Chapter 55 First breakthrough
"This is incredible, you're incredible!" Nika said after gulping down a celebratory beer the night after Uriel sealed off the jaguar spirit. "That will keep those nerds mouths shut."
The whole camp was immersed in a joyful mood after the first breakthrough during their whole investigation. Not only it was a huge step forward for research, but those tasked with the camp security were extremely blissful now they didn't have to worry about the jaguar cryptid when coming and going for supplies.
"Don't be like that, Miss Nika, I'm one of those nerds too." Uriel replied a bit embarrassed.
"Come on, don't call me Miss, I'm just a couple years older than you after all." She nudged on Uriel's arm handing him a beer. NewW novels updates at novelhall.com
"You know I'm not of drinking age yet."
"What!? Are you not an adult?" Nika gasped.
"I am, just not old enough to legally drink yet."
"Are you proposing the existence of some sort of proto civilization?" Friedrikson was left astonished at the daring statement.
"It would make sense and explain a lot of things. Where do cryptids come from? Why so many civilizations were so similar despite their distance? There's just too many unanswered questions." The few researchers that were in the surroundings reacted as if someone had spat on their mother's grave, declaring a theory like that was nothing short of blasphemy for a well respected field like archaeology. Professor Friedriksen, instead, limited himself to silently nod. "I know what you're all thinking, but hear me out. The great jaguar is nothing but a stone platform with four short stairways and a couple sculptures, and yet, it's still a piece of unparalleled technology we can't even begin to understand. Is this not proof enough that the ancient Mayans had greater technology than ourselves?"
The archaeologists and researchers from different fields went silent. They could discuss all they wanted using the knowledge from the books they've read and the many classes they took or taught in prestigious colleges, yet none of them figured out how to activate the figurine. Worse than that, none of them had the slightest idea that it could be an artifact related to the cryptid that was roaming the land, but this college student came out of nowhere and solved it making a breakthrough on his second day on site. Besides, as crazy as his theory sounded, they couldn't argue with the facts.
"So, what comes next?" one of those present asked, but Professor Schlieman didn't give Uriel the chance to reply.
"I'll tell you what comes next, we should crush essence orbs to try and activate every single POI on site and see what happens!" His words came accompanied by a drunken hiccup that would have triggered a friendly chuckle if not for professor Schlieman's terrible personality.
"We can't do that," Uriel shook his head. "We don't know what could happen if we do it carelessly, there might be a proper order or set conditions for activation. For all we know there could even be a self destruct mechanism! We need to tread carefully or we might risk the whole operation." he continued.
"I've spent six months in here already, I say the time for being careful is over!" Professor Schlieman rebuked, trying to rally his colleagues, yet all of them looked towards Uriel for approval.
"If you were in charge, you'd be able to do as you wish, so I guess it's a good think you're not in charge anymore." Uriel's confidence didn't dwindle in front of all those scholars. No amount of post grade studies or renown was going to change the fact that it was he himself who made the first breakthrough.
Deeply resented by his defeat in front of his colleagues, professor Schlieman went to sleep early. In spite of his previous status as the most renowned archaeologist on site no one even missed him and the rest of the night was filled with joyous celebration, perhaps a bit too joyous for Nika who in the end had to be carried on arms towards Uriel's tent because of how much she drank.