Theodore opened his eyes, which were being disturbed by an illustrious light that seemed to rapidly flash. His pupils quickly dilated as they were met with the burning heat of fire, scorning his pupils, yet he felt no pain. As the fire went out before his eyes, it was as if a layer of paint was scraped off a wall to reveal a silhouette that's been long hidden.
Before his freshly cleansed eyes, there was a long thin feminine figure. Her body was engulfed in vortexes of threads with her legs strung together and her arms strung up. The threads seemed to all pierce through a large hole in her chest, where they wrapped around a beating heart. Her prismatic hair spread behind her, as if in a constant state of flying upwards due to a lack of gravity. Her eyes were closed, with prismatic lashes slowly fluttering, as they lifted upwards and apart, revealing rainbow spiraling irises that stared deep into Theodore's soul.
Theodore felt a rush of memories enter his mind. He remembered the drawing, the dream, and the giant head. He remembered a loud, booming voice. Just the thought caused panic to stir in his heart, as he looked at the heart visible from the hole in her chest.
A slow rhythm of a heartbeat began to reverberate through the area, as if calling out to Theodore.
The heart was beating slowly, and with each beat the transparent threads around it seemed to tighten, stretching with tension as they tried to prevent it from beating.
Theodore felt fear, so he turned his back to run, but when he turned he found himself in the same position. The same figute floated infront of him with her hair seeming to lack gravity. The strings still stretched through her body, into the open gap that had the same slow, beating heart. No matter where he turned, the image was still there, as if it was burned into his eyes.
Theodore felt his heart beating faster and faster, but he could only hear the slow beating of her heart, which never seemed to increase. She slowly blinked her strangely entrancing eyes, and opened her mouth, causing Theodore to flinch and cover his ears, as if his instincts told him to not listen, but a voice pierced through to his mind anyways.
"Theo. Follow the threads."
"Theo. Follow the stream."
"Theo. Beware of the well."
"Theo. Beware of 'Abnormalities'"
"Theo. Only you can save them."
Suddenly the loud ringing sound of a bell being repeatedly struck filled Theo's ears. He shot upwards from his laying position in his bed, drenched in enough sweat to be visible through his pajamas. His heart was beating so fast it was hard to breathe, and he struggled to recall his nightmare.
He quickly slammed his hand on the alarm clock next to his bed, resetting its alarm, then he rose to his feet. He quickly changed out of his pajamas and into a white dress shirt, a black tie, a pair of dress pants with a black leather belt, and finally a pair of black socks.
He walked out his bedroom, and into the kitchen. He was disappointed that his mother was asleep still, and hadn't yet made breakfast, as her cooking skills are far superior to his. So, he took it upon himself to make breakfast for the both of them. Eggs and Bacon, with some of the brown gravy they had left over.
Right as he finished the last batch of sunny side up eggs, his mom walked down the hall, still in her slippers and nightgown. She sat down at the table, still groggy from just waking up, so she didn't exchange much words as the plate was set in front of her.
"Thank you, dear… Gravy doesn't go with eggs and bacon."
"It does now! It'll just go to waste if we don't use it for something."
The two shared a quick laugh, and began to eat breakfast silently, enjoying their quiet time together. Theo finished first, and his mom offered to do the dishes, as they began a simple conversation while Theo prepared to leave.
"So, today's the big day, huh?" His mother asked with a hint of stress in her voice
"Yeah, it sure is." Theo responded with a nod, as he fixed his tie to make it even.
"You grow more like your father everyday… I know you'll surpass him, and be even better, but just be careful. Okay?" His mother whined out of worry, concerned for her child, who was only 19 years old.
"You're right to worry about me Mom, but I also ask that you trust me." Theo looked to his mother, and couldn't help but smile, and feel proud
"You're right. I trust you more than anyone else. It's the world I do not trust. I've been with your father a long time, and he didn't start archaeology work until he was 27 years old… Can't you just wait another 8 years?!" His mother exclaimed, joking about making her son wait.
"Yeah you're right. Let me just go tell them I can't make it real quick, and watch as more money than our house costs is spent replanning the adventure site." Theo couldn't help but smile with his mom, as she agreed that would be great.
