Unearthing the Past
Prologue
For centuries, mankind's discoveries have granted us glimpses into ancient civilizations and dynasties, hinting at a forgotten history where humans might have once achieved remarkable advancements. Stories of legendary lands have been romanticized and retold, none more so than the tale of Atlantis—a mythical realm believed to be lost to the ocean's depths. Speculation ran wild during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries about Atlantis's possible locations, ranging from Mesopotamia and Africa to the idea that Atlantis was a global phenomenon.
However, in the year 2035, a team of archaeologists made a discovery that would forever rewrite history and alter the trajectory of humanity. As global tensions rose and technological progress stalled, Dr Evelyn Carter and her team uncovered something extraordinary. Dr Carter, an extravagant figure with a ferocious appearance but a bold character, possessed a mind as sharp as a bee's sting. Her expertise in deciphering ancient languages etched into iron, gold, and other stones was unparalleled.
Following a trail left by the Sumerian god Enki, Evelyn and her team embarked on a journey to a distant desert, seeking the legendary twelve Emerald Tablets of Thoth. Their quest led them to an astonishing discovery: the ruins of what appeared to be Atlantis, buried beneath the sands of the Sahara Desert. This remnant of a prehistoric cataclysm, which had shifted continents and buried the ancient city, held only three of the Emerald Tablets among the ruins.
This monumental find would challenge everything we thought we knew about history and humanity, setting the stage for a new era of exploration and understanding.
Chapter 1: Unearthing the Past
The excavation site buzzed with activity as Dr Evelyn Carter and her team meticulously unearthed the remains of a grand city. Massive stone, gold, and bronze structures, intricate carvings, ancient languages, and relics hinted at a civilization far more advanced than previously imagined.
"This is incredible," Dr Carter whispered, brushing sand off a carved tablet. "We're looking at evidence of a lost civilization... one more advanced than our own." She adjusted her rounded glasses over her sky-blue eyes.
Her assistant, Lucas, a short but muscular young man just an inch taller than Dr Carter, peered over her shoulder. "What does it say?" he asked, his voice quick and curious.
Dr Carter's already bulging eyes widened further as she translated the ancient script, running her fingers through her dark brown, jaw-length hair. "It speaks of a great war... a war between the gods."
"The gods?" Lucinda, Dr Carter's second assistant, whispered in shock. She glanced at Lucas, then at their other two colleagues: Kevin Watson, the youngest at twenty, a tall and slender man with light brown skin and curly hair, and Donald Smith, a middle-aged man of average height with dark brown hair and rectangular glasses.
"Could it be that my theory was true?" Kevin's voice cracked, and his bony body shuddered as if touched by a cold breeze. The fear in Dr Carter's eyes became apparent to the whole team, the silence stretching for ten tense seconds.
"We can't know for sure," Dr Carter said, finally breaking the silence. "Remember what I taught you? We can't let our biases and theories masquerade as facts until they've been proven." She continued to read through the ancient script, not meeting Kevin's eyes. Her words comforted him, easing the goosebumps that had crept along his skin. He had reason to be anxious; just days earlier, he had theorized that these deities might return to Earth to finish a war that began thousands of years ago, a war he believed could wipe out humanity.
The team spread out, and soon Lucinda and Lucas discovered a fourth Emerald Tablet. The group gathered around as Dr Carter read aloud the contents:
"For those of you, the Sun of man, the children of light, or the men of darkness who stumble upon the knowledge of the universe. Tis close for children to find truth and become Suns because Light is the essence of Life. The Apep closeted humanity in cages for the soul, so thy father, father of the children of light, unleashed his Suns, Angels, and Allies, and began forth the War for Atlantis 5,000 years before the Great Flood. The Ancestors of Light and the Ancestors of Dark waged this divine battle, only for humans to end it when the beings of the Universe united to put a stopper to the children of Atlantis's death."
"What does it mean?" Donald asked.
"It's just more insight into this war between the gods," Evelyn explained.
"Which gods took part in this war?" Lucinda's curious eyes wandered as she asked.
"I don't know," Evelyn replied. "But we know Thoth and Apep are somehow involved. I still need to differentiate between the Suns of Men, the Children of Light, and the Men of Darkness." She noticed smaller writing in the corner of the Emerald Tablet, dropped to one knee, wiped the sand away, and read:
"Walk deeper within the chambers and discover the Red Stone, but be warned: those whose hearts are weighted will be cursed by the Stone and unable to use its energy."
"Stone?" Lucas muttered. "He—he doesn't mean the Philosopher's Stone, does he, Doctor?" Lucas asked. She closed her eyes and sighed tiredly, rising from her knee.
"Maybe so, but I'm still sceptical of its existence." Evelyn walked behind the Emerald Tablet to reveal a pitch-black path ahead of them, deep into the underground chambers of Atlantis. "The tablet tells us we need to follow the path to reach the Chambers of Alchemora," Dr Carter said. Her crew exchanged rattled looks, a sense of dread and anxiety filling them. Evelyn took a torch from her pocket, and her crew followed her, lighting up the dark tunnel that stretched into the pitch-black abyss beyond.