Not the Real World

Ethan's mind was reeling as he tried to process the visions he had seen on the astral plane. He felt like he had been given a glimpse into a whole new world, one that was both fascinating and terrifying.

Dr. Lee led him to a large, ancient-looking book lying open on a nearby table. The pages were yellowed and worn, but the text seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy.

"This is the ancient text," Dr. Lee said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "It holds the secrets of your ancestors, and the key to unlocking the ancient secret."

Ethan's eyes scanned the pages, trying to make sense of the strange symbols and diagrams. Rachel leaned over his shoulder, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"What does it say?" she asked.

Ethan shook his head. "I don't know. It's like nothing I've ever seen before."

Dr. Lee nodded. "That's because it's not of this world. The ancient civilization that wrote this text was far more advanced than we are today. They possessed knowledge and technology that we can only dream of."

Ethan's eyes widened as he realized the implications. "So, they must have left behind some kind of legacy or artifact that we can use to unlock this secret?"

Dr. Lee smiled. "Exactly. And that's what we're going to do."

She led them to a large, hidden chamber deep within the laboratory. The room was filled with rows of computers and machinery, and in the center of the room, a large, glowing crystal pulsed with energy.

"This is the heart of our research," Dr. Lee said. "We've been working on deciphering the ancient text, trying to unlock the secrets of your ancestors."

Ethan's eyes widened as he saw the scope of the project. "You mean you've been trying to replicate their technology?"

Dr. Lee nodded. "Exactly. And now that you've seen the visions on the astral plane, you have a unique perspective on this project. You can help us understand what we're dealing with."

Ethan felt a surge of excitement mixed with trepidation. He had always felt like there was something missing in his life, something he was meant to do. And now, he was being given the chance to uncover his true purpose.

But as he looked around the room, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were playing with forces beyond their control.