A monument atop the mesa overlooks the valley and river basin below. A single plum tree blossoms early, casting pink buds against the gray sky. A cold wind blows through the overlooker’s flowing hair as he sits calmly in meditation.

Hisayo and Zeke burst out of the house, their haste betraying an impulsive eagerness for adventure. The late sunrise had just started to warm the frosted ground beneath their feet. The sunlight was a deep orange, casting long shadows on the ground. A gentle breeze ruffled their hair. The landscape of the surrounding valley lay tranquil apart from the excited children.

Hisayo had her long black hair tied back in a ponytail that hung in contrast against pale skin. Her brown eyes sparkled with curiosity and a love of adventure, and a bright smile lit up her face. Her delicate stature contained a disproportionate energy which came spilling out in every movement.

Zeke was Hisayo's older brother, though his darker skin showed they were not bloodkin. He had the kind of lanky teenage build that would surely fill out in adulthood, and messy hair that was always in need of a trim. The gleam in his eyes showed he was always ready for a new challenge, and there was a toughness and determination about him that made him seem older than his years. Always prepared, a well-worn pack hung from his shoulders.

"Come on, Zeke!" Hisayo called out, her eyes shining with excitement. The world was waiting to be explored.

Zeke trailed closely behind, dodging people and animals as they went. "Slow down, Hisayo! You're going to get us in trouble!" he chuckled.

They made their way through the small village, paying little attention to the history and culture that surrounded them. At the center of town stood a marble statue of a faceless hero, its blank expression seeming to symbolize the many unknowns of the past. And just nearby, a lotus-shaped gravestone marked the spot where the village was founded, a symbol of growth and new beginnings.

Near the gate at the western edge of the village, a sleek white ball barely larger than a citrus zoomed through the air above the children, and abruptly changed its course to join them.

“There you are! Come on Zeebo, you’ve gotta keep up too!” Hisayo chided her curious pet. A playful beep and quick close of a shutter over the device’s optical input served as acknowledgement. Together, the three continued out toward the vineyards.

A robotic spider was busy pruning the grapevines in preparation for spring. It was a sleek machine, with metal legs that glinted in the sun. It scurried through the vines, snipping branches with precision. Still a mystery to the children, they couldn't help but stop and watch the exotic movements of the repurposed technology.

Zeke marveled at the intricate dance between metal and plant, "This tech is so cool!"

"I know, right? It still amazes me," Hisayo reached out and touched the robot's sleek exterior, feeling the cool metal under her fingers.

"The elders always say we don’t know, but still I wonder where it came from. Do you think it was made here, or brought from somewhere else?" Zeke voiced a common question between them.

"Auntie Sara says the village founders made it, but their knowledge was lost in a big fire. But Grandma says it was already here, and we had to figure out what to do with it," Hisayo reflected with a thoughtfulness uncharacteristic of others her age.

"Well whoever it was, they must have been really smart,” Zeke concluded. “I wish I could learn from them. At least we figured out how to use these to help with the wine making and farming.” Their ingenuity was a source of local pride. He looked up and across to the fields where an unmanned vehicle bot slowly tread its way, tilling the soil.

As if aware of their momentary distraction, the arachnoid device in the vines suddenly beeped and spun around, its sensors locking onto the siblings, and two legs waved a warning in the air. Startled, they backed away laughing, and moved on gleefully.

“So, where should we explore today?” Hisayo wondered as they walked with leisure amidst the vines.

Taking that as a cue to remind them of its presence, Zeebo suddenly went flying off toward the far end of the vineyard. Hisayo giggled and chased after it.

Zeke called after her, knowing he had to follow, "Hisayo, wait! That thing will lead us to trouble!"

She didn't listen, determined to follow her pet, "Come on, Zeke! We have to catch him!” Zeebo zoomed ahead and they quickly lost sight of it, continuing in the same direction nonetheless.

The bot had a propensity for flying off and instigating games of tag, but seemed unusually determined today. They ran far beyond the edge of the vineyard and approached a daunting rock wall that marked the boundary of their usually permitted wanderings. Above the wall was the grounds of an old monument, set against the backdrop of the mountain.

Zeebo was nowhere to be found.

"Do you see anything? Did we go the wrong way?" Hisayo called out, scanning the rock wall for any sign of a way up.

"Over here!" Zeke waved his sister over to a crevice in the rock, partially hidden. They could see that it led to a narrow set of carved stone stairs, a shaft of sunlight cast upon them. They squeezed their way in between the rocks, and made their way up. As they emerged on top of the rock wall, they could see the pond at the vineyard below, the river beyond, and distant structures scattered along the horizon.

They found Zeebo near the monument, where something had drawn its attention. Submitting to the robot’s curiosity, they approached. The monument towered above the children, and they both looked up in awe at its sleek facade, the unusual angles and shapes of its architecture, and the mystery of its purpose.

Zeebo beeped excitedly in front of the monument’s base a few steps away. “What is it, Z?” Hisayo moved closer and saw a short inscription like a quote in characters she couldn’t recognize. She ventured to place her hand gently on the surface. It was colder than the winter morning ground. Suddenly, the monument's surface shifted in front of them. A section of the wall slid aside and disappeared to reveal a square alcove reaching from the ground to Zeke’s waist. Recessed into the monument, its interior was shadowed by the towering structure above. They both stooped to look closer. Just inside sat a strange metallic box. Carved lines decorated its surface in beautiful patterns, and glowed faintly in rhythm as if to communicate something. The glow quickly faded.

The children looked at each other. Hisayo grinned with knowing mischief sparkling in her eyes. Zeke shook his head, but conceded, “Well, we’re already here after all. Let’s find out.” Together, they reached in and pulled the box out into the open. Zeke found what seemed to be a button, ventured a push, and a lid lifted with a hiss. Inside the box lay a strange cloak, folded with care. A hand-written note said simply, “Thank you for coming. Here is your reward.” They both reached out to touch it, and as soon as they did the world changed.

Spinning and flashing, images materialized and disappeared. A fleeting glimpse into the past, or another world. A valley in flames, the smoke rising high into the sky. They heard the clang of swords and the battle cries of warriors. They watched one man charge ahead, and then felt the heat of the fire on their skin and the weight of armor on their shoulders. Intense emotions came in waves–ambition, sadness, and gratitude. And the voice of someone speaking, whose words could not be distinguished, but somehow felt. The voice urged them on, filled them with a sense of purpose. And at the end of it all, one moment of clarity: a window to a world seen from afar, a new destination, and a sense of supreme calm.

As the experience faded, the world they knew came back into focus. Still, the emotions lingered, and a sense they had witnessed something important, something that would stay with them forever.

"What was that?" Hisayo whispered, still in awe.

"I don't know," Zeke said, "but I've never felt anything like it. It was like a dream, or a memory, but not my own. Everything seemed familiar and new at the same time…" Shaking it off, Zeke for now could only anchor to his reality. He pointed to the sun, much higher in the sky, “Look, morning is almost gone. We better be getting back. Let’s keep this between us for now,” he hesitated briefly then grabbed the cloak and stuffed it in his pack.

They made their way down the hidden passage, filled with wonder and intrigue about the mystery they had just encountered. They knew they needed to hurry home, but they couldn't shake the feeling that their lives would never be the same again.

An eon of patience to protect the inheritance. His mission, now complete. An unstoppable process set in motion. The setting sun sneaks through the clouds and casts orange rays of hope onto the valley. Filled with gratitude, he steps into the Void.

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