Invention glimpsed from a future time, A car appears, a hint sublime. Amidst the war, it takes its place, Unveiling paths in this unknown space.
What will occur, who will they greet, Faces familiar or yet to meet? Time sways in the wind's gentle play, Despair awaits, but many chapters away.
The Invention from the future...
"So how are we going to build this car thing, Jack?" asked Ramon, scratching his head in curiosity.
Jack, examining a piece of papyrus paper to check if everything had arrived, replied, "Well, don't worry, I'll try. It's a first for me as well."
Kasib, carrying wooden plates, jokingly added, "Yeah, that definitely boosts our confidence."
Kamil, holding long strings of copper wire, scolded Kasib, saying, "Don't bother him. Let him do his thing, Kasib."
"Okay, I think everything is here, so let's begin!" shouted Khonsu as he brought in the final piece of thick wood.
The group gathered in the training ground area, cluttered with equipment for building the car—wood, copper, various metals, and sand-covered ground.
"Alright, let's start," Jack said, infused with energy.
"First, we need to collect copper wire, magnets like lodestone, and wooden components for the motor's frame," Jack commanded.
The team began winding the copper wire and bringing the wooden frames closer to the workstation to start assembling.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1101876105243279463/1178657433242050580/image.png?ex=6576f146&is=65647c46&hm=f88e9a427d488c47c1090c38a65551680769c61fc123203c2b0264581b58d354&]
"Now, after finishing with the copper wire, we'll be attaching magnets to a wooden piece, forming a simple magnetic field," explained Jack, wiping the sweat off his face.
"I've finished with the wire!" Ramon shouted, rising from where he was working on the copper.
The sun had risen high, casting its warm rays across the field, causing the group to break a sweat. Despite the heat, they continued their work.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1101876105243279463/1178657610677895188/image.png?ex=6576f170&is=65647c70&hm=da53c8e98f67ad26948122fb7bae738cd854cdaa9571d1a6e4c43fa3966edefa&]
Commander Menes strode onto the field with a group of soldiers. "Do you need any help, kids?" he inquired.
Jack, placing a piece of wood with magnets on the ground, replied confidently, "No, we're good for now. But when we need the thick wooden pieces, we'll give you a shout."
Intrigued, Menes asked, "What's this contraption you're working on?"
Jack explained, "It's a simple model. We should finish it by the end of the day. I've got the plan in my head, so it won't take long."
"Alright, if you need more materials or assistance, just let me know," Menes offered before walking away.
"Finished, Jack! The four blocks of wood now have magnets attached to them. What's next?" Kasib asked eagerly.
"Okay, now we need to remove the wheels from the carriage. We require four, so the two larger carriages must be dismantled," Jack explained, outlining the next step.
"Don't worry. I'll bring them in about 15 minutes," Khonsu assured Jack as he headed towards the carriage house.
"While he's getting the wheels, we'll need to connect the copper wire to the conducting metal pieces – the magnets. Let's get started," Jack instructed.
"Where's that copper wire?" Ramon muttered, searching for it.
"Got it!" he called out.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
"Alright, let's begin," Kasib said, breathing heavily.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1101876105243279463/1178657787237126204/image.png?ex=6576f19a&is=65647c9a&hm=eb1ec29d3c35c006c2763384630b2626723ee2ad843b51aa7bc1f6939cf8e750&]
The team meticulously connected the copper to the wood, ensuring everything was precisely in place. Meanwhile, Khonsu arrived with the four wheels as Jack had requested.
"Here they are, Jack," Khonsu reminded him, placing the substantial wheels on the ground.
Impressed, Jack remarked, "You're strong to bring all four of them here."
"No, I got some help," Khonsu replied.
Jack looked up and noticed Alfonse carrying the other two wheels, with Seraphina Aurelia, Alfonse's sister, by their side.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1101876105243279463/1178657787589427200/image.png?ex=6576f19a&is=65647c9a&hm=cc0ae67bcdd77e71bfe807ab36697000d7ee6733e58a818b3e4ad547525f01df&]
"Hey, guys! I thought you might be hungry, so I brought some food for us," Seraphina said sweetly, pointing at the bucket she held.
"Great!" exclaimed Ramon, eagerly running towards her. "Let's start eating; my stomach is rumbling."
"Alright, bring the table over, and I'll set up the food," Seraphina kindly instructed Ramon and the rest of the group.
Near the top of the palace, there was a balcony that offered a sweeping view of the city, extending over the grounds where the group was constructing their car.
A woman stepped onto the balcony from an open door, clad in light clothing to combat the heat but adorned with golden accessories. She was Queen Nefetari, and her gaze lingered on Jack and the rest of the group as they laughed and chatted. Jack, unknowingly, looked up, meeting her sharp eyes directly, causing a momentary pause. Both froze, and the reflections of their surprise danced in each other's widened brown eyes.
As the group continued with their chatter, oblivious to the silent exchange, Jack and Nefetari held their gaze. Suddenly, Nefetari, startled or scared, averted her eyes, hurriedly stepping back inside and closing the door with a loud thud, trying to appear composed.
