Truth Within the Silent Wall

Nina had never imagined this would happen—she had imagined that touching the light curtain might bring about some changes for Mr. Morris. Perhaps something would emerge from within it, perhaps the surrounding environment would be turned upside down. She had even imagined a thunderous crash, with Uncle Duncan and the entire Lost Homeland falling from the sky. But this was the one thing she had never expected.

This suspected "Silent Wall" would silently... pop like a soap bubble.

The magnificent wall of light forming the barrier instantly shattered into fragments. The structure that had once held up heaven and earth dissolved into motes of light in the blink of an eye.

At the instant the barrier shattered and vanished, the entire forest seemed to fall into a brief stillness. Then, a second later, the fog filling the forest began to flow again—and Nina finally came to her senses, rushing to her teacher's side in just a few steps.

"Mr. Morris!" she cried. "Are you all right? Why did this thing suddenly..."

"I don't know..." Morris was clearly rather stunned as well. The elderly scholar, who usually seemed so steady, dependable, and refined, now looked somewhat at a loss. His lips twitched, and for some reason, he recalled the seven rules of archaeology that his teacher Rune had taught him years ago while he was studying at Truth Academy—

First, do not touch things recklessly; second, handle the environment carefully; third, do not touch things recklessly; fourth, do not jump to conclusions; fifth, do not touch things recklessly; sixth, revere the traces of civilization; seventh, don't fucking touch things recklessly...

The old gentleman lowered his head and stared dazedly at his hand. After so many years, he once again felt that familiar sensation: My teacher must never find out about this.