Nobody moved.
Robert had said stop, and something in his voice made everyone listen without asking why. The two caravan guards stayed where they were. Ronan held his position. Sai stood with one foot slightly ahead of the other, frozen mid-step. Eissa looked at Robert and waited.
The monument stood six meters ahead. It was covered in moss. A crack ran along its upper section. The surrounding plaza was completely silent.
Robert studied it for a moment. Then he spoke to the system.
"System, analyze the monument."
The response came quickly.
Object: Ancient Monument. Estimated Age: greater than 3,000 Years. Heavily damaged. Function Unknown. Recommendation: Perform Physical Examination.
Three thousand years old.
Robert did not say that out loud. He simply walked forward. The others followed.
Up close, the monument was bigger than it looked from the road junction.
