Alexandria Port, Egypt 7 A.M.

A sturdy, medium-sized ship sat anchored in Alexandria Port. The ship was called Tutela, which meant "protection" or "guardianship."

Ryan stood on the dock with his belongings besides his feet. He surveyed the scene around him. The harbor was bustling with the activity of workers hurriedly unloading and loading cargo onto and off the docked ships. Their shouts and laughter were loud, mixed with the occasional sound of seagulls.

Ryan turned to find Dr. Hassan, the leader of the expedition that Ryan joined this time, greeting him with a big smile. The doctor's bald head glistened in the morning sunlight. His neatly trimmed beard and brown eyes looked warm. He was wearing a dark gray suit that didn't really suit the current hot weather.

"Good morning, Doctor," Ryan replied with a respectful smile. He took Dr. Hassan's hand and shook it.

Dr. Hasan's eyes lit up as he surveyed the bustling harbor around them. He spotted some of his expedition staff and waved to them. Then he asked Ryan with a mischievous smile on his face, "Ready for The Valley of The Kings?"

"Of course," Ryan said enthusiastically. "The equipment is being unloaded from the ship. We'll be ready to go in an hour."

Dr. Hasan's face lit up at Ryan's words. "That's great! Let's recharge with some local cuisine," he said with a mischievous smile still on his face.

Ryan chuckled. He knew that Dr. Hassan had a hearty appetite, in contrast to his small and slender frame.

"Of course. We can ask Beatrice to bring us our original travel documents and excavation permits while we eat," Ryan added.

Dr. Hassan nodded enthusiastically. "That's great! I can't wait to eat the local food. It's been a long time since I've had shawarma," he said, rubbing his hands together in front of his chest.

They then walked along the chaotic docks of Alexandria Port. Porters and merchants rushed to them, shouting offers of luggage or offering their wares. The two politely declined, and nimbly navigated the crowded, labyrinthine alleys. They had already decided where they would have breakfast and had a clear idea of ​​where they should go.

They finally arrived at a small, relaxed cafe with few people eating. The sound of light jazz music filled the cafe, and a delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen.

They ordered shawarma (a delicious lamb sandwich), and umm ali (a sweet pastry). They also ordered ahwa (a strong Egyptian coffee).

Beatrice arrived shortly after. Wearing a white floral dress and her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, she greeted Dr. Hassan and Ryan with a big smile.

"Good morning, everyone. How are you all?"

Dr. Hassan motioned for Beatrice to sit down in one of the empty chairs at their table. "Please sit down. We're discussing logistics today."

Beatrice sat down and took a sip of her ahwa coffee. "Can we finish the paperwork handover now?" she asked.

Ryan nodded and said, "Equipment check, transportation—"

"And confirming KV5 security clearance," Dr. Hassan added solemnly.

Beatrice nodded as she took notes. "The equipment has been packed and is available at the villa. All transportation arrangements have been made. Security clearance has also been granted. Anything else?"

Dr. Hassan smiled in satisfaction and leaned back in his chair, he said. "That's it. Thank you, Beatrice."

Beatrice, still smiling, stood up. "Everything is ready. We will meet at the location in a few days. May you have a safe journey today!"

Ryan and Dr. Hassan smiled. "See you later."

Then Beatrice left the two of them to finish their breakfast. People had started to arrive at the cafe for breakfast. The cafe was starting to get crowded.

Dr. Hassan and Ryan exchanged glances after Beatrice left. They both knew and realized that without Beatrice, the entire team would be in disarray. Her efficiency was crucial for their excavation to run smoothly.

***

An hour and a half later they set off in a convoy of five vans and two double-cab trucks. The journey would take eight to ten hours south, 674 kilometers from the Port of Alexandria.

They cruised along the Desert Road, an alternative route from Alexandria Port to The Valley of The Kings.

Golden sunlight shone on the dunes stretching along the way, creating shadows under the slightly cloudy sky.

Ryan gazed at the scenery along the road with nostalgia. He had traveled this route three years ago as a volunteer member of the archive team, studying ancient tombs in The Valley of The Kings. He remembered documenting the hieroglyphs in the magnificent tomb of Tutankhamun. And the thrill when his team managed to uncover a secret chamber in the burial site of Pharaoh Horemheb.

He began to feel sleepy after two hours of the journey and fell asleep.

***

Luxor city

Night had begun to fall when they arrived at the private villas at Luxor city, that were specifically rented for the team's accommodation. This location was chosen because it was not too far from KV5, which the team would be excavating. Vehicles rotated between the rented villas, dropping off the team members and their equipment.

Ryan entered his room. The room was not large, with a single bed, a set of tables and chairs, and a wardrobe. There was also a private bathroom inside.

He then unpacked his belongings which were not that many, mostly research papers, especially hieroglyph translations because Ryan was now working as a translator. Not long after, his belongings were neatly arranged.

He opened the layout of KV5 on his bed and memorized every detail, then sat down beside the bed.

Looking out his bedroom window, he saw dark clouds gathering around KV5. The presence of these clouds was unusual for winter and made him worried. Winter in Egypt is around 10°C to 20°C. But now the air felt very humid, contrary to the weather forecast.

Ryan then ignored his worries and walked out of the room to the dining room. The room was already filled with team members and the delicious aroma of Merir's cooking wafted throughout the room.

He greeted his colleagues and shook hands.

When the dinner was over, the team members began to disperse. Ryan felt satisfied. He returned to his room, where he carefully sorted his notes and diagrams before checking messages from his hangout buddies.

Once everything was done, he immersed himself in "Ancient Egyptian History." As the clock struck 11 p.m., Ryan marked his page and closed the book. He turned off the lights, letting the soft moonlight illuminate the room.

With a contented sigh, Ryan fell asleep peacefully.