The door swung open so hard it slammed against the wall with a sharp crack.They all jumped, hearts leaping into their throats.
A tall figure stepped inside, dressed in a long, flowing robe embroidered with golden patterns. His sandals clicked softly against the mosaic floor as he entered, his face mostly hidden under the deep hood.
Behind him, two guards stood like silent statues, their spears gleaming under the lantern light.
The hooded figure pushed the hood back slowly, revealing sharp eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. His expression was calm ; too calm.
"Good evening… travelers," he said, his voice smooth and deep, each word echoing around the room like a ripple in water.
Nobody answered. They just stared, frozen.
The man's gaze drifted across the room, pausing on each face as if he was memorizing them. Then his eyes landed on Katerina. She shrank back slightly, her fingers clutching the edge of the blanket.
"You," he said, pointing at her gently but firmly. "Step forward."
She hesitated, then stood up slowly, her feet shuffling across the smooth floor. The man smiled faintly, but it wasn't warm ;it felt calculated."Thank you for assisting our guests," he said to her softly. "Now… return to your duties."
Katerina glanced at Einstein, her eyes wide and unsure, then turned and quietly slipped past the guards and out the door.
The man turned back to the group.
"You are quite… energetic guests," he said, eyes flicking to the rumpled beds, the scattered food, the faint shape of a phone barely hidden under a pillow. A small smile tugged at his lips.
Einstein shifted uncomfortably. Vinci's hand twitched near his bag. Maria tried to look casual, but her face was pale.
"I bring a message from the king," the man continued. "He is impressed by your curiosity… and your 'magical' devices."
They all went still.
"His Majesty wishes to see these… items," he said, gesturing vaguely at the hidden phones. "But do not fear. He sees them as wonders, not weapons."
The man paused, letting the words sink in. Then he stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Moreover… there is an offer. A private audience tomorrow at dawn, before your meeting with Aristotle. Only you five –no guards, no other scholars. Just you and the king."
A stunned silence filled the room.
Maria opened her mouth, but no words came out. Hawkings glanced at Einstein, eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement. Vinci swallowed hard, his throat dry.The man straightened, smoothing his robe.
"Rest well tonight," he said. "Tomorrow will decide much more than you know."
He turned, gliding out of the room like a shadow. The guards followed, and the door shut with a soft thud.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Then Maria let out a shaky breath and flopped back onto the bed. "Holy;we just got a VIP invite from Alexander himself," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Einstein collapsed next to her, staring at the ceiling. "Bro… what if he wants to take our phones and reverse-engineer them? Or worse… execute us for witchcraft?"
Hawkings snorted. "Relax, Einstein. He said he's impressed. We just have to play it smart."Eliza hugged a pillow tightly. "But what if this is a trap? What if the private audience is just… a setup?"
Vinci stood by the window, staring out at the moonlit palace gardens. "Whatever it is… we can't refuse. We didn't come all this way to hide in bed," he said quietly.
They all fell silent again, each lost in their thoughts, the tension curling around them like a thick fog.Outside, the palace was calm, but inside their room, everything felt like it was about to explode.
Tomorrow, they are not just going to a philosopher again –but a king [Alexander the Great]...
The moon rose higher, painting silver lines on the floor. One by one, they drifted toward sleep, their minds filled with excitement, fear… and countless questions.
Outside the window, a lone owl called into the night a sound that felt like both a warning and a promise.
They spread papers and pieces of metal all across the beds, tools scattered like confetti. Vinci scribbled diagrams furiously while Einstein read out loud, listing points they'd present to the king. Hawkings tried to fit parts together, muttering curses every few seconds. Maria and Eliza checked over the notes, making corrections and teasing the boys when they messed up.
"Hey! Vinci, this gear is upside down!" Maria laughed, tossing a piece at him.
"Focus, focus!" Vinci snapped back, but he was grinning.
In the middle of all the chaos, the door creaked open again.
They all turned in surprise.
Katerina stepped in, this time without a tray. She had finished her chores and looked different now ;her hair loosely tied back, a quiet glow in her eyes.Katerina had long, silky dark hair, warm sun-kissed skin, and deep hazel eyes that shone with curiosity. Her features were soft and elegant, with a gentle, graceful way of moving that made her beauty feel both natural and quietly striking.
"Hey… you came back!" Einstein said, jumping up so fast he almost tripped over a pile of gears.
Katerina nodded shyly. They offered her a seat, and she settled down near Maria and Eliza. Vinci handed her a pen, guiding her fingers gently.
"Like this… here, hold it steady," Vinci said.
Katerina's eyes sparkled as she practiced writing her name, each letter shaky but full of effort. They clapped for her every time she got it right, and she covered her face, laughing shyly.
Then Hawkings switched on music from one of their phones, soft beats filling the room. Katerina tilted her head, clearly amazed. They taught her how to move with the rhythm, and for a moment, it felt like they were just normal teenagers at a sleepover — not stranded geniuses from the future, not preparing to meet a legendary king.
But soon, their energy started to fade. One by one, they sank onto the beds, stretching and yawning.
Katerina stood and bowed lightly. "I must go home," she whispered, giving them a shy smile. They waved as she slipped out into the quiet night.
Einstein finally collapsed onto the bed. "Tomorrow… we show the king… then Aristotle," he mumbled, half-asleep already.
"Yeah… tomorrow," Vinci echoed, his voice fading as he closed his eyes.Maria and Eliza exchanged one last tired glance before curling up under the blankets.
The room fell silent except for the soft breathing of exhausted dreamers.Outside, the moon climbed higher, bathing the palace grounds in silver.
Tomorrow would decide everything — their inventions, their future… and maybe, their place in this strange ancient world.
Another day would tell.