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Many years ago, I was taken prisoner and judged for my crimes. I don’t recall exactly why, but I think I stole a fish. A lousy fish, just to feed my family. Or was it a piece of meat? It matters not. The scavengers were growing bold, overrunning our lands, so we had no food. I was desperate.

I remember something amiss about my executioner. Hatred consumed him; he never listened to my pleas or even tried to understand my situation. I begged him for mercy, or at least some help caring for my family. But I was denied even that.

Immediately, I was thrown into the Vitromotus to live the rest of my life. I missed my loved ones every day, although I don’t remember their faces anymore, nor what I once felt for them. In any case, they are probably dust by now.

What we once thought was a blessing ended up being our greatest curse. What a gift it was, never fearing death, pain, or hunger. Just die, and you’ll be back in no time, feeling like your stomach was full and your wounds were healed. How naive we were back then.

My body is now broken. A landslide caught me, but something went wrong during my resurrection. My bones somehow fused together and now tear my flesh apart all day. The pain is endless, and I find no respite in death. I tried. I even slit my throat just to end it all, yet came back the same way.

The Master knows and wants to help me. But I fear not even he can fix me. There is no solace or freedom for me. Only suffering.

Week 1
I’m starting this journal so I can keep a proper record of all the information I gather about my inmates.

Week 2
Last night a fellow tried to grab me while I was sleeping. I managed to stab him with a hollow bone I picked up earlier. The poor sod walked away with a terrible wound. I doubt he survived.

Week 3
The men are getting restless. Although my previous altercation earned me some of their respect, they still see me as a piece of flesh, ready for the taking. I’m scared, but I can’t show it.

Week 4
I made friends with a fellow named Mordaxius. He claimed he was imprisoned for illegal experiments. The rest are terrified of him and his powers, so by gaining his trust, I also came under his wing.

Week 8
Mordaxius is relentless, yet enigmatic. I enjoy talking to him after everybody else goes to sleep. I don’t mind sharing the blanket with him either; he’s quite pleasant.

Week 9
My companion has taught me a few magic tricks. Today I set an aggressive prisoner’s beard ablaze. It was delightful.

Week 10
We managed to reach a section where water is abundant, with plenty of fish to catch. We will fortify the position and remain here for a while. I feel at peace with my new friend; perhaps not everything is lost here.

Since our early days inside this prison known as the Vitromotus, we have searched for numerous ways to keep track of time. With no way to see the sun or the stars, and not even the tides of the sea to guide us, we usually just resorted to carving marks on pieces of wood after our sleep and trying to compare them with the rest of the group.

Making logs and journals used to be the most common way of keeping track of our memories and movements. Ironically, many of our companions were not smart enough to write them properly. Furthermore, the required materials were sometimes scarce. It took us a while to find a definitive and affordable way of tracking time.

The fauna and flora of the Vitromotus are not only varied but also most peculiar. For example, bioluminescent animals are common, providing us with lights in a multitude of bright colors. Some aquatic species, like the anglerfish, are kept in tanks to provide rooms with a natural glow.

But what about keeping time? I discovered a type of cave mushroom that developed a phosphorescent tone, allowing it to glow in the dark. I noticed that it has a cycle that changes its color from red to green, which at first I thought was random. After the tedious task of timing its change, I discovered that it lasts for exactly twelve hours, allowing us to precisely count the days inside the prison. I decided to call it horolofungi.

Being a devoted botanist for most of my life, I have witnessed countless species of plants and fungi, but this one is completely new to me. Judging by the precision of its changes, I dare to say that the creator of the Vitromotus has designed it specifically for that purpose. Whether this was meant to be a sincere act of decency towards the prisoners, or simply his way of reaching perfection, I leave that for you to decide, dear reader.

My young apprentice:

Apologies for not addressing you by name. My memory is becoming less reliable by the day, a problem that keeps me awake at night. Sometimes I cannot even wield a sword proficiently, as if it were a strange object in my hand. I am sure this has happened to you at least once.

Nevertheless, all is not lost. I heard rumors about a place called Crystal Archways, in which a myriad of marvelous minerals grow in capricious forms. It is said that they react to external influences, producing soothing sounds, almost like natural music.

I plan to visit this place and obtain these crystals to study them further. I have an idea to construct a unique kind of journal to keep my memories afloat, in case I fully lose my mind. We will discuss the possibility of you accessing it once it is finished, so you can learn from it even during my absence.

I will be back in a few weeks; focus on your studies as if I were at your side.

Your master

To the Supreme Lord of Justice:

It has come to my attention that our detention halls need urgent improvements. The northern cells are already full, and the southern ones are close to being in the same situation. We are wasting food, clothing, and security on these miscreants, who were unfit to enjoy society’s privileges in the first place. No more, I say.

