The Long Lost Sky

“Okay Students, all get ready for the epic pyramid exploration!” said the homeroom teacher.

Everyone was excited and began to respond with joy loudly, their chatter and laughter echoing through the hallway.

Then the teacher raised a hand to stop them. “But you must not wander on your own no matter what. You all will have a personal guide for your group of five. So, listen carefully to what they say. Got that?”

Everyone said, “Yes sir!” altogether, their voices a mixture of eagerness and anticipation.

“Then get onto your buses, and you’ll be taken to your destinations. The guides are assigned there with your group number so that no chaos occurs.”

Sora and her friends got onto the bus right after. The interior smelled faintly of leather and polished wood, the seats neatly arranged, each marked with a small group number.

Sora’s eyes sparkled as she glanced around and leaned slightly toward Lily, who was seated beside her. “Ahh… I can’t wait to go inside the pyramids and see them with my own eyes. It’s so thrilling!”

Lily, despite being shy, nodded her head gently and said, “Hmm… me too.”

Soon after, they arrived at Giza. Everyone got off from their buses and quickly found their guides, each wearing a badge with the number matching the students’ assigned groups. The system was neat and organized, so it didn’t cause much commotion.

But then something unexpected happened.

Sora and her friends couldn’t find the guide with their group number—08.

They searched around for a while, splitting up to cover more ground, but no matter where they looked, they couldn’t find anyone wearing their number. Finally, after nearly searching everywhere, they all gathered together again, their faces tense with worry.

“Sora, did you see our guide? I couldn’t find him anywhere. I almost searched the whole place,” said Yuri, frustration in her voice.

“No… I also couldn’t find ours,” Sora replied, disappointment written across her face. She turned toward the others. “What about you three?”

The remaining members shook their heads silently.

Anxious silence settled over the group.

“What do we do now then?” Yoshino asked, looking at Sora as if she would know the answer.

Sora didn’t respond immediately. She glanced at Lily, whose face had grown pale, her eyes shimmering as if tears would spill at any moment. Reaching out gently, Sora placed her hand on Lily’s head and gave a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry, Lily. Come on, let’s tell our teacher about it. He’ll surely do something.”

They then went to their homeroom teacher, who was standing beside the buses, about to leave. Suddenly, a shout rang from behind.

“Hazakura-sensei! Wait!”

He turned back, confused, to see Sora and the others running toward him. The heat had clearly taken a toll on them; they were faint and exhausted as they approached.

“Sensei… wait…” Yuri gasped, her voice weak and wavering from exhaustion.

Hazakura-sensei looked at her with concern. “What happened? Why are you all here? Don’t you have a pyramid exploration to do?”

“…About that, Sensei… we came to talk to you regarding that…” Yuri managed to say, though she was still a bit faint. She then explained the entire situation.

Sensei’s eyes widened slightly, a mix of shock and worry crossing his face.

“You guys really searched everywhere and couldn’t find him?”

Everyone nodded in unison.

“I see… this is really worrying. Without your guide, you won’t be able to enter the pyramids…”

“Sensei, can’t you do anything about it?” Sora asked, her face full of concern and worry.

Hazakura-sensei nodded, already pulling out his phone. “Okay, let me contact the Legacy authorities.”

A small flicker of hope lit the girls’ faces. Sensei called the authorities and explained the situation. After a while, he received a response, putting down the phone with a heavy sigh.

“Okay, I got the news. It seems the one assigned to be your guide fell ill this morning, so he can’t come. You’ll be appointed a new guide, but that won’t be until the day after tomorrow. For now… you have no choice but to return to the hotel.”

Hearing that, the girls’ faces, which had briefly lit up, fell back into gloom.

Sensei gave them a small, reassuring smile. “Hey, I know it sucks… but you have to accept it. You can’t change it, right? Fate has a way of shifting unexpectedly.”

“Fate… huh? That’s been haunting me for the last five years…” Sora murmured softly to herself.

“Did you say something, Sora?” Sensei asked, noticing her tone.

Startled, she quickly laughed to hide her thoughts. “Oh… no, I was just talking to myself… Haha.”

“Anyway… you guys coming with me to the hotel? I was heading there for some work myself.”

They nodded and boarded the bus, each of them nursing a broken heart as they returned to the hotel, disappointed that their long-awaited adventure had been delayed.

