The words from the Scholar hung in the air, and the Adepts stopped arguing. Adept Fennara’s eyes narrowed. "Remain behind? For what purpose?"
Scholar Orath’s face was calm, but I could see something beneath the calm, a flicker of impatience, and barely suppressed anger... I wonder if anyone else was seeing this. "We do not know if the pyramid is the source of whatever is happening. If we all leave, we may never understand what has occurred here. A small team should stay to observe, to document, and to learn. Do not forget the core purpose of being a mage."
The emotions of the Adepts here began to change, and I nearly rolled my eyes. Was I the only one who found what Orath says to be awfully derivative? Perhaps I was not the only one who felt it as well as Adept Torvin asked the relevant question, "How small?"
Scholar Orath nodded, "Four or five. No more. Enough to maintain a presence, not enough to be a burden if we need to evacuate quickly."
There was murmuring among the Adepts. I saw Fenara exchange a glance with Varis. Commander Rel’s jaw tightened. She was looking deeply at Scholar Orath, but she nodded slowly.
"I will stay," Scholar Orath said. "It is my expedition, and I will not abandon it to the whims of the unknown."
"I will stay as well," Commander Rel said. "If there is a threat, you will need protection."
Adept Torvin sighed. "Then I suppose I should stay too. Someone needs to keep you both from doing something foolish."
Adept Fenara shook her head. "I will accompany the main group back to the Relay Station. If something happens here, someone needs to report it."
She glanced at Adept Varis, who nodded. "I agree. We should not put all our eggs in one basket."
The decision was made quickly after that. The main group would pack up and leave for the Relay Station. A small team, Orath, Rel, Torvin, and two Acolytes, would stay behind to monitor the pyramid. Rex had quickly agreed to stay behind, stating how much he loved knowledge and would not leave when such a mystery presented itself.
Bari grabbed my arm. "Elric, we should go with the main group. There’s something wrong with this place. I can feel it. In the future, when we are Adept, there is no reason we cannot get permits to visit this place at the right time."
I looked at the pyramid, then at the grey sky where the edge of the rising sun had been frozen for seven hours.
Time is running out... You cannot die, or you will never return.
I glanced around. It was almost as if someone whispered in my ears, before I looked back at the worried eyes of Bari, and I said, "I should stay."
Bari stared at me. "What? Why?"
"I don’t know," I admitted. "But I feel like I need to. Like there’s something here I’m supposed to find."
Dara stepped closer, and she placed her hand on my shoulder, and I felt her warmth through the fabric of my robe. A small part of me thought that if I knew she was this caring, then the fear of getting closer to her at first would be easier.
"Elric, you’re not thinking clearly. You look very pale, you have a bad headache, and you shouldn’t be making decisions like this."
"Maybe that’s exactly why I should stay," I said. "Maybe what I’ve forgotten is here, and the answer is in the pyramid. I don’t know, I just feel that I should not leave this place... not yet."
Bari and Dara exchanged a glance. I could see the worry in their eyes, the fear that I was losing my mind. But I could also see something else: the understanding that I was not going to change my mind. I wonder how it became so easy to read people.
"Then I’m staying too," Bari said.
I blinked. Why did I not anticipate this response from him?
"No," I said. "You need to go. You need to be safe, in case whatever is happening is dangerous."
"I’m not leaving you here alone, especially if there is danger. Don’t forget that I am still stronger than you." Then Bari rubbed his shoulder as he whispered, "I think."
A small smile touched the edge of my lips, "I won’t be alone. The Adepts will be here, and you would need an army to get through them."
I winced as an image of the camp and everything stretching towards the horizon was filled with red and black bodies underneath a red sky as massive creatures would bat wings shook the clouds with the beat of their wings... and a voice that seemed to come from the depths of darkness.
""You can hear the rhythm of slaughter, forgive me... I am Narghul Vrakth, the first of my Line. Killer of the Moon Fox."
The sound of Bari’s nervous laughter drew me from my head, "... You’re in no state to be making decisions. I’m staying, and that’s final."
Dara nodded. "I’m staying too. Someone needs to make sure you don’t do anything stupid."
I wanted to argue, but I could see the determination in their eyes. They were not going to leave me, and a part of me, a part I did not fully understand, was glad and afraid for them.
We were assigned to the team that would stay behind, and so instead of two Acolytes staying behind, there were now four of us, but Rex did not stand with us, quickly returning to his tent.
The others began to pack up the camp, their movements quick and efficient. They were nervous, but they followed the plan.
Bari, Dara, and I waited near the edge of the camp, watching the Adepts prepare. Scholar Orath stood apart from the others, his gaze fixed on the pyramid. His hands were clasped behind his back, and I thought I saw a flicker of triumph in his cold green eyes.
He is a bug and will be judged.
The main group departed, heading west toward the Relay Station. We watched them go, their figures growing smaller and smaller until they vanished over the ridge.
Then we were alone.