The ancient museum located on the outskirts of Atheum, the old town inhabited by local residents, right beside an old tower is getting quiet. The city of Atheum is a small town surrounded by hills. and wilderness. The visitors have returned. Most of the visitors came from the city of Atheum. They believe that in the museum there are statues of gods who have powers. On normal days, the museum is sometimes very quiet. Not many visitors came. But on holidays or on weekends, the museum is very busy. Apart from being hundreds of years old, the museum is also far from the crowds.
At exactly twelve midnight Marco William, a handsome twenty-seven year old man who worked as a keeper of the ancient museum, was startled by the sound of a very loud horse whinny coming from the front door of the museum. In a flash, Marco drew his sword and dashed toward the door. There is no one or a horse in front. His eyes were looking far ahead, trying to penetrate the dark night. He guessed that perhaps someone had come for a moment and then left immediately. For a long time, he swept his gaze in all directions.
Just two dark street lights. It started pouring. Marco decided to come back. Just as he put his sword back, he felt a gust of cold wind on his face. He got goosebumps all of a sudden. During his two years as a guard at the museum, this was the first time he had been so afraid. He stepped forward. Just one step back, he was startled by a thunderous sound. He stepped back. "I'd better come in," he thought.
"Marco William, Marco William!" There was a woman calling out to him from a distance. Marco turned his head. It is trying to sharpen its hearing. Suddenly it looked like a white glowing ball fell out of the sky right in front of the museum. Marco shut his eyes because of the bright light. When he opens his eyes again, what a surprise he sees a white horse mounted by a woman dressed in white. The white light was gone. Between her fingers of her right hand was a white jasmine. Her long dark hair let her unravel and cover part of her face. Marco didn't get a good look at her.
"Who are you? How do you know my name? Show your face," exclaimed Marco.
"I've come to warn you. Leave the museum," the woman answered. Her voice was so soft yet capable of making Marco shiver. "Tell me. Who are you and where are you from?" Marco asked again. He was curious. "You will know my name but not now. You'll soon find out where I'm from, too. Remember my warning." She said, then raised her right hand, kissing a jasmine that came between her fingers. Suddenly, a white light swirled around her. The horse on her back whined loudly. The white light began to rotate faster and faster until finally the woman was invisible and so was her horse. All we could see now was a ball of light that flew high into the sky and then disappeared. It all happened so fast.
Marco William, who witnessed the whole thing, was speechless. As he was trying to relive what had happened, the rain came down heavily. Marco ran inside and then closed the door. He goes fast to the back. In the back of the museum was an empty room prepared by the museum manager for him. There's Marco's room. He opened his door and then locked it again. He poured water in a creaky, old-fashioned cup and gulped it down and then sat on a wooden chair, controlling his breathless breath.
"What the hell was that all about? She came down from the sky. Then she's not human. Then what did she mean by that? What's wrong with this museum? Why did she tell me to leave this museum?" Marco speaks alone. That episode left Marco completely unable to shut his eyes. He did not sleep until morning came.
*****
The morning sun burst through the wide open door of the museum. Marco does what he does best. He swept up and picked up garbage in the museum yard. His eyes caught something glistening behind the trash heap. 'What is this? 'Marco's thought then got rid of the leaf and picked up the lustrous thing. 'the ring? Whose ring is this? Why is it here? Marco asked himself. The glistening object is a golden-yellow ring studded with a blue gemstone. He put the ring into his pocket and quickly finished his work. He's not at ease. He was so curious, he couldn't wait to observe the ring again.
'It's too early for visitors. I still have plenty of time," he thought, then ran into the trees by the museum. He sat down and leaned under a big tree. Quickly he took the ring out of his pocket. He looked closely as he unveiled the surface of the stone. Suddenly, a blue light appeared from the gem. Marco threw his ring in surprise. The blue light was getting brighter. Marco went back to get the ring. Slowly, the blue light was dimming. Marco grabs the ring and walks back to the museum. Just as he was about to put the ring in his pocket, he heard a voice very close to him.
"Give me back. Put me back. Give me back." Marco paused. It seeks its origin. It turned out there was a ring in his pocket. He took the ring and placed it under the big tree and then covered it with a large, dry leaf. "You stay here. I gotta get back to work. After I finish my work I'll take care of you," Marco speaks to the ring and then goes back to the museum. 'I've been sensing a strange aura here since last night's mysterious presence. What exactly is going on? I think I should go see my grandpa. I need grandpa's help, Marco's thought.
According to the story of Tom William, Marco's grandfather Marco was the son of the fire god. His mother was an ordinary human who vanished without a trace after giving birth to Marco. Marco does have a unique advantage. He can't be hurt by the fire. He was impervious to fire, but no one noticed his value other than his grandfather. Marco stepped inside the museum. He picked up a strong whiff of mud at the entrance. 'footprints? Whose footprints are these? 'Marco's mind was filled with mud on the floor.
"It looks like the museum has a special visitor,' he thought and then walked slowly down the steps. Marco stopped right in front of his room. The footprints disappeared there. She opened his bedroom door slowly. There were no footprints, but the smell of the mud grew worse. He felt very nauseous. His head was spinning. He left his room right away. "Where are you going? Our business is not finished." A voice was clearly heard in his ear. He felt his head swell, chills in his hair. The voice was heard right in his ear along with a blast of warm wind in his neck. Suddenly she felt a tremendous drowsiness. He can barely keep his eyes open. At that moment, he heard footsteps approaching and the sound of an increasingly crowded crowd.
"Sir? Are you okay?" Marco was surprised. He opened his eyes and saw a man standing before him. He nodded and looked around. We've had a lot of visitors. 'Wasn't I in the room? Why am I here now?' Marco's mind was shocked to realize that he was now at the front. He was about to ask the man but the man had passed away. Instantly he looked at the floor. He feared that the muddy footprints were still there but found that the floor was clean. For a while, he chose to ignore all the strange events that befell him, even though the vivid images of them were still vivid in his memory. He continued his work. The mysterious creature, the ring, then the footprints.
'I wonder what's behind this? I have to find an answer. Is it possible that this mystery woman is the devil trying to seduce me? I should test him if he comes back, ' Marco thought. Suddenly, he remembered what his grandfather had said before he worked at the museum. [Marco, one day you will know there is great power within you. The moment you realize it, the moment you're faced with challenges. The blood of the fire god is in your blood. You are descended from god.]
Marco tried to connect his grandfather's words to some of the strange events that had just happened to him and he hadn't been able to find any light. 'Well, tonight I have to see my grandfather. Maybe grandpa can help solve the mystery, 'Marco thought. For a while, he forgot the blue gem ring he'd left under the tree.
