I Can See Evolution Paths

Athena looked at her. "What did you see?"

Athy gestured toward the trees. "They looked like the Stone Guardians from Utopia."

The mood immediately changed.

Vedas frowned. "The Stone Guardians?"

Athy nodded.

Athena looked at her carefully. "Are you sure?"

Athy shook her head. "Not completely."

She pointed toward the forest again. "They were too far away." Then she paused before adding, "But their bodies were similar."

Vedas frowned. "Similar how?"

Athy thought for a moment. "Hard. Gray. Tall." She moved her hands to imitate the shape. "And they didn’t move like normal Beasts."

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "That’s even more interesting."

Sun sighed. "Of course it is."

"How many?" Vedas asked as he crossed his arms.

Athy held up three fingers.

"Three?"

Athy nodded again.

Vedas tightened his grip on his spear. "Were they following the Ursar?"

Athy thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes."

"Attacking it?"

Athy shook her head.

Vedas frowned. "Then what were they doing?"

Athy pointed toward the forest. "Watching."

Arthur’s eyes immediately lit up. "Watching?"

Athy looked pleased that Arthur had taken her observation seriously. "I saw them before they disappeared," she said.

Arthur looked at her. "Good eyes."

Athy’s ears perked up. "Really?"

Arthur nodded. "Really."

Athy smiled proudly. "I can see very far."

Vedas glanced upward. "We know."

Athy looked at him. "You don’t have to sound so surprised."

Vedas smiled. "I’m not surprised."

Melo giggled. "You sound surprised."

"I’m impressed."

Athy immediately looked happier.

Arthur grinned. "Let’s go."

Sun raised an eyebrow. "Go where?"

Arthur pointed toward the forest. "After them."

Sun stared at him. "The professors are going to kill us."

Arthur waved his hands dismissively. "We’ll be quick."

"That’s what you always say."

"Because we’re always quick."

Sun gave him a disbelieving look.

Arthur smiled. "Trust me."

"That’s exactly what I’m worried about."

Mithra started laughing.

Sun looked toward Athena. "You’re not actually considering this, right?"

Athena paused, then glanced toward the forest. "He might be right," she said.

Sun froze. "What?"

Athena adjusted her glasses. "The Everglades has barely been mapped beyond the outer regions. If those creatures are connected to something unknown, discovering it could be extremely valuable."

Mithra nodded. "My father actually mentioned the Everglades before. He said he’d like to explore it himself someday when he had enough time."

Sun’s entire expression changed. "Your dad?"

Mithra nodded.

Sun looked toward the forest. Then toward Arthur. Then back toward the forest. "Then what are we waiting for?" he said.

Arthur burst out laughing.

Mithra shook her head. "You’re supposed to stop him."

Sun pointed toward Arthur. "I changed my mind."

The group quietly left the marked training grounds. Arthur led the way. Athy flew above them, scouting ahead. Vedas remained close, keeping watch. Melo’s tails moved slowly as she sensed their surroundings. Kong moved easily between the trees.

Eden followed Arthur, occasionally whispering. "Are we allowed to do this?"

Sun whispered back. "No."

Eden blinked. "Then why are we doing it?"

Sun pointed toward Arthur. "Ask him."

Arthur glanced back. "Because we’re curious."

Eden nodded seriously. "Oh."

Sun sighed. "That somehow made it worse."

Arthur laughed quietly.

Athy led them along the path where the Stoneback Ursar had disappeared. The deeper they went, the less artificial the environment became. Behind them, the marked training grounds slowly disappeared.

The wooden platforms were gone.

The stone boundary markers were gone.

Even the voices of the other students disappeared.

Only the Everglades remained. Water covered more of the ground now, sometimes reaching their ankles. Massive roots twisted across their path, forcing them to climb over or walk around them.

Eden looked back. "I can’t see the training grounds anymore."

Sun glanced behind them. "That’s because we’re farther away than we should be."

Arthur looked ahead. "We’re fine."

Sun stared at him. "That’s exactly what someone says before we’re not fine."

Mithra laughed softly. "You really are nervous."

"I’m being careful."

Melo smiled. "That’s what nervous people say."

Vedas chuckled. "Apparently everyone knows that phrase now."

Arthur noticed something.

The Beasts here weren’t attacking.

