SWNOVELS Chapter 17: Revisiting History
A few weeks later, the group found themselves on an expedition to Antarctica, standing before the fabled Leoht ruins. The air was frigid, and the ancient city lay buried beneath layers of ice and snow, its secrets waiting to be uncovered.
The group huddled together, their breath forming clouds in the icy air. Mote, ever the enthusiastic companion, flitted around them, his ethereal form shimmering with excitement.
"We've come a long way to unlock the mysteries of the Nocopo," the professor said, his voice resolute. "Let's stick together and be cautious. We don't know what we might find here."
With that, they ventured deeper into the ruins, guided by the faint glow of the prismatic crystals that adorned the ancient city's structures. The atmosphere was eerie, as if the very walls of the city held the whispers of a forgotten age.
As they explored, each member of the group couldn't help but feel the weight of history pressing down on them. Mei's ability to manipulate heat sheilded the party from the icy remnants of the Nocopo's past.
Alice and Denby, with her telekinetic abilities and his super strength, moved aside debris for the party to set up camp. Luke's speed helped scout for possible threats, while Sakile charged his weapon, ready for any unexpected encounters. Decan's lucky powers had him scouting for artifacts. While Hannah and Maggie sat around the camp, ready for anything.
Eary had joined Decan on his task of locating artifacts. "Hey, thanks for coming. This place is kinda spooky." Eary nodded in agreement."Yeah! But I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." Decan smiled as they ventured deeper into the ruins, their breath visible in the frigid air. The ruins were vast, and it felt as though every step they took uncovered more of the ancient city's secrets.Decan's lucky powers guided them to various artifacts, each holding a piece of Leoht's history Eary couldn't help but marvel at the intricate craftsmanship of the objects they discovered, their beauty juxtaposed against the frozen world surrounding them.
Mote, who had been quietly observing from Eary's shoulder, as not to be seen or heard, suddenly manifested in a flash of blue light. "Can you feel that, short stuff?" Mote asked as he blindly flew into the darkness. Eary quickly pursued with Decan close behind. When Eary finally caught up with Mote, he could not believe his eyes. Standing next to Mote was a slightly smaller, red and white moteling.
As Eary and Decan approached Mote and the mysterious red and white moteling, they couldn't hide their astonishment. The presence of another moteling in these ancient ruins was unexpected, and it raised countless questions.Eary knelt down, extending a hand toward the red and white moteling. It was slightly smaller than Mote, with vibrant colors that stood out against the icy surroundings. "Who are you?" Eary asked softly, his voice filled with curiosity.The red and white moteling regarded Eary with bright, inquisitive eyes. "I am Anu," she replied in a gentle, melodic voice. "I have watched over these ruins for many years, hidden from those who sought to disturb their secrets."Decan, always attuned to the mysteries of their world, asked, "What can you tell us about the Nocopo civilization? We're here to uncover their history and understand our own abilities."Anu nodded, her small form radiating an aura of wisdom. "The Nocopo were a remarkable people who possessed the gift of light manipulation. They harnessed the power of the prismatic crystals to shape their world. But with great power came great responsibility, and they used their abilities to protect their civilization from threats both within and beyond."Eary listened intently, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. "And our abilities, the powers we have, are they connected to the Nocopo?"Anu's eyes sparkled with recognition. "Yes, young one. The Nocopo's legacy lives on in those who possess supernatural abilities. You are their modern-day descendants, carrying on their legacy."Decan exchanged a knowing look with Eary. The connection between their own powers and the Nocopo's abilities was becoming clearer. It was a revelation that added a profound layer to their quest.Mote, who had been observing the conversation, chimed in. "Anu, what brings you here? Why reveal yourself now?"Anu's gaze softened. "I sensed that you and your friends seek to understand the Nocopo and their gifts. It is time for the truth to be revealed. But be cautious, for these ruins hold not only knowledge but also ancient guardians." At that, Anu flew off in a burst of red light and disappeared into the shadows.
Mote was clearly shaken by the experience. "Wait! Come back! I must know more. And can I get your number?" Mote called out into the darkness in vain.
Mote returned to his hiding place on Eary's shoulder as the two boys carefully collected the artifacts they had collected. Eary felt a sense of wonder and reverence. It was as if they were piecing together a puzzle that had been hidden beneath the ice for centuries. These artifacts held the key to understanding the Nocopo civilization, their connection to the students' powers, and the mysteries of the past. Decan glanced at Eary with a smile. "Isn't it incredible, Eary? We're uncovering the history of a civilization that's been lost to time."Eary nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity. "And it feels like we're getting closer to understanding our own abilities and the true purpose of the Star Gazer Institute." Their exploration continued for hours, the artifacts they collected adding to the growing sense of excitement among the group. Mei, Calvin, Alice, and Denby had set up a makeshift camp, a small sanctuary amidst the ancient city's frozen beauty. Luke and Sakile stood guard, ensuring their safety in this mysterious place. As evening descended upon the Nocopo ruins, the group gathered around a campfire, the artifacts laid out before them. Professor Maxwell, his eyes filled with anticipation, studied the objects with great interest."These artifacts hold the key to understanding the Nocopo civilization," the professor mused. "And they may reveal the true nature of your powers."Eary and Decan exchanged a glance, a shared curiosity about the connection between the Nocopo and their extraordinary abilities. It was a journey of self-discovery that had brought them from Bright Hope to this frozen city beneath the ice.