Adventuring sites are what they call places where relics of lost history can be found. As someone practicing archeology, Theo gets to visit these sites on official business, meaning he will not be risking his life for adventure. Adventurers are people who explore these sites with the intention of fame and glory, rather than uncovering the past. Theo admires adventurers, but archeology has always seemed to be his destiny. It's what he was born to do, according to both his father and mother.
Theo began to walk to the door, chaining the old copper pocket watch, which currently reads the time of 5:36 AM, to his belt. He then grabbed the gabardine coat off the coat rack, and began to put it on. As if he forgot something, he walked to his bathroom with his coat on, and began to comb back his hair. He looked at the comb, and realized he might not be home for a few days, so he shoved it into his pocket.
Theo walked back out the bathroom, then walked over to his mom and spread his arms out, gesturing to her.
Theo's mom quickly wrapped her arms around her son, squeezing him tightly and giving him a kiss on the forehead, only having to angle her head downwards a bit due to being only an inch taller than her son. She held him for more than 10 seconds, before letting go.
"The first thing you do when you get home is come knock on this door. I don't care what your orders are!" She gestured towards the front door, which is painted an ugly bright green, with black surrounding the peephole.
"Of course. Family always comes first." Theo stepped away from his mother while responding, and sat on a small stool by the shoe rack.
Theo reached down and grabbed a pair of black leather boots, and began to put them on. They used to be his father's, but they're his now. He respects them, and doesn't wear them unless necessary.
Theo stood up, and waved one last goodbye to his mom, before walking out the door with nothing but his pocket watch, comb, and clothes. The rest of the items were waiting for him at the archeology school.
Theo took the same route he took to get home, just in reverse, arriving at the school without issue. Instead of going inside, he cut through the alleyway to the right of the building, and walked behind it, skipping a whole street and arriving at a parking lot full of vintage cars.
The cars were mostly bronze in color, with large backsides that made them protrude upwards. From the behind. It made it hard to look back and behind, making the need for rearview mirrors very necessary.
A few of the more fancy, more modern of the cars had this backside reduced significantly, making room to see behind, unless of course a wagon was attached for the carrying of supplies.
This design wasn't unique on the eastern continent. It supported a heavy frame, with a powerful engine to cross the bumpy roads, while also carrying wagons. If Theo had to choose a car, he would choose one of these over the central continent's renowned "Derby Cars" that the younger kids at school love so much.
Derby cars lacked the heavy frame, and the weaknesses of the cars of the eastern continent. Eastern continent cars were prone to breaking down from being struck in the backside, while derby cars did not have that issue, instead their engine was located in the front, making it so it was the driver's fault if it got damaged.
After admiring the cars, Theo turned his attention towards the warehouse connected to the parking lot, where he entered the open shutter and met with a small group of people.
The group consists of an 18 year old girl with long orange hair tied into a braid named Dahlia Freisco, a tall and muscular 23 year old man with black stubble, and dark middle parted hair named Trevor Lugge, a short dwarven man of unknown age with a long black beard and bald head named Guvun Ironhold, and two people Theo had never met before.
Theo walked into the warehouse and instantly recognized Dahlia from his class. He knew her name, but this is the first time he saw her in anything other than a dress, and without pig tails. She looks rather nice like this.
He recognized Trevor from around the building, and he had actively talked to him a few times. He's one of those guys everyone knows, especially due to his height and muscle. Though, his middle part was notoriously unfitting of his partial beard.
Guvun is a respected senior archeologist. He is well known as a decorated member of the Steam Smither's Association (SSA) and works in their archeology department to help uncover the mysteries of the past.
He greeted the group, getting a light hearted wave from Dahlia, a simple nod from Trevor, and a husky "Hey Kid" from Guvun.
He promptly extended his hand to the two unknown people, one of which was a woman with scarlet red hair, and red eyes, and the other of which was a man with slicked back, black hair similar to Theo's. Though unlike Theo, it was not cut very well, and was too long up top, making a hat awkward on his head.
"It's nice to meet you two, and it's good to see you all again. I'm Theodore Reinis. Just call me Theo please."
"Whitney. Pleasure." The scarlet haired woman responded simply, without even giving a last name. That was usual of someone who fit her description though, for your last name could reveal what dragon you're related to. Theodore assumes she is related to a dragon due to her scarlet hair.
"Daniel Brein! The pleasure is all so mine! Hoho! Nice hair style you've got there! A lot like mine! Yes yes, you must also have great tastes!" The black haired man spoke out with utmost expression, constantly moving his hands and twitching his face, as if he was performing.
