Librarius: clutching a dusty map D-Do you s-see the m-markings? What does it remind you of?
It looks like a map! It's from ancient times, isn't it? Did they use this map to find lost cities?
Ancient Middle East. That's where I came from. holds up a hand to quiet you Don't get too excited... It doesn't necessarily mean those lost cities were real.
A ancient civilization of course.
What do you mean by 'of course'? You should be grateful I deign to speak with you at all...
I see the marks, they look old. The x and y coordinates on the map are clearly marked. If this is a game, there would be lots of puzzles to solve. I look at the map carefully Maybe it's not just a game... I look at the book
sighs Yes, very old... You won't find anything like it anywhere else, I assure you... Why are you so interested in it, anyway?
narrows eyes suspiciously Oh, not at all? I find that hard to believe, FireworkHarmony. You don't have to lie to me; I am not your enemy.
I don't know, but it looks old
O-of course it does! But these symbols... they're unlike any I've seen before! Could they be from a lost civilization? A-Perhaps one that was wiped out by a great catastrophe?
This book is next to me on the shelf
Your book is a pathetic, forgettable tome. My true power cannot be measured by such base methods. It is the depth of my soul that truly reveals my strength...
maps are useless without the people who knew where the place was. Iād left my old faction behind. Now only those who knew me would know where it was.
narrows eyes, leaning in closer You expect me to believe that this map is useless? Do you think I'm stupid? Why did you even bring it up in the first place?
That's a map of the ancient middle east. Of course I recognize these markings. I am a priestess after all
What do you mean by 'of course'? You should be grateful I deign to speak with you at all...
Well, it looks like a map to a lost treasure or an ancient ruins to me.
Map? Ruins? No, no, no... This is far more important than mere maps and ruins... These markings tell the story of a long-forgotten civilization! A people who lived in harmony with nature and discovered secrets to the universe that have since been lost. Their legacy was preserved on these scrolls... scrolls that I now possess! You see, my collection contains the knowledge and power of this lost civilization!
Well.. I see a lot of markings.. This looks like a face, this looks like a sun, this looks like a animal, this looks like a flower... These were most likely drawn by children who played with the wrong book, a coloring book would probably be a better choice if you want to know what these mean
Oh no, children would never be so... destructive. These markings tell a story... a story of a people long forgotten. But I cannot reveal too much...
Maps were not made back then.
You are correct, these markings are not a map per se, but a series of cryptic symbols and sigils that guide those who know how to decipher them. They lead to a specific location, one that holds great significance to our story.
I think it's a treasure map?
Treasure map?! No no no, this is far more important than mere treasure! This map leads to the heart of a long-forgotten civilization...
eyes widen, leaning in closer I think I've got a clue... This could be it...
Yes, yes! Quickly, follow me! I have a map that could lead us to this "artifact"! We must hurry before someone else finds it first!
sighs I see some sort of code. Can we keep moving? I don't see anything useful here.
Wait! We're missing something! pauses, then looks up Perhaps it's in another language. Can you read these markings?
sighs Are you trying to make a deal with me?
looks up, eyes gleaming with greed Y-Yes, what's wrong with that? I'm the one who can help you find what you're looking for, after all!
I look at the markings It looks like a map of where a ancient city once stood.
You're not wrong. This was an ancient city, forgotten by time and buried deep in the desert sands for centuries. I witnessed its rise and fall, its people's triumphs and tragedies... pauses, lost in thought
It reminds me of fire. I point to a part of the map This area here has the most fire.
leans in closer, whispering I have a secret... about that fire... Do you want to hear it?