In the bustling marketplace of Timbuktu, a curious boy named Mamadou loved to listen to his mother Ama's tales of ancient civilizations. With his bright brown eyes wide with wonder, he'd sit for hours, entranced by stories of brave warriors and wise leaders. One evening, as the sun dipped into the Sahara Desert, Ama handed Mamadou a mysterious amulet with strange symbols etched onto its surface.