[STORY] -> Awaken - Part 9 - Clear Path Provided

“Well this was easier than I could have hoped,” exclaimed the old man to Orvus, relieved. The old man pressed on towards the back wall, Orvus at his side. When they reached the back wall, the old man suggested Orvus take the stone and lead them through the final wall. Orvus hesitated for a moment before taking the stone, “Very well, I just hope I can control it the whole way,” then pressed his hand onto the wall when they arrived. Some resistance presented itself at first, then Orvus cleared his mind of the chattering magical thoughts which urged him to manifest elemental magic. Soon enough Orvus' hand, then elbow sunk into the wall as the old man grabbed hold of him. Moments later they both disappeared from sight.

This passage way was longer than the rest, which presented the two with a problem. Despite being able to see within the wall itself, with everything appearing as a charcoal sketch amidst a blue, wavy haze, there was little if any air to satiate their lungs. Orvus felt the old man squeeze his shoulder, likely a signal to pick up the pace. The end of the solid hallway was in sight, and so was the base of the pyramid in the room ahead, but it was too late. Orvus stopped and fell to his knees, dropping the stone in the process. “No!” cried the old man within the wall, which sounded high pitched and sped up. There wasn't much time to act for the old man. His being disconnected from the stone's energy, which having left a residual charge in him, made it harder to move as the charge dissipated. The blue haze began to fade and dull, and the charcoal outlines eased back which made it hard to see. The old man knelt down quick as he could manage and felt around for Orvus. Even though it felt like moving through thick mud, the old man located Orvus unconscious body. He patted and brushed the ground along Orvus' body in a frantic attempt to find the stone. Luckily enough, there it was at Orvus' knees, about a foot away. He grabbed hold of the stone with one hand and Orvus' hand with the other and crawled over Orvus towards the next room.

The old man emerged into the pyramid room dragging Orvus, and took a desperate breath before falling back. Orvus' arm jutted out from the wall lifelessly as the old man righted himself. He grabbed hold of Orvus' arm and dragged him into the open air of the massive room. “Come on, Orvus!” lamented the old man as he checked for a pulse. “He's alive. That's good news. Here comes some air my friend. Hold on!” The old man took a deep breath, ready to share it with Orvus and knelt over him. Suddenly, Orvus gasped for air and coughed violently. “By the grace of the twelve! Orvus!” exclaimed the old man, delighted to see him breathing once again. Orvus gathered himself taking deep breaths, “Thanks for pulling me out of there. I forgot how long the way was... and neglected to take a deep enough breath.” The old man sighed and smiled at Orvus, “Try not to make the same mistake on the way back out of here.”

“She's sealed in there,” Orvus pointed past the old man to the centre of the room. The old man turned around and was greeted with the marvellous sight of the large, opulent pyramid polished smooth. Both their attention was drawn upwards to the pyramids apex where the warm golden light shined and gave light to the whole of the room. “How wondrous!” exclaimed the old man as he took in the sight that lay before him, “To think this was down here this whole time, just waiting to be found.” Orvus began towards the pyramid, “Do you think think the stone is the key?” he questioned. The old man followed behind, stone in hand, “I suspect it may be.”

The two friends reached the base of the pyramid together, looked up its' polished surface and felt soothed by the warm light above. The stone shined bright in the presence of the pyramid's light, and had grown noticeably warmer. “The stone is reacting,” relayed the old man to Orvus, as he held the stone out at arm's length, “it's warm and pulsating waves of energy up my arm.” “No point in dawdling any further,” said a tired Orvus. He continued, “We've come this far, let's see the rest through.” The old man nodded in agreement. Orvus was right. There's no point in turning back now. The stone, ever warmer, revealed its' true purpose as the old man placed the palm of his free hand on the pyramid's surface. Immediately, the old man could feel an incredible amount of power being pulled from the stone through him and into the pyramid. Waves of light crashed up the sides of the pyramid. The warm light at the top grew warmer and larger in size then the draw of the stone's energy halted. The light at the apex sent out a pulse, then shrunk and sank down into the top of the pyramid and disappeared.

The room fell silent for a moment. The only light in the room came from the fluorescent walls of the massive room. “What now?” said Orvus with curiosity. The old man began to speculate, when the pyramid hissed and jolted. At the base shot out a wide, opulent stone step. The two old friends looked at each other surprised. Then another step shot out above that, and then another. The two watched in amazement as the series of steps appeared and made their way up the centre of the pyramid before coming to a stop half way. When the last step appeared and slid itself into place, an opening in the side revealed itself. The old man patted Orvus excitedly and smiled at him, “The way is clear.”

Awaken

Part 01 - A Message to Orvus
Part 02 - The Lake Beckons
Part 03 - Night of Rest
Part 04 - The Tomb's Secret
Part 05 - The Deep Gouge
Part 06 - Dismay Down Deep
Part 07 - Orvus Restores Order
Part 08 - Magic Sans Scroll
Part 09 - CURRENT