After they stood at Stone Star,
the wind carried the fragrance of ancient earth that had settled for thousands of years.
But Plain Stones is not just Stone Star.
Rinoa stepped to the edge of the circle.
Her eyes followed the traces of the pillars and other structures that emerged from the evening mist.
"This place is not just an observatory.
It is like... an archive of civilization."
Behind every stacked stone lies a hidden story filled with echoes of the past, like the gentle songs of ancestors that continue to resonate through the cracks of time. This place reminds us that, although life changes, the essence of ancient wisdom remains eternal, intertwining the past and present. Itis not merely a silent witness to struggles and the quest for meaning; it serves as a poignant reminder of our enduring connection to our roots, even as the winds of change persistently blow around us.
Approximately 500 meters to the northeast,
a spiral tower rises high,
standing almost 50 meters tall.
Chichen Itza — Snail Tower.
Its shape curves upward like the shell of a giant mollusk, with a spiral path on its surface forming a symbol of planetary orbits, reflecting ancient understanding of the positions of stars and the movements of the sky. Inside, remnants of an ancient mechanism resembling a planetarium are still visible — similar to those used in the wizarding schools of Atlantis.
"In the past... ancient magi used it to map the movements of the Void and stars.
Perhaps also to read the will of the seasons or the prophecy of Gamma."
Its pinnacle reaches for the sky, whispering longings to the stars while also harboring doubts about an uncertain future. With slightly cracked edges, this tower represents an eternal struggle: the force of tradition trying to resist the clamor of the modern world and the challenges of progress.
Rinoa nodded slowly.
"This means that since ancient times, they did not separate astronomy from magic.
The sky is their language, carrying messages that have intertwined with science and magic throughout time.
1 kilometer southwest of the Stone Star,
stands a diamond-shaped structure leaning at a 45-degree angle.
Monte Alban.
This structure is a symbol of perseverance, standing defiantly against the winds of time that seek to topple the older and more fragile creations, reminding us of the strength of human will in the face of challenges.
With massive stones tilted and sturdy,
its surface polished smooth as if time itself cannot erode it.
"This building... its position aligns meticulously with the movement of the sun and the orbit of the moon, signaling an understanding of celestial mechanics that transcends time."
Fitran notes with his Astral Theorist gaze.
"There are lines of geomagnetic resonance that are still active."
In the shadows of history, Monte Alban is not merely a marker; it is also a battleground between old and new powers, where the kings who once ruled here seem to hear the whispers of the wind carrying tales of heroism and betrayal, weaving together history and myth.
Monte Alban is not just a timekeeper.
It serves as a pillar regulating the whims of the seasons,
once used by kings and priests to determine when to sow seeds and when to raise arms.
Each step taken through this site is a journey between two worlds — traditions rooted in beliefs and modernity striving to carve its own destiny, affirming that history is never truly lost.
Not far from Monte Alban,
a lower structure stands shrouded in stone mist.
Chankillo, a site that at first glance may appear to be merely a stone warehouse, possesses an enigmatic aura that invites deeper contemplation.
At a glance, it appears to be merely a stone warehouse.
Yet the aura surrounding it is much darker.
As a timekeeper for its inhabitants, Chankillo reflects the profound connection between astronomy and daily life, teaching us that with every step we take, we are bound by the deep and inseparable rhythm of the universe.
"Here, the kings of the Chaos era discarded their treasures."
"And legend has it, this place is guarded by gods and goddesses.
For anyone who attempts to seize that wealth...
never returns."
Fitran notices the resonant magic surrounding Chankillo.
There is an ancient seal there, a reminder of the power that once filled this place and still remains connected to the past.
Not modern magic.
But a Void contract inscribed in Proto-Speech.
As the wind whispers through the ruins, faint echoes from the past seem to awaken the murmurs of forgotten kings. Those who once inhabited this land were unmatched rulers, subduing their enemies under the magical powers they possessed. Now, only buried treasures and memories of power remain.
"This is not merely a storage.
This is the tomb of old meanings that the world does not wish to remember."
In the darkness that envelops Chankillo, history and myth engage in a silent battle. Each stone that forms the ancient walls seems to harbor a poignant tale of ambition and discontent. Perhaps, just perhaps, these rulers have crossed a line, stirring forces they should never have touched, and now find themselves ensnared in their own fate.
Near the hills of Chankillo,
a structure stands tall: Mayapan.
Watchtower.
From its peak, the entire Plain Stones can be surveyed.
But more importantly, beneath it...
The royal burial complex.
"Those who are deemed too powerful or too dangerous to be buried in ordinary ground, perhaps for fear of their influence or powers, rest beneath Mayapan."
rest beneath Mayapan."
Among them might be Voidwrights, Astral Theorists, or even failed guardians...
and history has chosen to forget them.
