Elements: The Ancient Tomb

Chapter 15: "Land of Gods"- part 3: "Home"

Two days after that meeting, Yelena went to look for Linh again, but this time it was her workplace - Thanh An Institute of Archaeology.

Thanks to the business card, she quickly got to the place she was looking for. Yelena tried calling Linh to let her know that she was coming, but all heard the sentence: "The first that you have called is not available at the moment, please try again later" from the Vietcall operator. When she went inside and asked Linh's colleagues about her, they all said that Linh was here earlier than anyone and was in the research room with some of her subordinates. So Yelena quickly went to the chair to wait outside Linh's office. After waiting for about 15 minutes, Yelena saw Linh rushing to her side. Linh expressed joy when she saw Yelena and said:

"Oh, hello Yelena. How long have you been here? I just turned on the phone after the meeting and saw your call. I habitually turn off my phone when I'm in a meeting."

"It's okay, I just found out we are very similar. I often have the habit of keeping silent mode when I'm in the meeting room," Yelena laughed.

"At least you do that so you know who's calling without disturbing others. I'm completely off, haha"- Linh explained with a bright smile. 

They seem to have found similarities between the two. Yelena no longer kept a wary attitude toward Linh. Linh warmly invited Yelena into the office.

After making Yelena a cup of tea, Linh went to the desk and pulled out a file from her all files in a drawer. It was titled: "Mysterious Ancient Tomb"... 

"Before reading it, I will tell you about the legend related to that ancient tomb as promised."- Linh said and pointed to the guest chair- "Please take a seat!"

"Ah, thanks. I want to hear about it."- Yelena said as if in response to Linh's invitation, sitting down on the chair.

Linh told about the legend of the ancient tomb in the file, and Yelena listened attentively. After 15 minutes of listening to Linh's story, Yelena gradually broke down many things and said:

"You have finally helped me unravel the mysteries surrounding the ancient tomb. So the creator of that ancient tomb was a mysterious entity, and since that entity disappeared, no one has gone there, right?

"Right. That's because while the legend of the tomb is still widely circulated throughout the country, it seems that no one can no longer remember its location."

"Although it is not satisfactory, this can be considered the most reasonable explanation at this time about the fact that the tomb has gradually fallen into oblivion over time, I think."- Yelena replied.

"Please read it. This is our research during the past time."- Linh handed Yelena the file in her hand and said.

Yelena read carefully. She realized that all her questions and theories in the past time had been clarified when watching it.

"The photos of the ancient tomb in the file, can I take a few of them?" - Yelena asked.

"Okay, just do what you want" - Linh agreed.

"I ask you, you must have been there once before, right?"

"Yes, including my staff."

"Did you discover anything? Antiques, for example"- Yelena asked.

"When we got there, the entrance to the ancient tomb was blocked with stones. The staff of my institute had to use explosives to destroy it. When the giant stone exploded and broke into pieces, I saw something glowing inside"- Linh replied.

"So what did it look like?" - Yelena asked. Yelena was told by Linh to open the fourth page, pointed to the second photo, and said: "This is what you want to know". Yelena looked at Linh for a moment and then looked at the photo. It was a stone coffin, with a strange symbol on the surface embossed with an ancient inscription.

"What does this word mean?" - Yelena curiously pointed at the question.

Linh was silent for a moment, then replied:

"It should be translated: 'The chosen one will open the coffin and unleash our powers.'"

"The chosen one… will be able to open the coffin… and unleash the power…?" – Yelena was so stunned that she stuttered.

She made a thoughtful face for a long time and then asked:

"Does 'the chosen one' refer to someone who is closely related to the coffin? The chosen one?"

"Who knows? We can't come to any conclusions yet."- Linh said.

"I have a pretty strong hunch about that. But this coffin has existed for more than 1000 years, so the chosen person must likely be a descendant of the person who created and guarded it 1000 years ago. Maybe he left an inscription written by him on the surface of the coffin as a message to his future descendants that they have a mission to open that coffin to retrieve what he left behind. A legacy of a long-standing culture passed down from generation to generation, for example"- Yelena reasoned.

"Yeah, perhaps his dead body, isn't it?"

"Hmm..."

"Don't be serious like that. I"m just kidding."- Linh laughed loudly-

"By the way, do you want to go there once to test your reasoning? Curiosity is clearly showing on your face"- Linh looked at Yelena and smiled.

"Really? Can you lead me there?"- Yelena exclaimed in surprise.

"Right. I realized I finally had a valued guest with the same idea. If you want, I'm willing to be a tour guide to take you there."

"Yes. Of course, I want to. There is nothing like seeing it with your own eyes. So when can we leave?"- Yelena excitedly.

