An Old Friend

Since the arrival of his old friend, Eric, Davian's life has been restless again. Because Eric keeps persuading him. Eric even comes to the school where he teaches. He doesn't stop talking about his plans. Eric asks him to join his search team. Of course, he refuses. Searching for ancient artifacts is his passion but he is self-aware. Now he is useless, especially with his disabled legs. He wants to live quietly with his boring life.

"Are you going to keep rejecting me?" Eric asked as they sat on the edge of the lake. Davian's house is on the edge of the lake and around his house is a forest.

"Can you stop persuading me? My decision is final." Davian drank the can of beer in his hand.

"But you haven't even heard my whole story."

"No need, Eric. My decision won't change."

"But my plan will fail if you refuse. This is worth billions of dollars!"

Davian frowned. He looked at Eric confused. "What do you mean?"

"The businessman will contract my team if you are included. It seems like he knows you and knows your reputation."

"My reputation is ruined."

"But look. He only wants you on my team."

"And you know I'm useless. With my legs like this, I'll just be a burden."

"But we need your knowledge and instincts."

Davian sighed heavily. "I never even use them anymore."

"And now's the time for you to use them again."

"But what if I'm wrong? If my instincts don't work like they used to? The work will be in vain and the rich businessman will just be wasting his money."

"Trust your instincts, buddy. The businessman is willing to do anything to get you to join. He's even willing to prepare everything you need there."

Davian looked thoughtful. Now that was a temptation in itself.

"What are you guys looking for?"

"Wait a minute." Eric opened his bag and took out his tablet. He searched for something there. "Here."

Eric handed the tablet to Davian. Davian studied it seriously.

"An ancient artifact belonging to the businessman's family. An artifact left behind by the Aztecs."

"Mexico."

"Yeah. Don't worry, we won't be doing research and searching for artifacts in one of the pyramids, but deep in the forest. There is a village there. The village is still traditional and many say that the village is the only village left by the Aztec tribe."

"Is that possible?"

"I don't know. I tried to find out about the village, but I didn't get much. They close themselves off from the outside world."

"So according to the businessman... The artifact is in the village?"

"No, but in a cave in the middle of the forest. Close to the village. I have sent my team to see the location directly. They said it was just an ordinary cave. There were no signs of anything. The villagers also said that there were no relics there. Only bears or tigers lived there. That's why I need you and your instincts."

"Maybe the businessman was wrong."

"No, look at this." Eric showed something from his tablet. "This is an ancient map of the Aztec tribe. The businessman managed to make it from the carvings on several pyramids. According to this map, the location is correct."

Davian looked at the map carefully. Every corner and area. Everything Eric said was true, that was the right location.

"That's where Cuetlachtli's artifacts are. Right in that cave."

"Wait, what? Cuetlachtli? Wasn't he found in the Niches pyramid? Is that location close to that pyramid?"

"This is interesting. The location is very far from the pyramid. But... (showing something on his tablet again) this was found in the opposite area of ​​the cave." Eric showed a photo of an artifact. The artifact was round, with several words arranged in a circle, and there was a small circle in the middle. There was one word in the small circle. The other picture was that the artifact was only half.

"This...what is this?"

"This artifact is what the rich businessman was looking for. The other part of the artifact. It is said that the artifact was a large circle and Cuetlachtli split it into two. He put it in a separate place. And the village was in the middle of the artifact. Interestingly? (showing something again) the village and the Niches pyramid form a straight line. This is the pyramid (pointing at his tablet, then shrinking the image on the tablet), and this is the location of the village. Exactly like a straight line. The place where the first artifact was found and the cave are on the right and left of the village. That's not a coincidence, right?"

Davian looked at the pictures again. Merging one image with another. He stared at the image for quite some time.

"They've found one artifact and have tracked the location of the other. Why do they still need me?"

"That's the problem. We never found the other one. There were no signs, carvings, or anything. Nothing."

Davian frowned and looked at the tablet again.

"You're an expert in this field, plus your instincts are amazing."

"But how did that businessman know about me? Who is he?"

"Dalmaro. Dalmaro Osorio."

"Oh no. Of course, he knows me. He used to be my business rival. The difference is he always does everything in his business. They're the mafia."

"I know that."

