“All set.” the tall figure said. He then gestured for the smaller figure to move into the compartment at his back. The smaller figure responded with a nod and proceeded to move into the compartment.

Inside the compartment is a huge room, bigger than the room where they came from; and definitely bigger than how the compartment looks outside. It is furnished with wooden furniture and its walls are lined with cabinets filled with vials and other laboratory instruments. Its ceilings, littered with small globes that emit white light.

In the far side of the room is something that looks like a fireplace. Right in front of it, seats a small figure a bit smaller than the one who was last to enter the compartment. His height would be exactly five feet or even less. He wears the same black outfit as the others.

In front of him is a set of apparatus filled with buttons, knobs, and levers. Likewise, in front is a small projection, a hologram, projecting what appears to be the very room they came from.

On the opposite side is the freed man, now properly propped on top of a wheelchair. His eyes laced with disbelief as he looked at the projection in front. On the projection, he can see the corpse that bears his image and beside it is the tall figure. Just a few moments earlier, he had observed as the other figure entered the compartment and suddenly appeared a few meters behind him.

The freed man although slowly recovering from shock, remained silent as he recalled the things that had just happened. Years and years of academe had never prepared him for this. His mind now littered with questions, ‘Who are these figures?’ ‘What are they trying to accomplish?’ ‘Have I committed a blunder?’

His raging thoughts were interrupted by a chuckle coming from the small figure in front of him. Then the small figure began to speak, his voice the same as the voice of the tall figure, “You are too easy to read, you know that? ...Your eyes are too honest”

“Just a few minutes earlier you are very determined to join us. But, now you are already questioning that decision of yours. Worry not, your question about our identity will be answered soon, provided that certain conditions were met, of course. For now we need to move to another location.”

The freed man remained silent as he watched the figure in front of him tinker the apparatus. A few pulls of lever and turning of knobs, and the tall figure, as seen on the hologram, moved in response. It kneeled and placed its hand on the ground. After that, streaks of faint light lined the floor, and began forming some geometric patterns. Even with its movements, the room inside the compartment remained stable, as if it was detached from the world.

A few seconds passed and the lines were now perfectly interlaced, forming a complicated pattern of shapes contained in a big circle. The light dimmed and in an instant they were teleported to a different location; the tall figure still kneeling on the ground.

Inside the compartment, the changes were barely felt. But the light now, especially those coming from what appears as the fireplace, greatly dimmed.

The small figure left his seat, then drew near to the freed man. He began assisting the freed man, using the wheelchair, towards the exit. The figures remained silent as they moved outside.

Upon reaching the outside of the compartment, a bright ray of sunlight welcomed them as they descended the still kneeling large figure. The freed man, savored the sensation of warmth coursing his skin as he peered into the new location.

Outside, he found himself on top of a hill. Just below them, is the Kingdom of Ventus. The cheers of the people are still audible and the festive event painted all over. He can hear the soldiers being praised, as well as the occasional cheers for the Ibis. “Viva Ventus!”

One of the figures beside him spoke in a tone laced with pity, “Behold, the people you tried to enlighten.”