Alexander imagined Syria, a country torn apart by war, a country where the ruins of cities coexist with ancient monuments, where despair and hope are intertwined in a bizarre pattern. He saw in his imagination the burnt-out skeletons of houses, the walls riddled with bullets, the tearful faces of women and children who had lost everything. He heard the roar of planes, the whistle of falling bombs, the cries of the wounded and the mourning for the dead. He felt the smell of burning, blood, and death hanging in the air. Syria appeared to him not just as a geographical point on the map, but as a living organism, bleeding, suffering, and fighting for survival. The upcoming journey seemed to him like a road to hell, a journey into the very heart of darkness. Shivers ran down his skin at the very thought of it. He understood that they were facing not just an adventure, but a real struggle for survival in a world where there is no place for mercy and compassion.

Alexander did not argue, although anxiety and fear squeezed his heart in an icy fist. He understood that he, in essence, had no choice. He had voluntarily linked his fate with these two people, trusted them, trusted his intuition, which suggested that they knew the answers to the questions that tormented him. He trusted, in the end, his faith that he was on the right track, that he must go this path to the end, despite all the dangers and difficulties.

The road to Damascus took almost the entire day. They drove through desolate landscapes, scarred by war, past dilapidated villages, abandoned cars, and checkpoints where armed men in dirty uniforms suspiciously examined their documents. Alexander felt the tension rising with every kilometer, as the air thickened, as if before astorm. He saw in the eyes of Amir and David the same anxiety, the same determination as in his own. They were driving into the very heart of the war, into a city where death lurked at every corner, and each of them understood this.

At the border, they were stopped by soldiers, dressed in battered uniforms, their faces, exhausted by the war, expressed no emotions. Riflemen warily watched their every movement, as if expecting a trick. They carefully checked the documents, meticulously studying every seal, every signature, as if looking for the slightest discrepancy. They asked tricky questions, trying to expose lies, provoking mistakes. Alexander tried to remain calm, maintain a composed appearance, not betraying his inner turmoil, which was ready to burst out. He felt sweat trickling down his back, his mouth drying up, his heart pounding wildly, ready to jump out of his chest. He understood that their life depended on their composure and ability to convince. Fortunately, after long and agonizing minutes of waiting, everything was fine. The soldiers, finding nothing suspicious, reluctantly returned their documents and let them through. Alexander sighed in relief, feeling the tension slowly receding.

By evening, they reached Damascus. The city was full of refugees fleeing the war.

The streets of Damascus were filled with chaos and poverty, a picture as if descended from the canvases of apocalyptic artists. Destroyed buildings, yawning with black voids of windows, resembled skulls eaten away by time, silently testifying to the destructive power of war. Piles of garbage, dumped right on the sidewalks, blocked the way, exuding a suffocating stench of rotting organic matter and burned plastic. Children, barefoot and dressed in rags, rummaged through these wastes, like hungry chicks, looking for at least something edible. Their faces, smeared with dirt, expressed unchildlike fatigue and despair.

Alexander stopped near one of the piles of garbage, unable to tear his gaze away from a little girl, desperately fighting a dirty dog for a scrap of bread. «Amir, look,» he whispered, feeling a lump rise in his throat. «We have to do something.»

Amir sighed heavily, looking at this scene. «We can’t help everyone, Alexander,» he replied. «If we give money to every needy person, we will be robbed, and it won’t help them. What’s needed here is not handouts, but peace.»

David approached them, holding two bottles of water. «I saw a shop nearby,» he said. «I bought water and some bread. It’s a little, but it’s better than nothing.»

He went to the girl and offered her bread and water. The girl, looking around in fright, grabbed the food and immediately disappeared into one of the back alleys.

Nearby, on the rubble of a destroyed building, sat an old man, a legless invalid, playing an old, out-of-tune violin. His playing was sad and monotonous, as if lamenting the dead city.

«What’s wrong with him?» Alexander asked.

«He lost his legs in a bombing,» Amir replied. «Now he plays in the streets, trying to earn a piece of bread.»

«Do we have anything?» Alexander asked, turning to David.

David took out a few bills from his pocket and put them in the old man’s outstretched hand. The old man nodded gratefully, continuing to play his sad melody.

Armed men stood on every corner, dressed in uniforms of different colors, symbolizing warring factions. They suspiciously looked at passers-by, ready to use weapons at any moment. Alexander felt like an uninvited guest in this world of suffering, as if he had invaded someone else’s tragedy, as if he was not worthy of this grief. He felt ashamed of his well-fed and peaceful life, of the world that he had left behind.

«We must be careful,» Amir repeated, looking around with concern. «It’s dangerous here. This city is a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. We need to find a safe place, hide from prying eyes, and contact our people. They will help us get to the monastery.»