Theodore shook both their hands, feeling quite uncomfortable due to Daniel, but he decided to shove that feeling aside and continue onwards. It seemed like he was the last to arrive.
Duvun, the senior archaeologist, began to speak with his strange Dwarven accent.
"To the south of Giant's Helm, near a small town known as Violet Rock, we have found an adventuring site. The site was assessed as low threat level, and has been purchased from the adventurer's guild for the sake of educational research. That being said, there is still protocol, so all of you will be given weapons."
"Due to being untrained with firearms, Theo and Dahlia will be equipped with short swords, and leather armor. This shouldn't restrict young people like you, and shouldn't be hard for inexperienced people to use."
"Trevor will be equipped with a revolver and a satchel of ammo, as well as a backup sword, and a shield."
"I will be equipped with a high powered rifle."
"Whitney will be using a long sword, while Daniel will… not be using a weapon…"
Theo couldn't help but look at Daniel with a confused expression, along with most of the other group. Whitney gave Daniel a very different look though. An expression that made her look like she was going to knock his lights out.
Daniel quickly spoke up to defend himself "Fear not! Fear not! For I have mastered the usage of natural energy! Yes I have! Yes I have! A magician you may call me!"
Daniel flipped his hand upwards, and a small flame filled his palm, covering his fingers, and spreading across his hand. It was common for natural energy users to make fire, but usually it's a very small spark, not an actual ignition. This left Theodore impressed.
The group couldn't help but applaud, except for Whitney, who scoffed and bit her lip, revealing her sharper than normal teeth.
The group went over the safety rules of Archeology, including the 3 priorities and their honorable mention, teamwork, and battle formations.
The plan was simple. They would set out at 9:00, where they would take a motor vehicle based caravan south for about an hour, into violet rock. They would then take a detour to the east, into the adventure site, and begin research.
With that being said, they all got changed, equipped their gear, and set off.
Theodore found himself sitting in the back of a 5 person vehicle, his eardrums being burned out by the loud engine behind his head. He was in leather armor, so the heat was bearing down on him. The further south one tends to travel in the eastern continent, the hotter it seems to get.
Next to him, in the left back passenger seat, was Dahlia in the same armor as him, just shaped to fit her frame. He hated to admit it, but their frames were quite similar. He's never had very broad shoulders or anything. He doesn't even grow very much facial hair.
He wanted to just try and relax during the ride, but he found himself restless due to the noise, and couldn't help but converse with Dahlia.
"So, do you think we will find anything special?" Asked Theo.
"Hm… that's a good question. I think maybe we will find old scriptures?" Dahlia responded, but left it as a question.
"No, I don't think so. I think we are more likely to find old weaponry. It was described as a battle site." Theo denied her idea.
"Oh! That's true actually. We could very well discover a new faction." Dahlia brought up a new idea.
"That's very likely, especially if we get lucky and determine it was from the old human kingdoms, the ones ruled by dragons." Theo agreed, nodding his head along with the idea.
Dahlia couldn't help but smile brightly, and ask Theo a question. She knew he was the smartest in their class.
"Theodore- Sorry, I mean Theo. What kind of world do you think used to be? Back when giants roamed the lands, and dragons ruled kingdoms."
"I think that it was a very violent one. The wonders of the giants, and our ancestors often make us forget just how short most life was then. We often find ourselves wishing we had the power they had, or experiences they had. That causes us to forget that they were only so strong because they needed to be. The weak died. Only someone like Daniel would've even lived long in this little band of ours." Theo carefully explained why he thought this way. He often disregarded the idea of living in the past, even though it was brought up a lot in this work space.
"I see… You're so wise Theo. It's like I'm speaking to a sage who has lived through so much! Everything you said is right according to our studies. Only those with high affinity to natural energy would live long lives." Dahlia planted her hands on the seat, and slightly leaned across the empty middle seat while speaking, obviously excited about this conversation.
Theo couldn't help but get embarrassed, turning away from her and looking out the window, beginning to tap his finger against his leg, and went quiet.
Dahlia realized he probably didn't want to talk anymore, feeling like she upset him. So, she went quiet as well for the rest of the trip. She felt as though comparing him to an old hermit might've been mean.