Outskirts of Giza —

[200m from a Bedouin settlement]

I was in my tent, trying to sleep, listening to the flickering of the campfire outside. It was there to keep mosquitoes and other deadly insects away. Yet no matter how much I tried, there was no trace of sleep in my eyes. It wasn’t that I was deprived — I just didn’t want to fall asleep. Not with the nightmares waiting for me. The memories of my past… horrific enough that even the thought of reliving them made me avoid sleep altogether.

People think I’ve achieved something grand in just a year — exploring pyramids on my own, earning respect. They call me trustworthy, even a genius, and they try to give me work. I usually refuse, unless it spares me from attention and people. But a thought always lingers: would they still call me trustworthy if they knew the truth about my past?

The thought clouded my head until drowsiness finally crept in. Then — a knock on my tent. A style I instantly recognized as Bedouin. I frowned.

What do they want from me at this late hour? Especially since I live apart, nearly a quarter kilometer away from them.

Unzipping the tent, I found an elderly man standing there. He greeted me with his hand, and I returned the gesture. Without a word, he extended an envelope toward me. I took it, still confused, and he turned back into the desert night.

“What was his deal? Handing me a suspicious envelope at this hour?”

I kept thinking of possibilities, but then realized the obvious — I could just open it. Still, the exhaustion weighed heavier now. For the first time in a long while, sleep called me. So I placed the envelope aside.

I would open it tomorrow.

But it seemed like sleep had suddenly fled, just like that elderly man in the desert had vanished. I kept staring at the envelope in the shadow of the campfire light outside my tent. It felt like the envelope was the reason behind my sudden insomnia. I couldn’t just stare at it like that for the whole night.

I got up from where I had been lying, took the envelope in my hand, and stepped outside my tent, beside the flickering fire. I tore it open carefully. Inside, I found a notice from the Egyptian Archaeology Association. It was a direct, official notice addressed to me. I was confused, and yet a part of me felt… intrigued.

I began to read the notice, my eyes scanning each line.

“Egyptian Archaeology Association

Official Notice – Urgent Assignment

To: Ruu Akaru

Subject: Temporary Guide Assignment – Pyramid Exploration Program

Dear Mr. Akaru,

In recognition of your exceptional achievements in just one year of pyramid explorations, as well as your proven expertise and unwavering trustworthiness in the handling of archaeological discoveries, the Egyptian Archaeology Association is pleased to inform you that you have been selected, along with four other distinguished individuals, for an urgent temporary assignment. Your accomplishments at such a young age, before twenty, are particularly outstanding.

Your proven record of integrity—specifically your careful handling of artifacts and strict adherence to ethical standards, including zero incidents of smuggling or mismanagement—has established you as highly reliable for this role.

You are hereby requested to serve as a substitute guide for a group of five high school students participating in the Pyramid Exploration Program. The assignment is for a duration of two weeks, commencing immediately upon your acceptance. Your responsibilities will include ensuring the safety, guidance, and supervision of the assigned students during their exploration.

This is an urgent and critical assignment. Your prompt confirmation of acceptance is requested to facilitate immediate arrangements.

We trust in your discretion and expertise to fulfill this role effectively.

Signed,

Dr. Farha Ahmad

Director, Egyptian Archaeology Association”

I blinked, letting the words sink in. Exceptional performance… not yet twenty… urgent guide request… a group of students… Two weeks. They were asking me to leave my quiet desert solitude and deal with people. Not exactly my idea of rest.

My first instinct was to fold it back up, toss it aside, pretend it didn’t exist. I didn’t want people. I didn’t want attention. But then… I noticed the compensation line again.

Two weeks of work, and the pay… enough to live comfortably for months without talking to anyone unnecessarily. I exhaled slowly, weighing the temptation. Maybe this was the perfect chance—not just to earn, but to remain alone, to stay under the radar while still moving through the world.

For once, their request didn’t feel like an obligation—it felt like an opportunity I couldn’t just ignore.

I looked up at the desert sky. The stars were still out, endless and cold. A small smirk tugged at my lips. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.

I went inside the tent to sleep for tomorrow is day I need to go in Giza as the substitute guide. This time, I felt a sudden relief and was finally getting sleep again but there was a unease feeling somewhere deep down for no reason. I just went to sleep ignoring it.

Giza

I arrived early, as requested. I heard from the association that the other four had rejected the request—which was ironic, considering I was the one who had actually accepted it.

I was given the teacher’s phone number. I called, and he told me to wave my hand. Then I saw a middle-aged man waving back at me. He was there with five high school girls.

I wore a long-sleeve shirt, and around my head, I wrapped a long piece of cloth—a keffiyeh—so I wouldn’t draw much attention. I couldn’t afford to be recognized; otherwise, it would have ruined the purpose of coming here.

