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The Ether of Dreams: Between Gods and Shadows
Chapter 43: The Pyramids of Knowledge with Thoth

Chapter 43: The Pyramids of Knowledge with Thoth

The air above the Egyptian desert vibrated with a dry heat as the protagonists approached the imposing Pyramids of Giza. These colossal structures rose toward the sky, silent reminders of a civilization far older and more powerful than any other kingdom could imagine. The pyramids, which once seemed like mere tombs for pharaohs, now exuded a mystical aura, as if they held secrets far deeper than anyone could have anticipated.

Khepri accompanied them, as usual, but even he seemed somewhat intimidated by the magnitude of the pyramids. The sound of the wind brushing against the sand was the only thing that broke the solemn silence of the place. The smooth walls of the pyramids seemed to be covered by an invisible layer of energy, pulsing with the rhythm of an ancient heart, connecting the past with the present.

—This is the heart of Egypt's knowledge —Khepri said, his voice reverberating among the stones—. These pyramids are not just tombs for the kings of old. They are much more.

At that moment, a figure emerged from the shadows. A tall, slender being with the head of an ibis protruding above its human body walked with serene grace. Its eyes, piercing and wise, radiated an aura of understanding. It was Thoth, the semi-human god of wisdom and writing, the guardian of the world’s oldest knowledge.

—Welcome to the House of Knowledge —Thoth announced with a calm but powerful voice—. The pyramids are much more than simple tombs. Here, the accumulated wisdom of millennia is stored, from the origin of life to the final destiny of souls.

The protagonists felt a chill run down their spines at those words. Thoth walked ahead of them and, with a fluid gesture of his hand, caused a hidden door in the largest pyramid to open. The entrance, previously invisible, now glowed with a soft blue light, as if made of pure energy.

—Come in —Thoth invited them—. Enter and learn what only those who seek with wisdom can find.

Inside the pyramid, the protagonists were met with a surprisingly cool and serene atmosphere, in stark contrast to the scorching desert heat outside. The interior was not adorned with the usual hieroglyphs they had expected to find on the walls of an Egyptian tomb. Instead, the walls were covered with magical inscriptions that flowed and shifted before their eyes, as if they were alive.

—These inscriptions are not written in stone —Thoth explained, noticing the protagonists’ fascination—. They are written in mana itself. These magical formulas contain the secrets of the universe, of creation, and of death. Here lie the answers to the questions humanity has sought since its origin.

The protagonists walked through the hallways illuminated by a bluish light, becoming more aware with each step of the importance of what they were witnessing. The walls glowed with symbols they couldn’t fully understand, but they felt that these held fundamental truths about existence itself.

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They arrived at a vast chamber, at the center of which stood a large stone altar surrounded by pillars that seemed to connect to the stars above. On the altar, floating in the air, was a set of stone tablets slowly rotating in a circle, illuminated by a mystical energy.

Thoth approached the altar and, with a movement of his hand, made the tablets stop spinning.

—These tablets contain the secrets of life and death —said Thoth, looking at the protagonists with his deep, wise eyes—. Here lies the knowledge that all who seek the truth must understand. Death is not the end. It is merely the next step in the cycle of existence. Those who fear death will never fully understand life.

One of the protagonists, intrigued, stepped closer to examine the tablets. Each tablet seemed to be inscribed with ancient symbols, but they couldn’t decipher them.

—What do they say? —the protagonist asked, his voice filled with awe.

—They are ancient formulas —Thoth replied—. Formulas that reveal how the energy of mana intertwines with life and death. Here, you will learn that brute strength may conquer mortals, but knowledge can conquer time and destiny. Those who seek power without wisdom are doomed to ruin. Only those who master both will be able to open the doors to the Realm of the Dead.

The protagonists looked at Thoth in awe and reverence. They realized that the pyramids were not just funerary monuments, but centers of power that contained the deepest answers of the universe. Thoth, as the guardian of this knowledge, offered them an invaluable opportunity: to learn what only a few privileged had ever come to understand.

—To advance toward the Realm of the Dead, you will need more than physical strength —Thoth warned—. You will need wisdom. Knowledge will open doors that would otherwise remain closed. The answers to the great questions of life and death are here, in these pyramids, in these tablets, and within yourselves.

Thoth lifted one of the tablets and handed it to one of the protagonists. Upon touching it, they felt a current of energy flow through their body, a deep understanding that was not immediate but that began to take shape in their mind.

—Each of you must seek your own path to wisdom —Thoth continued—. Strength will take you far, but knowledge will allow you to survive where strength alone cannot. The true battle is not fought with hands, but with the mind.

The silence in the chamber was absolute. Thoth's words resonated in the hearts and minds of the protagonists. They understood that what they had learned so far was not enough. To face the challenges that lay ahead, they would have to delve deep into the mysteries of the universe and the secrets the pyramids concealed.

—This is just the beginning —Thoth said—. In the coming hours, you will learn things that will change your perception of life and death forever. But remember: knowledge has a price, and not all are prepared to pay it.

With those words, Thoth left them standing before the altar, where the tablets continued their magical dance. The protagonists knew that what lay ahead would be a test of their ability not only to learn, but to understand and apply that knowledge on the path toward the Realm of the Dead.