> The man of mystery, a shadowy friend indeed Who he truly is, still shrouded in mystery Will he be a friend or will he be a foe Strong or weak, only time will show But one thing is certain, he'll surely lend a hand And his help may prove crucial to the nomad's stand

The Chronotex of generations

Jack and Ayman had spent the night at the old man's house, but when Jack woke up the next morning, he noticed that Ayman was nowhere to be found. Jack became worried and shared his concerns with the old man.

"Have you seen Ayman?" Jack asked the old man, his voice filled with concern.

The old man shook his head. "No, I haven't seen him this morning."

Jack's worry increased. "Do you have any idea where he could have gone?"

The old man paused for a moment before replying. "I think Ayman mentioned something about army training. Maybe he went there."

Jack's concern turned into confusion. "Why would he go to army training without telling us?"

The old man shrugged. "I don't know. But let's go to his house and see if we can find him there."

Jack and the old man quickly got dressed and headed out to Ayman's house. As they walked through the winding streets, Jack's mind was racing with worry and fear. He wondered what could have happened to his friend and felt a knot forming in his stomach. The old man, on the other hand, walked steadily beside him, his face calm and composed.

They arrived at Ayman's house to find the front door wide open and the interior in disarray. Jack gasped as he surveyed the scene, realizing that something terrible had occurred.

"What could have happened here?" Jack asked, his voice trembling.

"We need to search for any signs of Ayman," the old man said, his tone firm.

As they moved through the house, they found a bloodstained note on a brick wall. Jack's heart sank as he read the message aloud: "If you want this kid, come to Theban Necropolis tomorrow at sunrise."

"What does this mean?" Jack asked, his voice shaking.

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"It means that Ayman has been taken by The Anubis and his commanders," the old man said gravely. "We have to save him."

Jack felt a mix of fear and determination wash over him. "We have to do whatever it takes to rescue Ayman," he declared.

The old man nodded in agreement. "But we must be careful. The Anubis and his men are dangerous."

As they made their way back to the old man's house, Jack couldn't help but think of Ayman and their recent chats they had together. He recalled the determination and passion that Ayman had shown, and how he had told Jack about his dream of becoming the strongest warrior in Egypt.

"Why didn't you save him like you saved me from The Anubis?" Jack asked the old man, his anger simmering.

"The old man," said calmly, "You see, it isn't that easy, Jack. I couldn't..."

"But why?" Jack interrupted, his voice shaking with emotion.

"He was like a grandson to you, wasn't he?"

"Yes, but I know he can handle himself? Plus, I couldn’t do anything it was his own choice to leave I am worried too?" The old man explained.

"I don't care about that. You should have done something," Jack said, feeling frustrated and helpless.

"Jack, the only reason I didn't save him is so that you could be safe," the old man revealed, causing Jack to furrow his brow in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked.

"Follow me," the old man said, standing up from his chair and walking towards the bookshelf. Jack followed him, still confused.

As the old man opened a book, he put his hand inside and took out something that left Jack speechless. "Wait a minute, how did you..."

As Jack looked at the old man, he couldn't help but notice the glowing object in his hand. It was the CHRONOTEX, the very artifact that brought him back in time. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"How did you get that?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder and confusion.

The old man looked at him with a solemn expression. "This CHRONOTEX is a natural object. It has been passed down through generations of my family, and I am its current caretaker.

"Yes, it is a powerful tool, capable of manipulating time itself. It is said that those who possess it can travel through time and space, and even alter the course of history."

Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. “So it was real all along the CHRONOTEX does have these powers”. "But why did it bring me here?" he asked, still struggling to comprehend it all.

The old man looked at him with a twinkle in his eye. "That, my dear boy, is a mystery. Perhaps you were meant to be here, to play a role in this world that only you can fulfil."

The old man paused, allowing Jack to digest his words. Jack stared at him, his mind racing with questions. Before he could even speak, the old man continued. "You see, the CHRONOTEX is not easily obtained. It's a natural resource, found deep underground. It's incredibly rare, and those who possess it have great power."

"But you, Jack, are different," the old man said, his voice rising with excitement. "You possess the power within you."

Jack blinked in surprise, confused. "What do you mean?" he asked, barely above a whisper.

The old man looked at Jack, his eyes focused and serious. "To use the power of the CHRONOTEX, it needs to be close to you. But for you, it's different. Remember what you did back at the shop? The strange power coming out of your body? It was none other than the power of the CHRONOTEX."

Jack sat back, stunned, wondering when he had gained this power.

"How do I use this power if I have it?" Jack asked.

"It takes time and training, Jack," the old man replied. "But we don't have time right now. We must save Ayman from those bandits, and I happen to know the right man for the job".

The next morning before sunrise

The old man mounted his horse, a sturdy brown mare with a white blaze on its forehead. He adjusted the reins and turned to Jack, handing him a sword. It had a well-crafted hilt with intricate patterns etched into the metal.

"This sword should help you fight them," he said, as he handed it to Jack. "Remember, Jack, you just need to buy time for me so I can bring that man with me."

Jack examined the sword, feeling its weight and balance. "Thank you" he said, nodding in agreement. "I'll do my best to hold them off."

As Jack set out on his horse towards the Theban Necropolis, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread and anticipation. He had never been in a real fight before; he was hardly taught any combat from the new order. He was only taught knowledge; he couldn't even aim properly in training, let alone wield a sword.

"I wonder how this power works," Jack muttered to himself.