Pushing Through The Veil To Push Back The Known Record

20260701

Prompt from Eiiri’s Prompt Foundry, “Pride 2 Disability Boogaloo”.

“Next!”
Dr Madini stepped into the… well, the esteemed Council of Chronoseers would likely take umbrage at this slick professional space being referred to as a “petitioning chamber”. But that’s what it was. A place for lesser academics to crawl on hands and knees to beg for assistance. Hoping those blessed with the ability to peer into the past would deem your project worthy.
“State your case.” The head seer ordered in an intimidatingly bored tone.
Gently setting the box he was holding on the petitioner’s table, Dr Madini declared “I have here an intact homo sapiens skull, dated at 270,000 years. Anything you can tell me about this individual, their life, and those around them would be of great scientific interest.”
That caused a stir. He wouldn’t quite call it surprise or curiosity, but he at least had their full attention now.
“Anything?” The head seer echoed. “What could make this individual so important that every detail about them is worthy of our study?”
“Ah, I would say illuminating rather than important.” Dr Madini demurred. “You see, from the bone structure, they appear to have what we now call Downs Syndrome.”
Now the attention being directed at him was sceptical. A few members even looked annoyed - the head seer amongst them. “How, pray tell, does that make them ‘illuminating’? What would we possibly learn from scrying such a… person?”
“Consider the size of the skull.” Dr Madini pointed. “This individual reached full adulthood, and was interred in the same cave as the rest of their tribe. I believe this indicates that they received significant care and support. We may be looking at the oldest social medical system in human history. Is that not an exciting, fascinating milestone for our species, of great interest to all branches of anthropology? And even beyond. Imagine what we could learn about ourselves...”
The council exchanged looks as they digested this. Was he imagining things, or was the general air now intrigued?
After a moment of soft conferring, the head seer turned back to Dr Madini and began “Scrying so far back into the past will be a difficult and delicate process. We will not be able to get you answers quickly…”
It took everything Dr Madini had not to beam with relief and victory. With great professional gravitas he managed to turn a cheer into a brisk cough and keep his tone level as he replied “I entirely understand. But I have utmost faith that your seers are up to the task. Indeed, I fear you are the only ones who can help me.”
“Well.” The head seer tented their fingers and gave a thin, proud smile. “Have no fear. Given enough time with the artefact, we should be able to glean a great deal about this individual’s illuminating life story.”

Prompt was “We’ve always been here.”