offer for a moment, then nodded. “Done,” he said, holding out his hand for the coins.
Kamsi dug into her pouch and counted out the coins, then dropped them into the scarred man’s waiting palm.
“The watch you seek was last seen with a traveler who came through here some time ago,” the scarred man said, his voice low and secretive. “A woman named Hannah. You’ll find her in AJE village .”
Kamsi’s heart skipped a beat. AJE? She hadn’t expected the search for the Time Watch to lead them so far afield. But she knew they couldn’t give up now.
“Thank you,” she said to the scarred man, slipping away from the bar and rejoining Asrar. “We need to find a ship,” she said, her voice urgent. “Our next destination is AJE village.”
Asrar raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by Kamsi’s determination. “AJE it is,” he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Let’s go find a boat.”
The two travelers made their way through the winding streets of north, their eyes scanning the harbor for any sign of a vessel that might take them to AJE.
“Over there,” Asrar said, pointing to a small sailing ship that seemed to be preparing for departure. “That’s our ride.”
The two of them approached the ship, negotiating with the captain for passage.
“We’ll take any job you need us for,” Kamsi said, her eyes fixed on the captain’s face. “Just get us to AJE as fast as you can.”
The captain, a grizzled old sailor with a missing tooth, studied Kamsi and Asrar for a moment, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“You two ain’t from around here, are ye?” he said, his voice raspy from years of shouting over the wind. “I’ll take you to AJE village, but you’ll have to earn your keep.”
“That’s fair,” Kamsi said, eager to be on their way. “What do you need us to do?”
The captain grinned, his missing tooth on full display.
“You’ll start with scrubbing decks,” the captain said, his grin growing wider. “And don’t think you’ll be gettin’ any special treatment because you’re pretty,” he added, leering at Kamsi.
Kamsi stiffened, glaring at the captain with fury in her eyes. But she knew they needed him, so she swallowed her pride and nodded.
“Fine,” she said, her voice cold. “We’ll scrub the decks.”
The captain’s grin faded a bit, and he nodded. “Good,” he said, turning away.
For the next several days, Kamsi and Asrar toiled away on the ship, scrubbing decks, cleaning cabins, and even climbing the rigging to adjust the sails.
It was grueling work, but Kamsi knew it was necessary. And, to her surprise, she found a certain satisfaction in the labor, in the sweat on her brow and the ache in her muscles.
But she never forgot the real reason they were on that ship.
As the days turned into weeks, Kamsi and Asrar fell into a rhythm, a shared routine that made the voyage seem almost ordinary.
But the shadow of their quest was never far from their minds. At night, when they were alone in their tiny cabin, they pored over maps and ancient texts, searching for any clue that might lead them to the Time Watch.
So
And then, one day, the captain called Kamsi and Asrar to his quarters.
The captain sat behind his desk, his face grave and serious. “We’ll be in AJE village by dawn,” he said, his voice low and grim. “And when we get there, I suggest you get off my ship.”
Kamsi felt a chill run down her spine. “Why?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Because I know why you’re on this ship, and I want no part of it,” the captain said, his eyes narrowed. “The Time Watch is a dangerous thing, and it brings nothing but trouble. I’m done with it, and I’m done with you.”
Kamsi exchanged a worried glance with Asrar, but she knew they had no choice.
“Thank you for bringing us here,” she said, her voice steady. “We’ll disembark as soon as we reach the harbor.”
The captain nodded, his expression still grim. “Good,” he said. “Now get out of my sight.”
Kamsi and Asrar left the captain’s quarters, their minds racing.
When they reached the deck, Kamsi and Asrar were met with a sight that took their breath away. AJE village was unlike any city they had ever seen before, a city of canals and bridges, of gondolas and ancient palaces.
But their wonder was short-lived. They knew they had to find the woman named Hannah, the one who might hold the key to the Time Watch.
“We need to start asking around,” Kamsi said, her voice quiet but determined. “Someone in this city must know her.”
Kamsi and Asrar made their way through the crowded village of AJE, asking anyone who would listen if they knew of a woman named Hannah.
They encountered merchants and fishermen, gondoliers and dockworkers, but no one seemed to have heard of Hannah.
“Maybe we should try a different strategy,” Asrar suggested, his brow furrowed in thought. “What if we start looking for clues instead of just asking around?”
Asrar nodded, her eyes scanning the streets for anything that might lead them to their elusive quarry.
“To be continued…..”
Awesome 👏🏽 More Wisdom 🫂❤️
Nice story😍