"In two days I will take you there to see for the first time..."- Linh suddenly lowered her voice- "...and also for the last time."

Yelena was surprised by that unusual statement, she asked: "Wait, why are you saying that all of a sudden? Could it be that after that day you were so busy that you couldn't come with me anymore?"

"Ah… that"s right. I'm the director of this place, so the work is always on me"- Linh immediately changed her cheerful attitude- "Also, after going there once and getting what you want, you won't go back there. right?"

"You're right. After completing the report, I have to go back to America. I have no choice."- Yelena hesitated.

Walking from the building to her car parked below the campus of the Institute, Yelena constantly thought about the ancient tomb. But she didn't know that she was being followed by a stranger parked nearby until she drove away... He watched her very intently in his car until she disappeared from view, then Looked at Linh's office window with a mysterious look... Halfway there, Yelena turned the car around and went to another place because she decided to deal with an important matter before going home: Go to her uncle's best friend's house. Her uncle's best friend, Oliver Kim Tran, had a house at Nguyen Trai Street.

As soon as she arrived there, Yelena was warmly welcomed by Nhan, Oliver"s nephew. He asked:

"Huh? Oh my god, Yelena. I thought you were working to a tight deadline before returning home. You were so busy but still had time to visit Uncle Oliver's house, perhaps to visit me?"

"Come on. Despite how busy you are, you should take some time off, right? Besides, I have a boyfriend, you have no chance anymore. Haha."

"Oh, my god. It's a pity to let such a beautiful girl get out of hand. I should have gone to America before and persisted in pursuing her while I could."

"It should have been like this before. I hope you find the love of your life soon. Don't be too sad, we can still be friends."

"Oh yeah, thanks for your good wish. I feel that I am worthy of you in every way, I had the opportunity, but I was taken away by others at the last minute..." - Nhan said with an annoyed voice. when someone else missed the chance to flirt with Yelena.

"Wow, the house is so beautifully decorated and gorgeous. What's going to happen soon?" Yelena asked. For a person who has lived here since she was a child until she grew up, every change, even the smallest, also made her notice.

"It's almost Christmas, don't you remember? - Nhan answered slowly- "I and Uncle Oliver discussed and decorated it to be as beautiful and cozy as possible, he wanted to make guests feel familiar and warm like their home."

"Wait... I thought that on Christmas day, everyone in the family gathered together, right?"

"Right, but that's only in the Western culture, but from the point of view in Vietnam, Christmas is for everyone. I mean that's a time when everyone has the opportunity to go out, meet, and gather to eat and talk about life together. No intention to change the Christmas definition but Christmas is different from place to place."

"Got it. I couldn't have known about that difference. Thanks, Nhan." -Yelena asked- "So where's Uncle Oliver?".

"He went to buy a pine tree an hour ago. Maybe he'll be back soon, too."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Yelena quickly opened the door because she seemed to know who was behind the door. As she expected, that person was her uncle. Mr. Kim Tran saw his granddaughter and exclaimed:

"Oh, my dear girl! What wind brought you here?"

Then he approached and gave the grandchild a warm hug, then picked her up.

"You hug me too tight. Your body is sweaty."

"Wow, is that so? I'm sorry. Let me go to my room and change clothes. Since it's been a while since I've seen you, I'm a bit excited."

"Do you need to be carried around like a baby? I'm an adult now."

"Is that so? You could say it with my nephew"s eyes. Because in my eyes, you're still a little girl."

"Come on, Uncle Oliver, why all of a sudden..."- Nhan embarrassed, said.

"Oh, don"t you see, Yelena? He was embarrassed when he heard that. Hehe."

"He doesn't want to flirt with me anymore.

"Why? Could it be..."

"Yes. I have a boyfriend."

So he went over and patted Yelena's shoulder to show his joy, saying:

"I'm happy for you. The person who loves you is very lucky."

"Hey, look at you. You should have been sad for your biological nephew, right? Why are you so happy for her, Uncle Oliver?"- Nhan frowned, said.

After Oliver finished changing, Yelena took the initiative to come and hug him and said:

"I miss you so much! And Uncle Denvy, too. I guess he and you talk on the phone every day, don't you?"

"Yeah, he can't stand it if he doesn't call me every day. By the way, have you called him lately?"

"There is no chance for me. Because since coming here, every time I call him, the operator will announce: "The person you have called is not available at the moment. Please try again later."

"Maybe he just likes to hear from me on the phone. I feel sorry for you, anyway."

"You've always been like that. I'm not sad... Even though I'm far away from home, I've had new experiences. The work I'm doing has made new progress."

