Chapter 827 - 828

"I don't like these Goblins!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

"Nobody does. The evil intentions of these fellows were too obvious," Hermione replied. "What do you have prepared, Evan?"

"We don't have any other choice. We must promise them to show the Emerald Tablet's inscriptions, and then these Goblins will let us go," Evan replied reluctantly. He didn't like being forced into this situation, but he had to join the Zuosey excavation team for now.

Bill had told them earlier that the Emerald Tablet was certainly deep within Gringotts. Sai, one of the Egyptian heads of Gringotts, held the power to grant Evan access to the Emerald Tablet.

"Exploring these ancient ruins can be very dangerous, but there's no need to worry," Bill assured them. "Evan, I can accompany you, and if there are any alchemical issues, we shouldn't encounter significant danger."

"No matter what, we'll be right there with you," Fleur added, her brow slightly furrowed.

The sudden invitation interrupted their leisurely stroll, and after leaving Gringotts, they headed straight back to their inn.

Bill had brought back materials from Gringotts about Ramesses II and the Sun vestige, and the group spent the evening studying them.

From these materials, they learned that Ramesses II was indeed a pharaoh who came remarkably close to being a god-like figure in terms of power and influence. He left traces of his reign all over Egypt, with massive ancient statues and inscriptions that told of his remarkable accomplishments, ensuring his image would endure through eternity and withstand the test of time.

There were countless legends and stories about him, enough to keep them occupied for days on end. Evan was particularly interested in the display of formidable magical abilities by Ramesses II. Hermione and Gabrielle, on the other hand, were captivated by the love story between the pharaoh and his queen Nefertari.

"On Nefertari's tombstone, they carved what she said about Ramesses: 'I am unique in my love for you because you are the most beautiful in the world. No one can replace you. When you pass by me gently, you take my heart with you,'" Hermione read aloud. "Isn't that incredibly romantic?"

Gabrielle nodded enthusiastically and continued to read about the love story of Ramesses II.

The person who could write such words wasn't the dignified god-like pharaoh but rather a young person in the throes of young love. As they read these stories, an image of a perfect young king emerged before Evan's eyes, and it was hard to believe that he had once been the most powerful figure in the world.

"Here, they also praised Nefertari with the words, 'The one for whom the sun shines,'" Gabrielle said, her chin resting on her hand. "It's truly romantic. She was the pharaoh's first and last wife, and for thousands of years, their temples have faced each other across the Nile..."

As Gabrielle closed her eyes, imagining this queen, Evan was left speechless. She was indeed enchanting, but they were all supposed to be searching for clues about the Sun vestige, not getting lost in romantic tales. He wondered how Bill and Fleur had managed to disappear without them noticing.

Initially, they had gone out to buy fruit juice for the three of them, but now, they seemed to have vanished entirely. Hermione, with her studious dedication to the task at hand, had earned Evan's admiration over the past four hours.

"Hermione, take a break. You don't have to work so diligently," Evan suggested. "I'm only here to help with alchemy..."

"The one for whom the sun shines!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed, looking up at Evan.

"What?" he asked, puzzled.

"The one for whom the sun shines!" Hermione repeated and quickly scanned the material in her hand, as if something had just clicked. "Evan, look here. These words are also found on the vulture hieroglyph outside the Sun vestige."

She handed Evan a copy of the image, showing a stone door with ancient hieroglyphs and magical runes, most of which were buried under the yellow sand, but the phrase "the one for whom the sun shines" was clearly visible in the image.

"If this inscription praises Nefertari, then it's likely that the Sun vestige is related to this queen. Otherwise, it would be too much of a coincidence," Hermione explained rapidly. "This is a significant discovery, Evan."

"It's indeed an intriguing inference," Evan replied, carefully examining the image. "The Sun vestige may indeed be connected to the beautiful Nefertari. As of now, no one else seems to have made this connection."

These words were a tribute to the Sun God Ra, the highest-ranking deity in all of Egypt. Hence, the temple located in the heart of Bayle Ramesses City was also known as the Sun vestige. The murals inside depicted various aspects of daily life and were considered the most compelling evidence for the existence of the "Book of the Living."

However, if the Sun vestige had no connection to the Sun God, all their previous deductions would be invalid. Most importantly, this discovery contradicted the restricted information that Bill had obtained from Gringotts. It seemed that the Goblins and magical historians had overlooked the love story surrounding Ramesses II.

"Let's delve into Queen Nefertari's life in detail. We need to find out..." Hermione excitedly continued, her expression reminiscent of when she was preparing for an upcoming exam, "...that during Ramesses II's early reign, Queen Nefertari played a significant role. But her presence disappeared around the time of his 30th anniversary celebration, shortly before she possibly passed away."

"In historical records, their love was so extraordinary that it was said to have made the gods envious," Gabrielle added, turning the pages of the books.

"Perhaps it was due to an illness, an accident, or even a magical injury. In any case, she left this world and died," Hermione continued. "From the remaining vestiges, it's clear that Ramesses II cherished her throughout his life. That's why he built this magnificent temple in the heart of his city for her."

"What was the purpose of that temple?" Evan asked, feeling that they were getting closer to a crucial point. "After all, Queen Nefertari had her grand tomb in the Valley of the Queens."

There was a brief silence, during which Hermione rapidly organized the thick pile of materials while Evan and Gabrielle watched attentively.

Hermione had a knack for finding important clues within a sea of information. "Remember what the Gringotts wizards deduced about the Sun vestige and eternal life?" she asked, producing several densely written parchments. "If it wasn't for Ramesses II seeking eternal life, then he must have been preparing to resurrect Nefertari."

