From the opening of the door of this ancient ruin to this moment, Dr. Adrien had experienced more shocks than in his entire career. The main reason the royal academy had sent only two researchers and six knights was largely due to the fact that they hadn't placed significant importance on this ruin. The Mu civilization, which preceded the kingdom of Lionnes, had the unfortunate habit of leaving no valuable magical artifacts or gold behind.
Yet, what they had discovered here defied all expectations. The successive discoveries in this ruin were far beyond what anyone could have imagined.
Their shock was not exaggerated. How would you react if you discovered a being from ancient times capable of living until today? For an archaeologist, the first desire would be to delve into the mind of this being, to read its memories, and elucidate the mysteries of ancient times. Then would come the interest in its immortality.
Immortality! A word from legends, now incarnated before them. For Adrien and Clara, it was a stunning revelation, an opportunity to uncover lost truths and forgotten secrets. Their minds swirled with questions and theories, but one overriding thought consumed them: what this being had seen, lived, and learned over its prolonged life could forever change their understanding of history and magic.
Clara stared at the immobile figure. Despite the appearance of sleep or deep meditation, something in her told her that this being was indeed alive. It was incomprehensible! The most powerful mages in this world could only live up to two hundred years at most. What, then, was this sight before her?
With hearts pounding, the archaeologists knew they had discovered something infinitely precious and potentially dangerous. Their academic curiosity conflicted with a visceral fear and profound reverence for this mysterious being.
Adrien nervously stepped towards the being in front of him, his footsteps lightly echoing in the silent grand hall. With palpable hesitation, he introduced himself, aware that the being before him might not understand his language:
"Uh... Hello," he began with a slightly trembling voice. "I am Dr. Adrien, and this is Dr. Clara. We... we are here to study this ancient ruin and understand its history. We... we hope you can help us understand this place."
The silence persisted, and he realized his own stupidity. The Lionnes language was only a thousand years old, vaguely resembling the ancient language of the kingdom of Solaris, which shared the Aurora continent with Lionnes.
Captain Roland, standing behind Adrien, advised him in a low voice not to rush. "Don't do anything hastily," he murmured. "We should return for reinforcements and report this discovery to the kingdom of Lionnes first."
Adrien, eyes fixed on the silhouette, replied with determination: "But he is in front of us. Let's try to communicate first. We can't abandon the greatest discovery of the world at our fingertips."
Roland, frowning, insisted: "We don't know the person in front of us, nor his capabilities, nor his reaction. We can't risk such an initiative."
Clara, though dying of curiosity, agreed with the captain's words and tried to convince Adrien: "He's right, Adrien. We need to be careful. It would be wise to seek reinforcements and return better prepared."
After several moments of hesitation, Adrien kept his gaze fixed on this mystical entity, which hadn't moved since their arrival. The silhouette seemed capable of remaining thus, motionless, for another million years. The tension in the hall was palpable, each second stretching time.
Finally, Adrien sighed and slowly stepped back. "Alright," he said reluctantly, "we will seek reinforcements. But we must return quickly. This discovery is too important to wait."
Adrien continued, "But let's order the five other knights to stay in front of the ruin's door to avoid any incidents."
Roland agreed, reminding everyone, "Avoid looking at the frescoes on the walls. We don't know what might still occur. Let's stay cautious."
The knights nodded, their gaze fixed on the seated entity, motionless like an ancient statue in the majestic hall. Carefully, they began to turn around, stepping back towards the entrance door. The clinking of their armor echoed in the oppressive silence, broken only by the archaeologists' held breaths.
Reaching the door, they quickened their pace, briefly glancing back down the now-mystery-laden corridor. Every detail, every shadow seemed to have acquired a sinister intensity since their entry.
On their way back, Clara broke the tense silence: "Don't you find it colder here now?"
Adrien gravely nodded, also feeling the subtle but palpable change in the atmosphere. "We need to get out of here as quickly as possible," he murmured, his thoughts already turning to everyone's safety.
After what seemed an eternity, but was only a minute's walk through the underground maze, they finally emerged into the open air. To their surprise, a group of villagers awaited them, immediately recognizing the Lionnes knights' insignias embroidered on the visitors' tunics.
The village men wore thick linen tunics, dyed in earthy shades and green, some adorned with simple hand-woven patterns. They donned coarse wool trousers and worn leather shoes, their calloused hands showing signs of a life spent working the fields. The women, wrapped in lighter linen dresses, wore simple veils or wool bonnets, their faces marked by sun and wind.
The villagers' gazes oscillated between curiosity and respect, mixed with a hint of wariness. To them, the Lionnes knights represented a distant and mysterious authority, often invoked in village tales and legends. Now, they stood there, real and imposing, confirming the existence of worlds beyond their small community.