They were watching.

Melo quietly said, "They’re aware of us."

Vedas tightened his grip on his spear. "We’re getting farther from the safe zone."

Arthur said, "That’s why it’s interesting."

Vedas said, "I knew you’d say that."

Eventually Athy stopped.

The group found an old stone marker, half buried beneath moss. Then Arthur noticed another and then another. Soon there were several scattered throughout the forest. He slowly turned in place and noticed the stones weren’t random.

One stood beside an enormous tree.

Another was half-submerged in the water.

Another had nearly disappeared beneath a wall of roots.

And farther ahead, another could barely be seen through the mist.

Arthur’s eyes widened. "They’re everywhere."

Athena stood beside him, staring. "Not everywhere."

Arthur looked at her.

Athena pointed. "They’re forming a line."

Arthur followed her finger.

One marker.

Then another.

Then another.

All disappearing deeper into the Everglades.

Mithra whispered, "It’s a road."

Athena shook her head. "Not exactly."

Arthur smiled. "Then what is it?"

Athena looked toward the ancient path. "I don’t know."

Arthur’s smile widened. "Even better."

Arthur brushed the moss away from the stone. "Look at this."

Athena leaned closer. "What?"

Arthur pointed toward the bottom. "The roots grew around it."

Athena’s eyes narrowed. "You’re right."

She touched the edge of the stone. "This wasn’t placed recently and the forest grew around it."

Mithra looked down the path. "So whoever made these was here before the forest changed?"

Athena nodded slowly. "Possibly."

Arthur looked toward the endless trees. "Which means this place has been explored for a very long time."

Vedas looked at the markers. "And whoever made them wanted people to follow this path."

Arthur smiled. "Exactly."

Athena immediately became fascinated as she knelt beside one. "This isn’t from our era," she said.

Arthur crouched beside her. "How old?"

Athena examined the markings. "I don’t know," she said. She traced one symbol. "But this writing doesn’t match any modern human language I’ve studied."

Her normally controlled expression became genuinely excited.

Arthur noticed. "You’re excited," he said.

Athena immediately straightened. "I’m being academically interested," she said.

Mithra smiled. "You’re excited."

Athena looked away. "A little."

Arthur examined the symbols. Most meant nothing to him.

Then one symbol caught his eye. It looked vaguely familiar. Not enough to identify. Not enough to understand. But familiar.

Arthur’s expression changed.

Vedas noticed. "You’ve seen that before?"

Arthur paused. He simply said, "Maybe."

Vedas looked at him.

Arthur continued examining it. "I don’t remember where," he said.

He couldn’t explain why but the symbol wasn’t familiar in the way a word or face was familiar. It was more like remembering a dream.

Arthur’s fingers stopped above the carving. "Where have I seen this...?"

For the briefest moment, something flashed through his mind.

Not a memory.

Not an image.

Just a feeling.

Like he’d once stood somewhere he couldn’t remember.

Like he’d seen the same symbol before.

Arthur frowned.

Vedas noticed. "Arthur?"

Arthur pulled his hand back. "Nothing."

He smiled. "I’ll remember eventually."

Athena studied him for a moment but didn’t press him.

Arthur looked toward the ancient path. He didn’t know why, but the symbol made the Everglades feel strangely familiar. And that bothered him more than he wanted to admit.

Athy suddenly flew farther ahead.

She returned and pointed toward another section.

Athena followed her gaze to see more stone markers.

Then more.

They seemed to form a rough path.

Athena’s expression became serious. "These aren’t random," she said.

Arthur looked ahead. "Someone placed them."

Athena nodded. "A long time ago."

Arthur’s curiosity grew. He looked deeper into the forest. "Who built all this?"

Athena looked toward the ancient path. "That’s what we’re going to find out."

Arthur smiled. "But let’s go back before anyone notices we’re gone."

"He actually knows restraint!" Sun shouted.

Kong laughed.

Arthur chuckled as he continued looking at the trail. There would be plenty of time to sneak out again and follow it.

The group eventually turned back toward the training grounds.

Behind them, the ancient markers remained hidden beneath the trees.

Arthur glanced back one last time.

The path disappeared into the darkness of the Everglades.

He smiled.

There was no reason to investigate it today.

Tomorrow was another matter.