Richard woke up with a strange feeling, as if something was watching him. The sunlight filtered through the curtains of his apartment, but it couldn't dispel the unease that had accompanied him all night. He had dreamed of shadows, whispers, and an endless desert, but the details slipped from his mind like sand through his fingers.
He got up heavily, turned on his computer, and, while waiting for it to boot, made himself a cup of coffee. The aroma filled the small apartment, but it didn't calm him. His mind was still trapped in the echo of that name: "Ur-Kigal."
When he returned to his desk, the message was there again, floating on the screen as if it were part of the operating system:
[New mission available]
Objective: Find information about the Book of Ur-Kigal
Time remaining: 72 hours
Reward: Access to the First Level of the System
Richard felt a knot in his stomach. A countdown? This was no longer just an archaeological mystery; now it seemed like a macabre game in which he was trapped without understanding the rules.
"What the hell does this mean?" he murmured, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
The message seemed to mock him with its immutability. He tried to close it, interact with it, but nothing worked. It was as if the system knew he had no choice but to obey.
---
He decided he couldn't waste any more time. He checked his phone and saw a message from his professor:
*"I spoke with my colleague, Dr. Marcus Henshaw. He's willing to talk to you. Here's his contact. Good luck."*
Richard didn't waste a second. He dialed the number, and after a few rings, a deep and measured voice answered on the other end.
"Richard Wonder? This is Marcus Henshaw. The professor told me about you."
Marcus's voice had an authoritative tone but also an underlying curiosity, as if he were evaluating Richard from the first moment.
"Yes, thank you for taking my call, doctor. I'm very interested in the texts my professor mentioned, especially the 'Book of Ur-Kigal.'"
There was a brief silence before Marcus responded.
"It's curious that you mention that name. It's not something that appears explicitly in the texts, but some symbols and patterns seem to allude to a 'Realm of Kigal.' It's a term that doesn't fit into any known chronology."
Richard felt his heart race.
"Could you send me more information?"
"I will, but I must warn you about something. These texts… have something strange about them. Some of my colleagues have reported disturbing dreams after studying them. And the site where they were found has been the scene of… unusual events."
"What kind of events?" Richard asked, a chill running down his spine.
"Accidents, disappearances. Nothing that can be easily explained. But if you're willing to investigate, I'm organizing an expedition to the site. You could join us."
The idea of going to the site both excited and terrified him. Richard hesitated for a moment, but he knew he couldn't pass up the opportunity.
"I'll join."
Marcus paused before responding, as if measuring Richard's determination.
"Very well. I'll send you the details soon. Be prepared; it won't be an easy journey."
---
While waiting for the expedition details, Richard decided to return to the university library. Something was bothering him: the feeling that he was missing something important.
The library was quiet, with only a few students scattered among the tables. The sound of turning pages and the faint hum of the lamps created an almost hypnotic atmosphere. Richard headed to the ancient history section and began scanning the shelves.
After a while, he found a dusty book in a forgotten corner. The title was barely legible: *"Myths and Lost Kingdoms of Mesopotamia."*
He sat at a nearby table and began flipping through it. The pages were yellowed, with notes in the margins written in tight handwriting. In one of the chapters, he found a vague reference to a "Realm of Kigal," described as a place between the world of the living and the dead. According to the text, it was a domain ruled by an unknown entity, mentioned only as "The Guardian."
The text spoke of a bridge between worlds, a place where wandering souls could become trapped. Richard felt a chill. Could "Ur-Kigal" be a reference to this realm?
---
While studying the book, something strange happened. The library lights flickered, and for a moment, Richard felt the air around him grow heavier. He closed his eyes, and suddenly, he had a vision: a desert landscape with ancient ruins.
The sky was a deep red, and the wind carried a dark dust that seemed to whisper incomprehensible words. In the center of the ruins, a hooded figure watched him. Although he couldn't see its face, Richard felt it calling his name.
The vision disappeared as quickly as it had come. Richard opened his eyes, gasping, and looked around. No one seemed to have noticed anything.
"What's happening to me?" he whispered, his hands trembling.
---
That night, Richard decided he couldn't face this alone anymore. He met with his friends at the café and, after hesitating for a moment, told them part of what was happening.
"A lost book? Strange symbols?" Jake asked with an incredulous smile. "Sounds like the start of a horror movie."
"Jake, this is serious," Emily interjected, frowning. "Richard wouldn't make something like this up."
"And what do you plan to do?" Elliot asked, intrigued. "Keep investigating?"
"I'm going to join an expedition to the site where the texts were found," Richard replied.
Emily looked at him with concern.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? It sounds dangerous."
"I don't have a choice. I need answers."
Elliot nodded slowly.
"If you need help with anything, like searching for information in more advanced databases, let me know."
Richard appreciated his friends' support, though he knew he couldn't tell them everything. The system, the visions… they were things he still couldn't explain or understand.
---
That night, while reviewing his notes, the system activated again. This time, it presented him with a riddle:
[Solve the following symbol: What does the spiral surrounded by eyes represent?]
Richard spent hours trying to decipher it, poring over books and notes. Finally, he remembered something from the book he had found in the library: the spiral was a symbol of transition, a bridge between two worlds.
When he entered the answer, the system responded:
[Correct. Reward unlocked: Fragment of Knowledge.]
Suddenly, Richard had another vision, but this time it was clearer. He saw a man writing on a clay tablet, surrounded by shadows whispering incomprehensible words. The man seemed terrified but continued writing.
When the vision ended, Richard collapsed into his chair, exhausted. He knew he was closer to the truth, but also that the path he had chosen would become increasingly dangerous.
The system's clock kept ticking.
Time remaining: 48 hours.