Man of Archives

Chapter 31

The flight was challenging, primarily because it was difficult to control my body, which was on the verge of orgasm. My hands gripped the broomstick until they ached, but eventually, I noticed the ground below and saw that dawn was breaking. The landscape quickly transformed into a large city. Hovering at a distance, I began scanning the shoreline, searching for any clues that might help me identify where I had ended up. For now, though, there were none.

Calming down a bit, I pulled out a map and quickly realized I was near the city of Damietta in Egypt. Not bad, not bad at all. Suddenly, a flying carpet appeared out of nowhere, carrying a tall man. His skin was light brown, likely from years of exposure to the sun. He wore a simple, light-colored tunic, with a multicolored scarf draped around his neck. A strange headpiece, reminiscent of a turban, adorned his head, matching the light tone of his tunic.

"Greetings, traveler," he spoke first in perfect English. "I am Asim, one of the guards."

"Timothy Jody," I responded. "A traveler."

"Welcome," he nodded slightly, and I did the same in return. "What brings you to the lands of Egypt?"

"I'm here to rest, explore the history and culture," I replied.

"And where are you flying from?" Asim asked curiously.

"From the island of Crete," I answered.

Asim's expression shifted, and I could sense a mix of sympathy and surprise mingling with his curiosity.

"Then you definitely need rest," he agreed. "But first, you must register with the Pharaonate."

"Alright," I nodded. "And where is the Pharaonate located?"

"In Cairo," the wizard replied calmly. "Follow me. I'll take you to our office where you can register with the Pharaonate."

I flew closer as the wizard settled comfortably onto his carpet.

"Oh, and one more thing," he said, "In Egypt, flying on brooms is prohibited except in designated areas."

"And carpets?" I asked.

"Not recommended within city limits," Asim replied smoothly.

"Got it," I nodded.

We descended quickly, landing in the courtyard of an unremarkable, sand-colored building. It had small windows, wooden doors, and a few wizards sitting in the shade. The sun was rising, but it wasn't yet hot enough to force everyone into hiding, though they had already chosen to do so. Curious glances followed me, but no one made a move. That was a relief.

The interior of the building wasn't particularly impressive either. A few artifacts occasionally emitted strange sounds, but nothing more. Oh, except for the cat that caught my attention. It gazed at the world with an air of disdain, its ears pierced and adorned with what appeared to be diamonds, if my memory served me right. The cat glanced at me, lazily flicking its tail before returning to whatever it had been studying: a shadowed, empty corner. Alright then.

The room we entered was fairly large and windowless, with a few magical fireflies fluttering in the corners. It was cooler here than outside or in the first room.

"Here's the fireplace," the wizard pointed. "The address for the Cairo Pharaonate."

"Thank you."

I took a pinch of Floo powder, threw it into the flames, and said, "Cairo Pharaonate."

In an instant, I was pulled into the familiar transition. Exits flashed by, none of which were mine. For a brief moment, I felt the spatial configuration shift. That could only mean one thing—the exit was near. And I was right.