The old man's name was Elias. Like Kaelen, he was a "Reborn." But while Kaelen had been a middle-aged office worker, Elias had been an engineer.
"How many of us are there?" Kaelen asked, his voice shaking.
"Few. Maybe a dozen across the centuries," Elias said, pouring three cups of bitter tea. "The world 'resets' itself, Kaelen. Civilization grows, discovers the Aetheria—which is really just the recycled energy of the last fallen world—and then burns itself out. We are the 'Archive-Keepers,' sent back to try and break the cycle."
Lyra looked between them, her glass eyes wide with confusion. "What are you talking about? What is an 'internet'?"
"A story for another time, child," Elias said gently. He looked at Kaelen. "Silas isn't just a greedy man. He's being manipulated by the Sentinels—the automated defense systems of the previous world that think humanity is a virus."