Night had fully fallen over Marco Norte.
The cold wind swept across the ancient stones, but no one in the group felt discomfort.
All eyes were fixed on the pulsing symbol.
The code was active.
—
Amina and Samantha connected the portable temporal decoder.
The lines of the symbol shifted in rhythmic patterns.
It resembled a dead language...
But gradually, it became clear that it was a temporal numeric sequence.
Kael observed in silence.
—
— The numbers correspond to dates — Amina reported.
— Dates within the Marco's own cycle. Moments when other signals were detected, though we didn't recognize them at the time.
Samantha added:
— And there's a larger cycle... Something repeating every thousand years.
—
Kael stepped closer to the symbol.
— This isn't just a call.
— It's a record. A memory left for those who would know how to read it.
—
Suddenly, the symbol shifted again.
This time, it formed a circular shape, surrounded by marks everyone recognized.
Patricia, speaking through the communicator from the Base, confirmed:
— Kael. This... is the old map of Brussels. Not the current one. The map from a thousand years ago.
Otrho frowned.
— They're pointing us to a specific location.
—
The western part of the old map glowed brightly.
The region now known as the Veiled Forest.
Helena voiced what everyone already sensed:
— They're guiding us there.
—
Kael nodded.
— Prepare an immediate reconnaissance mission.
— We cannot ignore a call from time itself.
He looked one last time at the symbol, which now seemed to slow its pulses, as if waiting.
Someone... or something... was waiting for them.