Mystery

The day dawned bright and crisp, the air tinged with the promise of spring. Jungwon stepped out of his dormitory, backpack slung over his shoulder, ready to tackle another day of college life. As he made his way across the bustling campus, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation in the air.

The college courtyard buzzed with activity, students chatting and laughing as they made their way to classes. The scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the aroma of coffee from the nearby café, creating a lively atmosphere that invigorated Jungwon as he walked.

Entering the classroom building, Jungwon joined the throng of students heading to their morning lectures. The halls echoed with the sound of footsteps and animated conversation, a symphony of youthful energy that filled him with excitement for the day ahead.

As he entered the lecture hall for his archaeology class, Jungwon took his usual seat near the front, eager to soak in the knowledge that awaited him. The room was abuzz with anticipation, students chatting excitedly as they waited for their professor to arrive.

Finally, the door swung open, and Professor Kim entered the room, a stack of papers clutched in her hand. Her presence commanded attention, and the chatter died down as she made her way to the front of the room.

"Good morning, class," Professor Kim greeted them with a warm smile. "I hope you're all ready for today's lecture."

A chorus of nods and murmured agreements filled the room, and Jungwon felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of delving into another fascinating topic.

"Now, before we begin," Professor Kim continued, "I have an announcement to make. As you all know, your final year assignment is due soon."

A ripple of anticipation swept through the room, and Jungwon's pulse quickened. The final year assignment was a culmination of everything they had learned throughout their college years—a chance to showcase their knowledge and skills in the field of archaeology.

"I'm pleased to announce that for your assignment, you will each be tasked with presenting a detailed presentation on any archaeological topic of your choosing," Professor Kim explained, her eyes scanning the room. "Your presentation should be well-researched, supported by evidence, and include mapping if necessary. This is your chance to delve into a topic that interests you and showcase your expertise in the field."

Jungwon's mind raced with possibilities as he listened to the assignment details. This was his chance to explore a topic that truly captivated him, to delve into the mysteries of the past and uncover new discoveries. With determination burning in his chest, he vowed to make the most of this opportunity and embark on a journey of exploration and discovery unlike any other.

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After class, Jungwon gathered with his friends Justin, Stella, Mingyu, and Hyunjin outside the lecture hall. Excitement crackled in the air as they discussed their ideas for the final year assignment.

"So, what topics are you guys thinking about?" Jungwon asked, adjusting the strap of his backpack as they started walking towards the library.

Justin, a history enthusiast, spoke up first. "I'm thinking of focusing on the Roman Empire's expansion into Britain. There's so much to explore—military tactics, cultural assimilation, you name it."

Stella, always drawn to ancient civilizations, chimed in, "I'm considering delving into the rise and fall of the Mayan civilization. Their architecture and astronomy are absolutely fascinating."

Mingyu, known for his love of mysteries, pondered aloud, "I'm intrigued by the lost city of Atlantis. It's a bit of a long shot, but imagine if we could uncover evidence of its existence."

Hyunjin, with a passion for maritime history, added, "I'm leaning towards researching ancient shipwrecks. There's something hauntingly beautiful about the stories they hold beneath the waves."

Jungwon listened intently to his friends' ideas, his mind racing with possibilities. Each topic was more intriguing than the last, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of inspiration.

"Those all sound amazing," Jungwon exclaimed, a smile tugging at his lips. "I'm still trying to decide, but I think I might have found something in the library that piqued my interest."

Curiosity sparkled in his friends' eyes as they reached the library entrance. With a shared sense of excitement, they stepped inside, ready to embark on their research journey together.

As they settled into a corner table, surrounded by towering bookshelves and the soft scent of old paper, Jungwon pulled out the old book he had discovered earlier—the book about the Lost Kingdom of Amarna.

"This is it," Jungwon said, placing the book on the table for his friends to see. "I stumbled upon this earlier, and I can't shake the feeling that there's something incredible waiting to be uncovered about this ancient kingdom."

His friends leaned in closer, their eyes lighting up with curiosity as they examined the ancient text. "Amarna, huh?" Justin mused. "That's a fascinating period in Egyptian history. There's so much mystery surrounding it."

