Chapter 12: A Choice

As evening approached, Ethan suggested a gathering to discuss their findings and plan for the next day.

What puzzled them was the sun above, which seemed to reflect the actual time outside the dome. Its light was synchronized with the external time, and as it began to dim, it signaled the onset of the night.

Rayana was captivated by the mesmerizing overhead gems, which adorned the dome's ceiling like a celestial tapestry. Each gem glimmered with a brilliance reminiscent of distant stars, casting a soft and ethereal glow throughout their gathering space. Their radiant hues ranged from deep sapphire blues to vibrant emerald greens, and from shimmering amethyst purples to fiery ruby reds. As the flickering flames of the bonfire danced beneath them, the gems seemed to come alive, casting a magical ambiance that filled Rayana's heart with wonder as if she missing a vital detail.

Gathered in a circle around the crackling bonfire, the group of survivors embraced the warmth and comfort it provided. Having savored their evening meal, they eagerly turned their attention to sharing the discoveries they had made throughout the day.

Rayana presented her analysis and sought their perspectives.

"Does this person resemble the one above?" Noah asked, pointing upwards. Initially, everyone was baffled, thinking he was referring to something ethereal, but they dismissed this idea when they looked up. The high ceiling and the bright light had previously obscured their view. Rayana, however, was inwardly frustrated with herself for overlooking something so evident. She chastised herself internally, her mind wandering, but externally, she showed no signs of self-reproach or any other emotion. Rayana stared at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts. Eventually, she discerned a pattern. The gems, people, and murals above formed an image of a person embracing the sun, which shone brightly during the day.

'So, what does that sun-like structure represent? Could it be a god? Why would a mortal embrace it? If it's not a sun god, could it be power? A soul? A portal? Or the world?'

Rayana considered the possibility that the light indicated the passage of time, just like in the outside world.

So, a world. Rayana pondered this and began examining the ceiling's surrounding murals. They were similar to the murals that Will and Oliver had seen. Will insisted on being addressed by his first name rather than Mr. Davis or Sir and Oliver express the same sentiment.

The murals they had examined depicted wars among people with abilities after they arrived in this world. Instead of looking down, they all looked straight ahead.

So far, every mural on Oliver and Will's side are stories of their victories. They had also confirmed the pattern of the murals, which seemed to depict the construction of a civilization in a medieval era, with battles for supremacy and territory.

Looking back at the ceiling, it appeared that there were still ordinary people there, but instead of looking down as they did on Earth, some of them were looking up. 'Towards the light,' Rayana thought. Only the people with abilities seemed to be looking up. What confused Rayana further was that they didn't appear to be moving towards the light. Some leaned in different directions, and some even sat down. The only commonality was their upward gaze.

"This is so strange. How did that person manage to send them here?" Amelia mused aloud. It seemed that everyone had reached the same conclusion about the murals and began to wonder. But what they needed to know was not how to get here, but how to return.

"There's no way back," Oliver declared. Rayana agreed with him. The murals did not depict the people with abilities trying to find a way back. After arriving here, their history was focused on building their civilization.

"They all chose to come here," Rayana murmured.

Her voice gradually grew louder as she continued, "They had a choice, and that person helped them come here." Rayana's tone was tinged with anger and dissatisfaction.

Everyone quickly understood what Rayana was thinking, and their expressions became awkward and guilty. 'Right. How could they forget? She was a bystander from the start,' they thought. Everyone wanted to protest that they didn't have a choice either, but they held back. Will and his companion had the same reaction. They had come with the intention of potentially saving the children in exchange for rewards from their families, but they had all failed in their mission.

In the end, they all agreed that they were getting to know each other in an unexpected way.

Will cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. They knew they couldn't really blame Rayana if she still harbored some resentment about their situation. So far, she had been trying to hold it in and not blame anyone. Moreover, she had been incredibly helpful in analyzing the murals over the past few days. Will couldn't help but consider her a potential dark horse in the future. He had also noticed how she had remained calm from the moment she woke up, unlike the rest. Though they had recovered quite quickly as well. Overall, these kids showed great potential and could reach great heights with the right guidance. Will felt both fortunate to encounter such talent and regretful that they had to meet under such circumstances.

"There's something peculiar that we noticed as well," Will mentioned, and everyone already had a feeling that it could potentially send them into another whirlpool of thoughts.

'Everyone seems to be getting used to it,' Lucy thought, looking at Will and bracing herself for what was to come.

"In each heroic battle depicted in the murals, after the victory, both parties seemed to accept the result and held no grudges. We saw murals of festivities where both parties were celebrating together. But still, this is just a theory," Will said, observing their reactions before continuing. "They seem to be a reasonable group of people if you ask me."

"Is there a possibility we could get along with them and ask for a favor?" Max asked.

"Unlikely," Jack interjected, joining the discussion about the murals, which surprised everyone. Nonetheless, they wanted to hear his opinion.

"If they really originated from Earth with a memory of being enslaved," Jack's sudden straightforwardness made everyone flinch, knowing full well what he meant, "I don't think we should expect good treatment from them. Their compassion should be with their own kind, so think carefully if you all one day decide to approach them asking for peace."

'See, I knew it,' Lucy thought, looking at everyone's dark expressions and fully aware that she shared their feelings.