He thinks back to that morning. After he uttered his offer to go on the expedition the meeting room became a frenzy of raised voices. Some people were praising him, saying he was the true spirit of science. Others were debunking him, saying he was trying to hog all the credit. But none of them pushed their views, all of them afraid that he would ask them to come with him. Afraid that they too would have to leave the safety of Kataras, the only world they knew.
And then the council... They shushed the room, telling everyone not to speculate but first wait to see if the blueprints were even valid. Then they adjourned the meeting, telling people to keep thing under wraps, because they didn't want the general public to start speculating too. Right, as if all the people in that room, exited by Nillians revelations about Dr. Biene could ever keep silent...
And now he is back home, sitting alone in a quiet room. Because he has a lot to think about. At the precise moment that he started to speak, back in the meeting room, he saw several council members frown. It was as if they expected him to offer his services, and weren't happy with it. Could there really be some truth to Dr. Biene's words? Was the University council trying to limit development, just because they were afraid of change?
Thinking about it Nillian feels his resolve getting firmer. If that really was the case then he was asked ... no required to go on this expedition, just to show them that change wasn't bad. That people had to look to the future, not stay stuck in the present.
Making up his mind Nillian goes downstairs, to tell his parents.
***
That evening Nillian is sitting in the library, reading a book. His parents took it quite well, mainly because he spoke in if's and maybe's. They were worried, yes, but as nothing would happen for some time they weren't worried too much. They have seen too much project at the University lead up to nothing, and assume this will be again the case.
As Nillian turns the page of his book he sees something moving in the corner of his eye. He looks up, and notices that Lyxia is standing there, clothed in black. He starts, and he almost utters a scream, before he can collect himself.
"Lyxia?! What are you doing here? How long ..."
"Oh, not long. I heard about this afternoon, the meeting. I am here to tell you that I am coming with you."
"You heard? News travels fast it seems. But ... It is going to be dangerous, not just visiting a city you know. I think that ..."
"Dangerous? Hah. To be honest Nill, I am far better at looking after myself then you are. No doubt about it."
"Sis, ... Alright, but I thought that you were against the idea of the expedition. Something about only idiots going? And the monastery? Aren't they going to have a say in this?"
"I said that only idiots would go, yes, but you are the idiot! I am just going along to keep an eye on you. And about the monastery ... well I am just extending my holiday. I already told them, and they said it was fine."
Nillian looks at her defeated, not sure how to continue. It seems that she has an answer to all his objections. But still he doesn't feel comfortable about it... He sighs and decides to bring in the big guns.
"And mom and dad?"
For the first time this conversation Lyxia looks worried, but only for a moment. She shrugs her worries away and smiles.
"Oh, I think I will manage to convince them. They are letting you go, right?"
The slight questioning tone at the end makes Nillian realise that she is not sure... But if she didn't her the news from then, where did she?
"Yes they did. But don't count on it being easy, I think they are going to object a lot!"
Lyxia just smiles, and walks out of the door.
***
A week passes without much going on. The news of the laboratory, letter and expedition leak out, and the press makes a big fuss about it. But without any continuation, without new developments, the fuss dies out quickly, and Nillian is not bothered much by it.
At the University the blueprints are checked and double checked, by several members. At first Nillian explains what he managed to discover so far, but soon they know more about them than he does, and he let them do their job.
The council members keep quiet, and are hardly seen at all. It seems that they are often in secret meetings, going outside the University to meet and talk. But they take no action, and await the results about the blueprints. They do however send out a team of members to the laboratory, to collect all the machines and prototypes and carefully ship them back to Kataras. When they visit Nillian he tells them how to find the laboratory, and where the entrance is hidden. No point in them trying to look for it themselves.
They return at the end of the week, with several large containers, which are transported to the University grounds. This leads to a flurry of volunteers that want to help unpack, and soon the maintenance hall, normally very quiet, is now filled with members trying to index, categorize and study all the machines and parts. Most of the machines from the laboratory were old and rusty. These have to be cleaned before they can be studied, which brings even more work for everyone.
Then, on the eight day after the full council meeting, Nillian receives a letter, requesting his attendance to a meeting. On this meeting the results will be published of the study of the blueprints, together with a first assessment of the machines and parts transported from the laboratory. Aside from Nillian only a few high standing members and the council are invited, so Nillian feels honoured. He puts on his coat, and makes his way to the University.
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