[STORY] -> Awaken - Part 4 - The Tomb's Secret

Morning dawned as the sky became a faint blue, with light rain clouds overhead gently kissing the island and surrounding lake. Orvus had been awake for a few moments, and after letting out a yawn he tried for the old man's attention. “You've got a visitor,” called out Orvus across the smouldering remnants of the long dead fire. The old man, having heard Orvus arose from his slumber to find his companion raven Kogg at his side, snuggled up in his wrinkled cloak.

“Good morning, Kogg!” The old man was surprised to see Kogg this early. It occurred to the him that Kogg must've flown at night and located them by their fire. Kogg cawed a couple times to say hello and then jumped up on the old man's shoulder as he sat up. The old man reached for his travel pack, “Want some berries for breakfast?” and pulled out a handful of purple spotted berries. Kogg hopped down his outstretched arm and quickly ate three berries from his palm. The old man helped himself to a few before Kogg finished them off, cawing happily.

The trio gathered their things and made sure the fire was put out before heading north to the centre of the island in the lake. The island was a serene place, and the presence and scent of many flowers filled the air and their nostrils. Another notable thing was the number of bees hop-flying from one flower to the next, collecting the sweet nectar. “I see this place is well taken care of,” Orvus pointed out. The old man nodded his head.

Picture Source

They entered a clearing and could see the tomb just ahead. “We're here!” Orvus said, relieved. The tomb was made out of an opulent stone, with carefully and intricately carved depictions of flowers and bees found on the island. Two large arches reached into the sky and intersected at their centres, and there mounted at the top was a large stone flower. Two large stone rings, one higher up than the other, were connected to the arches and encircled the structure. Moss and vines dotted the structure, and the stone was wet from the morning dew.

“Magnificent, isn't it?” the old man asked Orvus. “Let's head inside.” Orvus followed beside him as they made their way under the stone ring and between the arches. Kogg had taken to the air so he too could get a look at the place. There was a polished sandstone floor beneath the arches, which raised up in four round steps of equal height. On the fourth and highest step was a beautiful statue of a bee hovering in flight, pointed toward the east. Just as the old man remembered it, with moss growing in various places.

“Orvus, did you happen to have more of those enchanted fire scrolls?” Orvus reached into his own travel-pack, “I have plenty with me. Here, take this one,” and handed him the scroll. Orvus noticed the old man approaching the statue, and he suspected that the fire was for the statue. He was right. The old man began to recite the spell to render forth the magical fire, “Purifying light and thee who wrought ashes, bring forth flame from your vibrant clashes!” With his concentration on the statue, a burst of heat blasted them followed by fire which engulfed the statue.

They both stood back to wait for the fire to die down, as Kogg watched from up high on the second stone ring. After a short while, the overgrowth on the bee statue was turned to ash and blown away in the winds. The two approached the statue and brushed the remaining residue off, a process that involved a bit of climbing of the statue. The statue was made of the same opulent stone as the arches and rings, and had clearly taken a long time to carve. No detail was spared its' place.

“Okay, so what now?” asked Orvus, as he stared at the newly looking statue. The old man smiled, reached into his pack and pulled out a bamboo flask. He uncapped the lid and handed it to Orvus. “Honey? What do we do with this?” Orvus questioned. “This is what the vision showed me, Orvus,” said the old man as he mounted the back of the statue and climbed up the wings. “Yes, there it is! Orvus, hand me the honey.” Orvus approached, reached up and handed the old man the flask. He climbed a bit higher and reach out towards a hole located between the ocelli. He tipped the flask and poured the honey into the hole. Every last drop disappeared, but to where they could only guess.

They waited for some time, but nothing appeared to happen. Slightly puzzled, the old man climbed back down and onto the fourth step and as he dismounted with his last foothold, the statue rotated out of position. It wasn't much, no, but it definitely moved. “Did you see that?!” Orvus asked excitedly. The old man had noticed, and asked Orvus over to help him see if they could rotate it more. Both pushed on the statue and slowly it started to give, and began rotating to face north. Just as it was getting exciting the statue halted, and wouldn't budge any further. “It's stuck. What now?” questioned Orvus. The old man, tired from pushing, looked at Orvus and frowned slightly. “I think we're going to need more honey...”

Awaken

Part 01 - A Message to Orvus
Part 02 - The Lake Beckons
Part 03 - Night of Rest
Part 04 - CURRENT