Tired, Ian returned home, exhaustion settling deep into his bones.
The next day, he finally decided to examine the corpse of the strange creature in detail. He set up his workstation, carefully donning gloves before making the first incision. The outer layers of its body were tough, its nails, although not sharp, were incredibly strong.
He slowly removed the outer layers, cutting deeper into the organs. The body structure was unlike anything he had ever seen. The muscles, instead of being bundled together in strands, were interwoven in a lattice-like formation, allowing for an exceptional range of motion. The circulatory system consisted of dual hearts, pumping a thick, iridescent fluid rather than blood. Strange, vein-like structures ran beneath the skin, forming intricate patterns that pulsed faintly under the lab's lighting.
As Ian carefully dissected further, he reached the creature's heart. While opening it, he discovered a small metallic object embedded within its chambers. It had an unnatural texture, almost organic despite its cold surface, and was covered in obscure symbols that pulsed faintly. Ian spent hours analyzing the artifact, tracing the symbols, cross-referencing them with known languages, but found no immediate match. Deciding to investigate further at a later time, he carefully stored it in his storage bracelet.
Turning his attention to the brain and nervous system, Ian was surprised to find an unusual arrangement. The creature's brain wasn't centralized like a human's; instead, it had multiple clusters of neurons spread throughout its body, each seemingly operating independently while maintaining perfect synchronization. The nervous system was composed of thin, fiber-like structures interwoven with metallic filaments, possibly aiding in rapid signal transmission. It suggested a highly adaptive and resilient intelligence, one capable of processing sensory input in multiple ways.
But as Ian examined the neural clusters more closely, he noticed something disturbing. Some of the clusters were darkened, shriveled, and covered in a thick, tar-like substance. The material was dry and cracked, as if it had once been alive but had long since decayed. Strange, vein-like patterns stretched outward from the afflicted areas, as though whatever had consumed these clusters had spread before finally dying.
"What is this?" Ian murmured, his fingers hovering over the strange substance but not daring to touch them.
Whatever had happened here, it wasn't just biological decay. Something had killed these, something unnatural.
After documenting everything in his notes, Ian stepped back. There were no immediate answers, and lingering here would bring none. He left the specimen as he found it, though the image remained burned into his mind.
A few days passed. Today, Ian was scheduled to meet Master Ordan to finalize the paper. He compiled his findings into a detailed document. Ordan had already reviewed most of it, making annotations and suggesting refinements.
As Ian entered Ordan's study, the scholar glanced up from the hologram.
"You've done well," Ordan said, skimming through the final version. "I've made a few minor edits, but it's solid."
Ian nodded. "Thank you. I tried to clarify the points you mentioned last time."
Ordan tapped a few commands. "Good. I'll submit it then."
Ian nodded, grateful for the guidance. With this taken care of, he went back to his workshop.
"Are you guys ready? We're leaving tomorrow morning," Oryn called.
Everyone agreed.
"Good, let's meet in front of the workshop itself," Oryn said.
Early the next morning, everyone boarded Oryn's vehicle, a sleek, hovering transport, the vehicle used a maglev-based propulsion system, gliding smoothly over the terrain with minimal friction. It hummed softly as they moved, the energy fields stabilizing their ride and adapting to any terrain irregularities.
Upon arrival, Ian was surprised by how packed the site was. The last time he had visited, the ruins were desolate and broken. Now, the place was teeming with tourists, researchers, and vendors. Stalls lined the entrance, selling food, souvenirs, and trinkets supposedly made from materials found in the ruins. Despite the commercialization, the ancient atmosphere still lingered. The towering stone structures, weathered but imposing, carried an air of mystery.
Ian and others quickly made their way inside, passing security checks before beginning their exploration.
Ian examined the architecture and remnants of ancient technology with meticulous detail, often falling behind the group as he sketched and took notes. The deeper they ventured, the more the ruins seemed to hum with latent energy.
At a particular site, he was drawn to a circular chamber deep within the ruins. The walls were covered in intricate carvings, symbols eerily similar to those on the artifact he had retrieved from the creature's heart.
Curious, he took out the artifact to compare it.
Swoosh.
The carvings around him began to glow, lighting up one by one.
"Fuck, not this again," Ian muttered. "I am never going inside any ruins again."
He braced himself, expecting the worst - another portal, another encounter with an unknown entity. But after a few moments, nothing happened. The ruins remained silent. No creatures emerged. No strange anomalies formed.
"Huh..."
