Draft of Excalibur's Discovery
Title: The Vanishing Artifact
Chapter One: The Discovery
New York City, 2023. Sarah Thompson, an art curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was going through her usual routine when she stumbled upon something strange in the archives. A small wooden box, carved with intricate patterns and a single word - 'Excalibur.' It didn't belong to any known artifact collection.
Sarah's curiosity piqued; she decided to investigate further. She found no records of this box or its history within the museum. Determined to uncover the truth, she contacted Detective Jack Harper from the NYPD, who was known for his expertise in rare artifacts and historical mysteries.
Chapter Two: The Investigation Begins
Detective Harper met Sarah at the museum, where they examined the box together. Inside were several items of unknown origin: a sword handle with a strange symbol, a pendant resembling a lion's head, and a fragment of parchment.
Harper suggested they start by interviewing employees who had access to the archives recently. Their first lead was an intern, Emily Wilson, who claimed she hadn't touched anything out of the ordinary. However, Sarah noticed something peculiar in her demeanor.
Chapter Three: The Clue
During a break, Harper and Sarah visited the intern's apartment under the pretense of discussing the case further. Inside, they found a hidden compartment containing a journal written by Emily. It revealed that she had stolen the box as part of a plan to sell it on the black market.
The next morning, the police apprehended Emily at her meeting with a buyer. As she was being taken away, Sarah approached her and asked about the symbol on the sword handle. Emily hesitated but finally admitted it was meant to represent the legendary Excalibur of King Arthur's legend. The museum staff would later confirm that the artifact indeed had historical significance.
Chapter Four: Resolution
With Emily's confession and the recovered artifacts, Sarah felt a mix of relief and excitement. She knew the case was closed, but also realized how much more there was to learn about these ancient relics. Detective Harper praised her for her detective skills during the investigation. As they parted ways, he handed over a small token - a replica of the Excalibur handle, thanking Sarah for her help.
The story of the missing artifact would now be documented in the museum's archives, leaving behind a tale of mystery and discovery.
Draft Review of Excalibur's Discovery
The draft is well-structured, with clear character development and an engaging plot. The narrative pacing is good, keeping the reader invested in the unfolding mystery. However, there are some areas for improvement to enhance clarity and depth.
Content:
- The introduction of the wooden box could be more detailed to create a stronger initial impact.
- Adding historical context about Excalibur would enrich the story's world-building.
Style:
- Sentence structure can vary to maintain reader engagement. Longer, more descriptive sentences can help build tension in certain sections.
- Use of foreshadowing is effective but could be further integrated into the dialogue and narrative.