PART 1

Erik stood with a stunned look of awe and shock, gazing at the two glowing cylinders hanging on the walls. There were dozens more but only two glowed the color of cyan, dimming then brightening again at ten-second intervals. Frost covered the tubes as mist gently fell to the ground around them.

“They're real.” Henry whispered, beside him.

“Take a look if you’d like.” Trygve waved them forward.

Henry was the first to move, excitement written on his face. He climbed up a small step ladder that had been crudely designed for this purpose. Kyburn moved to look into the second tube.

“I can’t believe this is happening.” Henry said with a pure grin. “Gus would be ecstatic to see this.”

“Indeed.” Kyburn mumbled as he stepped onto the ladder next to Henry.

“I can’t see in.” Henry said, sounding extremely disappointed.

“The frost on the glass is covering it.” Kyburn told him.

“Cup your hands and blow on it.” Trygve suggested. “Then wipe the spot away immediately.”

Kyburn and Henry did as they were told and blew on the glass for several seconds before wiping their arms over the opening.

Henry gasped in shock, while Kyburn’s jaw dropped open. Puzzlement was an understatement, which made Erik impatient to get a look of his own at these ancient humans. He’d always known. There was too much evidence and history behind their existence but still, seeing this ruin and the Ancients before him, seemed unreal.

“It’s a female.” Henry said, his face turning red an instant later.

“What is it?” Erik asked.

“She’s naked.” Henry gulped, pulling his gaze away.

“This one is male.” Kyburn reported. “Also naked. I envy you, Henry.”

“What?” he asked, but a moment later understanding dawned on him. “Oh.” Henry smiled shyly.

“You got the best view.” Kyburn smirked then chuckled aloud.

“Let me see.” Erik approached the female’s tank.

“Ah, I see what you’re doing.” Kyburn teased, winking at him. “Don’t get too excited.”

Erik ignored the comment with a grumble, as he climbed up but the frost had returned already. He quickly blew on the glass, fogging it up then wiped away the dew.

She was pale as a ghost and he couldn’t tell her hair color but she was stunning to look at. He couldn’t help himself from glancing downward.

“Told you.” Kyburn nudged Henry.

“They are beautiful aren’t they?” Trygve commented, pure admiration in his voice.

“Yes.” Erik whispered, stepping down. “They are magnificent. I never imagined they’d be this big.”

“Indeed. By my measurements, the male is nearly nine feet tall. As for the woman, she is just under eight feet.” Trygve informed them.

“They're nearly giants.” Erik said, his mouth slightly open in shock.

“I’m sure you all are quite curious as to how we will awake these magnificent beings?” Trygve praised them as if they were gods. “I have been researching them for the past twelve years and I am very close.”

“I can help.” Henry burst out. “That’s why I’m here after all.”

Henry must’ve finally felt that he could be useful after all this time hardly doing anything. Erik had a similar feeling himself. Though, a strange feeling washed over him, as if he knew something but couldn’t quite grasp it. Something wasn’t right, he could feel it growing in his mind.

“I’ll take all the help I can get.” Trygve said. “Hashem knows I could use it.” he muttered.

“How long-” Kyburn began to say but cut short, looking at Erik.

Erik felt a sharp pain, slowly building, clasping at his chest, he fell to one knee. “It’s happening.” he whispered before collapsing.

“Quick! Something to cover his eyes!” Kyburn shouted.

He fell to the ground hard, hitting his head, as he started convulsing uncontrollably and his vision blurred. Erik’s head started pounding and his sight went dark, his ears rang, unable to see or hear anything. He knew he was screaming but he couldn’t hear himself as images flashed into his mind. Feelings of relief and joy crashed over him which brought even more confusion. An image of a ruin flashed across his mind, along with other similar ones. He quickly realized he was seeing another ruin but not this one, possibly the one in Vori or any other, he couldn’t tell, the pain was too much.

Mumbled voices told him, Kyburn and Henry were standing over him but he knew he could do nothing.

A cylinder like the one he had just looked at flashed into his head. Glowing blue lights flashed in and out of vision, revealing a face for an instant then disappeared. The same name from before popped into his head. “Kaladin.”

Felkuru was moving somewhere, pressing something, then moving again. Alarm sounds blasted into his ears like high pitch screeching. A glowing table flew past his memory along with a blue and red button. Flashing lights continued to rush through his mind and he convulsed more, flailing his arms about. He saw a human, no, an Ancient standing over a glowing table, filled with symbols on the surface.