However, behind the closed door, she couldn't shake off a feeling of unease. Her breath grew heavy, her brow damp with sweat. It wasn't just Jack that she had seen. There was something else, something uncanny, something not human—a spectre unlike any she had ever encountered, a presence that sent shivers down her spine.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1101876105243279463/1178782016389513288/image.png?ex=6577654d&is=6564f04d&hm=593042150e5731a44773dacf2f80496837294cc6a35b9f32bcc36fdd7a624b8c&]
It was as if she had seen a ghost—a ghost which did not resemble a human, unlike the ones she usually sees.
Its eyes scared her.
Jack approached Ramon and inquired, "Ramon, where is Pharaoh Ramses II?"
Ramon, finishing an apple, replied, "Who? Do you mean Queen Nefetari?"
Confused by Ramon's response, Jack repeated, "I'm asking about the husband of Queen Nefetari, Pharaoh Ramses II."
"What are you talking about?" Kamil interjected, having heard the conversation. "The queen isn't married, and there's no one named Ramses that any of us know of."
Jack, puzzled, delved further, "Who was the ruler before Nefetari?"
Kamil responded promptly, "Pharaoh Horus."
"But that's not what I was told," Jack muttered, stopping abruptly to avoid revealing more.
Concerned by Jack's unease, Alfonse pressed, "What are you hiding, Jack?"
Stuck in an awkward position, Jack glanced at Ramon and Kamil for assistance. They intervened, telling Alfonse not to worry, attributing Jack's confusion to being from outside of Egypt.
Accepting their explanation, Alfonse dropped the topic, ending the discussion. Seraphina, offering some sweets she made, distributed them among the group, trying to lighten the mood.
"Let's multitask and eat while we work," Khonsu proposed.
"Fine by me!" Kasib shouted, returning to organizing car parts.
Kamil and Jack agreed and resumed their work on the car.
Meanwhile, Ramon, still eating, felt slightly embarrassed but joined the others in working and eating simultaneously.
Amused by Ramon's predicament, Alfonse chuckled and offered his help. The group declined for the moment, assuring him they'd ask if they needed assistance.
"Okay then, catch you later," Alfonse waved as he walked away with Seraphina.
Jack and the team busily assembled the motor, its final form taking shape. Kasib, overwhelmed by the complexity of the task, marvelled, "This is more than I could handle alone. You know a lot, Jack."
Jack responded, "There's just a bit more left for the motor, and then the frame. It should be completed soon."
"Let's finish it!" Khonsu encouraged, the group echoing his enthusiasm.
As they connected the motor's terminal to the circuit, Jack asked Khonsu to use his Chronotex to test the motor's movement with his electricity abilities.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1101876105243279463/1178781423247839262/image.png?ex=657764c0&is=6564efc0&hm=ca28e5df5beb8b525553465bc98846530396fa8546b7fa3ad5dfd45076f3896c&]
"Can you hold these wires?" Jack handed Khonsu two copper wires to grasp firmly. "Ready, set, go! Charge!" Jack shouted.
"Lightning Bolt!" Khonsu responded, generating electricity. His hair stood on end as the charge flowed to the motor, gradually causing the wheel attached to it to spin. The wheel holder lifted it about half a meter from the ground.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1101876105243279463/1178781423642095627/image.png?ex=657764c0&is=6564efc0&hm=2382e0abbb95cb767ce537808d8f017c709add538531f2b994f47ac064fed412&]
The wheel spun rapidly, reaching a speed of about 30 miles per hour. "Yes, we did it! The wheel spins and works with Khonsu's power. Now, all we need to do is attach the other wheels and make the frame," Jack exclaimed with excitement.
"Finally, we're nearly there," Ramon sighed, feeling tired as the sun gradually descended, calming the day's heat. It was around 5 PM, signalling the approach of dusk.
The group had successfully mounted all four tires onto the holders, elevating them about half a meter above the ground. The holders were crafted from sturdy, light brown wood.
Observing the tires, Jack appeared somewhat unimpressed, prompting Kamil to inquire, "What's the matter? Is something wrong?"
Jack replied, "Yes and no. The tires are good, but I don't think they'll last long in Egypt. I was hoping for something more reliable. Otherwise, we'll end up changing tires after short and few journeys."
Curious, Kasib asked, "What are you looking for?"
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1101876105243279463/1178781424187342948/image.png?ex=657764c0&is=6564efc0&hm=80b3b3065733d75bde8040acaed5691709fce374a11efa24b47333d9a122f9a8&]
"I mean, the tires in our time were made of black tar, thick rubber material with zigzag lines. They were filled with highly pressurized air. Also, the suspension had a spring that helped absorb shock. But for our car, we'd need more equipment that we don't have access to," explained Jack.
Ramon, struck by an idea, suddenly exclaimed, "I know! What if we use tree sap or resins to coat the tires first, then wrap them in thick sheets of tightly stitched leather on both sides? We can add clay inside the two layers to make it softer. The sap will make it stick, the leather could act like the rubber Jack mentioned, and the clay could replace the air. As the air would escape from the stitching, we could easily replace the leather with the clay, which would be more manageable."
"Sounds good to me!" agreed Kamil.
"That could work," acknowledged Jack, giving the idea his approval.
"I can get the clay from some guys I know," offered Kasib.
"I'll bring leather sheets from the sellers I know. How many do we need?" asked Khonsu.
"We'll need about ten sheets to start with, just to test the idea," Jack replied. "And for stitching, we can go to Madam Farida at the orphanage; she's the best at it."
"Alright, then. Let's do it," encouraged Jack, endorsing the plan.