The remnants of breakfast were being cleared away as Kite and the girls finished the last of their meal. The pancakes had been a hit, and the kitchen was filled with laughter and the clinking of dishes. Kite shared a satisfied look with Liliana and Sylvana, each of them eager to hear what Elder Mirrin had discovered about the scrolls.
Once the table was cleared and the kitchen tidied, Michiko and Mirrin led the way to Mirrin's study. The room was filled with ancient tomes, scrolls, and various artifacts.
Mirrin moved to a large oak desk at the center of the room and carefully unfurled one of the scrolls that Kite and his friends had retrieved from the forest ruins. The scroll's edges were frayed, and its surface was covered in a script that seemed to dance and shift as if alive with hidden meaning.
The air buzzed with the scent of the millennia old parchment and old ink. Kite wondered if magic had been cast on the parchment to preserve it. Salt was good at preserving meat, but he doubted sea air was good for paper. Especially a sea cavern. The paper would've gotten damp even within the chest they had found them in.
Michiko stood beside him, her expression serious. "We were able to decode only a small portion of the text," she said, her eyes flickering with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Mirrin nodded, pointing to a specific section of the scroll. "This part here," he said, tapping the parchment gently, "refers to Eldoria as 'the Wanderer.'"
Kite leaned in closer, his golden eyes scanning the unfamiliar script. "The Wanderer?" he repeated, a frown creasing his forehead. "I know Eldoria is the name of this world, but what could it mean by calling Eldoria 'the Wanderer'?"
He knew that in some languages, their word for world meant 'wanderer', was it referring to that simple fact? Or something deeper?
Mirrin shook his head slowly. "Not sure. The exact meaning is rather enigmatic. Referring to our world in such a way isn't something one usually sees. It's not clear from this fragment alone. It could imply a historical event, a mythical journey, or perhaps a state of being that we have yet to understand."
Liliana's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Maybe it means Eldoria has a history of moving through different realms or has some hidden power that causes it to 'wander.'"
Sylvana nodded thoughtfully. "Or perhaps it's a metaphorical description. Eldoria could symbolize a force or an entity that wanders through space and time, influencing events in ways we don't comprehend yet."
Kite's mind raced with possibilities. The scrolls held a mystique, and uncovering even a fragment of their secrets felt like stepping into a new world of potential.
"Do you think there could be more clues in the other scrolls?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation.
Michiko smiled, her eyes twinkling with the same excitement. "It's very likely. Each scroll might be able various things, but each one can make the picture clear."
Mirrin rolled the scroll back up carefully. "For now, this is all we have. But it's a starting point. 'The Wanderer' could lead us to new discoveries and understanding."
Kite exchanged a look with Liliana and Sylvana, their determination mirrored in each other's eyes. "Then we need to keep searching," he said firmly. "We'll find out why Eldoria is called 'the Wanderer' and what that truly means."
Michiko placed a reassuring hand on Kite's shoulder. "And we'll be here to support you every step of the way. This study is as much ours as it is yours."
With a renewed sense of purpose, Kite felt the weight of the scroll in his hands, the mystery of Eldoria and 'the Wanderer' calling to him like a beacon. The path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, but with his friends and mentors by his side, he was ready to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within the ancient texts.
As they left the study, the possibilities swirled in Kite's mind. Their research into the ancient language was far from over, and the next steps promised to be even more thrilling than before.
"Let's go tell Elian and Ludo what we found out!" Liliana said.
Kite smiled and nodded. He glanced at the door and saw Tomas peering in, his little mouth forming a tiny o.
He smiled. The little kid was as curious as his big sis.
Liliana smiled and ran over to her brother. "Tomas! You eavesdropping again?" she teased, ruffling his hair affectionately.
Tomas giggled, his eyes wide with excitement. "I couldn't help it! What's 'the Wanderer'? Is it something cool?"
Kite walked over, crouching down to Tomas's level. "We're not entirely sure yet, but it seems like it might be something really important about our world, Eldoria. We're going to find out more soon."
Tomas's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Can I help? Please?"
Liliana chuckled and lifted her little brother into a hug. "Maybe when you're a bit older. For now, you can help by keeping us company and cheering us on."
Tomas pouted slightly but then nodded enthusiastically. "Okay! I'll be the best cheerleader!"
Kite smiled warmly at the sibling interaction. "Alright, let's head out. We need to share this news with Elian and Ludo."
The group made their way out of the study and down the winding paths of their village. The sun shined over the bustling community. People waved as they passed.
Sylvana smiled and waved back. It made Kite happy to see the once shy girl open up. Well, she was still kinda shy, but not as avoidant as when they met in Valoria.