He felt two pairs of hands hold him down and more mumbles, his body shuddered in shock. His hand and arms shaking. Before he passed out a phrase repeated in his head.

“Emergency Override! Detonation Imminent!”

PART 2

Henry poured over the papers and notes on the table. He dove into the work easily and he felt at home doing so, finally feeling useful. Worrying had gotten him nowhere when Erik had his seizure and so he busied himself in work. Kyburn would stay with him for the time being which put his mind at ease.

What really bothered him the most, however, is the blood that poured from Erik’s nose as he convulsed. It had stopped the moment it was over but the fact the blood was coming out of his nose meant his brain was under enormous stress.

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If these seizures continued, Erik would die.

Henry shook his head and forced himself to focus. Erik would be fine, resting comfortably in a room provided for him. For now, he read through the pile of notes, drawings of symbols, and a language unknown to him.

“I am curious.” Trygve broke the silence in the glowing metal room. “Why was it so important for you to cover King Erik’s eyes?”

Henry hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Just a precaution.” he said lamely.

“A precaution for what?” he persisted.

Henry’s nerves suddenly shot through the roof, deciding to stand his ground, however, he turned to Trygve with a blank stare. “You have your secrets… we have ours.”

Trygve met his stare for several moments and Henry thought he would react poorly but a smirk reached his lips along with squinted eyes. “Fair enough.” the Regent relented.

Sighing in relief inwardly, Henry kept his breathing steady as not to give away his nervousness to the older man. He slowed his heart rate with calm intakes of air. To him, standing up to the Regent of Kligira was more than frightening. The room fell silent again as they both continued to compare symbols to one another.

Henry had brought several books from Gus Opin. Trygve had been reading them as they were new to him and may provide insight where he could not.

It was at this time that Trygve casually informed him that he knew Gus. Henry had a million questions but Trygve simply waved them off and continued his reading.

After hours of pouring over vast amounts of information and drawings, a symbol stuck out to him. It had been the same symbol several times, which piqued his interest.

“What do you know of this symbol here?” Henry asked Trygve who was leaning back in a chair, sipping tea from a mug. He stood, ending his short break, and looked to where Henry pointed.

“Hmm.” Trygve stroked his beard. “These are Armin’s notes. Before he died he said he was very close to solving something. But I’ve been over them a dozen times. I found nothing.”

“Can I see all of Armin’s notes?” Henry asked, a thought coming to mind. “Perhaps if we put these together it will form something.”

Henry shuffled several dozens of papers around, which he quickly realized, was nothing. He grumbled in frustration. “I thought I might’ve had something there.”

“Don’t be hard on yourself.” Trygve sat back down. “It happens. You get ideas and sometimes they work and… sometimes they don’t. It’s as simple as that.”

Henry gathered the papers into a stack and lifted them up. He noticed something then.

His eyes went wide and he lifted them up to the light. “T-Trygve… sir.” Henry stuttered.

“What is it?” he looked up from his reading.

“It's the symbol.” Henry whispered. “Here. Look.”

Trygve stumbled over several books that were strewn on the ground and looked at what Henry was holding up. His eyes also went wide.

“What is it?” Henry asked. “Does it mean anything to you?”

“I’m not entirely sure but I have this…” Trygve went over to the table, searching for something. “Got it.” he lifted it in triumph.

He brought it over to Henry, revealing a drawing, rectangle in shape but rough sketches of symbols within the borders. Henry tilted his head, trying to match it with the stack of papers in his hands.

“It looks like a... bell…” Henry trailed off. “What does it mean?”

“I-I-I’m not sure.” Trygve looked frustrated. “I don’t know what it means but we mustn’t lose hope. You discovered this puzzle in a few hours, imagine what you will discover in days or weeks.”

“Yes.” Henry sighed. “It means something and we can’t give up. I will do my best.”

“Come.” Trygve placed a hand on his shoulder, noticing Henry’s mood turn dark. “Let us take a break and rest our eyes, shall we?”

“Alright.” Henry rubbed his eyes. “I could use a break.”

“We can eat and visit your friend Erik as well.” Trygve led him from the ruin and into the cave.

The octagon-shaped door closed behind them with a hiss and the glowing blue lights dimmed as they departed, making their way back into the castle.