Stella nodded in agreement. "I've always been intrigued by Amarna. It's like a puzzle just waiting to be solved."

" What about Amarna Kingdom? I don't think we've been taught about this kingdom much?" Mingyu asked

" There's so much mystery behind this kingdom. I still can't believe that people have forgotten about this marvelous Kingdom. It's so upsetting that people didn't even cried during their Queen's death. The Queen who always treated them like his family." Stella replied with a sad face

" Right. I too felt that Queen was misunderstood by everyone. " Justin nodded

" Guys exactly what happened? " Hyunjin asked curiously

" Even I don't know. Jungwon has completed reading the whole book. Why don't you tell us? " Justin asked

 Jungwon continued to share the story of the Lost Kingdom of Amarna with his friends, he paused, his expression growing somber. "There's so much more to the story," he began, his voice filled with emotion. "It's not just about the rise and fall of a kingdom. It's about the people who lived and died within its walls."

His friends leaned in closer, sensing the gravity of his words. "What do you mean?" Stella asked softly.

Jungwon took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "There's a tragic tale of love and betrayal at the heart of Amarna," he explained. "King and Queen —they were partners in name only, bound together by political necessity. The king was devoted to his kingdom, spending all his time on matters of state, while the queen was left to navigate the palace intrigues alone."

Mingyu frowned, a sense of sadness washing over him. "That sounds lonely," he murmured.

"It was," Jungwon agreed. "But their bond was tested in ways they never could have imagined. When the queen was falsely accused of a crime, the king was away, fighting to protect his people on the borders. Powerful ministers seized the opportunity to condemn him, and he was publicly prosecuted without a chance to defend himself."

Hyunjin's eyes widened in shock. "That's terrible," he exclaimed.

"And it gets worse," Jungwon continued, his voice trembling with emotion. "The queen pleaded to see his husband one last time before the trial, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Even the public, swayed by the palace politics, showed no mercy."

Justin shook his head in disbelief. "How could they do that?" he whispered.

Jungwon sighed, his heart heavy with sorrow. "Sometimes power and greed blind even the most well-intentioned of rulers," he replied sadly. "But despite the injustice, the story of King and Queen serves as a reminder of the fragility of love in the face of political turmoil."

" What was King's reaction to all of this after he came back from the war? " Mingyu asked while gulping the lump formed in this throat.

" Nothing's mentioned here. " Jungwon sighed dejectedly

" Why don't we look about it in some other book? " Hyunjin asked

" I don't think there's much content available on this." Jungwon replied 

" What's the mystery though which you guys were talking about? " Mingyu enquired

" Oh it's because King and Queen had no heir. King was not interested in physical intimacy, neither with his queen nor with his 15 concubines. Basically such a big and powerful Kingdom was heirless and after that war ended no body knows what happened with the King and then his younger brother took the position. " Stella explained 

" So you're saying someone intentionally harmed King and Queen and it was all a trap? So king's younger brother was the evil one? " Hyunjin countered

" Could be possible. But royal politics was not as easy as it looks like. Anyone who will have advantage by making the young prince, King of Amarna could be behind all of this. We never know. Amarna ministers were not easy to deal with. Sometimes royal court used to continue till late night because those ministers were hard to agree on simplest matters. It was like they intentionally tried to make things difficult for the King." Jungwon replied

" Why though? He only wanted good for them." Mingyu asked frowning in confusion

Jungwon sighed while replying " King wasn't the real son of Queen. He was the son of concubine Seondeok. Queen In-ok , wanted her son , young prince Inhyo, to become the King but he was too young when Late king Sado died. "

" So Queen In-ok with her son Inhyo and King's ministers together trapped poor King and Queen. Damn the whole palace was against them, if it didn't happen today, it was bound to happen tomorrow." Justin exclaimed resulting in many positive nods.

As they sat in silence, the weight of the tale hanging heavy in the air, Jungwon couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. He knew that his presentation on the Lost Kingdom of Amarna would not only shed light on the mysteries of the past but also honor the memory of those who had suffered within its walls. And with his friends by his side, he was ready to uncover the truth and ensure that their voices were heard once more.

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