"And you want me to work for him?" Davian snorted in annoyance. He put Eric's tablet down then stood up and took his cane.

"He's not your enemy anymore, Dav."

"Yeah, right." Davian walked towards his house.

"I'm serious (standing up from his seat) he told me himself. He forgot all the rivalry between you two. Besides, it wasn't him who destroyed your business, it was Alan."

Those words stopped his steps. He heard the bastard's name again.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. But please think about it. This is your chance. Forget about profit, forget about hostility. I know you're looking for artifacts not because of the income but because you like them; it's your passion. For the past."

Davian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay (opens his eyes) I'll think about it."

"Thank you, Dav."

And here he is. In a jungle in Mexico. They had been walking for hours but they had not yet reached the village. They rested many times for Devan.

"Here.. Drink." Eric handed Devian a bottle of drink. Devian took it and drank it.

"They must have been annoyed with me because they stopped so many times along the way." Devian wiped his wet mouth.

"No, they understand. They wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

"Nonetheless."

"I asked our guide, we will arrive at the village in half an hour."

"That's good. We better not delay any longer (looks at the sky) it looks like it's going to rain."

"Are you sure you want to walk again?" Eric asked to confirm.

"Sure (takes his stick and stands up) before your crew curses me because we got rained on the road."

Eric laughed and continued his journey.

They arrived at a gate made of wood. The gate was made with carvings. Davian approached the gate and touched the carvings. The carvings looked very old and similar to the Aztecs.

"So? What do you think?" asked Eric.

"Fascinating."

Eric clapped his hands. "See? I know you'll like it!" Eric was excited. "Come on, let's go into the village."

The group walked another half a mile. In front of the village, several people were gathered . From their facial expressions, they looked serious and angry.

"Is... That our welcome?" Davian asked.

"Uhm.. From the atmosphere, no."

One person approached them.

"Jose, what happened?"

"Excuse me, sir but the villagers kicked us out."

"Evicted? But why? I thought everything was fine."

"I don't know, sir. Carlos is talking to them, now. He trying to convince them."

"Did you do something wrong?" Davian asked. Jose shook his head. "No, sir. I'm sure we didn't do anything wrong."

"That's strange."

Another person approached.

"Sir.."

"So how's Carlos? What's going on?"

"They forbid us from camping in or near the village. Because we're looking for those artifacts." Carlos explained.

"Artifact?"

"They thought we were just looking for artifacts and other treasures but when I showed them the picture of the artifact, they suddenly got angry and kicked us out."

"What's wrong with the artifact? Does it have anything to do with them?"

"I don't know, sir; they didn't tell me."

"Or maybe the artifact has some kind of powers?" Devian guessed

"You seriously believe that kind of thing?" Eric disbelief.

"Just guessing."

"Okay..now what?" asked Eric

"They want us to set up camp far from the village."

"Okay, no problem. We've marked the way to the cave."

"But that's the problem Mr. Collins. They removed and erased all the signs." This time it was Jose who spoke. Eric rubbed his face roughly.

"Okay, okay, calm down. So where did they say we could set up camp?" Davian asked.

"Far from the village. Over there." Carlos pointed to his right. "Near the first dig site."

"That's way too far!!" Eric half-shouted.

"Is there a river?" Davian asked again.

"Sure. The river flows along that area." Jose pointed towards the back of the village.

"Okay, no problem. Let's go there."

"Are you crazy, Dav?! That's so far from the cave!" Eric shouted.

"You haven't changed at all. Always panicking. Calm down. The most important thing now is the river. We have to set up camp near the river. We need water. That's the main thing now. And Jose said the river flows along the village and its surroundings. We can get to the cave by following the river flow, once we're close to the cave, we can find it with the map."

"But it's difficult and it will take a lot of time, Dav!"

"But it's better than nothing. We have to minimize problems with the locals. For our mutual benefit. Besides, that's your purpose in bringing this disabled man like me here, right? To read the map and my instincts."

Eric was still silent. All of his crew were also waiting for his decision.

"We have to leave soon, Eric. It's going to get dark soon. It'll be hard to set up a tent later." Davian said again. Eric took a deep breath.

"Alright." He said finally. "You heard what this gentleman said. Let's go."

They went back through the forest.