A Test of Truth

Jade sat stiffly in one of the wooden chairs inside the tent, her muscles aching from exhaustion. Across from her, General Horus sat in silence, watching her.

His piercing gaze never wavered.

In her hands was a small clay cup, filled with dark liquid. She stared at it, hesitant. It looked like wine.

When she had asked for water, the soldiers had given her strange looks, and instead, this had been placed in her hands. She didn't want wine—she needed water. But considering how dehydrated she was, she wasn't in a position to refuse.

The silence between them stretched. The weight of Horus's scrutiny made her uneasy.

"Uhm..." she started, trying to break the tension.

"Drink first."

Horus's voice was calm but firm, his gaze flicking briefly to the drink before returning to her. He had noticed her parched lips, the faint shakiness in her hands.

Jade hesitated before lifting the cup to her lips.

The first sip made her grimace. She wasn't much of a drinker—only on rare occasions—but she expected the usual harsh bitterness of alcohol.

But… this was different.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she let the taste settle on her tongue. It was sweet. Still alcoholic, but not the overwhelming burn she had expected.

She took another sip, this time slower, savoring the unexpected richness of the flavor.

A soft hum of appreciation escaped her before she could stop it.

"Good?"

Horus's voice cut through her moment of enjoyment.

Jade startled, blinking in surprise. The brief moment of euphoria shattered instantly, replaced by embarrassment. Heat crept up her neck, and she quickly looked down at her cup.

"I—yes. It's good."

"I'm glad you like it." There was something unreadable in Horus's tone, but his expression remained composed. "This is one of the finest blends, crafted with great care to ensure its sweetness."

Jade took another cautious sip, still unsure how to respond.

Then—

"Now tell me. Who are you?"

His tone had shifted, the warmth gone, replaced by something much sharper.

Jade tensed, nearly choking on her drink. Here it is.

Her mind raced. She had spent the last hours—or was it days?—simply trying to survive. She hadn't even thought of what she would say when someone finally demanded answers.

Should she tell them the truth? That she had somehow traveled through time? That she wasn't from here, that she came from a world centuries beyond theirs?

They'd think she was insane. Or worse—a witch.

No. That was not an option.

She needed to be smart.

She needed a lie that wasn't too unbelievable—but also not too traceable.

Swallowing hard, she lifted her gaze to Horus's.

"My name is Jade Rose Huang," she said, keeping her voice as steady as she could. "I got separated from my companions while we were traveling here."

Horus didn't react. His expression remained unreadable, but his dark eyes bored into her as if he could see through her words.

"Oh?" he mused. "You have companions?"

Jade nodded, this time firmer. "Yes. We left home months ago, traveling through different kingdoms. My companions wanted to see the world beyond our home. We visited several places, but when we reached Egypt... something happened."

Horus's gaze narrowed slightly. "What happened?"

Jade clenched her hands into fists to keep them from trembling.

"I—I don't know." It wasn't a complete lie. "There was a commotion, and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was alone in the desert."

The weight of his stare intensified.

"So you don't know what became of your companions?"

"No," she said, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "But I need to find them."

She wasn't going to act helpless.

Horus studied her carefully, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest of his chair.

"Have you been walking through the desert this whole time?"

Jade straightened. "Yes."

Something flickered in Horus's gaze.

The desert was deadly. It swallowed men whole, devouring them with its heat, its vastness, its merciless nature.

Yet here she was.

Small. Unarmed. A foreigner.

And she had survived.

Horus exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. This was too strange.

Then his next question came.

"Where do you hail from?"

Jade forced herself to answer.

"I was born in China. That's where my family is."

Hassan scoffed suddenly. Who has been silent this whole time.

"China?" He let out a dry chuckle. "That's halfway across the world. How did you end up here, alone, unconscious in the middle of the desert?"

Jade's jaw tightened.

She refused to let them treat her like some criminal.

"I don't know. But I do know that I have done nothing wrong," she said, her voice steady now. "I am not a thief. I am not a criminal. And I do not deserve to be treated as one."

The fire inside her finally surfaced.

She was tired, afraid, and lost—but she was not weak.

Hassan raised an eyebrow, slightly caught off guard.

Horus's gaze remained unreadable, but there was something in his expression that shifted.

Hassan let out a slow breath, rubbing his chin.

"Well, General?" he muttered, glancing at Horus. "What do you make of her?"

Horus didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he simply studied Jade once more, his fingers resting against his chin.

This was beyond logic.

Her appearance, her survival, the way she spoke their language flawlessly— nothing about her made sense.

There was only one person who could decide what to do with her now.

The Pharaoh.

Horus let out a slow breath before speaking.

"This is beyond me." He met Jade's gaze with unwavering intensity. "The Pharaoh will decide your fate."