"Let's talk about that later, there's something I want to show you."

Mr. Kim Tran pointed to the pine tree he had just bought and said:

"Yelena, I just bought this pine tree at the mall nearby. I didn't know you were coming, so I didn't tell the seller to decorate it my original intention was to bring it home to decorate with Nhan, a way to enjoy the full Christmas taste" - Mr. Kim Tran immediately looked at Yelena, laughed- "Remember when you fell from the Christmas tree I and Denvy decorated while climbing it 16 years ago? You were only 6 years old that year. In my eyes, you were like the little squirrel climbing up the tree looking for the oak."

"I remember"- Yelena smiled amusedly- "You and Uncle Denvy worked hard to decorate it. But in the end, I climbed up and broke everything, even toppling the tree, fortunately, there were you two below to help me. It's so nostalgic."

They laughed a gut-wrenching laugh.

"Uncle Oliver, could I help you to decorate the tree?"

"Hmm... I think you should just sit down on the chair and relax. You're tired from work already. Let me and Nhan do it, and it'll be over soon."

"I'm fine. I also want to enjoy the taste of Christmas like the old days"

"If you say so... Bring the bag right next to the door over there."

"Roger that."

After finishing the decoration for the pine tree, Yelena showed great interest when looking at her work.

"Are you excited? It feels like going back 16 years."

"Yes, that's so nostalgic."

"So how's your work lately? Tell me in detail."

Yelena told her uncle about what she had gathered from Linh and some of the information gathered and the upcoming difficult trip:

"I was given a task by my boss. It sounds easy but is quite difficult: Learn about an ancient tomb that was abandoned 1000 years ago somewhere in Vietnam, According to some people. their ancestors encountered a powerful and mysterious entity that took the form of a human over there. From some sources close to me, the entity is highly revered by the people and some refer to the entity as "Goddess", others called it "Miss" because of seeing the entity. looks like a very young girl..."

"Then from now on, you can just call that entity 'her'. Calling 'entity' doesn't sound good, haha"- Mr. Kim Tran suggested.

OK, I understand, hehe..."- Yelena continued to tell the unfinished story- "She helped the people there reclaim wasteland, cultivate and raise livestock,... She also built her ancient tomb so that she could rest in it and for her people to come to convey their petitions or to ask her to resolve disagreements, and disputes, or pray for blessings. After her mysterious disappearance, no more people no longer go there. That place became an ancient tomb that had been abandoned for so many years."

"Well, that's interesting. So what is the name of the person who gave you that information?"- Mr. Kim Tran asked.

"Ah, her name is Linh, the employee of a famous Institute of Archaeology in Vietnam, she has helped me a lot since we first met at the city library."- Yelena replied with enthusiasm- "Ah, she also freely invited me to go. Go to that old graveyard so I can write a report to my boss. If It's possible, I'll be officially accepted into Pandora Institute, uncle."

While listening to the story, Mr. Kim Tran asked:

"Is that girl named Linh trustworthy? What kind of person is she that makes you believe in her even if we only met for a short time?"

"I trust her completely. She also showed me documents related to that ancient tomb, why would she deceive me?" - Yelena firmly defended her point of view.

"The fact that she suddenly invited you there made me a little suspicious. Not to mention the reason for their meeting in the first place was already strange. I think you should think about it more"- Mr. Kim Tran gave Yelena some advice- "You are my best friend's niece, so I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I always treat you like a member of my family, you know."

"He's right, Yelena. You should be careful to avoid putting yourself in danger. It's not safe for you to go to investigate alone. What if a bad person tries to harm you?" - Nhan advised.

"I knew so well what you're been worrying about. You two can rest assured, I..." - Before Yelena could finish the sentence, a loud crash came from behind, causing both of them to panic and crouch under the table.

A large stone had been thrown through the window by someone, wrapped in a piece of paper. When she regained consciousness, Yelena saw Nhan rush out the door to chase the attacker. But that name disappeared in the blink of an eye. Mr. Kim Tran also had a soulful phase but still tried to calmly crawl to ask his niece:

"Are you ok? Did the broken glasses hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine"- Yelena replied as he held his chest and his face changed for the worse- "Why do you look so pale? Could it be... your heart disease..."

To ease Yelena's anxiety, Mr. Kim Tran smiled reassuringly: "It's okay, I'm fine. I'm glad to see you're fine. Because I'm concerned for your safety." Then he went back to pick up the stone and took out a piece of paper from it and read it. Yelena looked over and mumbled to read along:

"This is my first warning for you. You know too much about me. Don't go there to find the legendary coffin, or 'he' will drown you to death..."