The First Civilization

By midmorning, the eastern gate of Stone River was crowded again. Aren stood beside Doran while Chief Aldren spoke with the guards. The scout’s shoulder had been wrapped tightly, but he refused to stay behind.

"You should be resting," Aren said.

Doran adjusted the strap of his pack with his good arm.

"I rested."

"For how long?"

"Long enough."

Aren gave him a doubtful look.

Doran sighed. "Fine. Half an hour."

"That’s not resting."

"It is when you’re me."

Aren almost smiled. Almost.

---

Chief Aldren approached them.

"I’ve chosen twelve warriors." He pointed toward the group waiting near the gate. "Six Greenleaf hunters. Four Stone Brook spearmen. Two from Iron Ridge."

Doran looked at the warriors. "That’s more than we took yesterday."

"Yesterday was reconnaissance," Aldren replied. "Today we’re looking for a camp."

Aren studied the group. They weren’t the strongest warriors available. But they were experienced. More importantly, several had trained together during the council. That mattered.

Aldren turned to Aren. "You’re staying."

Aren knew that was coming. "I figured."

"The council is still in session. If we’re gone too long, someone needs to report what happened."

Aren nodded. Doran glanced between them. "He’ll follow us anyway."

Aldren gave Aren a tired look. "Don’t."

Aren raised both hands. "I won’t."

Doran chuckled. "That’s probably the first lie you’ve told today."

Aldren ignored him. "We leave now."

The gate opened. The group disappeared into the eastern forest. Aren remained behind. For several seconds, he watched the last warrior vanish between the trees.

Then he turned toward the meeting hall. Something about the whole situation bothered him. The strangers hadn’t attacked Stone River. They hadn’t attacked the council. They hadn’t even tried to kill Doran’s entire group. They had simply driven them away. That meant they didn’t want attention.

At least, not yet.

---

The council hall was quieter than usual. Only a few leaders remained inside. Chief Harok was studying the map while Captain Reth stood beside him.

Aren entered. Harok looked up. "Where is Aldren?"

"With the search party."

Reth frowned. "Then why aren’t you with them?"

"Aldren told me to stay."

Harok gave a short laugh. "For once, you listened."

Aren pulled out a wooden chair and sat down. "Do you have any records of old ruins around the eastern forest?"

The two men exchanged a glance. Reth shook his head. "Ruins?"

"Stone structures. Old roads. Anything."

Harok leaned back. "Why?"

"Doran found an ancient tablet."

That got their attention. Harok slowly put down the map. "Where?"

"Near the creek."

Reth frowned. "There shouldn’t be anything there."

"That’s what I thought."

Harok stood and walked toward a shelf along the wall. He pulled down a rolled piece of old leather. When he opened it, Aren saw a rough map of the surrounding region. It was much less detailed than the maps used by the council.

Harok pointed toward the eastern side. "These lands weren’t always empty."

Aren leaned closer. "Who lived there?"

"Nobody knows." Harok traced a faded line with his finger. "Old hunters used to tell stories about stone roads hidden beneath the forest. Most people stopped believing them."

Reth added, "A few explorers disappeared looking for them."

Aren looked up. "How long ago?"

"Generations."

Harok rolled the map slightly. "The stories say there was once a settlement somewhere beyond the eastern ridge."

Aren’s attention sharpened. "Settlement?"

"Maybe a city. Maybe something smaller." Harok shrugged. "Old stories change when they’re told too many times."

Aren didn’t answer. He remembered the vision. Wide roads. Stone buildings. Thousands of people. A city. Not a small settlement. And if those ruins still existed, someone was looking for them.

---

A few hours later, the search party returned. Aren heard the gate opening from across the settlement. He immediately stood.

Doran was the first person he saw. He looked exhausted. But this time, he wasn’t wounded.

Aren walked toward him. "You found something."

Doran didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he handed Aren a small object wrapped in cloth.

Aren opened it. A piece of black stone rested inside. The surface was smooth. One side had been broken cleanly. And on the remaining surface, a symbol had been carved. A circle. Inside it was a bird.

Aren’s fingers went still. "This came from the camp?"

Doran nodded. "We found it near the creek."

"Where were the strangers?"

"Gone."

Aren looked at him. "Completely?"

"Not exactly." Doran pointed toward the forest. "They left in a hurry."

"Why?"

"We don’t know."

Aren turned the stone over. There were tiny markings along the edge. They weren’t random scratches. They were writing. His head began to ache. The system appeared.

════════════════════════════

ANCIENT SCRIPT DETECTED

Recognition Available

Memory Synchronization: 30% → 31%

════════════════════════════

Aren stared at the symbols. Something inside his mind clicked. He couldn’t read every word. But one symbol stood out. He knew it.

Aren whispered the meaning. "Gate."

Doran’s expression changed. "You can read it?"

"A little."

Aren looked at the stone again. Another symbol. Then another. His headache grew stronger.

"Not a gate..." He corrected himself. "A sealed gate."

Doran stepped closer. "Sealed to what?"

Aren shook his head. "I don’t know."

A sudden memory flashed through his mind. A massive stone door. Two towers standing on either side. Hundreds of people gathered outside. A group of soldiers pushing something heavy toward the gate. Then a voice. Not clear. Not complete. Only a few words.

"Do not open it."

Aren stumbled backward. Doran caught his arm. "Aren?"

The vision disappeared. He breathed slowly.

"What did you see?"

Aren looked at the black stone in his hand. "A door."

"Where?"

"I don’t know."

Doran waited. Aren looked toward the eastern forest. "But I think I know what they’re searching for."

Doran’s expression hardened. "The sealed gate?"

Aren nodded. "And if I’m right—" he looked down at the ancient symbol, "—they aren’t trying to open the ruins."

Doran frowned. "Then what?"

Aren slowly closed his fingers around the stone. "They’re trying to find what’s behind them."

For a moment, neither man spoke.

---

Then a horn sounded from the western wall. One long blast. Aren and Doran both turned. A guard came running across the settlement.

"Chief Aldren!"

"What’s happened?" Doran asked.

The guard struggled to catch his breath. "Another group has arrived."

"Who?"

The guard looked toward the western gate. "They’re not from any tribe in the council."

Aren’s grip tightened around the stone. "How many?"

"About twenty."

Doran exchanged a glance with Aren. The strangers in the eastern forest had been searching for something. Now another unknown group had appeared at Stone River.

And for the first time, Aren wondered whether the council itself had been part of the plan all along.

End of Chapter 43