Mote, floating nearby, hissed softly to Eary. "There's something... strange ahead." His tiny force field flickered to life, as if anticipating danger.
Just then, the ground trembled beneath their feet, and a deafening roar echoed through the ruins. Emerging from the darkness was a massive, walking jug statue, its eyes glowing with malevolent energy. Waves of darkness radiated from it, threatening to consume everything in their path.
Their battle against the malevolent jug statue was fierce and unrelenting. Eary, Decan, Ben, Mei, Calvin, Alice, Denby, Hannah, Maggie, Luke, and Sakile fought valiantly, using their unique abilities in harmony to defend themselves and overcome the enigmatic foe.Mote, the mischievous moteling, darted around the battlefield, spitting acid and unleashing his own ethereal powers. But even with their combined efforts, the walking jug seemed invulnerable to their attacks.Eary's white flames flickered and danced around him as he summoned their power. "We need to find a way to break through its defenses!"Mei, her heat-manipulating abilities on full display, created a scorching barrier around the group to protect them from the jug's dark energy attacks. "Keep it up, everyone! We can't let it defeat us!"Calvin, master of the winds, channeled gusts of air to disrupt the statue's movements. Alice focused her telekinetic powers, attempting to immobilize the creature, while Denby and Sakile struck at it with all their strength.But the jug statue's durability was astonishing It shrugged off their attacks, leaving the group frustrated and exhausted. It seemed as though they were at an impasse, unable to penetrate the darkness that shielded their enemy.Just as their hope wavered, Alice, always the thinker, had a revelation. She concentrated, using her telekinetic powers to lift the prismatic crystals that adorned the ruins' structures. With a burst of effort, she hurled them at the walking jug, each crystal striking with pinpoint accuracy.The prismatic crystals emitted brilliant beams of light upon impact, piercing through the darkness that enveloped the creature. The statue let out a deafening roar of agony as the light seared its form, causing it to tremble and weaken.Eary seized the opportunity, his white flames burning even brighter. He focused his powers, directing a powerful surge of energy toward the weakened statue. The flames engulfed it, disintegrating the darkness that had bound it together.With a final, thunderous explosion, the walking jug statue shattered into countless pieces, its malevolent energy dissipating into the air. The group stood victorious, panting but triumphant.As the ruins fell silent once more, Mote floated triumphantly in the air. "We did it! We defeated the Nocopo ruins' jug statue!"Eary couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.
The expidution party nodded in agreement, their bonds as friends and comrades growing stronger with each challenge they faced.
Just as they were catching their breath, a soft voice spoke from the shadows. "Impressive, indeed."
They turned to find Professor Maxwell emerging from the darkness, his eyes gleaming with approval. "You've proven yourselves capable, and you've unlocked the secrets of this ancient place."
"Professor," Eary said, "do you know more about the Nocopo? What was their connection to these ruins?"
The professor nodded, a knowing smile on his face. "The Nocopo were indeed remarkable. They were guardians of the ancient knowledge of light manipulation. It is said that their powers were both a gift and a burden, and they used them to protect their civilization."
"And what about our abilities?" Mei asked. "Are we descendants of the Nocopo?"
Professor Maxwell's eyes twinkled. "It's quite likely. The Nocopo's legacy lives on in those who possess supernatural abilities. You are their modern-day descendants, carrying on their legacy."
Mote's ears once again rose in unseen alert "What is that?" He muttered as he flew off towards a darkened corner near the edge of the camp. After several minutes Eary decided to go looking for his small friend. Professor Maxwell stayed behind and examined the artifacts while the students, Alice, Sakile, Denby and Luke joined him.
Eary followed Mote's darting movements, his white flames flickering to provide light in the dim ruins. He found the small moteling hovering near a darkened corner. As Eary approached, he noticed something unusual. In the shadows, there were other motelings, their ethereal forms barely visible.
Eary's eyes widened in surprise. It seemed that Anu, the shy female moteling, had returned, and she was not alone. Other motelings, who had remained hidden and unnoticed until now, gathered around her.
Anu, with her soft-spoken voice, explained, "These are my kin, Mote. They've lived in these ruins for many thousands of years, guarding the memories and secrets of the Nocopo. They were cautious about revealing themselves until they saw that you and your friends meant no harm."
Mote hesitated for a moment, torn between his loyalty to Eary and his newfound connection to his own kind. Eary, sensing Mote's dilemma, smiled reassuringly. "Mote, you've found your own people, your own history. I understand. You should stay with Anu and your kin. Learn about your past and your role as a moteling."
Mote nodded, his form shimmering with gratitude. He hovered over to Anu and her kin, his tiny force field blending with theirs. It was a bittersweet farewell as Eary watched his moteling friend embrace his newfound destiny, then disappear into the shadows.
The rest of the group returned to Professor Maxwell, who shared his insights into the Nocopo civilization and the artifacts they had discovered. As they left the Nocopo ruins behind, Eary couldn't help but feel a deep sense of loss. Fighting back the tears, the group returned to the surface. There waiting for them, the aircraft from before. After boarding and upon take off, Eary looked down at the ruins. "Goodbye Mote." Eary whispered as the craft sped back to Bright Hope.