I understand that disposing of them will not be a sensible solution to the problem, as it will create needless unrest among the population. Not long ago, I spoke with you about my desire to create a prison massive enough to contain these criminals, and it is with great pride that I can finally share with you my accomplishment.

I present to you the Vitromotus, a world within an artifact. With clever use of magic and delicate craftsmanship, I shaped a massive crystal into an endless world, in which every single prisoner will spend the rest of their mortal life. It contains enough fauna and flora to sustain anyone who enters; this will allow them to survive for years to come and repent for the crimes they committed.

Furthermore, while I have not worked out the means of accomplishing this feat, they may eventually be able to return to the society they rejected, given that they have served their sentence.

I will place the Vitromotus at the center of the Palace of Equity. Just by touching it, one can become trapped in its world, so precautions have been taken. I have conjured a magical force field to prevent accidents, and four soldiers are currently guarding it.

I will eagerly await your response to my letter so we can coordinate a time to visit this grand new invention, which will surely provide a bright future for our people.

Warden Turos

I am not crazy.

I see it. I see it in every corner, lurking, watching. Its presence robs me of sleep.

When I do manage to close my eyes, I can see it in my nightmares too, and feel its teeth sinking into my decaying flesh.

Sometimes, from the corner of my eye, I notice the walls shift. The rest also sense it but believe it is just the kymia affecting the environment. I know the truth; they are just too stubborn to accept it.

Its eyes dance from room to room, like a predator watching its next meal. During the last encounter with the scavengers, I could feel its presence stronger than ever. It feasts on death and conflict, on the kymia it releases.

I yearn for the embrace of release. Yet, in a way, I fear it, because I know that thing will be waiting for me. Ready to devour my essence. And the more I fear, the hungrier it gets. Every time a body seems to vanish from the prison, I know the truth. And you will, too.

To all acolytes guarding this outpost:

With great sorrow, I must reveal to you that one of our own has betrayed us, abandoning our side to find a dark path by herself. Tinetia, the woman known as the Bone Lady, was caught stealing precious resources to leave the outpost through the waypoint.

Until we decide her fate, she will remain captured and imprisoned. As a warning to all, stay away from her, since she has profound knowledge of kymia and a sharp tongue that can enthrall even the most stoic of warriors.

Do not attempt to unravel her past or her motives; it will be a task left for our master, once he has time to attend to this grave matter.

Mordaxius

Week 1 I am starting this log to record the activities in this section of the tunnels. Since our master asked us to secure the nearby Vitromotus waypoint, I arrived with a group of acolytes to set up an outpost.

Week 2 The construction of the outpost is proceeding without issues. We received more supplies from our allies.

Week 3 Today a group of scavengers attacked us, intending to secure the waypoint. It was only a small party, so the fight was short and bloody. Their kymia was meaningless, yet precious.

Week 4 I set aside a room as my personal study. I will need to bring my chemical tools to work properly.

Week 5 Another scavenger incursion. They are growing bold.

Week 6 The Master arrived today - what an honor! He confided in me that he would soon attempt a breakout alongside a large group of acolytes. Preparations are in order.

Week 7 An exploring party came today with a wounded acolyte. It appears that he was caught under a landslide and suffered serious injuries. Not even the kymia can ease his agony, after restoring his body. The Master personally asked me to resolve this matter.

Week 8 We suffered another scavenger incursion today. We managed to secure several pieces of steel armor from them. I am still working on a way to help the wounded acolyte.

Week 9 I have been experimenting with animating a gauntlet by infusing it with kymia. I can only achieve minor reactions; I must keep researching.

Week 12 Success! After much work and effort, I was able to make a plate boot walk by itself. What a wondrous sight! I will add this discovery to my treatise.

Preface

Through the glorious wisdom of our master, who chose to share his knowledge with me, I am now in a proper position to study the energy known as kymia and its effects on both the living and the dead. The following notes are preliminary and subject to correction; however, they may serve as guidance for those acolytes wishing to approach its secrets with an open mind.

How does kymia affect the dead?

After observing many of my comrades fall prey to fatal injuries and starvation, I realized that as long as the body can be restored to health and live again, the kymia around us will do it, whether we want it or not.

However, in cases where the corpses were too damaged to revive, they enjoyed the respite of death, at least temporarily. A person without a heart cannot be brought back by kymia, no matter how powerful, simply because a body cannot function without that vital organ.

Therefore, it is important to keep the corpses away from predators and in dry and secure places in order to slow the process of decomposition. This will ensure a proper and painless resurrection.

