A gigantic stone column loomed over a vast, alien landscape, its sheer size defying human comprehension. Carved into the very stone was a city, its spiraling streets and cascading architecture a testament to the ingenuity of its inhabitants. The entire structure pulsed with an otherworldly energy as the Anthropos rushed about in preparation for the impending celebration.

Vibrant ornaments adorned every surface, their colors shifting and changing in ways that made the human eye struggle to focus. Kinetic structures dotted the landscape, each one producing haunting melodies that seemed to bypass the ear and resonate directly within the mind.

Evelynn stood at the edge of a precipice, her hands on her hips as she surveyed the scene below. The apparatus on her head hummed softly, translating the cacophony of sights and sounds into something her human brain could process without searing pain.

“So this is the celebration they’ve been mentioning non-stop,” she remarked, her voice a mixture of awe and skepticism.

Beside her, Ed furiously scribbled in a notebook, her brow furrowed in concentration. “I’d say it’s not quite up to Earth standards, this whole thing,” she muttered, more to herself than to her companions.

Abdullah, ever the scholar, peered over Ed’s shoulder at her notes. Unable to resist the urge to lecture, he nudged her gently. “Aliquis in omnibus est nullus in singulis, young lady,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Ed sighed, her patience wearing thin after months of Abdullah’s attempts at mentorship. “This isn’t Latin, I take my notes in English, just the alphabets… are similar. Also, I don’t know Latin. What does that mean?”

“Never mind,” Abdullah replied, his attempt at imparting wisdom once again falling flat. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment, but he pushed it aside. In this new world, perhaps old knowledge wasn’t as valuable as he’d once thought.

Erlik, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, spoke up. “I will be heading to the lodge,” he announced, his voice tinged with anxiety. The overwhelming stimulus of the alien city seemed to be taking its toll on him.

“Do you know where it is?” Evelynn asked, her tone softening slightly as she noticed Erlik’s discomfort.

“No, but it should be manageable,” Erlik replied, squaring his shoulders as if preparing for battle, Evelynn choose to not his way despite his comical mannerism.

Evelynn started walking towards a set of stairs after Erlik, her stride purposeful and confident, imitating Erlik without him noticing with a gleeful attitude. As she moved, she waved at the passing Anthropos, who returned her greetings with what appeared to be smiles.

“I really like how gullible and innocent these creatures are,” Evelynn mused, a hint of mischief in her voice. “You can talk to any of them. Did I mention I kicked the asses of some of them when I first arrived here?”

Abdullah’s eyes widened in horror, as he catched up to them. “You did?” he asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and fear.

“Only you, a rude and violent person, can think something like that against our benefactors,” Abdullah continued, his tone growing stern. “I urge you – no, I strictly urge you be respectful towards them.”

Evelynn shrugged, eyeing Abdullah with a mixture of amusement and disdain. “Why the hell should I do that? And what are you going to do if I’m not?” She knew Abdullah hesitated to escalate against her, and she wasn’t above using intimidation to keep him in check.

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Abdullah’s face darkened, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I know things that you cannot even grasp with that empty skull of yours,” he responded, his eyes darting around to see if any Anthropos had overheard their exchange.

As the tension between Evelynn and Abdullah threatened to boil over, Ed stepped between them, pointing at something in the distance. Before Evelynn could respond, she found herself face-to-face with an enormous Anthropos.

The figure towered over them, its form a bizarre mix of asymmetry and raw power. One arm was longer than the other, both rippling with muscles that seemed to move in ways that defied human anatomy as if expanding and contracting. His legs were thick and sturdy, planted firmly on the ground as if it could weather any storm.

Most striking of all was its face – or rather, the lack thereof. A bone-like mask covered its features, smooth and featureless, giving no hint of the being’s thoughts or emotions.

Evelynn stumbled backward, her usual bravado momentarily shaken. The massive Anthropos, sensing their fear, gestured apologetically, its thoughts resonating directly in their minds.

“I am sorry if I bothered you. I will go on my way.”

As the figure turned to leave, Ed surprised them all by calling out. “Wait!” she cried, her voice tinged with a mixture of fear and curiosity. “We’re trying to find our lodgings. Could you help us?”

The Anthropos paused, considering her request. “Of course,” it said, this time using its voice rather than telepathy. “But as you see, I have a task, urgent.”

Ed’s face fell in disappointment, but she nodded in understanding, her academic interest clearly triumphed over her common sense. As if on cue, another Anthropos approached, gesturing for them to follow.

As they trailed behind their new guide, Ed and Abdullah exchanged meaningful glances.

“He seemed very far away when I was pointing at him…” Ed whispered. They had both felt it – the aura of power emanating from the massive Anthropos. It was as if its body was larger than it appeared, its presence extending beyond the physical realm. Ed was clearly fascinated and showed it while Abdullah tried to keep his expression straight.

They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they tried to process the encounter. The black rock of the column surrounded them, the carved corridor seeming to pulse with an inner light.

Finally, they arrived at a house, or a cave considering all of the structures were carved into this giant column, that would serve as their temporary lodging. Their guide assured them that they would not be disturbed and that their needs would be provided for. As the Anthropos left, the four humans found themselves alone once more.

At the center of the room, a green fire danced in a pit carved into the floor. Stone chairs, ornately decorated with pillows and tassels, encircled the flame. Without a word, they each claimed a seat, letting the alien warmth wash over them.

As they stared into the hypnotic dance of the green flames, they found the chance to let go of the tension accumulated in their bodies and minds. Weight of their situation settled upon them once more but not as heavy. They had come so far from that first meeting in the velvet room, yet in many ways, they did not felt just as lost and overwhelmed as they had been then.

Evelynn broke the silence, her voice uncharacteristically soft. “Do you ever wonder if we made the right choice? Coming here, I mean.”

Ed looked up from her notebook, her pen paused mid-sentence. “Do we really have a choice?” she asked, her tone a mixture of resignation and curiosity.

Abdullah stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Perhaps the choice is not in our circumstances, but in how we face them,” he mused, his scholar’s mind already seeking wisdom in their bizarre situation.

Erlik, who had been quiet for so long, finally spoke. “In my homeland, we believed that every journey, no matter how strange, had a purpose,” he said, his eyes never leaving the green flame. “I am certain that I’m here for something, and I know that we are here to learn, to grow in ways…”

“In ways… question is in what ways…” Abdullah trailed off after Erlik abruptly cut his sentence incomplete.

As the fire crackled and danced, casting long shadows across their alien lodgings, the four humans fell into a contemplative silence. They were bound together by circumstance, four souls from different times and places, united in their struggle to understand this new world and their place in it.

The celebration loomed before them, promising answers but also hinting at even greater mysteries to come. As they sat around the fire, they let tomorrow’s worries to their tomorrow-selves.