[IRP] Secrets of the Empire

[Toogee]

After the flames were extinguished and the coat was removed, Paige stood with Wolfram to investigate the scene. The desk bared a charred spot from the fire, still strong with the scent of tobacco. In the middle of the spot, a blackened pipe laid upon the charred remains of a thick tome. The cover was barely readable, but the librarian could make out the word “Ostian” in the title. It was as she feared: this was the book they were searching for.

“Damn,” Paige said in frustration. “We only just got this book back after the author’s updates. Whatever he had to say is lost now.”

She reached to flip through the book, only to find it still hot to the touch. She wiped the warm oil onto her skirt- wait, oil? From the scent, it was likely lamp oil.

“How could someone be so careless…” In the back of her mind however, this seemed to be more than an accident.

Paige was more focused on what was left of the book before her. Using her sleeves, she flipped through the charred pages to see if anything was left. With every turn, her heart broke. Tales and records of the reigns of Uther, Hector, Lillina, and their descendants were lost.

“It’s all gone,” Paige said remorsefully. Suddenly, she leaned forward to read the sentence fragments aloud. She found something.

“As of this writing…new era for Lycia…Emperor…that’s it. That’s his name.”

The librarian didn’t even give Wolfram a chance to take a look before she took the book into her arms to carefully (yet quickly) take it back upstairs. Back into the library, she rushed for the table where Kalin and Shad were talking. Setting the book down, Paige looked to the two to share the empire’s secret.

“His name…his name is Coran*”

((*credit to WyvernSlayer + mod team for name drop.))