The Artifacts Of Elios (Book 1)

by R N Skye

  “MT?” queried Ava.

  Laura laughed her infectious laugh and said, “Something I picked up from Shane; I shorten everything. MT’s is short for magetechs.”

  Ava laughed, “That makes sense to me.”

  That afternoon Laura and Ava walked a few blocks toward the station and past it towards a more commercial area. The streets were paved with a concrete appearing substance and were quite wide but no wagons were anywhere to be seen. Soon they stopped in front of a two story square shaped building with large windows surrounding it on all sides. Laura led the way in through the entry way and stopped at a large desk near a set of wide stairs that led up to the second floor.

  “Hello Anne,” greeted Laura to a pert young girl of nineteen or twenty serving as a receptionist. “This is Ava; a friend of my son Shane. We’re looking for Edward. Is he in the area?”

  “Hi Mrs. Chason, hello Ava it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the young lady returned. “He is upstairs in the third office on the left side of the staircase, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you dropped in.”

  “Thank you,” both Ava and Laura responded and they headed up the stairs.

  Knocking on the frame of the open door Laura poked her head into the entryway. “Edward, are you in?”

  “Laura,” greeted a man in his forties who immediately stood and walked around his desk to greet the two women. “How are you today? It’s a pleasure having you drop by.” Seeing Ava he gave a polite nod. “And who is your lovely companion?”

  Laura got to the point. “Edward, we are sorry to interrupt, I know how busy you are, and it shouldn’t take but a moment.

  I would like to introduce Ava Desmond, Ava is an advance student from Wonstrowd and has joined the ranks of our little group of escapees from the crown and is a dear friend to Soaris and I. I would appreciate it if you or one of those in your group could answer a few of her questions.”

  “Absolutely, it would be no trouble at all.”

  Ava, dear, I need to get back to my shop I have no end of work to do. I’ll leave you in Edward’s capable hands. I was planning dinner around six if you are late don’t worry, I’ll save a plate for you,”

  “Thank you Laura you are the best,” Ava gave her a quick kiss on each cheek. “I’ll see you this evening.”

  “She’s quite the lady,” stated the magetech as he returned to his desk. “Ever since Soaris brought her here she has been the catalyst that has kept everyone going and her attitude is contagious. We’ve all been more productive because of her leadership and example. She is one of the hardest working people I’ve had the pleasure to meet and there isn’t anyone she hasn’t helped.”

  Edward gestured to an empty chair opposite him at the wide desk as he took his seat. “Wonstrowd, eh, I graduated there; class of thirty-seven. Any chance you caught the score of the championship? The last I heard we made it to the playoffs but my life changed and suddenly I found myself here and out of communication; but that’s a story for another time,” his voice trailed off.

  “I don’t know,” Ava answered dejectedly, “the game was yesterday afternoon. The last I saw of the game it was halftime and the Wizards were up by five but the Lions had a one goal lead. Shane, my boyfriend, and Laura’s son, who plays receiver had made some terrific plays in the first half but that’s all I know of the game. There was some trouble at the archeological dig where I was when Soaris pulled me out. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see the second half.”

  “Well,” the man paused optimistically, “I’d like to think we won.”

  “I’ll ask Soaris next time I see him, if you don’t see him first,” promised Ava.

  “You didn’t come to see me to discuss warball, so I apologize for the distraction. What can I help you with young lady?”

  “As Laura mentioned I am an advance student in glyphs and magetech but I still have another year before graduation so I don’t claim to be an expert. I also have been on an artifact history and archeology track. The thing is, I as student member of the advanced studies group I had the opportunity to lead a number of research studies as well as work on quite a few new glyph translations at the university and several archaeological digs. In all of my experience this town is the most pristine and intact Elios created city that I have ever seen; probably that anyone has ever seen. While I would love to delve into the glyphs and artifacts, I’m sure you and others are already well into that. What I would like to do is visit any library or learning center you may have happened onto. I’m hoping to uncover any information I can regarding the infrastructure that the Elios set up and to find out how it was maintained and or created.”

  “You are most observant and perceptive for someone so young,” Edward complimented her. “The groups of magetechs that have escaped to Yllyan have done as you have surmised we have been concentrating on understanding all the hundreds of new artifacts that we have discovered; unfortunately most are not activated and we don’t have access to an activator. As to your second question we haven’t found anything that I would call a learning center but there is a peculiar building a few blocks west of here that may have been either a library or some sort of record keeping facility. The glyphs all indicate that it was used for information of some sort but none of us have spent more than a cursory look at it.

  When we found it we discovered that it was sealed and none of us could figure out how to access it. I would be happy to have someone show where it is and so that you can study it. Un fortunately I need to remain here; I have several projects going on that need my attention. Not the least of which is this little pain that I’m trying to figure out.” He pointed to an artifact on his desk and a pile of notes. “I’m trying to understand how to set up and access the visi-screen network so that we can find out what is going on in the rest of the world”

  “I’ll tell you what,” promised Ava, “you show me this sealed building and I’ll help you with the visi-screen access. I set the one up in the dig I just left. Communications artifacts were one of the labs I had my first year."