I approached them calmly and greeted the teacher with a simple wave.

“Oh, you’re here, sir! Thank you for coming. My students really appreciate it. They couldn’t go yesterday, and they’ve been sad ever since. I hope you’ll look after them and help them learn new things. Again, thank you. I heard the other four rejected the request. If you hadn’t come… I don’t know what would have happened,” he said.

I didn’t respond verbally. Just a simple gesture to acknowledge him. He and the students probably understood—I didn’t want to talk much. They would likely try to interact with me anyway, which, secretly, was exactly what I wanted.

Then the teacher left. After he was gone, the girls began introducing themselves one by one.

Which honestly was good for me—meant I didn’t have to say much, and they were handling things by themselves. The less I spoke, the better.

“Hello, my name is Yuri, nice to meet you.”

“I’m Yoshino.”

“Umm… My name is Lily…”

“I’m Nora.”

Then the last girl hesitated a little, before speaking in a soft, clear voice.

“…I’m Sora.”

Sora, huh? Haven’t heard that name in a long while.

After the introductions, I said, “Ok, follow me.”

Then Yoshino asked, “Sir, what’s your name? What should we call you?”

We were still walking. I just raised my hand and said, “Just call me ‘sir.’”

I didn’t want to give away my name like a fool, only to be found out so easily later.

They didn’t seem entirely comfortable with that answer. But it wasn’t my job to make people feel comfortable. And honestly, it wouldn’t have helped me anyway.

We reached one of the Queens’ Pyramids.

“Okay, we’ve arrived. We’ll enter today. Just follow my steps—don’t touch anything, and don’t pick up even something as small as a rock.”

The moment I was about to step inside, Lily’s voice interrupted.

“Umm… sir, why won’t we go into one of the Three Great Pyramids?”

“Yeah… this one looks so small compared to those three,” Yuri added.

I turned my head slightly and let out a quiet sigh.

How clueless… even at their age.

“Those aren’t for ordinary people like you. Access is strictly restricted by the government—only archaeologists and researchers are allowed in. They’re not playgrounds for high school students.”

Silence fell over the group. Maybe that was better.

“Now… just follow me, if you want to come.” I said as I stepped into the entrance.

One by one, they trailed after me, no more questions asked.

The passage was narrow, forcing us to walk in a line. The walls closed in on both sides, and I could hear their slight complaints behind me.

“Sir… these paths are really narrow…” Yuri said, her voice echoing faintly.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I kept walking, letting my torch carve a path through the darkness.

After a little while, Yuri spoke again, this time with a small surprise in her tone.

“…Isn’t it pretty cool in here compared to outside?”

Before I could even reply, Lily cut in. “That’s one of the mysterious qualities of these pyramids. They were built in such a way that it feels like natural air conditioning inside.”

The others murmured softly, as if agreeing.

We kept moving until the light revealed an opening on the wall—narrow and straight, vanishing into darkness. A shaft.

Yoshino stepped closer, pointing with a bit of curiosity. “Sir, what is this?”

“It’s a shaft,” I said flatly, not bothering to elaborate further.

Then Yoshino turned to Lily, her tone lifting. “Look, Lily. It’s the shaft you told us about that night…”

Lily’s eyes lit up. She nodded, almost proud, like she was carrying some secret knowledge no one else had.

Then, all five of them suddenly grew curious, staring at the shaft as if it held some forbidden mystery. Well, not that I cared what they did, but they were taking far too long, and let’s just say I wasn’t cool with that. To move things along, I said,

“Okay, you’ve seen enough of that. Now let’s move on. There are plenty of things to see, and it’s not like this is the only pyramid you’ll be entering.”

They looked a little taken aback, even disappointed—until the last part slipped out. At that, their eyes lit up again, especially Lily’s.

She seemed far too happy, as if her long-cherished dream was finally coming true, only to be crushed the next moment.

“Re… really? We’ll go to the Giza Pyramid Complex?!”

Her excitement was almost contagious—but I knew they had misunderstood my words.

Starting forward again, I said flatly,

“No. Only the other Queens’ Pyramids.”

I didn’t turn back, but I still heard the sigh that followed, heavy with disappointment. “Oh…”

It was obvious Lily’s heart had sunk after showing so much enthusiasm. But it wasn’t my business to comfort her with lies. Reality—no matter how harsh—was always the better option.

