The room became completely silent.
Nobody moved.
The old photograph remained on the table.
Everyone stared at it.
The man in the picture looked exactly like Alexander.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same young appearance.
The only difference was the clothes.
They belonged to a time that had disappeared thousands of years ago.
The old politician slowly picked up the photograph.
"Where did you find this?"
The scientist swallowed.
"It was inside the oldest section of the government records."
"How old?"
"We don't know exactly."
He pointed at the date written below the picture.
"But it is at least several thousand years old."
The politician looked at Alexander's face again.
"He hasn't changed."
"No, sir."
"Are you sure this isn't a mistake?"
"We checked it three times."
Another scientist walked forward.
"We also checked the old records."
He placed several files on the table.
"There are more."
Everyone turned toward him.
"More what?"
"Pictures."
He opened the first file.
Another picture appeared.
Alexander.
Different clothes.
Different city.
Same face.
Another file.
Another picture.
Alexander again.
Another century.
Another place.
Still the same face.
One of the politicians stepped backward.
"How is this possible?"
The scientist shook his head.
"We don't know."
The old politician looked through the pictures one after another.
There were dozens.
Maybe hundreds.
Some were clear.
Others were damaged.
But the face was always the same.
Alexander.
Young.
Calm.
Never changing.
One politician whispered,
"He's been here for thousands of years."
The room became even quieter.
The old politician slowly closed the file.
"Then we need to know who he really is."
The scientist nodded.
"We'll search everything."
"Every book."
"Every record."
"Every old picture."
"Every hidden archive."
"Find anything connected to him."
"Yes, sir."
The meeting ended.
But nobody in the room felt calm.
They had started the investigation thinking Alexander was a strange young man.
Now...
They were beginning to understand that he was something much older.
Something they could not understand.
---
Meanwhile...
Alexander had no idea what was happening inside the government building.
He was at home.
Aiona was sitting at the table, preparing dinner.
She looked at him.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
Alexander shook his head.
"No."
"Not even a little?"
"No."
Aiona smiled.
"I think you're too calm."
Alexander looked at her.
"What should I do?"
"At least pretend to be nervous."
He stared at her.
"I don't know how."
Aiona laughed.
"You're strange."
"So are you."
She stopped.
For a moment, she looked at him.
Then she smiled.
"Maybe that's why we get along."
Alexander looked away.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Aiona noticed.
"There it is again."
Alexander sighed.
"Please stop."
She laughed.
---
The next morning...
A black vehicle stopped outside their house.
Daniel stepped out.
He walked toward the door and knocked.
Aiona opened it.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," Daniel replied.
He looked at Alexander.
"We're ready."
Alexander nodded.
Aiona grabbed her coat.
"I'm coming too."
Daniel hesitated.
"Of course."
They entered the vehicle.
As they drove through the city, Aiona looked through the window.
Everything seemed normal.
People were walking.
Cars were moving.
Children were going to school.
Nobody knew what was happening.
After about thirty minutes...
The vehicle entered a large government building.
Security guards stood everywhere.
Cameras covered almost every corner.
Aiona noticed them immediately.
She leaned toward Alexander.
"They're watching us."
Alexander calmly replied,
"I know."
Daniel heard them.
He looked uncomfortable.
"Please don't worry."
"We are not here to hurt you."
Aiona smiled.
"We know."
The doors opened.
They entered a large meeting room.
Several politicians were waiting.
The old politician stood at the center.
He looked at Alexander for a long moment.
Then he smiled.
"Welcome."
Alexander nodded.
"Thank you."
The old man pointed toward the chairs.
"Please sit."
Alexander and Aiona sat down.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the old politician placed an old photograph on the table.
Alexander looked at it.
His eyes became slightly wider.
Aiona also looked at the picture.
It was Alexander.
The same face.
The same eyes.
The same young man.
The politician slowly asked,
"Can you explain this?"
Alexander looked at the photograph.
He remained silent.
The room waited.
Aiona looked at him.
She had never seen that expression on his face before.
For the first time...
Alexander looked confused.
He slowly picked up the photograph.
His fingers touched the old paper.
Then something strange happened.
The lights in the room flickered.
The air suddenly became heavy.
Every camera in the room went black.
The scientists jumped to their feet.
"What just happened?"
Alexander looked at his hand.
A faint golden light appeared around his fingers.
Then it disappeared.
Aiona stared at him.
"Alexander..."
He slowly looked at the photograph again.
"I don't remember this."
The old politician stood frozen.
"You don't remember?"
Alexander shook his head.
"No."
The old man looked at the scientists.
"Then we have another problem."
Aiona's eyes narrowed.
"What problem?"
The politician looked directly at Alexander.
"If you don't remember being in that photograph..."
He slowly pointed toward the ancient picture.
"Then who were you before you came here?"
Nobody spoke.
Alexander remained silent.
But deep inside...
Something was beginning to wake up.
Something buried so deeply...
Even he had forgotten it existed.
And then...
A voice suddenly whispered inside his mind.
"Creation..."
Alexander's eyes widened.
The voice came again.
"Wake up."
He stood completely still.
Aiona noticed the change in his face.
"Alexander?"
He didn't answer.
For the first time since Aiona had met him...
Alexander looked afraid.
And somewhere far beyond the city...
Something ancient opened its eyes.
To be continued...