The sky was still half-asleep. A calm shade of blue-grey hovered above the land. Birds hadn't begun their morning song. The world was still. But a single phone call was about to change everything.
The screen blinked silently beside Mirshad. RING. RING. RING.
CALLER: CENTRAL MINISTER — CLASSIFIED LINE
Mirshad opened his eyes, sharp yet calm. He answered. "Speak."
The voice on the other end trembled with urgency and hidden fear. "Sir… forgive me for disturbing your sleep. But this cannot wait. There's a place — a temple. Ancient. And a room inside, sealed for centuries by forces we don't understand. It's time. We're preparing to open it today. But…" he paused, "…we fear what may come out."
"This is not about permission. We don't need you there. We want you. As our protector. As the only soul on this Earth who can face the unknown."
A breath of silence passed.
Then Mirshad replied, "Prepare everything. I'll come."
Downstairs, Rayyan was sitting alone in the hallway, scanning reports. Mirshad appeared, fully dressed. "Temple," he said softly.
Rayyan stood up without a word. "I'm coming too."
No need for explanations. Only brotherhood. They left without noise. Without questions. Sophia saw them at the door. She didn't ask. She just said, "Come back safe."
Mirshad smiled and nodded. Then disappeared into the early morning mist.
The SUV moved through the calm highway. Rayyan kept scrolling news updates, while Mirshad drove in silence — eyes focused, mind ahead of time. Three hours. Three hours to reach the place where no man has entered in a thousand years.
Meanwhile, across the country, the news broke.
Breaking News: The Sacred Temple's Forbidden Room To Be Opened Today…
The Door With No Lock — Believed To Be Sealed By Ancient Mantras — Will Finally Be Unsealed.
Over 20 Spiritual Guardians, Mantra-Holders, and Divine Seal Keepers Have Arrived…
The Nation Watches In Silence…
A video played showing massive security, ancient scholars in robes, and thousands of cameras being set.
"We don't know what's inside…"
"We don't know why it was sealed…"
"We only know one thing — this has never been done before."
A private camera near the restricted zone caught sight of one silent black SUV arriving through the mist. The license plates were hidden. The driver unknown. The doors never opened on camera.
But the media began whispering—
"Is he coming?"
"Is MRD at the site?"
"Will the one we call our protector be there when the seal breaks?"
The gods may have slept… but he never did.