Greetings, my dear listeners. This is Mário Portela, the creator and writer of “ENKI: Tales from the Past.”

As we arrive on this new episode, I find myself filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation. The journey we’ve shared thus far has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I’m thrilled to invite you all along for the next chapter.

In this episode, we’re about to witness a pivotal moment in our story – a shift in perspective that I believe will captivate and surprise you. A new protagonist has emerged, one whose voice and experiences will add depth and complexity to the narrative we’ve been crafting together.

I’ve poured my heart and soul into bringing two new characters to life. Their arrival marks an unexpected turn of events, one that I believe will challenge our preconceptions and open up new avenues of exploration.

As always, I’m deeply grateful for your unwavering support and enthusiasm. If you believe in the work we’re doing and want to see more audiodramas like “ENKI” in the future, I encourage you to consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps me continue to bring these stories to life and push the boundaries of what’s possible in this exciting new world of audio storytelling.

And of course, I always love hearing from you, our dear listeners. Your comments, reviews, and insights are the lifeblood of this series, and I encourage you to keep them coming. Together, we can continue to create something truly special and unforgettable.

So without further ado, let’s dive into this new episode and witness the unfolding of this unexpected twist. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next.

Thank you, and enjoy the show!

The evening breeze carried whispers across the dunes as I led my flock back to camp. My weathered hands gripped the wooden staff, its familiar texture a comfort after decades of shepherding. The bleating of sheep and soft padding of hooves in sand filled the cooling air.

Sarah waited at the entrance of our tent, her silver-streaked hair catching the last rays of sunlight.

“Another good day?”

Her warm smile eased the ache in my bones.

“The lambs grow strong.” I handed her a small pouch of dates I’d traded for wool at the merchant’s stop. “The desert provides.”

After sharing a simple meal with our clan, I walked beyond the circle of tents. The night sky stretched endless above me, a tapestry of light I’d studied since childhood. But lately, something felt different about the stars. Their dance across the heavens seemed to carry meaning beyond my understanding.

I settled onto a worn carpet, letting my gaze drift upward. The familiar constellations blazed with unusual intensity. Three stars pulsed in sequence, forming a pattern I’d never noticed before. My heart quickened as they seemed to beckon, like distant torches guiding a traveler home.

“Do you see something new in the stars tonight?”

Sarah’s voice startled me from my contemplation. She knew my habits well after all our years together.

“They speak differently now.” I gestured at the glittering expanse. “As if they’re trying to tell me something. Am I going mad in my old age?”

Sarah sat beside me, her shoulder warm against mine.

“The stars have always been your companions. Perhaps they’ve simply decided it’s time to share their secrets.”

I nodded, unable to explain the pull I felt from those distant lights. The sensation wasn’t frightening – more like recognizing a friend’s voice in a crowded marketplace. Something vast and ancient reached across the void, and for reasons I couldn’t grasp, it reached for me.

The next night, I guided my flock across the moonlit dunes. The sheep’s wool glowed silver under the stars, their shadows long and dark against the sand. My staff left deep impressions in the soft ground as I walked.

The air shifted. Every hair on my body stood on end. The desert wind, which had whispered constantly since sunset, died instantly. My flock froze mid-step, as if carved from stone. Even the sand beneath my feet seemed to hold its breath.

Then I heard it.

“ABRAM.”

“ABRAM… LISTEN TO MY VOICE! “

The voice crashed through me like thunder, yet carried the precision of a blade. It resonated in my bones, my skull, my very soul. A chorus of beings spoke as one, their words overlaid with sounds I’d never heard – like metal singing against metal… like the hum of crystal bowls… like the echo of countless voices in a vast chamber.

My knees buckled. The staff slipped from my grip as I fell forward, my palms pressing into the cool sand. The presence pressed down on me, vast and ancient and utterly alien. This was no mortal voice, no desert spirit or tribal deity.

“LOOK TO THE HEAVENS, ABRAM.”

I raised my trembling head. The stars blazed with impossible brightness, their light pulsing in rhythm with the voice. The constellations I’d known since childhood seemed to shift and dance, forming patterns that seared themselves into my mind.

The air crackled with energy. Each breath filled my lungs with something more than mere air – it felt thick with power, with purpose. My body shook, overwhelmed by sensations I had no words to describe.

“WE HAVE CHOSEN YOU.”

The voice emanated from everywhere and nowhere, from above and below, from within and without. It spoke with authority that transcended human understanding, each word resonating with multiple harmonics that seemed to pierce the veil between worlds.

I couldn’t move, my face pressed into the cool sand as the voice continued to resonate through my body. Then something caught my eye – a faint glow in the darkness. I lifted my head, squinting against an otherworldly light emanating from a desert bush several paces away.

The bush erupted in flames, but these were like no earthly fire I’d ever witnessed. Cold blue and violet light danced across the thorny branches, casting impossible shadows that moved against the wind. Despite the intense blaze, the leaves remained intact, not a single branch blackened or consumed.

“ARISE, ABRAM.”

I pushed myself to my knees, my limbs trembling. The cold fire pulsed in rhythm with the voice, each flicker sending waves of energy through the air that made my skin tingle.

“LEAVE THIS LAND OF YOUR FATHERS. JOURNEY TO THE PLACE I WILL SHOW YOU.”

My throat tightened. Leave? Everything I’d ever known – my tribe, our lands, our ways – lay behind me in the darkness. Yet as fear gripped me, something deeper stirred in my chest. A certainty I couldn’t explain bloomed like a desert flower after rain.

“I WILL MAKE OF YOU A GREAT NATION. YOUR SEED SHALL BE AS NUMEROUS AS THE STARS ABOVE. THROUGH YOU, ALL PEOPLES SHALL BE BLESSED.”

The weight of these words pressed down on me. How could I, a simple shepherd, father a nation? I was already past my prime, with no sons to carry on my name. But that pull in my chest grew stronger, drowning out my doubts.

“ABRAM.THROUGH YOU, ALL PEOPLES SHALL BE BLESSED.”

 This presence – this ONE TRUE GOD – spoke with authority beyond any tribal deity I’d known.

The cold flames surged higher, their light filling my vision. That invisible force tugged at my soul, urging me forward into unknown lands. Though my mind raced with questions, my heart had already accepted this impossible call.

I sat at the grand dining table in my underwater compound, savoring a lavish meal of roasted meats and aged wines. The tranquility of my domain was suddenly disrupted as my gauntlet came to life, glowing with an urgent message.

“My lord… I bring news.”

I eagerly leaned forward, my impatience palpable. “Excellent. How did it go?”

Ya-hé’s response was firm and unwavering.

“The special orders are now in place, and the plans are underway.”

I gripped the armrests of my chair, my heart racing with anticipation. “And?” I pressed, my tone demanding.

“It was a success… The human fish has bitten the bait.”

A triumphant grin spread across my face as I leaned back, taking a sip of my wine. “Excellent work, Ya-hé. The time has come to put my grand design into motion.”

My loyal soldier remained stoic, awaiting further instructions. I could sense the tension in the air, the weight of the task at hand palpable.

“Proceed as planned,” I commanded, my voice laced with a dangerous edge. “The Anunnaki will soon reclaim their rightful place, and the humans will know their true place as our subjects.”

Ya-hé’s holographic image flickered, his unwavering gaze meeting mine.

“It will be done, my lord.”

The transmission ended. I took another sip of wine, relishing the smooth, rich flavor. The time for compromise and negotiation was over.