In his lifetime, this pharaoh possessed the most potent magical abilities and could accomplish almost anything through magic, even conquering gods. Given this, it was natural that he would have been deeply affected by the death of the queen he loved and would have sought to bring her back to life.

"The goal of the Sun vestige's construction must have been to resurrect Queen Nefertari, and that's why there's no 'Book of the Living' in it. This magical book can only grant rest to the soul; it cannot bring the dead back to life," Evan concluded, his voice filled with disbelief as he looked at Hermione. "So, if there is a magical book hidden in the Sun vestige, it must be the complete 'Book of the Dead,' a book that could bring disaster to the entire world."

If everything Hermione had deduced turned out to be true, it would have a profound impact on the entire Egyptian magical community. The clues and historical evidence they had discovered so far were only the beginning, and their deductions about the true secrets of the Sun vestige were still unfolding.

If their findings were eventually confirmed, the Curse-Breakers and magical historians at Gringotts would undoubtedly be left speechless. It was hard to imagine that a group of 15-year-old wizards could reach such significant conclusions. Hermione's talent in this field was remarkable, and she should consider a career as a magical historian; she would undoubtedly become famous.

"You're right, Evan," Hermione agreed. "Since we now know that the purpose of the Sun vestige's construction is to resurrect Nefertari and that it contains the 'Book of the Dead,' we can speculate about the deities we might encounter."

She quickly listed several Egyptian gods, including Anubis, Ma'at, Horus, his four sons, Seker, and more. While they hadn't seen the actual "Book of the Dead," according to ancient Egyptian beliefs, resurrecting the dead and returning them to this world would likely be connected to these deities.

"Will this information be useful?" Evan asked.

"It's incredibly valuable. But also remember that Bill mentioned something the Goblin Zuosey said during the day," Hermione continued. "Ancient Egyptian wizards didn't place curses without reason. The curses and the gods they invoked are directly related. I believe that with this knowledge, we can make rough predictions about the challenges we might face and prepare accordingly."

Evan nodded in agreement. Hermione had been a tremendous asset in this endeavor. While he excelled at analyzing information and making judgments, he usually relied on his strength to overcome challenges. Hermione's analytical approach provided a different perspective, and her step-by-step deductions helped them foresee potential dangers.

However, the conversation took a different turn when Hermione and Gabrielle insisted on joining Evan in exploring the Sun vestige, despite the potential dangers. Evan was concerned about their safety and suggested they stay at the inn, but both girls were determined to be part of the adventure.

Hermione's persistence and Gabrielle's enthusiasm left Evan with a headache. They seemed not to fully grasp the dangers that awaited them in the ancient ruins. This wasn't a tourist excursion; it was an expedition into millennium-old magical vestiges.

As Evan contemplated these matters while lying in bed, he thought about the "Book of the Dead" stored within the Sun vestige. This was a dangerous magical tome capable of summoning the dead and unleashing plagues. Inside were dark magic and curses beyond the common imagination. What would they encounter within the vestige?

Evan had agreed to the Goblin Zuosey's invitation, which meant that according to their agreement, he would have the opportunity to see the Emerald Tablet the next day. The Emerald Tablet was a foundational text in alchemy, attributed to the pharaoh Hermes, the father of Pharaoh Hermes, Thoth, who also played a significant role in Egyptian mythology and the underworld. Thoth was not only responsible for creating the "Book of the Dead" but was also believed to be the author of the Emerald Tablet.

Evan couldn't help but feel that there might be a connection between these two magical texts.

As he pondered these thoughts, there was a knock at the door. Evan opened it to find Hermione standing there, dressed in pink nightclothes.

"What brings you here, Hermione?" Evan asked. He half-expected her to suggest another late-night stroll like the one they had enjoyed the previous evening. They had spent the entire night chatting in the Great Pyramid, and Evan wouldn't mind doing it again.

"A room with two beds, are you really planning to let Gabrielle and me share a bed?" Hermione said as she entered the room.

"So..." Evan began, a little surprised. Hermione wanted to share a room with him?

"Exactly. I'll be sleeping here, and I want that bed in the inner room," Hermione said unabashedly.

Her heart was pounding, but she maintained a composed exterior. She had been prepared for this moment since knocking on the door.

"You want to share a room with me, and you're not afraid..." Evan started, a grin forming on his face.

"Afraid? I'm not afraid of anything!" Hermione declared, shaking her fist. She wasn't sure if she had understood Evan's words correctly, but she decided to act tough and even looked somewhat aggressive. "From now on, I'll be sleeping here every night. You mustn't make any noise at midnight, no snoring, and no wandering thoughts!"

Evan blinked, caught off guard by Hermione's sudden proposition. He found himself in a dilemma. If he climbed into Hermione's bed at midnight, that would be rather uncouth. On the other hand, if he didn't go, he would be missing out...

"Alright, what about Fleur and Gabrielle?" Evan inquired.

"Gabrielle is probably already asleep, and Fleur hasn't returned yet. Who knows where she's off playing with Bill!" Hermione explained. "It seems that those two have developed quite an attraction to each other. Considering Fleur's temper, if they end up together, Mrs. Weasley will definitely not approve."

Evan nodded, acknowledging the truth in Hermione's words. It wasn't just Mrs. Weasley; even Ron would likely be surprised by the development.

"Alright, I didn't sleep well last night, so I'll rest early tonight," Hermione said, letting out a sigh and looking at Evan with a bright smile before quickly heading to the bathroom and closing the door.

Everything had played out naturally and smoothly. Hermione even leaned her clothes against the doorframe from the inside, then took out a fresh set of clothes and underwear from her bag. Afterward, she stood by the bathroom entrance, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Her face was already flushed bright red.