Amir and David brought Alexander to an old, dilapidated house in one of the poorest and most abandoned quarters of Damascus. The house seemed to breathe history, but this history was full of suffering and deprivation. Cracks spread like cobwebs across the walls, peeling paint exposed the brickwork, and crooked windows with broken glass let in drafts and the noise of the city. Here, in a cramped room, furnished with old, worn furniture, they were to spend several days, preparing for a further, even more dangerous journey. The room smelled of dampness, mold, and dust; it seemed as if time had stopped here.

«We will be safe here,» Amir assured, examining the room. «No one will look for us in this godforsaken place. No one will find us here. The locals keep to themselves and don’t like strangers, so we won’t attract attention. Try not to go outside unless necessary and don’t talk to strangers. The less attention we draw to ourselves, the better.»

Alexander looked around. The room really seemed gloomy and uncomfortable, like a reflection of the hopelessness that reigned outside its walls. The dim light, penetrating through the dirty windows, thickened the shadows, making the objects even more sinister. The old furniture, covered with a layer of dust, seemed alien and uncomfortable. In the corner stood a lopsided closet, from which the paint was peeling, and stains of mold were visible on the walls. The smell of dampness and mustiness permeated everything, penetrating clothes and skin. But Alexander didn’t care. After what he had experienced, after the escape from under the Temple Mount, after a road full of dangers and deprivations, this room seemed to him like a paradise. The main thing was that he was alive. And he was on his way to his goal, to solving the mystery that occupied all his thoughts. The gloomy surroundings did not matter, because his spirit burned with a thirst for knowledge, and nothing could stop him.

In the evening, when it got dark and the room was plunged into twilight, lit only by the dim light of a kerosene lamp, David brought several old books and scrolls, tied with a yellowed rope. He put them on the table, covered with dust and crumbs, and looked at Alexander with a serious expression on his face.

«Here,» he said, handing them to Alexander. «Study. Here you will find answers to your questions. Here are collected ancient texts, legends, and traditions that can shed light on the mystery of the symbols we saw under the Temple Mount. But be careful, Alexander. This knowledge can be dangerous. It can change your perception of the world, of religion, of life itself. Be prepared for what you learn may shock and disappoint you. And most importantly, don’t tell anyone about it. We don’t know who can be trusted and who cannot.»

Alexander took the books and began to examine them. These were ancient texts in different languages: Arabic, Greek, Latin. Some of them were handwritten, others were printed on old printing presses.

«What are these books?» Alexander asked

«These are books about ancient religions, about mystical teachings, about secret societies,» David replied. «In them you will find mentions of those symbols that we saw at the excavations.»

Alexander, with a sinking heart, opened one of the books. Its pages were yellowed with age, inscribed in calligraphic handwriting in ancient Aramaic. With each page, he was captured by the world of ancient secrets and mysteries, a world full of mysticism and mythology.

The first lines described the legend of King Solomon, who, according to legends, possessed not only wisdom, but also power over the jinn, the spirits of the desert. The book claimed that Solomon built the First Temple not only as a place of worship to God, but also as a repository of ancient knowledge, passed down from generation to generation from Adam himself.

The book stated: «King Solomon, may blessings be upon him, was not only famous for his wisdom, but also for his power over the jinn, the spirits of the desert. And he erected the First Temple not only as a place of worship to the Most High, but also as a repository of secret knowledge, passed down from Adam, our ancestor, from generation to generation.»

Further on, there were descriptions of various symbols, many of which were familiar to Alexander from Christian and Islamic iconography: the cross, the crescent, the Star of David, the Eye of Horus… But in the book, as if in a mirror, they appeared in a different light, their usual meanings disintegrated, revealing new, deeper, and more unexpected meanings. Each symbol, like a key, opened the door to a labyrinth of ancient knowledge, forcing a rethinking of familiar concepts of faith and the universe. But in the book, they were given a different, deeper meaning.

The Star of David, for example, was considered not just as a generally accepted Jewish symbol, but as a graphic representation of the deepest cosmogonic principle. Two equilateral triangles, one pointing apex upwards, and the other – downwards, symbolized the interaction of male and female principles, active and passive, heavenly and earthly. The upper triangle, representing the masculine principle, symbolized the striving for the spiritual, for ascension, for the knowledge of higher truths. The lower triangle, representing the feminine principle, symbolized the material world, acceptance, fertility, and connection with the earth. The connection of these two triangles into a single figure, the Star of David, symbolized harmony and balance, the achievement of perfection through the unification of opposites. It was not just a decoration, but a living mantra, a formula of the universe, enclosed in graphic form.»

The crescent moon, traditionally revered as a symbol of Islam, appeared in the book not simply as an indication of the lunar calendar or a connection with the moon goddess of ancient Arab beliefs. It was interpreted as a symbol of knowledge, as a bowl ready to receive the wisdom of the Universe. The curved shape of the crescent moon symbolized receptivity, openness to new knowledge and experience. It was presented as a vessel filled with the light of spiritual truth, as a reflection of divine wisdom in the human consciousness. The crescent moon was not just a sign of faith, but an invitation to constant searching, to tireless self-improvement, and to the pursuit of knowledge of the mysteries of the universe. It was a symbol of the disciple, ready to listen and absorb knowledge, as the earth absorbs life-giving moisture.

