Xibalba had never been one for resting on his laurels when a thing needed doing. And when the Code ordered everyone to their Wonders, he complied without hesitation. It wasn’t as easy to get there as past visits, but he could at least travel now. Already an improvement from the last dozen attempts these past couple of weeks.

As always, he felt mild awe as he stood in the center of his wonder. That something so old still survived… Shaking himself from his thoughts, Xibalba hurried deeper into his Wonder. As he passed by small cells and offices, he saw signs of disruption. Just like a storm had rolled through. And the closer he got to his office and the little meditation cubby, the stormsigns got worse. He saw broken lightbulbs in the battery powered lamps he’d brought up, tossed and torn papers, a split cushion sitting atop a cracked and splintering stool. Shaking his head, he resolved to fix these things as soon as he could. But for now, his own little piece of Code waited.

And it was a dim, flickering shadow of itself. The Code he knew had shone brightly and floated placidly in the meditation cubby. This Code barely let off any light and move erratically. The closest analogy he could think of was a staticy TV screen. It was a little unnerving, honestly. Moving to grab the torn cushion, the big blond tossed it to the ground before sitting on it and considering the Code piece.

“Ach, friend, y’are in a state,” he murmured. “Now how tae best resonate wit’ ye?”

Xibalba, both past and present, had been fans of meditation. He knew this and embraced it. It made his past self seem less like a storybook character. And it was really the best way he could think to reach his part of the Code. Closing his eyes, he made himself comfortable and leaned forward to rest his elbows against his knees. Then, he blindly reached down and began to idly trace unseen patterns on the sand coated floor. The patterns didn’t matter. They were simply a means to help empty and clear his mind. As he traced his fingers through the sand, he thought about how it felt. Allowed himself to feel the chill in the air that traveled up from the deepest cell. Began to hum softly.

The transition between past and present was practically seamless. Xibalba could hear deep humming. Felt it rumbling within his own chest. Eyes flashing open, he found himself kneeling before the sealed doors of the Big Cell. Only, he felt as if he were sitting at one remove. As if he was there but also not. It was an odd feeling. The humming was everywhere and sounded almost like throat singing. This wasn’t just him quietly meditating. Something was Happening. Or about to Happen. And related to the cell that had creeped him out to no end.

He didn’t feel any of the emotions he would expect. Rather, there was a feeling of anticipation and waiting. Xibalba had the sudden sense of being in two places at one time as he both felt and saw himself scream as a sharp dagger within his hand slashed down and opened his palm. Tiny, ruby red droplets of hot blood splattered across the bottom of the massive door and onto the sandstone floor. The humming increased in urgency and pitch as soft, strange words were added into the mix. The blood welling from his hand was allowed to flow freely until it began to trickle over all his fingers. Only then did he get to his feet and step close enough to touch the doors with his bloodied hand, pressing it against the massive surface and doing his own chanting as the bloody handprint glowed gold and faded into the doors.

Watching himself from every nook and cranny of the place was disorienting, but satisfying. Whatever ritual he’d done, it had been done well. There was a deep, abiding sense of rightness with the Wonder. Of deep protection. The thing imprisoned behind those doors was sealed away now by deeper protections than mere stone and metal.

At least for a time.

Once again, Xibalba felt the humming and chanting reverberating throughout his body and all the chambers within the Wonder. For a moment, he felt as if he couldn’t possibly remain whole as the sound enveloped and cradled him. But then, it began to fade gradually and he felt himself slowly waking to the fact that he was stretched out full length on the rough, sandy floor. His hand ached and he soon saw why. A piece of broken glass was lodged in his palm. Grunting, he pulled it out and cursed softly. Tearing a bit of fabric from the ruined cushion, he used it as a makeshift bandage.

Then, he realized that the light was much brighter than it had been before he’d sat down to meditate. Glancing curiously around, he saw the Code piece bobbing in place and glowing brilliantly. Looking at it now didn’t make his brain feel like it was glitching ******** me sideways, did we do it then?”

The Code remained silent, but Xibalba had a sense that the thing was there and aware. It simply chose to remain quiet. Well, that suited him well enough. Especially since things felt right again. And a quick thought summoned his sling to hand.

The blond did at least retain enough courtesy to take himself from the cubby before testing his magic and smiling as a single, small fireball sailed down the hallway before fizzling out. Well, that was good enough for him! Things looked and felt all right now. He hadn’t felt any strain when using his magic or calling his weapon to hand. He was going to have to assume that he’d fulfilled the Code’s request to resonate with his Wonder and help set it back to rights.

Frankly, he hoped all the other knights that had been at the meeting were meeting equal success.

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