“Fragments of Time”
Having obtained the “Fragments of Time,” we left the eternal glacier behind and hurried toward the guild's base. Freed from the freezing cold, feeling the warmth of the hearth fire, I examined the Fragments of Time I had acquired once more. They emitted a strange glow, as if the flow of time itself had been condensed.
The Guildmaster had already begun assembling the space-time transfer device. His skillful combination of intricate magical circuits and crystals engraved with geometric patterns resembled the work of a master craftsman. I too supported the work, utilizing my knowledge of ancient Atlantean language based on the blueprints.
Hours later, the time-space transfer device was complete. It was a machine of breathtaking precision, radiating an overwhelming power. Yet, within its brilliance, a hint of instability could be sensed.
“So... it's finished...” The Guildmaster sighed, gazing at the device. “But... to activate this device, we needed the ‘Blood of the Sage’... We still haven't obtained it...”
I nodded at his words and replied, “Acquiring the Sage's Blood will likely take more time. The frontier village is quite a distance away. And obtaining the Sage's Blood itself should not be an easy task.”
The Guildmaster nodded in agreement. “True... But we've come this far. We cannot give up now. First, let us thoroughly investigate how to obtain the Sage's Blood. We must search the texts and gather the necessary information...”
Once more, we found ourselves surrounded by mountains of documents. We pored over ancient texts, meticulously searching for information concerning the Sage's Blood. Day turned to night, and night deepened. Exhausted, we continued our search. Late into the night, in a corner of the guild library, we discovered an ancient parchment. It was a precious document containing descriptions of the Sage's Blood. The parchment stated that to obtain the Sage's Blood, one must perform a specific ritual and offer prayers at a specific location. It became clear that locating this place would require an even older map.
“...It seems we need this map...” said the Guildmaster, pointing to the ancient chart. “This map... is quite old... Pinpointing the location will likely demand considerable time and effort...”
I stared intently at the map. Deciphering it and embarking on the journey to obtain the Sage's Blood foreshadowed new hardships ahead. Yet, I renewed my resolve to overcome these difficulties and activate the time-space transfer device. What awaited at the end of this journey, I did not yet know. But I would never give up until I unraveled this mystery.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
