Into the Time Machine [Morning 1]

[Kannon]

"Kefitzat Haderech."

A singular reply after a longer pause.

[Kiran Alsahar]

"What is that, in as much detail as you can give me?" They asked, tone dark and serious, out of character for their normal attitude.

[Kannon]

On some level, the words had already started resonating within Kiran, eerily in lockstep with the same ancient language that provided the word for who they were, an aylonit.

"It translates as 'the Shortening of the Path'... It is too early to say more now. I can tell by your questions that you aren't quite ready yet. Let me tell just this: it is only so much and so fast you can stretch what human capacity is before you make it inhuman."

Tula was actually matching their tone. They seemed to be in implicit agreement on the subject's gravity.

[Kiran Alsahar]

"I suppose that makes sense. The term aylonit is from a related language, isn't it?" They mused. "... I feel bad for whatever person down the line is the subject of this effort. To find yourself becoming inhuman because of some effort by people thousands of years before who only see you as an end goal... What a horrifying experience."

[Kannon]

"Both come from Hebrew. It is one of our secret languages. In ancient times, one of the ancient religious texts was partially written in it. Traces of its semiotics can still be found in the Orange Catholic Bible. Its original speakers still live among us, well disguised, having been persecuted even more consistently throughout history than the Buddhislamics. Whoever made you familiar with the term aylonit must have come from a splinter of that heritage."

To comment on Kiran's reflection on rather answer a question about the fate of such an individual was probably beyond the designated capacity of the mnemonic box. But Kiran did notice that shifting the topic took the weight off Tula's voice.

[Kiran Alsahar]

They were quickly back to it, though. "Shortening the path... Is that related to the Golden Path?"

[Kannon]

"I do not know what the Golden Path is. It is not our term. I can only speculate how it may relate. The ancients of the Nile had an idea, Secher Nbiw. To them it meant the most desirable future. But it can be synonimical to any kingly way that fosters a golden age."

[Kiran Alsahar]

"All right. I need to study before I understand enough to ask the right questions, or get an answer I'll understand, " they said. "That's it for now. Thank you."

They picked up the box, stowing it away once the image vanished before turning back to head up the tunnel. They would be digging into the Azhar book once they got back.

[Kannon]

The mnemonic box went silent, and the secret chamber sealed itself after their exit. There was nothing left behind, however. The 10 millennia-old blasphemy was safely in their pocket.

/scene