The crescent moon, traditionally revered as a symbol of Islam, appeared in the book not simply as an indication of the lunar calendar or a connection with the moon goddess of ancient Arab beliefs. It was interpreted as a symbol of knowledge, as a bowl ready to receive the wisdom of the Universe. The curved shape of the crescent moon symbolized receptivity, openness to new knowledge and experience. It was presented as a vessel filled with the light of spiritual truth, as a reflection of divine wisdom in the human consciousness. The crescent moon was not just a sign of faith, but an invitation to constant searching, to tireless self-improvement, and to the pursuit of knowledge of the mysteries of the universe. It was a symbol of the disciple, ready to listen and absorb knowledge, as the earth absorbs life-giving moisture.

And finally, concerning the symbol seen beneath the Temple Mount, the book stated: «This is the Key to Unity, a seal that binds all Abrahamic lineages. For Abraham, our forefather, was one, and the God whom he served is one. Various are the paths leading to Him, but the goal is one. And this symbol, like a bridge, connects the shores of different faiths, reminding us of brotherhood and a common heritage. He who sees its true meaning will find peace in his soul and understand that there is no enmity between the children of Abraham, but only misunderstanding, which can be overcome with love and wisdom.»

Special attention in the book was paid to the symbol engraved in the depths of the dungeons of the Temple Mount. It was described as the «Key to Unity,» as a graphic expression of the very essence of the Divine plan, as a symbol uniting all Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It pointed to their common roots, to the fact that they all originate from one source – the faith of Abraham, and that, despite differences in rituals and dogmas, they all ultimately lead to the same God, to the single source of the universe.

The book claimed that this symbol was deliberately hidden from human eyes, carefully guarded by secret societies, and kept in the depths of centuries. Its concealment was explained by the fact that its discovery could undermine the foundations of religious authority, destroy carefully constructed hierarchies, and lead to a rethinking of all of human history. If people realized that all religions, in essence, spoke of the same thing, that their differences were only a matter of interpretation and cultural context, then the need for wars and conflicts on religious grounds would disappear. But this was precisely the danger for those who ruled the world, manipulating the religious feelings of people. Disunity is easier to control, and unity carries within it the power to change the world.

Reading these lines, Alexander felt a wave of delight and fear sweeping over him, like a seafarer feels awe before the unknown, discovering new lands that promise riches and dangers. He felt that he was approaching a solution, that he stood on the threshold of a discovery capable of changing the world, just as a spark is capable of igniting dry gunpowder. But he also understood that this discovery could be dangerous, that it could provoke the anger of those who are interested in preserving the existing order, just as the light of day is hateful to those who are used to living in darkness.

But he also understood that the closer he got to the truth, the more dangers lay in wait for him. In this world, where the interests of religions and political forces collide, the truth can cost life, like a sip of water in the desert, for which they are ready to kill. Alexander leafed through the pages, plunging into the world of ancient symbols, like a diver into the depths of the ocean, in search of treasures hidden on the bottom.

He saw images of crosses, crescents, stars, the sun, snakes, the tree of life. All these symbols were found in different cultures and religions, but they had something in common.

The book stated: «The cross is not only a symbol of the crucifixion, but also a symbol of the union of Heaven and Earth, the spiritual and the material, the masculine and the feminine. It is the axis of the world around which the entire Universe revolves, the point of intersection of all paths leading to God.»

And further: «The crescent is not only a sign of the moon, but also a symbol of transformation, transfiguration, rebirth. It is the cradle of new life, a chalice filled with divine nectar, a reflection of the light of truth in the mirror of the soul.»

About the star, the book said: «The star is not only a celestial luminary, but also a symbol of hope, a guiding thread leading the wanderer to his goal. It is a spark of divine fire in the heart of man, a reminder of his heavenly origin.»

And about the sun: «The sun is not only a source of light and heat, but also a symbol of divine reason, enlightenment, knowledge. It is the eye of God, seeing all, giving life and prosperity to all living things.»

And finally, about the snake and the tree of life: «The snake, entwining the tree of life, is a symbol of wisdom, knowledge of good and evil, temptation and transformation. The tree, however, is a symbol of immortality, eternal life, the connection of generations, growth and development.»

And in conclusion: «For symbols are the language of the gods, keys to understanding the universe. He who learns to read them will find wisdom and know the truth.»

David and Amir silently watched him with a strange expression in their eyes. Alexander felt that they knew more than they were saying.

«What do these symbols mean?» Alexander asked, looking up from reading, as if awakened from a deep sleep. His eyes glittered feverishly, reflecting the dim light of the lamp and the gleam of the ancient secrets opening to him. He looked around the room, as if seeking confirmation of his conjectures.