Know you the words that have traveled far?

After a truly restful meditation upon the sandstone flowerpot of Lavivun – Steam’s relatives’ home – Aura watched me with almost childlike curiosity. At first, she lingered at the edge, observing in silence, but then drifted into her own kind of “meditation,” sinking deep into her thoughts. She, too, seems to have much to process from this day. I myself had much to weigh and arrange in my mind that night. The Ice-Poem, and so much more, stirred the very fabric of fate within me – ours as a group, the children’s, the parents’. Even the Epyraday deserves to begin with a breakfast. And so it did – excellent, in fact. I even took a handful of dates for the road. Over our meal, we planned our day. For my part, I sought my companions’ counsel regarding the Ice-Poem:

Markings on the ice read in script of wind-blown snow.
Your skin like lilac, mine like teal.
One paints the beginning of a certain end.
The other, the end of a sure beginning.

Sadly, our little hive-mind could make little of it. It seems a riddle meant for the road ahead, one that will only unfold with the right choices. I aided Yuri in donning his armor, and once more asked about his bond to these soul-weapons, and about his origins. His Smoldering Armor is a puzzle to me. Does it serve some greater purpose? It masks his scent – or am I only imagining it? I lent Steam a gold coin so that he might fetch Alizée’s snowflake-drake. Strangely, this act of generosity seemed to pass by her without a word. Money, kindness – they seem to mean little to her, or perhaps the reasons lie elsewhere.

On our way to the Bahara Library, we came across Neriah Brielle and Cravine at the shores of Lake Haiyeti. Cravine is most delightful – open, kind, and exceedingly loud for the morning. She shared with me a so-called “Yell-Pepper,” some sort of superfood, and was generous enough to gift me one. They spoke of the murders in Karam and assured us we had no part in them. Still, it feels strange to be the prey, not the hunter. I must sharpen my perception. Two more parents slain, their two children taken. Five children, six dead… I expect to find this knot of sorrow again before long. Neriah Brielle and Cravine decided to accompany us to the Bahara Library.
The Bahara Library itself is vast, overwhelming, and its greeting peculiar: “Know you the words that have traveled far?” So we were received. I echoed the phrase back, as greeting in return. They seemed… disappointed. Alizée and Frederick are known here – no surprise with Alizée – and thanks to them, I finally set foot inside this monument of knowledge. Our weapons we left behind. - to leave B. Bessi[i/] unsettled me deeply.

Our stay bore fruit, sudden and rich as a tree struck by lightning in winter. In a travel journal of Abraj A’Malounaton lay a bookmark. Upon the page: The Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Prince, at the place of the Weeping Oracle. Again the story calls to us. We also found a map of the Ad’har Oasis, time of the First Song of the Founding. Yuri bore the burden of distracting the self-absorbed Neriah Brielle – while Cravine eventually drifted to sleep. Steam also asked after reports of his homeland – I must remember to question him further on this. Aura never ceases to amaze. She claimed to know The Tale of the Forgotten Prince by heart. I believe her.
Kaleb Al’Arshif – an expert on cursed things – led Alizée, Aura and myself into Mal’q’s section, devoted to Abraj A’Malounaton. There we uncovered a “Tulip dye’s” ledger, and shattered tiles. Seven expeditions, perhaps? With twenty or more souls, lost to both memory and paper, who once studied the pillars of Abraj A’Malounaton.

Forgetting is a great theme in this city… Something steals memories. Could this be why my Lady sent me here? Have I been given another task? To save souls and guard memories? Alizée, meanwhile, led us into her family’s archive, to search for traces of her grandparents. Strangely, she leafed through her family book far too quickly to read – its pages seemed partly blank. Neither she, nor the librarian, could recall her grandfather. Curious. Has my Lady hidden these memories as well?

At last, leaving the Library, we parted ways with Neriah Brielle and Cravine. It feels good to have my belongings back… ah, B. Bessi…

Now – onward to Karam!