Some villagers murmured among themselves, exchanging intrigued glances and whispering questions about the strange objects the visitors carried, like polished armor and gleaming steel-tipped swords. It was a scene of contrast between the simple customs of village life and the imposing presence of the knights, each equally but differently fascinated by the other.
Roland stepped forward with a serious expression toward the group of villagers who watched them with curiosity. Among them, an old man with a face marked by years slightly detached himself from the others, seeming to be the village chief. He exchanged hesitant looks with his neighbors before speaking in a trembling but determined voice.
"Excuse me, knights of Lionnes," he began, his hoarse voice carrying the region's characteristic accent. "We know you came here to visit this ancient ruin, but... does this place present a danger to us?"
After hearing the villager's question and perceiving their concern, Roland sighed slightly. He straightened up, adjusted his armor with a slight clink, then spoke in a calm but firm voice: "We have not yet completed our exploration, but this area must now be considered dangerous and strictly reserved for the army and the royal academy."
The villagers listened attentively, their faces expressing both curiosity and a touch of fear in the face of this mystery now guarded by the Lionnes knights.
After the villagers departed, heavy with worry about the continuation of their peaceful lives, Roland solemnly turned to the two archaeologists. He asked them to follow him while he and Dr. Adrien mounted their horses. Clara took another horse, leaving behind supplies for the knights now assigned to strict surveillance of the ruin.
Three hours after their departure, the group made a brief rest stop in a small plain crossed by a sparkling river. The place, with its tall grass and wildflowers, offered a welcome tranquility after the intensity of their discovery. The horses were left to graze while Roland, Adrien, and Clara sat near the water, taking time to reflect on what they had just experienced. The gentle murmurs of the river and the birdsong created a peaceful atmosphere, sharply contrasting with the mystical and unsettling aura of the ruin they had just left.
Clara Dumont, breaking the silence, asked, "I know you think so too, but I need to say it. Could this being be immortal?"
Roland replied, "Is it possible that it's just someone who visited the tomb before us?"
Adrien shook his head. "Impossible," he said. "First, the door was covered with a thick layer of dust, indicating it hadn't been opened for centuries. Second, there was no oil lamp next to him, which would have been necessary for anyone exploring this tomb. Additionally, he left no trace of dirt when walking, whereas any visitor would have inevitably dirtied the ground. Lastly, his robe is completely different from our customs, of a style and material we no longer know. All this indicates he is not a mere explorer like us."
Roland continued to ask, as it was too hard for him to believe: "So he could just be a skeleton? We didn't see him from the front."
Adrien refuted this hypothesis with certainty. "That's highly unlikely," he said. "A skeleton, even perfectly preserved, couldn't maintain a seated position so immobile and stable. Ligaments and tendons decompose quickly after death, making it impossible for bones to remain in position. Not to mention that the balance of a skeleton is extremely precarious. Without a muscular structure to support it, it would inevitably collapse. Moreover, the fact that he sits perfectly straight and symmetrical suggests a vitality or inner strength far beyond what a mere skeleton could manifest. All this indicates he is much more than just a corpse."
Silence fell, then Roland, still stubborn in his worldview, continued: "Then why didn't he move, nor react to our presence, nor to your voice, professor?"
Clara, hesitantly, said: "Maybe he despised us and didn't bother to speak."
Adrien shook his head: "Highly improbable. I don't see why someone who hasn't seen the world in a long time would appear indifferent to a new civilization."
Roland replied, feeling threatened in his conviction: "Maybe he knew us and lived in our society without us knowing?"
Dr. Adrien Leclerc firmly refuted, "Impossible! The door was in the middle of the mountain. If it hadn't been partially collapsed, it would have remained hidden for another thousand years. There was no way in or out."
Dr. Adrien continued, "Perhaps he was simply asleep? Plunged into a slumber from which he couldn't awaken?"
A heavy silence settled as they each absorbed their thoughts. Yet, a common, undeniable realization emerged: their discovery would shake the world.
Inside the ancient ruin, far from human eyes, a strange spectacle unfolded in the sepulchral silence. The blue torches, which had burned unyieldingly for centuries, seemed to come to life in an unexpected manner. A drop of liquid light fell from above, traversing the gaps in the stone slabs with mysterious precision. It glided across the floor, merging with other drops in a silent dance, before converging at a specific spot: the meditation cushion where the immobile entity rested.
There, beneath the cushion soaked in ancient history and forgotten mysteries, the luminous drops assembled into a fluid, ethereal form. An aura seemed to emanate from this convergence, as if awakening energies buried for centuries. As the light intensified, a faint vibration began to fill the air, imperceptible to those outside but palpable to anyone nearby.
While the outside world continued its routines, unaware of the dance of light and power playing out in the depths of the ruin, something ancient and powerful began to awaken.