A soft swoosh followed as the symbols detached from the walls and transferred themselves onto the artifact. It vibrated slightly, shifting subtly in design but remained inactive. Ian frowned but decided not to analyze it further until he returned home.
"Ian! Ian!" someone called from outside the chamber.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he put the artifact inside his storage bracelet and hurried to rejoin the group. The rest of the tour was uneventful, enjoyable, even, apart from the minor incident.
As they boarded the Oryn vehicle and began their return journey, Ian allowed himself to relax. However, midway through the trip, the vehicle suddenly came to a halt.
"Hey, what happened?" Kara asked, looking at Oryn.
"Step outside and see for yourself," he replied, his voice oddly subdued.
Puzzled, Ian and the others disembarked. The forest around them pulsed with something unseen, an energy both foreign and ancient. The air shimmered, not with light, but with a presence, a golden luminescence that moved like a living thing. The trees trembled, though no wind stirred, and the very ground seemed to hum in response.
"This is… a Zephar Herald," Kara whispered in awe.
The name alone carried weight, as if speaking it aloud might shatter the moment.
Zephar Heralds were more than mere beings; they were myths that walked between worlds. It was said they were neither born nor bound to a single plane but rather the will of existence itself given form. Moving unseen across the stars, they carried the whispers of forgotten realms, seeding life and renewal in their wake. Where they passed, the land flourished, marking the beginning of a new cycle of abundance.
A hush fell over the group as the first of them emerged.
Towering figures wove into existence like mountains, their colossal bodies covered in iridescent fur that shifted in color as though reflecting unseen skies. Their eyes glowed with ancient intelligence, and their very presence seemed to invigorate the land. The air thickened, charged with an energy that pressed against the skin, stirring something deep within the soul.
"I never thought I'd see one in my lifetime," Oryn murmured, reverence evident in his tone.
"It's the blessing of an entire lineage of ancestors," Velka commented.
They stood motionless, the world around them dimming as the Heralds moved. It was as if the very land itself bowed in their presence.
Then, one of them stopped.
Larger than the others, its fur gleamed like the first light of dawn. Slowly, it turned its head, its luminous gaze settling on Ian. The space between them shrank, not in distance, but in meaning.
Ian's breath caught as the being stepped forward. It did not walk. It did not glide. It simply was, one moment beyond reach, the next standing before him.
It studied him with an intensity that unsettled something deep within him, as if it was peering through his form and into his very essence.
Then, without a word, it bent down and extended something toward him, a flower.
Ian hesitated before accepting it, feeling a strange warmth radiate from the petals.
A hush fell over them as the Zephar Heralds began to move again, their colossal forms shifting back into the glow that surrounded them. One by one, they vanished, until only the largest remained. It met Ian's eyes one final time, then, with a slow, deliberate step, it too disappeared.
Ian clenched the glowing flower in his palm, his heartbeat unsteady.
"What is this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's a Zephar Petal," Kara explained, a hint of envy in her tone. "Said to be infused with the energy of the Zephar Heralds themselves. They don't give these to just anyone."
"What does it do?" Ian asked, staring at the glowing flower.
"No one truly knows," Holone replied. "Its effects are different for each who receive it. Some say it grants strength. Others say it reveals truth. Some believe it changes fate itself."
"You don't understand what just happened," Kara said, almost breathless. "Zephar Heralds appear where they choose, but they rarely leave anything behind. I've only heard about it in fairy tales and stories, no one has a documented record of them leaving Zephar Petals. Do you understand how incredibly rare this is?"
"Forget about Zephar Petals," Velka murmured. "Just being in their presence is said to heal all ailments, wounds and enhance perception and talent. Even the powerful beings, like Lord Aeson and Master Ordan, would do anything just to catch a glimpse of them."
"Feel the changes within your body…"
Ian slowly became aware of a shift deep within himself, beneath his skin, behind his eyes, curling around his breath. A transformation had begun, though he did not yet understand its shape.
"Our bloodline has been blessed," Holone added. "The effects will carry on for generations."
Velka nodded. "Even the greatest rulers and scholars have searched their entire lives just to glimpse a Zephar Herald. If word spreads that one singled you out—"
"Receiving a Zephar Petal must remain a secret," Oryn warned, his tone stern. "For now, we will only acknowledge that we saw the Zephar Heralds. Keep it quiet."
"You too, Ian," Holone added. "Don't let others know. You may be blessed, perhaps even protected by the Heralds, but there will always be those who seek to take what they do not deserve."
Everyone agreed.
Ian stared at the glowing flower in his hand in silence.