Monoliths of Time
In the remote village of Merrifield, a series of bizarre and unexplained occurrences had begun to unsettle its inhabitants. Mysterious monoliths made of an alien material had begun appearing overnight, each engraved with untranslatable symbols and radiating an otherworldly energy.
Estranged scientist Lucian, a native of Merrifield, came back after hearing the rumors. Armed with a natural curiosity and eager to escape his own past, Lucian was drawn by the intrigue of the monoliths. His return to Merrifield was met with mixed reactions from the villagers who, despite bearing grudges, had faith in his ability to solve the mystery of the monoliths.
Lucian set to work immediately, setting up his equipment around one of the monoliths on the outskirts of the village. Day after day, he analyzed the engravings and the structure of the monolith, but with no real progress. The symbols resembled no known language and the material the structures were made of, was unlike anything the world had seen before.
One night, as Lucian was conducting another round of analysis, a flash of white light filled the sky, and a sudden surge of energy forced him off his feet. Scrambling to his gear, Lucian found that all his equipment was alive with a frenzy of unprecedented readings. One of the monoliths had awakened.
With primitive human instincts flooding his senses, fear forced him to retreat, but curiosity pulled him in. Slowly, he made his approach towards the radiant monolith, hand extended. As his fingers gently traced the glowing symbols, the monolith responded. The symbols illuminated one by one, and Lucian, much to his amazement, found himself understanding the cryptic code. It spoke of a cosmic voyage, a message from the makers of the universe itself, an invitation to the human species to join the interstellar community.
News of the awakened monolith spread quickly, attracting both fear and excitement among the villagers of Merrifield and beyond. However, the understanding of the messages was something only Lucian possessed. He became the ambassador, the translator between the humans and the alien monoliths.
He communicated with the monoliths, sharing the knowledge of their findings with the world. While some feared the unknown and urged for a stop to further dealings, most were captivated by this cosmic contact and supported Lucian’s communication with the monoliths.
However, the frequent interaction with the monoliths began to take a toll on Lucian, noticeably aging him. Realizing the exchange of information could devastate his body, Lucian slowed down his communication considerably. Despite the risks, he felt obligated to continue his assignment for humanity's sake. Absolutely captivated, he knew he was the gateway to a new era of understanding, the bridge between Earth and the universe.
Eventually, the monoliths shared an invitation to visit their origin, a star system light years away, hinting at the monumental knowledge, and the unparalleled wonders awaiting humanity. The world was abuzz with the question of who gets to represent humanity and travel to the distant star system. Lucian, being the natural choice, agreed despite the evident toll this journey would take on him.
The monoliths facilitated the journey by opening an interstellar portal. A ship was built, with Lucian as its sole passenger. With the entire humanity watching, he bravely embarked on the journey to the distant stars, leaving the familiar behind. The portal closed behind him, leaving the inhabitants of Earth in anticipation for whatever lay beyond.
The monoliths stood silent, serving as a constant reminder of the giant leap humanity had taken. Years turned into decades and the monoliths eventually stopped glowing, leaving people speculating about Lucian’s fate. Although many hoped for his return, Earth's first interstellar traveler never came back but he left a legacy behind, the monoliths, a tangible testament to humanity's indomitable spirit, curiosity, and the desire to leap into the great unknown.
The story of Lucian and the monoliths became legend, passed down generation after generation. Despite him never returning, the curiosity about the cosmos, the spirit of exploration he ignited never waned, fueling humanity's constant endeavor to reach out to the stars, in search of the unknown.