New Earth, Middle Ring, in a certain scientific research institute.
A few men and women in white laboratory coats stood before a huge monitor. On the screen was a seemingly abandoned lab, with various equipments lying around.
In the lab, there were 3 figures– teenagers. One male and the other two; females.
The men and women in lab coats watched as the three teenagers probed around the lab, seemingly searching for something. One of the women in white coats was a lady with wavy blonde hair, milky-white skin and bright brown eyes. Her beauty was outstanding.
Lyra wore a hesitant expression as she watched Adam through the screen. She looked at Doctor Layman and asked, "Do we really have to do this?"
The head scientist nodded solemnly. He glanced at the others present and sighed.
"This is what he wants. This is what humanity needs according to him."
"We'll only burden him." Lyra forced the words out of her throat.
Doctor Layman fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "We're only following his orders." He then looked at another woman and nodded, "Initiate Project Capsule."
"But the girls are down there with him…" The chubby woman pointed out.
Doctor Layman shook his head and said, "If we miss this chance, we won't get another. This is the specific date and time as stated by him. He emphasized that we shouldn't let anything hinder the plan."
The woman, as she listened, glanced at Lyra and tried to console her.
In the next second, the tapped the "Proceed" icon.
Phase 1 had begun.
…
In a land lost to time and memories.
Adam retracted his gaze from the hole in the tent and glanced at the two girls. He said in a hushed voice, "There's a man outside. I can't tell if he's asleep or not. I did not spot any other person in the area, so maybe there's a chance to escape."
But then, even if they did escape, what would be their next step? They didn't even have the slightest idea of where the hell they were.
The gloomy-looking twin suddenly asked, "What's your name?"
"Why?" Adam frowned warily.
"So it's more convenient for the writer. I'm Nina, she's Nana." The twin with the melancholic countenance said.
Nina, Nana… Adam noted and nodded. He said, "I'm Adam. Adam White."
"Adam White? As in Jacob and Miranda White?" Nana asked. Those were the former Head scientist and assistant. A married couple who had died along with many others in the tragic explosion. Including Nina and Nana's parents.
Adam nodded.
After a few seconds, he shifted the focus back to their situation. The question now was whether they were willing to take the risk of exiting the tent. Even if they didn't, whoever was out there would come for them sooner or later.
"Let's get it over with." Nina said with a shrug. Rather than await inevitable doom, it was better to confront it.
She walked towards the entrance of the tent and pulled it apart before Nana could protest. Adam hesitated for a moment, but quickly followed behind. The other twin didn't have a choice.
At that moment, the elderly man seated at the base of the tree rubbed his staff, coughed and said, "Finally, you have awoken. Come, sit with me, dear children. I'm sure you have many questions."
All three teenagers warily advanced towards the man. In such an unfamiliar environment, there wasn't much they could do. At least, the elderly man didn't appear to be hostile.
They stopped just a few feet from him and Adam carefully posed questions, "Where are we? What is this place?"
The elderly man rubbed his staff once more and coughed slightly. He said after a few seconds, "I hear you're from a distant place. The future precisely."
The future… Adam muttered. So that must mean..
"We're in the past?" Nina spoke first, her voice low and cold.
The elderly man nodded. "-@$ #? &"
"Huh?" Adam and the girls cautiously stepped back when the man spoke in a strange tongue.
The elderly man quickly rubbed the staff once more, coughed lightly and said, "Sorry about that. I'm only able to converse with you through the power of this staff. The Lord be praised."
"The Lord? As in the one spoken of in Old Earth's bibles?" Nana asked, puzzled.
"Yes. The Lord God." the man confirmed after a cough.
"So, let me get this straight. Whatever happened during that lab created some sort of wormhole that blasted us back to the past? How far into the past are we?"
Adam was trying to string the events together. There were a lot of things that bothered him, but he could only take this a step at a time.
The old man repeated the procedure and his language, mannerisms and choice of words switched to that of Adam's and the girls'.
"From the Lord's revelation, you're way too far in the past. However, it is just as the Lord wishes. That wormhole you speak of led you to me, for you shall be the next wielder of the staff of Miracles."
Staff of Miracles? Adam's gaze shifted to the wooden staff with a curved tip. The old man did mention that he was only able to converse due to the power of the staff.
"What do you mean by next wielder?" Nana asked.
"This shall belong to me no more." The elderly man with white hair and deep wrinkles said with a soft smile. "You shall take it with you when you return. So is the will of God."
When we return… But we have no way to return, nor did we travel to the past on purpose. Adam sighed inwardly and wondered if this mysterious man had a way for them to return to their world.
At that moment, he raised his gaze and stared at the vast plain of tall grass. The moonlight softly coated the wide expanse of grass in a blue glow. It was serene, and it was beautiful.
Adam suddenly realised, compared to the grinding sound of machines in New Earth, he preferred such a world. Frankly speaking, if it wasn't for the fact that Lyra was back home and would probably be worried sick, he would've preferred to stay.
Nina, with her doll-like demeanour, questioned, "You said we'd be returning with your…staff of Miracles. Why? Is there a reason we need it? Is there a reason, uh, God wants us to have it?"
Perhaps due to being from a world where technology had advanced to the point of humans having superhuman capabilities, the talk of magic didn't faze them in any way.
The elderly man fell silent for a moment. After going through the usual process, he said, "I cannot speak of that. That is for you to unravel."