Behind the silence that envelops this complex, a latent hope emerges. Those who rest here are more than mere names etched in history; they are forgotten souls, guardians of arcane knowledge severed from time. The ancient powers they carried whisper through the ruins like a soft breeze, signaling that greatness can never truly be lost.
Rinoa whispers: "Each stone in this place is not merely architecture; it is the memory of the world, carved into form and function.
"Every stone in this place is not just architecture.
It is the memory of the world."
Amidst the majestic yet eerie architecture, there are hidden corridors that hold stories of both tragedy and excellence. Each stone, each crevice, symbolizes an ongoing struggle between eternity and forgetfulness, reminding us that those brave enough to learn from the past may uncover new strength, while others remain trapped in an endless cycle of history that threatens to repeat itself.
As they walked along the edge of Mayapan,
Fitran's eyes caught something that made him stop.
A slender monument.
Tall.
Dark.
And softly glimmering like wet obsidian.
An obelisk.
This obelisk is different.
"Obelisks are typically placed at the world's boundaries or cardinal directions."
"Their purpose is to neutralize magic or contain wild will."
"But... this one is located in the middle of Plain Stones.
Close to the cultural center of humanity.
It... doesn't make sense."
This great obelisk rises 20 meters.
Made from magnetic stone mixed with natural radioactive materials —
materials that even modern Voidwrights avoid.
Its surface bears nearly erased Proto-Speech:
"An ancient law that must not be revived."
The obelisk stands as a reminder of the unbreakable bond between the old and the new worlds, symbolizing a strength that has not fully faded. Shadows of long-forgotten history seep into the consciousness of wizards and adventurers, challenging them to confront the horrors that could be reborn if they choose to forget.
Rinoa approaches, but the aura of the obelisk causes the air to shimmer.
Her blood feels heavy in her veins.
Her breath shortens.
The harmony of magic within her is in disarray.
"This... is killing my magic just by getting close."
Fitran focuses the Astral Theorist Principle on the obelisk.
"There are 16 obelisks in Stones.
They are usually positioned in the cardinal directions, serving as neutralizers of magic."
"But this one... it is not a neutralizer.
It is a denier.
It does not merely neutralize magic.
It severs the will of meaning around it, indicating that meaning can be silenced if not properly maintained."
"If this were active in ancient times,
everyone living in Plain Stones would gradually lose their will.
They would become like shells devoid of meaning."
"Creating an obelisk like this in the center of a community is akin to killing them without blood."
Fitran furrowed his brow.
"Who placed this obelisk here?"
"And... why?"
Rinoa gazed at the faint circle of Proto-Speech at the base of the obelisk.
Surrounding the obelisk, the towering ruins of ancient walls cast long shadows of the past, where ancestors stood firm in their knowledge and beliefs. Stones, engraved by wise hands, tell tales of maintained magical balance and harmony between nature and beings. Each fragment layers a myth, revealing the power to alter circumstances and shape the future with just a line from a forgotten song.
But now, this obelisk stands as a marker of a shift in the order, a symbol of ambitions that transcend boundaries. Like bait for a hungry crocodile, it tempts new powers to strike and replace long-established traditions. Here, amidst the ruins, the ancient spirits tremble in fear, witnessing the diminishing strength that has allowed them to endure.
"I believe... this was not created by the ancestors of the Plain Stones.
But by those who came after them.
Those who fear the old meanings and wish to erase them."
"This obelisk is a tool for erasing meaning.
Not a protector."
The wind whispers between the stones.
Plain Stones, which once felt like an archive of ancestral meaning,
now feels like a battlefield between the old will and the new will.
Fitran and Rinoa stand in front of the obelisk.
In their minds,
the question that
Plain Stones, which once felt like an archive of ancestral meaning,
now feels like a battlefield between the old will and the new will.
In the mounds of earth surrounding Plain Stones, ancient history softly whispers, as if recalling a time when each stone silently witnessed rituals and worship. Like weathered sculptures leaning by the roadside, the spirits of the ancestors find themselves trapped between the realms of eternity and neglect, yearning for a unified voice amidst the ongoing battle.
Fitran and Rinoa stand before the obelisk.
In their minds,
a larger question begins to form:
"If someone placed this obelisk here, does it imply that there is another force opposing the will of the newly risen Gamma? A force that might wish to replace the existing order?
Does it mean there is another power opposing the newly awakened will of Gamma?"
"Or...
is there someone still trying to erase their significance?"
Behind the newly forged sky of Grand Cross,
a silent voice begins to whisper.
In the soft light illuminating the obelisk, symbols point to a power that once reigned, while the stone path leading to this site, with each step, calls back the souls that have departed, pleading for this place to remain alive in the memory of precious times.