Chapter 9: The Plain of Echoes

Little by little, the three of them left behind the elevated terraces of the Lost City. The blue light still shone between the mountains, growing a little closer each day. Willity and Sixsevenin resumed their journey the following morning, shortly after breakfast, while the small creature accompanied them, jumping between the rocks and occasionally disappearing into the vegetation, only to reappear in front of them a short time later.

They had left the highest part of the mysterious city behind, and before them stretched an immense plain covered with grass, roots, and the remains of ancient buildings, of which only the first foundations still survived. Over the years, vegetation had covered the old ruins so completely that they seemed to be just another part of nature.

As they walked, they began to hear something strange.

Whenever the wind passed through certain stones scattered across the plain, soft and deep sounds could be heard. They were not voices. Nor did they seem to come from machines.

They were echoes.

Some stones produced low tones. Others created high vibrations that sounded strangely harmonious.

—Do you hear it? —asked Willity.

Sixsevenin nodded.

—It feels as if the wind is trying to remind us of something.

The little creature ran happily among the stones, as if it knew the place very well.

Farther ahead, they discovered a huge circular square where only a few broken columns remained. Whenever the wind blew through the leaning stones, a strange melody spread across the entire plain.

—It's beautiful —whispered Willity.

The Plain of Echoes preserved the last memories of a forgotten civilization.

They continued across the remains of the ancient city. From time to time, half-buried walls, broken stairways, or giant root-covered blocks appeared before them. Everything suggested that this place had once witnessed a glorious past.

That was when the small creature suddenly stopped.

It quickly turned its head toward some fallen stones and ran toward them. It made little high-pitched sounds while rubbing its back again and again against a large half-buried slab.

—What's wrong with it? —asked Willity.

Willity and Sixsevenin moved aside some roots and discovered an ancient carving.

On the stone was the image of a strange animal very similar to the little creature traveling with them, although slightly different. Beside it were symbols written in an unknown language.

Sixsevenin studied the inscription for a few moments.

—This is an ancient language. One of the first languages used by the ancient inhabitants of S7. Part of it is still stored in our archives.

His blue eyes glowed softly.

—There is a name written here.

—Can you read it? —asked Willity.

Sixsevenin leaned closer to the stone.

—Yes.

He remained silent for a few moments.

—Deri. It says "Deri."

The little creature immediately raised its head.

—Deri? —repeated Willity with a smile.

The animal made a cheerful little sound.

—I think that's a good name.

Willity gently stroked its head while Sixsevenin looked at the carving.

—Maybe that animal was one of its ancestors.

—Then it's decided —said Willity.— We'll call you Deri.

The sweet little creature rubbed itself gently against the stone once more.

Willity looked toward the horizon. The blue light was still waiting for them.

—We should keep going.

But Sixsevenin remained still.

—Wait.

—What is it?

—I think I've just understood something else.

His eyes slowly followed the worn symbols.

—Some parts are damaged, but I think it says...

He concentrated for a few moments.

—"Through time and space, Deri traveled for the second time to the Blue Planet..."

Willity opened his eyes wide.

—The Blue Planet?

—"...and returned to S7 after fourteen blue years filled with love."

Both remained silent.

—I don't understand any of this —admitted Willity.

—Neither do I —answered Sixsevenin.— But whoever carved these words knew that animal very well. And, of course, they also knew the Blue Planet.

The little creature looked at the stone for a few moments and made that gentle sound they loved so much.

—Miiiauu...

The ancient stone seemed to hold a very special memory for Deri.

Willity smiled.

They remained there for a long time, thinking about the importance of their discovery, while little Deri had fallen asleep peacefully beside the stone that had touched something deep inside him. At last, after a short but much-needed rest, the three of them resumed their journey.

The afternoon was beginning to fade when the ruins of the plain slowly gave way to more defined structures. Although vegetation had claimed almost everything, the remains of ancient roads and huge blocks of stone could still be seen among the trees.

And then they saw it.

The blue light was not shining between the mountains.

It came from a huge stepped structure rising above the plain. Most of its terraces were covered with roots and old trees, but the great steps leading to the top could still be clearly seen.

—It's a pyramid! —exclaimed Willity.

Sixsevenin observed the structure in silence.

—It looks very ancient.

The blue light came from the very top of the pyramid and shone into the sky with such brilliance that it could probably be seen from anywhere in the region. Now they understood why.

As they got closer, they discovered that many areas had collapsed, but the main staircase remained surprisingly well preserved.

Deri walked a few meters ahead, looking around with curiosity.

The three of them slowly climbed between moss-covered blocks and ancient fallen walls. The wind was gentle, and the last light of the day painted the jungle in golden colors.

That was when Deri suddenly stopped.

Willity followed his gaze.

A few dozen meters away, near the top of the pyramid, several figures were gathered around the blue light.

Immediately, the three of them hid behind the remains of an ancient wall.

The distance was too great to tell exactly who they were, but it was obvious that they were intelligent beings.

Willity watched in fascination. The figures seemed to be greeting one another.

They slowly moved their hands with their palms facing upward, gently raising and lowering them.

It was a strange gesture.

And yet, it felt familiar.

Sixsevenin focused all his hearing sensors and remained completely still.

—I think... I think they're saying something.

—What? —whispered Willity.

The wind carried only fragments of sound from the distance.

But it was enough.

—I could swear they're saying...

He paused for a moment.

And finally, he smiled.

The mysterious blue light had finally led them to other intelligent beings.

—Six Seven.

Willity looked again at the mysterious figures. The blue light shone behind them.

And both of them realized that, after everything they had experienced, they had finally found beings like themselves. Beings who might help them understand all the mysteries they had been uncovering since the beginning of their journey.

To be continued...