  “That would be splendid,” Edward beamed. “To be honest most of us are all pretty much second rate when it comes to a lot of the newer or more technical artifacts. Most of us are basic industrial, appliance, and maintenance types. We are quick learners though,” he added.

  Edward took Ava to the office next door. “Stephan, I’d like to introduce you to Ava Desmond. She is a history archeology student in her final year at Wonstrowd; she is the latest addition that Soaris has added to our little group of transplants. Miss Desmond is interested in taking a look at the building down the way with the stone windows and doors. Do you have time to walk her down there and show her where it is?”

  “Certainly,” said a thirty something man with an agreeable smile. “It wouldn’t be any trouble at all.” He stood and held out a hand. It’s a delight to meet you Ava. “It’s not often we have such attractive visitors.”

  “Thank you,” Ava said as she returned the handshake. “I can’t wait to see all of the discoveries that you’ve made.”

  A short walk later Stephan and Ava were soon at the building.

  “Thank you for showing me how to find the building,” Ava said graciously. “I think I can find my way back.”

  “You’re certain you’ll be ok?” asked politely

  “I’ll be fine thanks you again.”

  “You know where to find me if you need anything. Have fun, I hope you find more than we did.” He said as turned and headed back towards the way that they had come from.

  Ava began by walking the parameter of the building. It appeared to be made of solid blocks of bluish white granite or some other type igneous rock. The joins between each stone were so well fit together that she doubted that a knife blade could fit in between them. There were intricately designed stone frames for windows but instead of glass there was more of the bluish white stone. In each side there was an entry way that was framed in stone but instead of doors there was more of the stone. Above
each door and window frame there were various glyphs and symbols. Most prominent was a pyramid. As she made her way around again she stopped at the eastern side of the building; deciding that it was the front because the pyramid above that door was about a third larger than the other three.

  She walked up the several steps to the large stone pad in front of the tall entryway and began to study the glyphs. To her astonishment the first thing she noticed was a familiar circle with a horizontal line connected to it. “Could it be that simple?” She thought.

  With excitement she extended her index finger and touched the fingertip sized circle and slid it to the right along the associated line. Without preamble a screen appeared and a female voice in a language she didn’t understand seemed to ask her a question.

  Slowly Ava asked if it understood the language she was currently speaking. Instantly the voice responded in perfect Infin, “Elios infinity dialect detected. Please state the purpose of your visit to the records center.”

  “I have the need to study the history of this city,” she temporized.

  “This facility requires lumen mastery for full access, Glyph mastery for medium access and limited access for students. Please state you access requirement.”

  “I am currently a student and do not understand the term Lumen,” she replied.

  “Place you hand on the sphere for ancestral identification,” instructed the voice and suddenly a crystal sphere appeared floating in the air about waist high.

  What in the world is ancestral verification, she wondered and she placed her hand on the sphere.

  After a moment the voice resumed. “Elios descent detected, Luion descent detected. Origination available to Lumen masters only. Classified as descendant of recolonized refugee, Lumen potential positive; student access authorized. You may remove your hand.”

  As soon as Ava removed her hand from the sphere, the stone of the doorway dissolved into an entryway. After a brief moment of hesitation she hurried across the threshold.

  Once inside, the doorway coalesced into what appeared to be a normal doorway with obvious open and close glyphs in the center. She began to look around and instead of books she saw a square of upholstered cubicles, each with a strange backless chair that resembled more of a stool than a chair. She walked around the cubicles and saw that on the ends both opposite and facing the entry way there were three of the cubicles. On the sides there were five of the cubicles. As she looked at the walls she saw doorways similar to the one she had entered and instead of open close glyphs they each contained a set of glyphs she didn’t recognize.

  Full of curiosity she approached the closest side door and touched one of the unfamiliar glyphs. She felt a tingle of something magic but nothing happened. She tried each of the other three doors and the same thing occurred. Then feeling a slight panic thinking she may have locked herself in she ran to the main entry and touched the open glyph and the doorway dissolved and she could see that she could exit if she wished.

  Ava breathed a sigh of relief.

  Instead of leaving she went back to the cubicles to see what she could see. She looked over the strange stool chairs and determined that the idea was to sit and kneel at the same time with your knees comfortably placed on a padded rest. After trying it out she discovered that this position caused her posture to be straight unstrained and her weight was distributed on her seat as well as her knees which was as it turned out very comfortable. While seated, once again to her amazement, she saw artifacts very similar to the ‘light globe’ that she and Shane had cataloged many weeks ago.

  May as well get started, she thought to herself, and activated the device, Instead of the light like she and Shane had experienced another crystal sphere appeared floating in the center of the desk top area of the cubicle. Again a voice in a language she didn’t comprehend spoke to her. Recalling what the voice that had given her access to the building had said to her she said to the sphere in front of her, “Elios Infinity dialect please.”

  “Excellent and thank you for clarifying the proper language for you, Welcome to the records center I am a historian console how may I be of service to you today?” spoke a happy youthful male sounding voice.

  “I am researching information on the infrastructure of this city particularly transportation at the moment,” stated Ava confidently.

