Barrell couldn't believe his luck. Even as he descended the ancient lift, his fingers cold and wet, boots uncertain on the slippery platform, he couldn't believe it. Nino Ruins, the untouched jewel of the ocean, zealously guarded by the Guild for being too dangerous--it had been left unsealed. What fortune! No, fate!
"Verner is going to punch me right in the teeth," he chortled to himself, gently stepping off the lift and onto the floor.
Barrell turned around. And stared. He was standing in a huge open room, the ceiling higher than he could ever remember a Ruin being. The floor was covered in water, and he remembered the theory of it flooding and evacuating in cycles. He hadn't brought a re-breather, having not anticipated this, but surely a little look wouldn't get him killed.
He proceeded into the next room and found himself struck again with fear and awe. Smack in the middle was a gigantic floating crystal, and underneath it, a peculiar transparent refractor.
He stared distrustfully at the gently rotating pyramid even as his steps were drawn toward the refractor(?). Like a moth to flame. Like a planet in orbit.
Very slowly, he reached out and touched it. It seemed to vibrate under his fingers, and then the crystal began to glow painfully bright, unfolding itself like origami.
Barrell backed against the wall, shielding his eyes as the brightness increased to unbearable levels. And then, silence, and darkness. Cautiously he lowered his arm and looked around.
Again, he found himself dumbfounded because on the floor was a small animal of some sort, and… a child.
"A baby?" He croaked, mouth suddenly dry as he approached.
The child, no older than a toddler, watched him with dark, solemn eyes. It didn't cry, nor did it unveil itself as something more sinister than a (ir)regular child.
Against his better judgment, he removed his jacket and bent to wrap the child up. Once shielded against the damp and chill, he hoisted it into his arms.
It was smaller and younger than Roll by at least a few months, by his experience. He braced it against his shoulder and the two stared at each other intensely. And then the child reached out and grabbed a handful of his beard, no longer staring into his eyes.
He started as the little animal crowded at his boots, watching him closely. It did nothing else so he gave it no mind. He was more intrigued by the child. The child he had found in the ruins.
Barrell stood, staring at the door less than ten feet away, and then at the child, and creature. His mind was spinning like a hamster in a runaway wheel. A child. In the Ruins. In an Ancient artifact.
"Alright, I suppose that's enough Digging for one day. Let's get you out of here," he said solemnly, returning to the antechamber.
He pressed the button, ignoring his hand shaking. The baby released his beard and subsequently ignored him for their surroundings as they were lifted high into the air.
After almost two minutes--because he counted the seconds, waiting, almost holding his breath--they left the Ruins. When he stepped out, and the door closed, he heard the distinct sound of a lock and tried not to think too much about what was happening.
The Guild was still empty for the moment, so he made his exist as quickly and gracefully as he could. He got one odd look, but it was for the animal skittering at his heels, not the child.
Now he'd really gone and done it. He couldn't tell the Guild, else risk his license and reputation. And this child was more than likely not normal, and some part of him was reluctant to give it to an orphanage or hospital. Perhaps Roll had a new playmate.
The tiny, anti-conscience Verner he had developed over the years was laughing at his expense. He could practically hear it echoing in his ears as he tucked the child further into his coat. Barrell wanted to punch him in the teeth.
He would have to settle for a strongly worded letter for… advice. Barrell glanced down and found the child staring at him again with huge, intense dark eyes.
In the light of Nino Island, its hair was even more green.