Can kymia affect any living creature?

As I mentioned, an incomplete corpse cannot be brought back by kymia. Going back to the example of a body without a heart, what could happen if another piece of organic material is present during the process? In proper conditions, I confirmed that the energy is strong enough to rebuild a body if enough raw materials are around it.

During my numerous investigations in my laboratory, I tend to leave the broken bodies of experimental creatures resting on a wooden table. After a particularly strong ritual that required me to channel massive amounts of kymia, I observed that the process had such a lasting effect that the energy became visible even to those who were untrained.

The kymia started to affect living matter around the place. The roots covering the walls grew and flourished. The organic material from the wooden table combined with the inert bodies of my experiments, bringing them back with their missing organs restored. They became new entities, with their former manners yet adapted to their unique forms.

Father:

I’m sorry for not being able to write to you before, but my training with the Duthach is quite intense. They’re definitely not fond of idleness and are always trying to keep me occupied, even with the most trivial tasks.

I’ve been learning a lot about minerals and precious gems and how to properly extract them. It’s a fascinating world, although I sometimes feel it’s too demanding for my body.

My fingers, on the other hand, are developing a marvelous dexterity that I didn’t even know I was capable of. With enough carving and polishing, it’s amazing what a piece of mineral can become.

I’m enclosing a ring I made for you. Don’t laugh; it’s my first one! As you can see, there’s still much for me to learn, so it’s going to be a while before we can meet again.

With love,

Deremis

I am starting this journal in hopes of helping myself with my faulty memory. As the years go by in this place, I can see my fellow inmates wither away, in both mind and body. I am in no better shape, since every time I have the misfortune of seeing my reflection in a puddle of water, I can only witness a decaying husk that barely resembles a human anymore.

Food is growing scarce, and we must travel even deeper into these tunnels or be tortured by eternal hunger. We managed to find different kinds of plants to keep ourselves going, but the dangers are becoming greater every time. If only we could taste the cold, delicious release of death. However, our jailers were merciless. Therefore, we must be too.

The year is 17. Day unknown.

Today I made an amazing discovery. A member of my group snapped and became a frenzied beast, swinging his steel against us without sense or intent. As fury foamed at his mouth, I could feel something, something that I have been trying to understand for quite a few years now.

His strong, indomitable emotions emanated a residual energy, and for the first time, I was able to see it. It looked tempting and colorful, as if I were able to see the smell of a sweet perfume. I focused and tried to absorb it. It worked. As the energy rushed through my body, I felt a surge of vitality like never before. The hunger and thirst were gone, and even some of my wounds vanished. The pain was driven away. I sighed in relief.

Naturally, we put our companion down in a matter of seconds. We carried him along until his body rose again as it always did. However, this time I understood how. This place is filled to the brim with a unique power, preventing us from dying and infusing every creature with life. Moreover, it may be the key to regaining our freedom. I will keep investigating.

The year is 21. Day unknown.

My friend:

I hope this letter manages to reach your eyes, as it took most of my coins to find someone brave enough to bring it to you.

I’ve finally located Iarabean. It’s real; the legends were true. If only you could see its beauty! The edge is slightly curved and always shining, and it has a pickaxe on the other side; I concluded it’s for smashing the tunnelers’ chitinous plates before carving them up with the edge. Clagmin was skilled and smart, that’s for sure! She left a message engraved in the metal, but I can’t read it until I have it in my hands.

A group of guards currently holds the weapon. It seems that it was found by a grave robber who’s now charged with other crimes, and they took the axe from him. Their superior is demanding that they send the criminal into a magical prison, alongside the weapon.

For what reason he’s willing to send someone to a cell armed, I don’t know. Nevertheless, it’s clear that to recover Iarabean I’ll have to infiltrate this prison and take it back from this man.

If you don’t hear from me in the next season, then it means I’ve failed, and now I’m feeding the earth. But if this letter reaches you, then at least I’ll die knowing that my people learned the truth about Iarabean.

May Bursgeul guide your spirit.

Gaitreun

To all acolytes at this outpost:

Lately, these fungi-covered spiders have become a nuisance, showing up in our food stores and feasting on anything that moves. Regardless of how many we dispatch, more and more appear every day. Our suspicion of a matriarch proved correct, as we discovered that one made a rather gruesome lair in the northern tunnels.

Her hunger is insatiable, and she will not hesitate to devour intruders. Do not try to take her down, as she has grown too large and dangerous, probably impervious to feeble weapons. We will discuss further actions with the apothecaries, as we may have a way to block the entrance to her den and trap her within. For the moment, that section is off-limits.