Sora then turned to Lily, her voice calm but serious. “Hey, remember what you said that night? About the pyramids, the shafts, all those conspiracy theories?”

Lily’s eyes widened a little, like she’d been waiting for someone to bring that up. The others leaned closer, curiosity glowing on their faces.

I sighed inwardly. Folklore, myths, theories—they clung to them like children clutching fairy tales. Foolish. People believe whatever entertains their minds, but truth rarely comes from whispers in the dark.

We kept walking until the narrow passage finally opened into a chamber.

“This is the Queen’s Chamber,” I said, stepping aside so they could enter.

Their eyes darted around the walls, wide with expectation, but then fell flat when they realized.

“Look. No mummy inside,” I told them flatly, as if to cut the silence before it grew heavy.

They all looked at each other, and I could almost read their thoughts—those stories about the star shafts, the Orion alignment, some grand hidden truth waiting to be discovered.

Before they could open their mouths, I cut in.

“Stop filling your heads with nonsense. Forget the theories. Focus on what will actually help in your assignment.”

They went quiet. And honestly, I preferred it that way.

After that, we left, as we were ordered to finish exploring by 6:30 and return for the students. They seemed gloomier coming out than they had going in. Well, it was expected—after all, I was the one who shattered their little fantasies, and honestly, it was for the best.

Once I escorted them to the buses, I went off on my own path. Then, unexpectedly, Sora called out,

“Sir, thank you for today. We really appreciate you coming all the way here, even though your personality isn’t exactly that of a guide… but you came anyway. Truly, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

“Thank you!” the others echoed in unison.

I raised my hand while walking without turning back. A small, unconscious smirk tugged at my lips.

Came here considering you? Hell, no. I just came for the money. I couldn’t care less about you guys.

But… it was rather nice that they seemed to understand my personality and wouldn’t try to talk me into things unnecessarily.

I took a taxi from the city. The ride wasn’t long, but the taxi could only go so far. After a while, the road ended and sand took over completely. I had to continue on camel.

The taxi stopped near a small area where camels were usually kept. I paid the driver, grabbed my stuff, and headed to my camel. It wasn’t fancy, just a small one I had rented and parked there. Like everyone else, I paid a little extra to make sure it was safe while I stayed here.

The ride was slow. The camel’s hooves sank slightly into the sand, and the desert stretched out in every direction. I didn’t talk to anyone, didn’t need to. The quiet was better. The wind brushed against my face, and I kept my cloth tight around my head. No one would recognize me this way.

When I finally reached my small camp, I stopped. A tiny clearing, just enough for my tent. Not far from the Bedouin settlement, but far enough to stay alone. I got off the camel, tied it, and looked around. The desert was empty except for the faint flicker of fire from the nearby tents. I pulled my cloth tighter, took a deep breath, and stepped into my little space.

This was my spot. No one here, no questions, no attention. Just the desert and me.

I was tired and didn’t want to waste much time. I grabbed my key stuff and went outside the tent to fire up the campfire. I hadn’t eaten anything yet, so I had to cook my own meal. On the way, I bought some camel meat—it was really cheap from the Bedouins. I took out my pan, oil, spices, and everything I needed to cook it. Well, I usually ate meat in curry style, and today was no exception.

I also heated up some premade flatbread. It was decent. I ate some, but there was still about a third of the meat left. I had no choice but to give it to one of the Bedouin children. Some of them were really poor, some even without parents from what I heard. Better to give it away than let it rot. I sometimes gave away extra food like that—not because I felt obligated or guilty, but because it was the better option.

I came back to my tent, washed my hands, and took out my diary by the campfire. I wrote in it sometimes, not every day, just when I felt like it. I didn’t talk much to people. With my diary, I could let everything out. It gave me some peace—it wouldn’t judge me, frame me for something I didn’t do, or doubt me ever.

“Sora, today I met someone with the same name as you. What a coincidence to make me remember you again. Although I said in the letter that it’s better for us not to meet again, I can’t help it—I really want to see you. I want to talk to you for hours. I want you to know how I felt, to hear all the things in my mind. You are the only person who will never judge me or doubt me. But fate… fate will never let it happen, or rather, it shouldn’t.

Yet I can’t stop thinking about what you must look like now, at seventeen. How much you’ve grown, how gorgeous you must be… how your personality has shaped. These thoughts always bug me. You know, Sora, the Sora I met today has such an elegant, gentle personality. It would be so good if you’re the same…”

I closed my diary and took a deep breath. Countless stars stretched across the sky, but my sky… it felt so far away… long lost.