PART 3

“You found something?” Kyburn asked. “What was it?”

“Nothing, really.” Henry sighed in defeat. “Just shapes and weird symbols.”

Kyburn was sitting in a cushioned chair next to a bed, where Erik lay still unconscious whereas Henry stood pacing. The room was comfortable and roomy, giving them ample space to eat, drink and have a much-needed break.

“What symbols?” Kyburn questioned, lifting his eyes from the book in his hands.

“We put together a puzzle of sorts but it didn’t turn out to be anything. That’s when I stacked them together and saw them in the light.” Henry shrugged. “It was a symbol of a bell.”

“A… bell?” Kyburn frowned. “What kind of bell?”

“A drawing of a bell.” Henry dropped his hand in frustration. “I don’t know, sir.” sitting down in his own chair, he rubbed his temples in circles.

“Don’t worry, Henry. You’ll get it. I know you will.” Kyburn raised his hands. “I know it's frustrating now but I believe in you, son.”

Henry looked up, his words encouraging him. “Thank you.” He sighed but the long hours of reading had taxed his strength.

“It’s past midnight.” Kyburn said. “You should get some rest before the sun comes up. I’ll wake you at dawn.”

“I-I can’t. I need to keep working.” Henry protested.

“Henry.” Kyburn’s voice turned stern and commanding. “That’s an order. Get some rest. You’ll have all day tomorrow to occupy your time. It won’t do you any good if you're exhausted.”

PART 4

Two days passed without progress, endless hours of reading and reading. Henry’s head hurt from it all. When all hope seemed lost, he finally put some of the words together.

Trygve helped him tremendously but Henry knew the Regent wasn’t entirely cut out for this work, neither was he for that matter. Henry loved reading and studying but when it came to deciphering a dead language, he felt completely out of his depth.

However, they pushed on, working together and having odd conversations in between breaks which made an impression on him. The topic of the war came up often, one which Henry was very familiar with but hearing it from the Kligirian perspective. It reminded him of what Kyburn had said during their journey here.

Professor Gould once said something to him, “History is written by the victors.” Looking back on that now, Henry knew now more than ever how true that statement was.

According to Trygve, Vulkira started the war, not Kligira but he found that hard to believe. Xer had stepped in and saved Vulkira, keeping the Kligirans from their justice. He supposed some of what he said could hold truth but he may have been trying to confuse him to be more sympathetic to them. Henry found it easier to see it in black and white, however, he put it out of his mind and focused on deciphering Armin’s notes.

Hours passed by and Trygve yawned and retired for the night, leaving Henry to himself. Sitting in a chair with an enormous stack of books beside him, Henry went through book after book. Scanning their contents, full of knowledge and mystery, some of which Henry had seen in Gus’s own notes and research but this far outweighed anything Gus had in Zulin.

Finishing another book, Henry jerked his elbow in an attempt to grab another book but accidentally knocked the entire stack over with his clumsiness. Sighing heavily, Henry bent over and began stacking them again but far enough away this time, as to not repeat his earlier mishap. He stopped suddenly, gazing at a book under the table on which most of Trygve’s books were placed.

At the corner of his eye, Henry noticed a small sketchbook lying on the ground mostly obscured by other books and papers. Getting up he crawled under the table, brushing the other books aside to snatch up the sketchbook. It had a plain black cover, no writing on the front or back. Opening the first page, he saw several drawings and scribbles of the ruin and items inside.

It was a three-dimensional drawing of the room he was standing in, shape and size along with the floor patterns in the steel. The metal room seemed to come alive in this drawing, the detail was breathtaking. Henry inwardly thought of using this for the history books and how much Gus Opin would love to see all this.

Returning to his chair, Henry continued to flip through the pages, he came across a drawing of the same bell from before. It was colored red this time but wasn’t in three dimensions like the rest of the pictures. Two dimensional and plain, it was odd comparing it to the rest of the book.

He kept flipping the pages and stopping on one, in particular, his mouth dropping wide open. Leaning down to get a closer look, Henry couldn’t believe his eyes.

Jumping out of his seat he ran for the hatch that led to the castle, leaving the cold room behind, the door closed after him. Sketchbook in hand, Henry sprinted through the cave and climbed up the hatch, and made his way into the small corridor, reaching the familiar stone floor castle.

“Erik has to see this.” Henry thought, rushing as fast as he could to his room.