  “What level of transportation,” queried the device? “Lumen Master, Lumen Mage, Glyph Master, Glyph Mage, or non-potent”

  “Let’s start with non-potent,” suggested Ava.

  “This city is recorded as named Yllyan although fifteen hundred local years ago it was often referred as simply Yllyan Y Onton. The city of Yllyan is supplied with a trolley system for the local streets scheduled to run very fifteen minutes from each block corner from six in the morning until eleven in the evening. Every thirty minutes any other times. There is also a monorail that is scheduled to stop once every hour alternating directions every other hour to the cities in the directions and along the way to Luion and Infintium. A cargo train is schedule to stop once a day Lundi through Venri” quoted the historian.

  “Why is the monorail only running three times a day now,” asked Ava.

  “Five hundred and eighty seven years ago this world was bombarded with meteors and there was significant damage to many cities throughout the world of Eliom. The cause for these unnatural meteors is accessible only by Lumen Mage and above and Glyph Masters with Arc duties. The city of Yllyan was unharmed but the inhabitants left immediately to assist those of neighboring cities who had suffered great devastations; for reasons unknown they neglected to return. When the inhabitants left they deactivated the trolley and monorail as to not cause harmful accidents to any unsuspecting non-potent that might not be familiar with automated transportation that might later visit the city. Approximately fifteen years ago the ‘Song’ took up residence in the city and activated and modified the monorail between Yllyan and Valee stations resetting the schedule to its current three times a day. The Glyph Master did not elect to reactivate the trolley system.”

  “Can a non-potent or a glyph mage student without a full understanding of lumen reestablish the Trolley System,” asked Ava?

  “One moment,” replied the historian. “The answer to the question of can a non-potent activate the trolley system is no. The answer to the question can a student with an incomplete understanding of lumen activate the trolley system is yes.”

  “How can the student activate the trolley system?”

  “A key is held here in the records center for emergency purposes to reactivate various infrastructure systems. At present I show that all city wide infrastructures are functional with the exception of the modified monorail and the trolley system. Do you require use of the key and instructions to activate the trolley system?”

  “Yes please,” answered Ava politely.

  A large screen appeared where the sphere had been earlier and on it where the directions to where a man height obelisk stood with a large multifaceted glyph on each side about shoulder high. “Have you familiarized yourself with the location and the activation instructions?” asked the historian.

  “Yes”

  “Please place your right hand on the sphere.” The screen was gone and the sphere was back.

  Ava placed her right hand on the sphere; again a slight tingle.

  “You may remove your hand.”

  Ava removed her hand and saw a golden glyph matching the glyph one the obelisk pulsing on her hand.

  “The key will be returned to the records center automatically once you have reactivated the trolley system”

  “Before I go,” Ava inquired, “is there a book that I can read that will give me all of the history available on the implementation, scope and details of the infrastructures for Yllyan as well as Valee that are allowed for a student glyph mage to study?”

  “Place your right hand on the sphere.”

  Ava put her right hand once again on the sphere.

  “Please remove you
r hand.”

  Ava complied.

  “The history you have requested will be provided when next you slumber for the evening as an instructional dream.”

  “Thank you,” Ava said as she stood. “You have been very helpful.”

  “You are welcome. Thank you for visiting the records center.”

  Ava walked to the entry and touched the exit glyph and walked through the doorway as soon as it dissolved away. She quickly walked the several blocks to the obelisk described by the historian. Holding her breath she held her right hand against the matching glyph and with a another slight tingle of magic the glyph disappeared from her hand and instantly a floating elongated carriage perhaps fifteen to twenty cubits long and five or six cubits wide appeared in front of her.

  The trolley was a bright red and yellow with wide doors on both sides on the front and the rear. Curiosity getting the better of her she jumped on and decided to see where it went,

  The trolley, like the overland or monorail as the Elios called it was silent as it moved down the street. At every corner it emitted a musical Chime sound and stopped for a few moments then moved on. Eventually she found herself crossing the street that ran past the monorail station. When the trolley came to a stop she jumped off.

  As she looked west she noticed that the sun was nearing the horizon; she must have been in the records center longer than she thought. Knowing that it must be getting close to six she started walking in the direction of Soaris and Laura’s home. As she crossed the intersection a different trolley headed the direction that she wanted to go stopped at the corner in front of her. Ava ran quickly and jumped in the right hand rear doorway and climbed aboard and took a seat. Several stops later she saw that the next corner was the block that Laura’s house was on so when the trolley stopped she jumped off and walked the short distance to the house.

  Ava knocked politely on the front door and it soon was answered by the energetic Laura.

  “Good heavens Ava, you don’t have to knock this house is always open to you.” Laura gave her an affectionate hug. You’re just in time. Soaris just arrived a few moments ago as well. Dinner will be ready in another fifteen minutes you have just enough time to freshen up. Oh, I almost forgot,” she added as she headed back to the kitchen. “Soaris stopped by your parent’s home today and let them know you are safe. Your mother sent a couple of travel cases with clothes and other personal items that she was sure that you would want; I put them in your room. So, how was your day?”