"Kite! Liliana! Sylvana!" Elian called out as he walked toward them with a bag of bread.
"Get this, Grandpa and Grandma uncovered a bit of the text from the scrolls," Liliana said, grinning.
He gasped. "What did it say?"
She giggled. "Let's go to apothecary. We wanna tell Ludo too!"
He sighed. "Okay. Come on, let's hurry up!" He rushed off.
The group hurried through the village, following Elian as he led them towards the apothecary.
The morning sun bathed the village in a warm glow, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the aroma of herbs and flowers. It made Kite feel hungry, even through he already ate.
"Ludo!" Liliana called out, her voice filled with excitement as she ran into her aunt's shop. "We have some amazing news to share!"
Ludo looked up from his work, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his friends and family. "What's going on?" he asked, wiping his hands on his apron and coming around the counter to join them.
Kite stepped forward, holding the scroll carefully. "We managed to decode a small part of one of the scrolls we found. It refers to Eldoria as 'the Wanderer.'"
Ludo's eyes widened in surprise. "The Wanderer? That's intriguing. What do you think it means?"
Liliana bounced on her toes, barely able to contain her excitement. "We don't know for sure yet, but it could be something really important about our world. Maybe Eldoria has some hidden power or a history of moving through different realms."
Sylvana nodded, her face filled with wonder. "Or it could be a metaphor, describing Eldoria as a force that influences events in ways we don't fully understand yet."
Ludo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "This is fascinating. If the scrolls hold more information like this, we could uncover some incredible secrets about our world or at least about an ancient society's views on it."
Elian, who had been listening intently, chimed in. "We need to keep searching for more clues. The more we decode, the clearer the picture will become."
Kite nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We need to go through the other scrolls and see if we can find more references to 'the Wanderer' or any other important information."
Ludo smiled, his determination matching theirs. "I'll help in any way I can. Maybe Dad might know something."
Sylvana smiled. "True. Mako has heard many stories during his travels as a wandering merchant."
"Hey, kids," Mako said as he stepped out from the back the shop with Skyla on his shoulders.
"Sylvana!" Skyla said, smiling.
Sylvana waved. "Morning, Skyla. How is Fluffy?"
"He's good. Fed him and he took a nap."
Elian chuckled. "Dad would say that bunny is living the life."
Ludo laughed. "Yeah, especially with an owner like Skyla."
"A friend, not an owner," Skyla said, pouting slightly.
Mako chuckled as he set Skyla down gently in a chair. "Skyla's right. Fluffy is her friend, not just a pet."
Kite smiled at the tender interaction before refocusing on their mission. "Mako, we were hoping you might have some information that could help us. We decoded a part of the scrolls, and it refers to Eldoria as 'the Wanderer.' Do you know anything about that?"
Mako's eyes widened slightly, and he stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Hmm, 'the Wanderer,' you say? That's quite an intriguing reference. I've heard many tales in my travels, but nothing directly about Eldoria being called that. However, there are legends about ancient times when the world was said to be in constant flux, moving through different states of being."
Skyla's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she listened. "Like what, Daddy?"
Mako smiled down at his daughter. "Well, there are stories of how Eldoria was once a realm of pure magic, constantly shifting and changing, making it seem like it was 'wandering' through different realities. Some say that during that time, powerful mages and guardians roamed the land, guiding and protecting its people."
Liliana's excitement grew. "That sounds amazing! Do you think these legends could be connected to what the scrolls are talking about?"
Mako nodded slowly. "It's possible. Legends often have a kernel of truth in them. If the scrolls are referring to Eldoria as 'the Wanderer,' it might be pointing to that ancient time or something similar."
Kite felt a surge of determination. "Then we need to keep searching and decoding the scrolls. The more we learn, the closer we'll get to understanding the full story."
Mako looked at the group, admiration in his eyes. "You're all doing important work. If there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask."
Sylvana smiled warmly. "Thank you, Mako. Your stories and knowledge are already a great help."
Skyla tugged at her father's sleeve. "Can we help too, Daddy?"
Mako chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Of course, Skyla. Every bit of help counts."
Ludo looked around at his friends and family, feeling a sense of camaraderie and purpose. "We'll keep looking through the apothecary's archives. There might be more clues hidden among the ancient texts and artifacts here."
Elian nodded. "And we'll continue our search in the village and beyond. There must be other sources of knowledge and legends that can help us piece together the mystery of 'the Wanderer.'"
Kite smiled and nodded. Although, they were still kids. It could take them years to figure out what it all meant, if at all. But Kite had hope they would one day be able to uncover something about the language and his blade. He wanted to see if it connected to why he was brought to this world.